ISLAMABAD - Agreeing to the concerns of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the government was committed to provide maximum relief to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan and would ensure their early return to their homes.
The JUI-F chief called on the prime minister here on Tuesday and discussed with him the overall political situation in the country with specific reference to the matters relating to IDPs of North Waziristan. During the course of discussion, the prime minister said that the government wished that IDPs may return to their homes as soon as possible and would allocate all necessary resources to provide them improved health and education facilities while focusing on infrastructure development in the affected area.
He said despite financial constraints the federal government has so far provided financial assistance worth Rs5.13 billion for providing subsistence and relief to the IDPs. In addition, he said, the government has also released wheat stocks worth Rs2.7 billion for the affected families.
The prime minister lauded the role played by the armed forces of Pakistan in eradicating terrorism and said that IDPs have sacrificed their today for ensuring lasting peace in the country which would be long remembered by the people of Pakistan.
Maulana Fazlur Rahman informed the prime minister that people of tribal areas were grateful to the government for taking the decision of launching operation Zarb-e-Azb which would soon rid them of the menace of terrorism. “People of the area are appreciative of the financial support given by the government to the displaced families,” he added.
He also informed the premier about his plan to call the meeting of Grand Tribal Jirga here in the federal capital to discuss and highlight the problems being faced by the IDPs and what measures would be required on immediate basis to save them in the face of severe winter approaching fast.
He told the PM that IDPs are living under extreme conditions and now with the winter’s approaching fast their problems would multiply and the non-seriousness attitude on part of the provincial government would further add to their problems. Meanwhile, Member National Assembly Hafiz Abdul Karim also met the prime minister and discussed development schemes of Dera Ghazi Khan.