PESHAWAR - Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has demanded of the federal government to declare the province a calamity-hit region, due to huge displacement of population from North Waziristan Agency in the wake of military operation, and announce a special package for IDPs and ensure their safe repatriation to their respective hometowns.
The demand was made by Provincial PTI Secretary Information, MNA Ayesha Gulalai, while addressing a news conference here at party provincial secretariat on Sunday.
She informed that the provincial government has so far provided Rs 1.27 billion in aid to the IDPs. She added the assistance was extended to those families staying with their relatives and at government schools.
"The assistance programme has been carried out in 16 districts," she said, adding the provincial government would utilize all available resources for IDPs. She asked the central government to announce Rs.20 billion for the IDPs, and later make proper arrangements for the secure repatriation.
The PTI lawmaker said that under the WFP, around 54,765 bags, containing food items, and 41,013 bags of non-food items had been distributed among the IDPs of North Waziristan at various makeshift camps across the province.
Similarly, she said that there was a need to install 65 power transformers of 50-KV, 200 of 50 KV and around 65 of 100-KV, at makeshift camps. She informed that no-objection certificates were given to 30 national and international NGOs to work for IDPs.
Gulalai also said that according to a North Waziristan Jirga elders many people were still standard in Dosali, Razmak, and Boya areas, adjacent to restive tribal agency, and they were facing acute shortage of food and non-food commodities and medicines.
Criticizing the federal government's attitude towards the issues of the masses of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and especially IDPs, she said that the Centre was responsible to shift the IDPs to safer places. Talking about the PTI-led 'Azadi march' on August 14, she condemned that the imposition of Article 245, and vowed that her party will move the apex court against the government this decision.
KHATTAK URGES NATION TO
REMEMBER IDPS ON EID
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has urged the nation in general and people of KP in particular to remember their displaced brethren from North Waziristan in the celebrations of Eidul Fitr and donate maximum amount of their Fitrana and charities in the CM Special Fund for the IDPs of NWA in any branch of commercial banks including BoK.
The provincial government has made special arrangements for delivering these donations and Eid gifts to IDPs through Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), he added.
In a special message on the occasion of Eidul Fitr, the chief minister said that he along with his party leader Imran Khan and members of provincial ministers will celebrate the Eid with IDPs in Bannu. He said that it is duty of the people to remember IDPs in their prayers and celebrations, who have sacrificed their happy occasion for the joys of nation and security of Pakistan.
"The best way is that our youth, doctors, teachers, engineers, students, lawyers and people from all walks of life should stand in their support and collect donations at the level of streets, city, village and institutions to deposit them in their nearby branches of commercial banks and dispatch teams comprising doctors and volunteers to serve them better."
The chief minister urged the people to celebrate their Eid with simplicity in backdrop of the difficulties of IDPs and bombardment and cruelties of Israel on the innocent Palestinians and pray for mitigation of the miseries faced by them. He appealed to the people to remain fully aware in wake of present critical situation and challenges faced by the nation and country.
He said that the problems faced by this region demands mutual unity, brotherhood, reconciliation, peace and harmony to foil the nefarious designs of the enemies of peace, humanity and religion. He said that history asks for the awareness of the people of the region and strict vigilance on the movements of suspect elements to play frontline role in the security, salvation and protection of the country.
He said that certain black sheep have entered our ranks while miscreants in garb of religion are busy in their anti-state activities. Their aim is to weaken Pakistan socially, economically and politically. Pervez Khattak paid rich tributes to the public and jawans of Pakistan Army, police, FC and other law-enforcement agencies who with their spirit of solidarity have proved that Pakistan had come into being to exist for good and this country has no space for extremism and terrorism. He said that he on this occasion of Eidul Fitr also wants to tell the people that his government will honour all its electoral pledges at any cost. He said that in this new era of change, the people would witness and feel positive and pleasant changes in their surroundings with every passing day.
He said that his top priorities are providing the people with of cheap justice, supremacy of merit and law, eradication of corruption, guaranteeing of transparency, restoration of durable peace and putting the destroyed infrastructure of the province on the track of progress and development. The chief minister while extending Eid felicitations to the people expressed good wishes for the progress and development of the country. He also appealed the people to also share their celebrations of Eid with local destitute, especially orphans and poor children and fulfil their needs and requirements.
EID GIFTS, RELIEF ITEMS
DISTRIBUTED AMONG IDPS
Staff Reporter from Lakki Marwat adds: Additional Deputy Commissioner Ihsanullah Khan and Muhammad Nafees, principal Government Postgraduate College Lakki, distributed Eid gifts and relief items among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan Agency on Sunday.
The gifts and commodities were provided for the affected tribal families by Pakistan Students Association, South Korea. A large number of displaced tribesmen received ration and Eid gifts at a function held in the premises of the college.
The additional deputy commissioner appreciated the role of the students association and said that all segments of society should launch concerted efforts to assist the displaced tribal people.
He said that the government was making all-out efforts to provide the displaced families with all sorts of amenities and cash aid.