South waziristan - Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Faiz Hameed on Friday said that all tribes of South Waziristan rendered great sacrifices along with the Pakistan Army for regional peace.
Addressing a grand jirga of Burki, Mehsood, Ahmed Zai, Wazir, Suleman Khel and Dotani tribes during his visit to Wana, he said, “Concrete steps are being taken to promote trade in the area so as to raise the living standards of the tribal people.”
Inspector General Frontier Corps (South), Maj Gen Muhammad Munir Afsar, Regional Police Officer Dera Ismail Khan, Shaukat Abasi and DC South Waziristan Khalid Iqbal Khattak were also present on the occasion.
The Corps Commander Peshawar said Pakistan Army valued the sacrifices of the tribesmen for the regional peace, sovereignty and integration of the country.
“The development of South Waziristan depends on better law and order maintenance because a peaceful environment plays a key role in the development of any society,” he said adding “good relationship between the tribal people and Armed Forces is proven.”
Corps Commander Peshawar said the main purpose of the gathering was to talk on lasting peace, adding, “we all want peace as society cannot develop without peace”.
He said that Pakistan Army had done a lot to solve the basic problems of education, health and other issues in South Waziristan. Resultantly, there was a big difference between Waziristan of 2004 and today, he added.
He said, “I am well acquainted with the issues of the people of Waziristan as I have served here during 2004.” To promote educational activities in South Waziristan, the best educational institutions and cadet colleges were working in collaboration with the Armed Forces, where native children were being imparted quality education.
“Even some students, after completing their education, have become officers in the Armed Forces of Pakistan and serve the country in the best manner,” he added.
Faiz Hameed said the development and prosperity of South Waziristan was linked with peace and they all had a shared responsibility to maintain peace on permanent basis.
, adding that it was the duty of the tribal people to support the Armed Forces of Pakistan for a better and brighter future of the youth of the area.
Tribal elders should play pivotal role in equipping their young generation with education so that youth of this region became useful citizens of the society.
Corps Commander Peshawar said that main objective of the dialogues was peace and if peace was established then trade opportunities would increase.
Lt Gen Hameed said efforts were underway to solve the problems of Suleman Khel tribe people living across Angoor Adda, adding that Pakistan Army had worked a lot to build a road network in South Waziristan and more projects were being worked out.
The Corps Commander said more trade corridors would be opened to boost trade so as to strengthen the economy. He said that he has already informed the Prime Minister about the issues of tribal people and the PM had assured him that the same would be resolved on priority.
Presenting a welcome note on the behalf of the Mehsud Tribe, Malik Mehsood Ahmed said Mehsuds honour the sacrifices of Pak Army and had always stood by the Armed Force. He demanded that the CLCP should be expedited so that the sufferers could get timely compensation for the loss of their homes, while special attention should be given to education and health.
On behalf of the Wazir Tribe, Malik Allauddin said the Wazirs had always kept the national interest at the forefront, a prime example of which was the implementation of the 2007 agreement.
He said the Prime Minister of Pakistan during his visit to South Waziristan had announced bifurcation of South Waziristan, which should be implemented at the earliest.
Corps Commander Peshawar keenly listened to the speeches of elders of Mehsud and Wazir tribes and assured solution to the problems for which the tribal elders thanked the Corps Commander and welcomed his visit to Wana.
