FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) Director General (DG) Mehmood Aslam Wazir on Sunday rejected media speculations about the status of 22 employees associated with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). He said the employees working on a foreign-funded project were sacked over an administrative irregularity. FDMA DG told Daily Times that SDC has matchless contribution in the rebuilding of infrastructure of the war-ravaged tribal areas. He stated that tribesmen had appreciated the SDC for many development projects, particularly the ongoing project of Rs 83 million in Orakzai tribal district. “Tribesmen and the FDMA are grateful to the SDC and the Swiss Government for extending support to rebuild infrastructure of the tribal areas,” Wazir said, adding that there has been no blockade in the ongoing projects of SDC. Referring to termination of 22 employees of the FDMA, he said that it was an internal matter of the provincial government, which certainly would not affect the SDC projects. “The employees were removed on the recommendation of the governor’s inspection team and not by the FDMA,” he stated, adding that a high-level committee would be formed for recruitment for the same project as soon as possible. He claimed that the project was frozen and its functionality would be restored as the FDMA has been coordinating with the SDC officials. He asserted that the project would be extended to other tribal districts including North Waziristan and Kurram district after its restoration. “We need cooperation and assistance from SDC for uplift and development of the tribal areas for restoring lives of tribesmen,” he said. After the termination of 22 employees, the SDC announced freezing of its project in Orakzai tribal district via a notification, however FDMA officials have been claiming that the project would be restored after completion of recruitment process. Wazir vowed that a committee would be set up and subsequently posts would be advertised to ensure transparency in the recruitment process. However, he said that SDC staff with outstanding performance last year would be given preference in recruitment. Published in Daily Times, September 10th 2018.