Daily Times

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri Saturday said the FATA Secretariat will transfer all powers to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Secretariat in a year.

Talking to journalists in Landikotal, Qadri said additional chief secretary (ACS) at the FATA Secretariat has the powers of chief accounting officer of the development projects in all tribal districts. He said the ACS has the authority to pass and sanction all the funds and bills for development activities in tribal areas. In addition, he said, the ACS has the responsibilities regarding the ongoing fiscal year as well as transfer of all the powers to the KP Civil Secretariat at the end of the fiscal year.

The minister said the tribal districts would receive 3% share from the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. With the exception of Sindh, he said, all the federating units have showed consent to give their share for the tribal districts. The NFC related issues would be resolved through negotiations soon, he added. Replying to a question, he said reforms in the erstwhile FATA are a reality and everyone is accepting that reality. He said it is up to the tribal people to keep their traditions alive in the new system. “Prime Minister Imran Khan has made it clear that no one will lose his job in the tribal districts in the backdrop of reforms process. Khassadars force personnel will also not lose their jobs,” he added.

On the Torkham border crossing issues, he reassured the people that traders across the border will be given all the facilities.

Published in Daily Times, December 2^nd 2018.