Leaving home always means leaving with your feet, never your heart. This feeling intensifies in times of conflict. Therefore, the Prime Minister’s (PM’s) focal person for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from North Waziristan, GeneralAbdul QadirBaloch, hasgiven the title of heroes and stars of Pakistan to the IDPs who left their homes for the comfort and safety of the entire nation.
Though therehabilitation of IDPs from the tribal areas was a challenging task, the government’s strong management made it easier and more comfortable for the people of FATA to find their feet again. The government has divided the rehabilitation of the IDPs into three phases. The second phase of rehabilitation will be completed in January 2016. According to the foreign office, Pakistan has spent $ 1.9 billion on Operation Zarb-e-Azb and the IDPs. Pakistan has met these expenditures from its own resources.
The socio-economic uplift of FATA is an important pillar of the comprehensive counter-extremism strategy of the government of Pakistan. The allocation of Rs 1,658 million to the FATA Development Authority (FDA) for year 2014-2015 shows the government’s resolve to integrate FATA with the rest of the country.The federal and provincial governments have initiated numerous small development projects on a priority basis for the restoration of peace and development in the region. These projects includethe construction of hospitals, schools, roads, development of electricity projects, skill development programmes and provision of jobs forthe educated youth. The Pakistan army is extensively busy in repairing destroyed schools, hospitals and health units. Cash assistance of Rs 400,000 has been given to those whose houses have been destroyed while Rs200,000 has been given to those whose houses were partially damaged. Mega projects, including the construction of motorways, dams and railway links will be started in the next developmental phase.
The Punjab government is building 2,000 homes in North Waziristan Agency for its tribal brothers. Moreover, the government of Punjab gaveRs350 million to 54,000 displaced families in August this year. The government of Punjab will also build a hospital costing one billion rupees in North Waziristan. In this hour of need, our time-tested friend, China, is also taking extra care of the IDPs. China will provide $ 10 million to Pakistan for the rehabilitation of the IDPs.
Moreover, donor agencies are also supporting us in this crucial phase of conflict management. The World Bank hasapproved a $75 million loan for Pakistan, the majority of which will be disbursed among theIDPs as a cash grant aimed at facilitating their return from the camps to their homes.About 87 percent of the $75 million loan (or $62 million) will be used to provide the cash grant to around 120,000 IDPs or over one-third of the total families affected by the ongoing military offensive in the tribal areas. Each family will receive Rs51,000 cash grant in two phases. Under the project of the World Bank, North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Orakzai,Kurram and Khyber agencies will receive a one time early recovery grant of Rs35,000 per family and a livelihood support grant of Rs16,000 per family in four monthly installments of Rs4,000 will be disbursed among the families.As many as 336,762 families were displaced due to Operation Zarb-e-Azb and over 240,000 were from these five agencies.
The government has estimated the total cost of rehabilitation and reconstruction at Rs75 billion or $750 million. Out of this, the rehabilitation cost is estimated at $112 million.While an amount of $ 62 million will be given as a cash grant, three million dollarsare allocated for providing child healthcare facilities.However, $ 10 million or 13.3 percent of the total approved loan has been set aside for stakeholder consultation, social mobilisation and management.
Post-conflict recovery and reconstruction are complex challenges for the state and society.Capacity building efforts will be implemented in a sustainable, effective, comprehensive and integrated way within a long-term perspective, which is in line with evolving national requirements. The commitments of national and local authorities in these effortshave increased the trust of the IDPs on government. It is hoped that after the completion of rehabilitation and reconstruction phases these people will make their contributions in the economic development of Pakistan.
The writer is a freelance columnist