PESHAWAR:KhyberPakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan has blamed the governor`s chair for the prevailing `mess` in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).
Speaking at a MoU signing ceremony here on Wednesday, he said every governorshould be heldresponsible and accountable afterrelinquishing the office for what he had done during his tenure.
`If a chief minister can be held accountable, then governor should also be held responsible after leaving his charge,` he said.
The MoU was signed among the United National Development Programme, the United Kingdom`s Department for International Development and Civil SecretariatFata at a ceremony that was attended by different stakeholders, parliamentarians and officials.
Principal secretary to the governor Sikandar Qayyum, UNDP deputy country director Tracy Vienings signed the MoU. Head of DFID Pakistan Joanna Reid also attended the ceremony.
On the occasion, the governor said being chief executive of Fata, every Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor had made a mess and create d a big vacuum in tribal areas after leaving the office.
`The time has come to ask every governorafterleavingthe charge that what he has done during his tenure for the people of Fata,` he said.
Sardar Mahtab said there should be a third party neutral evaluation after every annual development programme to ensure proper and judicious utilisation of money in tribal areas.
He said despite huge investment, there was disparity in social sector in Fata particularly in health and education.
The governor admitted that tribal areas had become a `black hole` due to the misuse of funds.He said the administration, instead of looking forward to donor agencies to offer funds for development schemes in Fata, should ensure proper and judicious utilisation of local resources and transparency.
Sardar Mahtab said the social indicator survey was carried out to plan strategies for developments in Fata.
A statement said the Governor`s Strategic Support Unit was launched on the occasion for recovery and reform in Fata.
It said the SSU would help the secretariat and its line departments in the delivery of major reform in at least four key sectors of government including education, health, economic development and Fata reforms through additional problem solving and analytical capacity.
With support from DFID, UNDP would also provide technical assistance to the secretariat to develop concrete roadmaps for reform in the complex area of rule of law and justice, including specific reforms in local governance, law enforcement, municipal services, judicial services and land settlements In addition, about 300 communitieswill be engaged in government-led rehabilitation efforts, with 25 community spaces rehabilitated for recreational and other productive activities with active participation by Fata`s youth. Over 6,000 men and women will receive short and medium term employment opportunities.
Earlier, Fata additional chief secretary Mohammad Aslam Kamboh in his presentation said education emergency had been imposed in tribal areas to ensure 100 per cent enrolment, retention and quality education.
He said 1,800 posts of science, math and English teachers had been advertised to overcome deficiency of teachers in schools.
The Fata additional chief secretary said there were more schools and health units in Fata than the rest of the country but even then, the region`s literacy rate was 33 per cent.
He said there was one health facility in Fata for 4,600 people though in the adjoining Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, one health facility catered to the needs of a population of 17,000.
Aslam Kamboh said the Frontier Region Bannu had a school for every 68 people and FR Lakki for every 93people.
He said the preparation of land records for dispute resolution, collateral for loans and business, increase in the capacity oflevies forinvestigation, forensic, law enforcement and prosecution service, and appointment of assistant political agents (judicial) were under consideration.The Fata additionalchief secretary said the establishment of municipal committees for 15 urban centres and the subsequent extension of municipal services to rural areas had been proposed.
He said institutions would be set up to ensure delivery of services and not to give jobs. http://epaper.dawn.com/DetailImage.php?StoryImage=28_01_2016_181_010
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