PESHAWAR: Adviser to Governor on Information and Public Relations Samar Haroon Bilour on Saturday said normal trade activities between Pakistan and Afghanistan could not resume while terrorist attacks were being launched against Pakistan from Afghan soil and the country’s sovereignty was being challenged.
She said the reopening oftrade routes depended on addressing Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns and securing practical cooperation from the Afghan authorities.
She urged Kabul to ensure that its territory was not used by militant groups to carry out attacks againstPakistan.
‘The threat of terrorism persists, but the law and order situation in the province has improved,’ the governor’s adviser said in a statement issued by her office.
She attributed the improvement to increased police patrolling and better coordination between the police and security forces.
Highlighting the importance of public participation in maintaining peace, MsBilour said the Area Representative and Development Councils (ARDCs) were providing a platform for local consultation and facilitating intelligencebased operations.
She disclosed that around 5,000 to 6,000 personnel, out of nearly 10,000 deployed on private security duties, had been recalled to police lines for redeployment. The remaining cases, she added, were being reviewed individually, taking into account the genuine security threats faced by political and religious leaders.
Describing the Sehat Card programme as an important initiative, particularly for lowincome and lower-middleincome families, Ms Bilour,however, expressed concern over alleged corruption, the influence of vested interests and preferential treatment in procurement processes.
She also referred to allegations of commissions and kickbacks, stressing that transparency, accountability and merit must be ensured in the programme.
On the issue of government land, she made it clear that state property must be protected and no individual or organisation would be granted preferential treatment on the basis of political affiliation or influence. She emphasised that action against illegal occupation of government land must be taken impartially and without discrimina-tion.
Ms Bilour observed that it was unrealistic to expect problems accumulated over the past 13 years to be resolved within 13 days or a few weeks.
Nevertheless, she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to introducing reforms and taking practical measures to improve governance.
She further stressed that providing young people with access to education, employment and development opportunities was essential to preventing their involvement in militancy.
The governor’s adviser also confirmed that Pakistan’s national flag had been hoisted on government buildings and offices in the areas concerned.