PESHAWAR: Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif was informed on Tuesday that security forces have cleared 650 square kms of a so far uncontrolled area in Shawal Valley of North Waziristan Agency in the final phase of Zarb-i-Azb operation.

During a visit to the area ravaged by militants, the army chief expressed satisfaction over the progress made in Shawal in the concluding phase of the operation. He praised these successes and vowed to continue the operation till the elimination of militants` hideouts and the curse of terrorismand extremism from across the country.

The Corps Commander, Peshawar, Lt Gen Hidayat Ur Rehman, received the army chief in Miramshah.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations, Gen Sharif was briefed by the formation commander on the progress of the operation, return of temporarily displaced persons and development and resettlement work initiated by the army in the area.

The army chief praised intelligence agencies for the matching pace in busting sleeper cells in urban centres in the rest of the country.He commended all officers and men for their courage, determination and spirit of sacrifice displayed during the Shawal operation under harsh weather conditions and in treacherous terrain.

He was briefed on the ongoing rehabilitation work and its effects on socio-economic landscape of the area.

He directed all concerned to boost the pace of work to meet timelines and ensure a dignified and early return of displaced persons to a better built area.

Gen Sharif also laid the foundation stone of the stateof-the-art Younis Khan Sports Complex in Miramshah to be built by army engineers. Renowned cricketer Younis Khan was present on the occasion.

Later, the army chief visited the under-construction Miramshah Bazaar and praised army engineers for their dedicated efforts in executing quality construction work.

Miramshah Bazaar, which had been used by terrorists as the centre of their fight and was damaged during the clearance phase of the Zarb-i-Azb operation, was being rebuilt by the army to re-initiate economic activity in the area.

New shops and markets will be handed over to affected local tribes.