ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan was informed on Monday that work on development projects in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) would begin during the next financial year.

The prime minister, who chaired a meeting to review progress on development of the region, expressed the hope that work on all development projects in the merged area would start in 2020-21.The meeting was attended by Planning Minister Asad Umar, Information Minister Shibli Faraz, Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Special Assistant to PM Dr Shahbaz Gill and a number of senior officials.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mehmood Khan, KP Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Punjab Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht attended the meeting through video link.

Information Minister Shibli Faraz said in a media briefing the prime minister reviewed the pace of progress on development projects in tribal areas.

The prime minister observed that the people of erstwhile tribal areas, especially the youth, were dear to him and he wanted to see that they made rapid progress.

Under the 2018 arrangements, thefederal government had already released its share of funds allocated for the uplift of these areas, the information minister said.

A committee had been set up under the finance minister to look into the major problems confronting the region and it would work in coordination with other provinces to ensure availability of funds for development, Mr Faraz said.

`In order to acknowledge the sacrifices of fered by the tribal people in the fight against terrorism, the prime minister is taking a special interest in development of the tribal districts, the minister said.

Senator Shibli Faraz said the meeting was informed that the federal government had already released the money it was supposed to spend on the region`s projects under a 2018 agreement.