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Massive irregularities in development projects in Fata

By A Reporter 2014-11-27
ISLAMABAD: Expressing concern over the misuse of funds in various development projects in tribal areas, the Senate Standing Committee on States and Frontier Region (Safron) called for a monitoring cell to be set up at the Fata Secretariat.

A meeting was held at the Parliament House presided over by Senator Muhammad Saleh Shah to discuss the Protected Relief and Recovery Operation Programme (RAROP) 201315 in Fata and the representation of students from Fata at various institutions of the country.

Committee members expressed concern over alleged irregularities in various development projects under RAROP.

RAROP covers School Feeding, Nutrition and Food for Livelihood. `In the absence of any effective monitoringsystem, there are massive irregularities in various projects in Fata,` said Senator Saleh Shah.

Later, the chairman told Dawn that on paper billions of rupees were being spent in Fata, but on ground there is no substantial development.

`One can judge the volume of irregularities in Fata from the fact that Rs7 million were released for two cricket tournaments in Fata when they could have been organised with only Rs200,000,` he said.

The committee was told that funds for relief work and infrastructural support were not being distributed on the basis of population rather on the basis of security conditions, availability of roads and schools in the area.

Officials of Safron and Fata Secretariat told the committee that a total of $12.327 million had been spent on a number of projects for social cohesion and restoration of social services and infrastructure by UNDP, UNHABITAT, FAO, WHO, Unesco and UNHCR.

Senators emphasised bringing the local population of Fata in the national mainstream for their socio-economic uplift.

Senator Haji Ghulam Ali said thatthe government should take practical steps to encourage investors to set up businesses in Fata. He said some nongovernmental organisations (NGO), involved in relief projects, waste huge amounts of money in the name of salaries and organisational functions.

`There should be proper check and balance for projects being executed by NGOs,` he said.

The committee was also briefed aboutthe specialseatsreservedforstudents from Fata in various medical and engineering colleges and universities.

The committee members urged the government to increase reserved seats quota for the students from tribal areas.

`The students from Fata should be given 50 per cent quota in medical and engineering universities,` said Senator Ghulam Ali.

The committee also constituted a four member sub-committee to review development projects and to explore possibilities for the socio-economic uplift of tribal areas.

Senators Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Ahmed Hassan, Mufti Abdul Sattar, Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Nasir, Haji Ghulam Ali, and Minister for Safron Abdul Qadir Baloch attended the meeting.