PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Task Force (PTF) on tribal districts on Monday decided to merge Malakand Levies with the province`s police force.

The decision was made during a meeting chaired by caretaker Chief Minister Mohammad Azam Khan here.

The other participants included ministers Aamir Abdullah and Barrister Feroz Jamal Shah Kakakhel, Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Hassan Azhar Hayat, chief secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, inspector general of police Akhtar Hayat Khan and other senior officials.

They examined social sector development projects, matters related to the capacity building of the police, initiatives for economic revival, and matters related to tribal districts, according to an official statement issued here.The PTF decided that a committee headed by the additional chief secretary (home) would come up with workable recommendations after looking into the legalandtechnicalaspectsoftheabsorption of Malakand Levies in the police force.

It also decided to build the capacity of the police in tribal districts to enable them to effectively deal with the prevailing law and order situation and said special measures would be taken to `strengthen the police in all aspects, including transport, communication and training.

The force directed authorities to take necessary steps to absorb the remaining Levies and Khasadar personnel in the police force and expedite appointment of personnel to the sanctioned vacant police posts.

They were also told to take measures for raising the Elite Force in those areas and making arrangements for professional training.

The forum agreed to the provision of required funds for the capacity building of police in tribal areas on priority basis.

It decided to withdraw police personnel deputed with unauthorised individuals for security purposes, and the quar-ters concerned were directed to prepare a list of all such unauthorised deployment.

The PTF decided in principle to establish a high-security prison at the provincial level, whereas those quarters were directed to expedite the process of establishing a forensic science laboratory and implementation of the Safe City Peshawar project.

It decided to create the required posts of district administrations and relevant departments for the newly-created Upper South Waziristan district.

The forum decided to take up with the Peshawar High Court the issue of shifting judicial officers and other staff to South and North Waziristan and Orakzai tribal districts.

It reviewed progress on the land settlement project in tribal districts and directed authorities to engage the local tribal elders for consultation and come up with workable proposals to settle land disputes causing law and order situation in some areas.

The PTF was also briefed about the proposed Socio-Economic Development Plan for tribal districts. It decided that the steering committee constituted for tribal districts would put final touches tothe plan and present it for formal approval.

The forum stressed the need for the renewal of contracts of eight outsourced hospitals on public-private partnership basis in tribal districts to ensure the provision of quality healthcare to residents On the occasion, the chief minister said speedy development of tribal districts was one of the top priorities of his government.

He said that special attention and measures were required to bring those backward areas on a par with other developed parts of the province.

Mr Khan said the province was heavily dependent on federal transfers for its revenue but due to the nonpayment of its due funds under various heads by the federal government, the provincial government was facing a financial crisis, which was badly affecting the overall development of the province, especially that of tribal areas.

`The provincial government has been taking up the funding issue with the federal government since its formation and will continue to do so to steer the province out of financial crisis, he said.