Islamabad (May 02, 2018): Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the process of mainstreaming FATA will be completed by the end of the current term of the National Assembly.
Speaking in the National Assembly this evening (Wednesday), he said consultations will be made with representatives of the parliamentary parties to this effect.
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Giving details of some decisions for the objective, the Prime Minister said Agency Development Fund has been abolished from today (Wednesday).
He said local bodies elections in FATA will be held by October this year.
Similarly, he said timeframe for elections of provincial and National Assembly seats will be decided after consultation with all political parties.
The Prime Minister said the government is committed to provide one thousand billion rupees in ten years as envisaged in the FATA reforms report in addition to the funds being provided to the tribal areas.
He said the government will take every step for equalization of FATA with other parts of the country.
PM Abbasi added that the peace and security situation in FATA was satisfactory and that the government would take all parliamentary leaders into confidence regarding the reforms.
The prime minister visited North Waziristan Agency with Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday, where he inaugurated the newly-constructed Miranshah Market Complex and Ghulam Khan Trade Terminal as part of the Central Trade Corridor.
PM Abbasi said on the occasion that these socioeconomic projects were just the beginning and many more such projects were in the pipeline for FATA, in addition to the ones which had been completed or were in progress across tribal areas.
He also said that mainstreaming of FATA was key to its long-term progress and prosperity, for which the government had been working in line with the aspirations of tribal people.
Earlier, the National Assembly opened debate today (Wednesday) on federal budget for the next fiscal year.
Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah opening the discussion said country is facing huge problems due to rising population and declining natural resources.
He said proper policies have not been devised to overcome the problems being faced by the populace. Criticizing the appointment of Finance Minister, he said his party rejects the budget as unconstitutional.
Opposition Leader said the government took huge loans and put additional burden on the masses of the country. Syed Khursheed Shah said parliament is a supreme institution and its sanctity should be upheld by all. He said it is need of the hour that all politicians make unanimous decisions on issues of national importance.
He said government has to pay 14 percent interest on circular debt each year which could not be managed over the course of last five years. Leader of the Opposition in Lower House of the Parliament said the budget deficit is widening. He said in 2013, debt to GDP ratio was 60 percent which is now close to 70 percent and above the legal ratio allowed by the parliament through legislation.
Syed Khursheed Shah said government claimed to give 184 billion rupees relief to the people but on the other hand it put a burden of four hundred billion rupees in petroleum levy and other taxes.
The House today unanimously passed a resolution against abusive language used by some Ministers for PTI women.
Speaking on the issue, MNA Shireen Mazari of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf said remarks by some politicians against PTI women are deplorable and such things do not suit opinion leaders.
Shazia Murree of PPP said the problem is of mindset. The women are being under-estimated. She condemned the remarks against women.
MNA Tahira Aurangzeb of PML-N said Islam gives high value to respect and dignity of women. She said Chief Minister Punjab apologized for remarks made by a provincial minister.
Ayesha Syed of Jamat-e-Islami said the stature of women is high in our society and we should avoid targeting them in our political statements.
Shahida Akhtar of JUI-F said woman is respectable in every role and her degradation should be condemned.
The House will now meet tomorrow (Thursday) at 10:30 in the morning.
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