Peshawar — On his first visit to North Waziristan on Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan has “fought an imposed war inside our country,” and vowed that the country would not fight any such war again on its soil.
“We have fought an imposed war inside our country as our war at a very heavy cost of sweat & blood and loss to our socio-economic fibre,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) quoted PM as saying.
Prime Minister Imran had travelled to Miranshah earlier in the day accompanied by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan. This was his first visit to the newly-merged tribal districts of North Waziristan.
Addressing a combined jirga of tribal elders of both North and South Waziristan, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan and its armed forces have done in the war against terrorism which no other country did.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Imran said that Pakistan will play its “role in the Afghan peace process along with other stakeholders as peace in Afghanistan is critical for achieving enduring peace in Pakistan”.
The prime minister also lauded the people of erstwhile FATA for “courageously facing challenging and difficult times of terrorism,” the ISPR said.
Announcement
Announcing various welfare and development projects in the tribal districts, PM announced 3 % of NFC share by all provinces for merged districts, early conduct of Local Bodies and Provincial Elections to ensure transfer of power to grass root level.
“A new Pakistan is in the making,” the prime minister concluded.
He also announced Police Reforms and resolve to address all concerns of Levies and Khasadars by ensuring their jobs security.
PM announced Medical College along with Hospital for North Waziristan District (NWD) and South Waziristan District (SWD), University for NWD, Army Cadet College for NWD, health Insurance Cards to residents of merged districts, Tele-medics system to fulfill deficiencies of specialist doctors.
The PM also announced mega share from jobs for merged Dists as offered by Qatar, enrolment in Police and Frontier Corps, special quota for underdeveloped regions (Almost double to existing), restoration of cellular service in NWD and SWD, loan for house building, effort to address issue of load-shedding, NADRA facilitation to ensure speedy CNIC process and solar panels for mosques.
The premier announced provision of interest-free loans, provision of computers and development of sports grounds.
Meeting with Jirga
According to reports, the tribal jirga demanded the government launch a housing scheme in North Waziristan. They also sought funds for the construction of a college in Miranshah, and a university and grid station in North Waziristan.
They also called for more funds for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and reconstruction of the homes destroyed.
PM and COAS arrived N. Waziristan
Earlier upon arrival in Miranshah, the ISPR said that PM Imran laid a floral wreath at the Martyrs’ Monument.
The PM was briefed in detail about the operations conducted, ongoing stability operations, rehabilitation of TDPs, socio-economic development projects and fencing along Pak-Afghan border, the army’s media wing said.
The premier also visited Ghulam Khan Border terminal and witnessed the border fencing.
