KP’s merged districts stuck in yet another bureaucratic quagmire

Irfan Khan

PESHAWAR: The merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province in 2018 was hailed as a historic step to end decades of marginalization and conflict. However, the implementation of the reforms has been slow and inadequate, leaving the tribal people in a state of uncertainty and frustration.

The federal and KP governments have failed to provide sufficient funds, personnel, infrastructure, and security for the newly merged districts. The justice system remains inaccessible and ineffective, while the informal jirgas continue to operate without legal oversight. The tribal people still lack basic services, such as education, health, and electricity.

In May, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had established a federal steering committee to provide additional powers to the deputy commissioners to achieve economic development goals in tribal areas. The provincial government had referred a 33-point agenda of the Provincial Task Force meeting related to issues in tribal areas to various administrative secretaries. However, despite the passage of three months, almost all departments could not fulfill their tasks within the prescribed time as envisaged at the Provincial Task Force meeting.

According to the minutes of the Provincial Task Force meeting held on May 22, the home secretary was tasked to prepare a comprehensive plan to establish courts in North and South Waziristan, recruitment of personnel, and residential facilities with the consultation of the advocate general and the Peshawar High Court. The home secretary had been directed to present the case before the apex committee regarding the granting of additional powers to the deputy commissioners (formerly political agents) and consult with the finance secretary and secretary C&NW regarding land acquisition for the establishment of a jail.

The chief secretary had been tasked with formulating procedures for new projects with the federal government. Additionally, the chief secretary was supposed to liaise with the federal government regarding the establishment of a federal-level steering committee for tribal areas.

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The additional chief secretary had been instructed to prepare an economic development plan, including projects related to health, education, and unemployment, and forward it to the chief secretary. The additional chief secretary for planning and development and the secretary for elementary and secondary education had been directed to initiate a comprehensive plan to transform Governor Model Schools into Government Model Schools through public-private partnerships, establish eight district and 16 tehsil complexes in tribal areas, and address the matter of acquiring land for the Gomal Zam Dam Authority through the Provincial Task Force.

The secretary for elementary and secondary education had been tasked with implementing a four-year programme to provide jobs to students, preparing a comprehensive educational plan for tribal areas before sending it separately to the chief secretary. To expedite work on the United Nations project for land determination in connection with international development, the senior member Board of Revenue had been instructed to complete work with the board at the earliest.

The Provincial Task Force had directed the treasury secretary to prepare a summary for conducting CLC (cost of living calculations) from federal funds for the Inspector General of Police. Additionally, instructions had been given to the treasury secretary to consult with the secretary for finance and secretary C&NW regarding land acquisition for the establishment of check posts from Bannu to Miranshah and the expansion and improvement of the Tulli-Parachinar Road and the construction of National Logistic Cell (NLC) check posts in Gomal Zam Industrial Estate. The secretary of excise had been directed to resolve the issue of inclusion of 145 excise department personnel in the police immediately.

Furthermore, the district police officer and deputy commissioner of Khyber had been instructed to expedite land acquisition for the establishment of a check post and a district complex.

In Bajaur, regarding the establishment of an Industrial Estate, the secretary of industries had been directed to expedite the matter related to the required funds through consultation with the treasury secretary.

The secretary for local government had been instructed to consult with the treasury secretary on the matter of acquiring land for public-private partnership in local government.

When it comes to performance management and monitoring of administrative secretaries, commissioners, deputy commissioners, and other officials, the PMRU (Performance Management and Reforms Unit) under the chief secretary’s office was to oversee tribal areas’ affairs.

The additional chief secretary for industries had been directed to expedite work on the establishment of an agricultural park in Bajaur, including projects for agriculture, forests, livestock, technical education, and small businesses.

Moreover, the secretary for health had been instructed to resolve issues related to the provision of health and education facilities in Amb, Boysi, and Khaisor, including feasibility reports for the construction of Shahra and Peshawar Road to Chinar Shahra and sending the matter of linking Modern Industrial Estate from Bannu to Miranshah to National Logistic Cell (NLC) for consultation.

The secretary for agriculture and the secretary for agriculture had been instructed to initiate a feasibility study for land acquisition in tribal areas.

In relation to the oversight of commissioners, deputy commissioners, and administrative secretaries, the PMRU was tasked to oversee performance management and monitoring of administrative secretaries, commissioners, deputy commissioners, and other officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, from Mardan to Miranshah.

As for the matters related to the steering committee at the federal level for tribal areas, the chief secretary was to liaise with the federal government. The additional chief secretary has been tasked with preparing an economic development plan, including projects related to health, education, and unemployment, and forwarding them to the chief secretary.

The chief secretary had been tasked with formulating procedures for new projects with the federal government. Additionally, the chief secretary was supposed to liaise with the federal government regarding the establishment of a federal-level steering committee for tribal areas.

In a bid to enhance administrative efficiency and address various issues in the tribal regions, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had taken several significant steps, including the establishment of an excise department, the creation of a treasury in Malakand, and the conversion of a rental building into an Excise Police Station in Khyber and Kurram districts.

The secretary of planning and development had been tasked with completing multiple projects in the Khyber district, including the construction of economic uplift schemes in bazaars, improvements to infrastructure such as roads and public health engineering, municipal projects, agriculture, forestry, livestock, technical education, and small businesses.

Moreover, the secretary of local government had been tasked to collaborate with the treasury department to acquire lands for local government purposes and secure funding for district complexes in Shah Kas, Khyber. This initiative aimed to streamline local governance and infrastructure development in the tribal region.

Efforts to strengthen the police force were also part of the scheme with a focus on the inclusion of 145 constables in the police department. Additionally, district police officers and deputy commissioners in Khyber had received directives to expedite the establishment of check posts and resolve land disputes in check post areas promptly.

Several other initiatives had been part of the scheme such as providing funding for feasible reports in Ambar, Baizai and Khwezai tehsils in district Mohmand to improve health and education facilities. The secretary of health and the secretary of elementary and secondary education had been assigned this task.

Furthermore, the secretary of agriculture had been directed to work on obtaining APZ (agricultural processing cone) status for the Zarai Park project in Wana, South Waziristan.

Performance Management and Reforms Unit (PMRU) Director Shozaib had been tasked to liaise with various stakeholders, including the chief secretary’s office and the provincial secretariat.

It noted that the progress and implementation of these measures were contingent on the outcomes and reports submitted by the respective secretaries during the next provincial task force meeting. Additionally, efforts were also to be made to convene a steering committee meeting to further assess and advance the objectives set for tribal areas.

PMRU director Shozaib said that matters related to tribal areas were overseen by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

When the CM Secretariat was contacted, an official from the development section stated on the condition of anonymity that the progress report on tasks assigned to administrative secretaries would be forwarded to the CM Secretary’s office. When contacted, Shahabuddin Khan, a former member of the National Assembly hailing from Bajaur and a member of the federal-level steering committee, said that a meeting of the federal steering committee has not yet been convened.