JEDDAH, 21 June 2007 — Afghan refugees in Pakistan will be repatriated to their home country soon because their presence has weighed heavily on the economy and deprived local people of jobs and other basic facilities, North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Governor, retired Lt. Gen. Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai said here yesterday.
Addressing tribal elders at the Consulate General of Pakistan, the governor said the government would launch a number of development projects in NWFP and in tribal areas such as Waziristan, Bajaur and Khyber agencies. The government wants to develop the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) that have been neglected in the past. A large sum has been earmarked in the current budget for the development of the region, he said.
The area is rich in natural resources. It has copper mines, precious stones and huge reserves of coal but unfortunately, according to the governor, no effort was made in the past to exploit the natural resources. “We are surveying the land and have invited USAID, UNICEF and other international organizations to help us exploit the resources,” Aurakzai said.
A new “marble” city will be built in FATA and a 300-acre plot has been allocated for the purpose. Plots measuring one acre each will be given free of cost to the first 100 entrepreneurs who build their factories in the area. The project will generate jobs for a large number of people, he said. The governor admitted that law and order problems had held back industrial development in the region. He said the fencing of Afghan border was meant to check the infiltration of those who cause trouble. “The move will improve the law and order situation in the province,” he said.
“We have deployed 90,000 troops to patrol a 1,500-kilometer porous border and prevent insurgents from crossing over to either side. We have launched operations against foreign militants in our area that have claimed the lives of 700 army personnel,” Aurakzai said.
