Pakistani PM announces development projects on his first visit to North Waziristan

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses a gathering in North Waziristan on April 21, 2022. (Screengrab from a video shared by PM Office)

• Tribal elders thank Sharif for visiting their region only two weeks after taking charge of his office
• PM says people of tribal districts have given great sacrifices and the country owes them a lot

PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced several development projects while addressing a gathering of tribal elders during his first visit to North Waziristan only two weeks after assuming the top political office of the country.
The area witnessed a military operation in 2014 since militants had found sanctuary in its craggy mountains and were launching suicide attacks in different parts of Pakistan.
Sharif was accompanied by some of his close cabinet members and Mohsin Dawar, a parliamentarian from the same region.
Dawar welcomed the prime minister while speaking on behalf of his constituents.
“All problems will be resolved with mutual consultations and understanding,” Sharif said while addressing a local jirga. “Elders of Miran Shah [a central town in North Waziristan] will be asked to come to Islamabad to seek solutions to their problems. We will also build a mobile van hospital and Danish Public School for children in North Waziristan. In addition to that, the government will establish a university and a medical college here.”
According to a statement issued by the PM Office, Sharif said the people of tribal districts had given great sacrifices and the country owed them a lot.
He added that his government would not let their sacrifices go to waste.
“Our priority will be to ensure civic facilities for local community at power with rest of Pakistan,” he continued.
Dawar said he had requested the prime minister to visit his constituency soon after the change of government in Pakistan.
“You know our region faces daunting security challenges, but we are extremely thankful to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who announced Danish School, medical college, a university and a mobile health care service for people of remote and inaccessible areas,” he added.
Earlier, Sharif was given a detailed briefing on the overall security situation along with infrastructure development and other projects of public welfare upon his arrival in the area.
A tribal elder Ihtisham Dawar told Arab News that people of North Waziristan were grateful to the prime minister for prioritizing their region, adding his visit “will be like a balm on our wounds because we have experienced insecurity, terrorism and the vicious cycle of violence for over a decade.”
He said such visits by senior government functionaries could help remove deprivations of people and ensure peace and development in the area.
The PM Office said in its statement the tribal elders assured the prime minister of their full support for peace, stability and prosperity of Pakistan.