Attaur Rahman Toorkhel
Fata has been governing under the colonial system since 1947. It has been a buffer zone and a hub of militancy for the last few decades. Since the inception of Pakistan, it has been kept undeveloped and marginalized. Every government in the country has just paid lip services to the inhabitants of FATA. It is an undeveloped in term of education, health, infrastructure etc. An area of seven million people is still a peripheral zone. Government is not serious to do something better for the development of the region.Education system in the area is miserable due to lack of education facilities. There is not a single university in the whole region, no medical college, and any other standard education institution. Students who complete their twelve years of education are compelled to leave the education. Therefore, literacy rate in the region is appalling.
After 9/11, the region sacrificed a lot due to war on terror. In the current waves of militancy the people of the region displaced from their home due to multiple military operations against terrorists groups.
They have been facing many problems especially since 9/11.
After the tragedy of 16 December 2014 of APS attack, the current civilian government and military decided to bring reforms in FATA. It has been mentioned in Point 12 of the NAP(National Action Plan) to mainstream FATA and bring development reforms. FATA mainstreaming was a key point in PML-N manifesto for election 2013. The current government of PML-N also formed a FATA reforms committee to propose a way forward for the mainstreaming of FATA. The committee visited all seven agencies and met with Jirgas of tribal elders, representatives of political parties, civil societies, traders, youth and journalists. The committee concluded that FATA can’t be retained a buffer zone for foreign aggression. The only viable option is its integration with Pakistan. They decided merger of FATA with KPK. The committee also recommended 3% share for FATA in the NFC award. They also recommended RS 90 billion extra money every year for next ten years.Unfortunately, already the long overdue reforms for FATA are being further delayed. It has been politicized by some politicians. The people of FATA had great expectation from the Ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, but he did nothing. Announcement of FATA reforms was expected on 14th August 2017, but still the government is not ready to honor its words.
A question arises that if all the political parties and military have the same opinion to bring reforms to FATA, then why it is further delayed. Why the region is being kept undeveloped any more. The current reforms for FATA are the need of the time, and in the betterment of the country. History will not forgive us if we didn’t bring any change to the land of FATA.
