Islamabad, (Parliament Times) : Meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) was held here at Old PIPS Hall, Parliament Lodges on Monday with Senator Hilal-ur-Rehman in Chair.
The Senate body discussed the non implementation of commitments made by Federal Government during 25th Constitutional Amendment for mainstreaming of merged districts of erstwhile FATA. Sohail Khan, DG Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) KPk, apprised the committee that Federal Government made commitment of 1 Trillion rupees for development of erstwhile FATA in 10 years with Rs.100 Billion per annum but Federal Government has only released Rs. 85.5 Billion in last four years and currently there is deficit of Rs.314.5 Billion. He further added that if Federal Government released all the promised funds then it will help only in completion of ongoing projects.
Moreover, as to current status regarding rehabilitation of TDPs and payment of compensation of damages in merged districts. Ali Akbar, Deputy Secretary Finance Division, informed the committee that federal government has released Rs. 112 Billion against the promised Rs. 95 Billion. However, the finance division recommended the Relief department to conduct audit of funds allocated so far but the concerned failed to do so in the last two years and due to non compliance of recommendation finance division has stopped the allocation of fund. The Chairman suggested that forensic audit should be made of all funds allocated to erstwhile FATA so far.
The Committee was also briefed about the Geo tagging of ongoing projects which was recommended by committee in it’s previous meeting. Senator Hilal ur Rehman appreciated the KPK Government for this initiative and formed a Sub-Committee to expedite the progress on these projects.
While discussing the utilisation of funds allocated to Irrigation Department of KPK for Tribal District Mohmand and Banjaur in the last three years. Senator Hilal ur Rehman remarked that according to documents provided by irrigation department in last meeting, a total of Rs.86 crores have been utilised and twelve schemes have been completed but as of current details which is submitted by same department shows that only six schemes have been completed so far. The Chair directed the irrigation department to submit all the details relating to projects supervised by irrigation department in the next meeting.
Furthermore, the senate committee was also briefed about the current status of Rural Health Centre located in village Shindad, Kohat, which was found in deserted condition on surprise visit by Senator Shammim Afridi. Abid Ullah Kakakhel, Special Secretary Health KPK, apprised the committee that SNE (Sanctioned New Establishment) has moved to Finance Department on the critera of Rural Health Centre. He further added that equipment and furniture worth Rs. 6.16 Million have been purchased, different posts have been created to fulfill the necessary staff requirements and Rural Health Centre will be functionalized as soon as recruitment process completed.
The meeting was attended by Senator Dost Muhammad Khan,Senator Gurdeep Singh,Senator Sania Nishtar,Senator Shamim Afridi, Senator Haji Hidayat Ullah Khan, Senator Hidayat Ullah, Secretary SAFRON Pervaiz Ahmed Junejo and officials of other concerned departments were also in attendance.