ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP):Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Tribal Affairs Mubarak Zeb Khan on Wednesday called for a significant increase in development funds for the merged tribal districts to address longstanding socio-economic challenges in the region. Participating in the National Assembly’s budget debate, he said the preparation of the federal budget under prevailing economic constraints was a difficult exercise and congratulated the government on its presentation. Speaking on …
Mubarak Zeb seeks enhanced budgetary support for tribal areas’ uplift
ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP):Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Tribal Affairs Mubarak Zeb Khan on Wednesday called for a significant increase in development funds for the merged tribal districts to address longstanding socio-economic challenges in the region.
Participating in the National Assembly’s budget debate, he said the preparation of the federal budget under prevailing economic constraints was a difficult exercise and congratulated the government on its presentation.
Speaking on behalf of the tribal districts, he said he was fully aware of the region’s pressing issues, including poverty, unemployment, security challenges, and inadequate access to quality education and healthcare.
Citing development indicators, he added that Bajaur remained among the poorest districts in the country, while Mohmand was also ranked among the most underdeveloped areas.
He added that several districts in the merged tribal region, as well as parts of southern Balochistan, faced similar socio-economic conditions.
The SAPM recalled that prior to the 2018 merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, commitments had been made to allocate substantial annual development funds for the uplift of the region.
However, he said those pledges had yet to be fully implemented despite the passage of eight years.
He pointed out that the merged districts had received far less development funding than promised, which had slowed rehabilitation and development efforts.
In this year’s budget, he said, Rs27 billion had been allocated for the tribal districts, terming the amount insufficient to meet their needs.
Mubarak Zeb Khan urged the government to raise the allocation to Rs100 billion to accelerate development projects and ensure the region received its due share of resources.
He said the people of the tribal districts had made immense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, enduring displacement and significant economic losses.
“These are the people who have borne the brunt of terrorism and instability. The question is how much longer they will have to wait for the fulfillment of promises made to them,” he added.
He further called for the merged districts to be granted their rightful share under the NFC Award, describing it as a constitutional, legal, and moral obligation.
He urged the House to take a historic step by ensuring adequate financial resources for the uplift and prosperity of the tribal districts, adding that people in the region expected practical implementation of commitments that would improve living standards and integrate the area into the national economic mainstream.
