From the bustling bazaars of Khyber to the rugged mountains of South Waziristan, the return of normal life, growing economic activity and children attending schools once again mark a new chapter of stability and progress for the people of the merged tribal districts.
Erstwhile FATA: Once deprived, now advancing towards prosperity
By Fakhar-e-Alam
PESHAWAR, July 26 (APP):From the bustling bazaars of Khyber to the rugged mountains of South Waziristan, the return of normal life, growing economic activity and children attending schools once again mark a new chapter of stability and progress for the people of the merged tribal districts.
The region is gradually transforming through an ambitious programme of development of communication infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and employment initiatives under the Prime Minister youth empowerment program aimed at improving lives of millions people.
For decades, the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) remained among Pakistan’s least developed regions and later suffered immensely from militancy and terrorism.
Schools, health facilities, markets and roads were damaged, businesses halted and thousands of families left their homes following increased incidents of terrorism.
After the restoration of peace and the constitutional merger of the tribal districts with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during tenure of PML-N, the federal and provincial governments have accelerated development efforts to integrate the once deprived region into the national economic mainstream.
Fresh investments under the Federal govt’ public sector development programme (PSDP) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s annual development programme (ADP) have focused on reconstruction of roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, drinking water schemes, digital connectivity, jobs creation for youth and livelihood opportunities for tribesmen in merged districts.
The Federal PSDP 2026–27 has allocated Rs. 233.39 billion for provinces & special areas, reaffirming the government of Pakistan’s commitment to inclusive and equitable development across the country.
Provincial projects gets share of Rs. 88.29 billion (37.8%), merged districts’ s Rs. 56.08 billion (24.0%) and special areas IE AJK & GB’s Rs. 89.02 billion (38.1% in PSDP 2026-27.
Besides expending construction work of Kurram-Tangi Dam in North Waziristan and completion of Gomal Zam dam of 17.4 MW in South Waziristan, the federal government expedited work on Mohmand dam costing Rs309.6 billion with capacity to produce 800MW electricity besides gross storage capacity of 1.293 million acres feet (MAF).
The major development projects completed in South Waziristan as part of the erstwhile FATA rehabilitation and merger uplift programs included the 17.4 MW Gomal Zam dam, Makeen Market Complex, and Sheikha Fatima Binte Mubarak hospital.
These strategic investments will accelerate infrastructure development, improve public services, strengthen regional connectivity and promote balanced socio-economic progress across Pakistan.
Officials said these key initiatives are intended not only to improve public services but also to reduce regional disparities and create sustainable economic opportunities for local communities.
Shah G Gul Afridi, former MNA from Khyber district said the FATA-KP merger was a turning point for the tribal districts.
“The constitutional merger was not merely an administrative exercise rather it created the framework for extending policing, judicial institutions and public services while opening the door for accelerated socio-economic development in erstwhile FATA,” he told APP.
In fact, he said the merger had paved the way for fast track development through greater investment especially for development of its infrastructure, roads, bridges, education, agriculture and healthcare system.
He said police stations were established and judicial system extended besides forts constructed and the western border was fenced to stop infiltration of unwanted elements from
Afghanistan.
The improved road networks, public infrastructure and strengthened border management had enhanced connectivity and created a more conducive environment for investment and economic activity.
For residents, however, development is measured less in statistics than in everyday experiences. In villages where damaged schools have been rebuilt, children now walk to classrooms instead of traveling long distances.
Farmers who once struggled to transport produce are benefiting from improved road access, while new health facilities are reducing the need for patients to travel to major cities for basic treatment.
Professor Dr Jamil Ahmed, Director Conflict and Strategic Studies at University of Peshawar believed that poverty and unemployment remains the major challenge if addressed can help strengthen peace efforts and accelerate pace of development in erstwhile FATA.
“Peace becomes sustainable only when tribal people have dignified jobs. Roads and buildings are important, but real thing is education, industries, vocational training and private investment for sustainable development in merged districts where people suffered of menace of terrorism,” he said.
He said that enrollment of out of schools children, establishment of vocational educational centers at tensile level, infrastructure projects and support for small businesses would help creating jobs for local youth while encouraging entrepreneurship.
Agriculture and livestock continue to serve as the backbone of the local economy in tribal belt where government-supported initiatives are promoting modern farming techniques.
The development schemes especially completed in irrigation, livestock improvement and forest conservation are helping farmers improve productivity and household incomes. Green growth projects and livestock development schemes have also created seasonal employment in several districts.
Ahmad Jalil, Chief Conservator of Forests KP said that a comprehensive afforestation plan was chalked out to being maximum areas in erstwhile FATA under forestry cover during monsoon plantation.
He said 1.4 million saplings plantation target has been set for Pakistan Independence Day under which maximum plants will be sown in erstwhile FATA where vast land is available.
The initiative will help provide thousands of green jobs to tribal youth besides turned the once hitherto region was lush green.
Education experts described primary schools is the foundation of long-term peace and financial empowerment.
Shahab Khan, a senior planning officer in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Department, said rebuilding educational infrastructure, improving education standards, stipends to talented students and bringing out of schools children into schools net remains a top Govt priority in erstwhile FATA.
“Federal and provincial governments, along with development partners, are working to strengthen schools of furniture and improve basic services to increase enrollment, particularly for girls in tribal belt. Every child who returns to school represents an investment in lasting peace and economic stability.”
He said scholarship programmes and financial assistance for deserving families were enabling more students to continue their education while investments in technical and vocational training were equipping youth with marketable skills.
Besides the establishment of 100 early childhood centers (ECE) centers in Kurram and Orkazai districts last year, he said 1600 ECE centers would be established through GPE funding in the next five years while 100 ECE rooms to be set up through KP-HICP under which 250 have already been established.
Shahab said the ECE policy was ready for approval while teaching materials including teachers’ guidebook and handbook for ECE mode of learning were also prepared, adding transformation of Katchi into ECE was in progress besides the completion of training of 790 master trainers and 425 teachers on ECE.
The official said the voucher stipend program was launched to enroll talented out-of-school children in private schools.
Besides the disbursement of over Rs2.4 billion among female students with 80pc attendance in schools of underprivileged areas, Shahab said stipend programs for retention of poor students were launched yielding positive results.
According to development officials, significant allocations have been earmarked for the merged districts under both federal and provincial development programmes.
The funding is intended to accelerate infrastructure projects, strengthen public services and improve regional connectivity, while the Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP) seeks to address long-standing development gaps.
The economic development plan envisages dozens of key initiatives aimed at strengthening education, skills development of students, infrastructure and local economic growth across the merged districts.
“Our objective is to translate development spending into tangible improvements in people’s lives by expanding opportunities for education, employment and business,” he said.
Large infrastructure schemes, including strategic road corridors and water resource projects, will further improve connectivity, facilitate trade and support agriculture.
Officials believed such investments will encourage industrial growth, attract private investors and strengthen economic links with other parts of the province.
Political leaders and development experts alike agreed that the pace of progress must be sustained through transparent implementation, community participation and continued investment in human development.
While several challenges remain, they said the vital transformation in terms of socioeconomic progress and arresting poverty and unemployment already visible across the merged districts reflects the strong commitment of Government and resilience of the tribal people to build a more peaceful and prosperous future.
For many families, prosperity is no longer an abstract promise but a hope reflected in newly established schools, paved roads, functioning colleges, expanding markets and the aspirations of a younger generation determined to shape a better tomorrow.
As development gathers momentum, the merged districts stand at a critical juncture where lasting peace and inclusive economic growth can reinforce one another, offering fresh opportunities to a region that has endured decades of hardship.
