ISLAMABAD, Oct 29 (APP): Minister for State and
Frontier Regions (SAFRON) and focal person on Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) Lt. Gen.(R) Abdul Qadir Baloch has
said that return of IDPs to their homes was top priority of the
government and steps were being taken in this regard.
Talking to a news channel, he said the operation Zarb-e-Azb
was going on successfully and most of the areas have been
cleared of terrorists. He said an amount of Rs 10 billion had been released to restore
infrastructure, damaged during the operation in tribal areas.
The minister said about 44% of total IDPs have been sent back
to their homes while arrangements were being made for repatriating
others. He said 81,000 families of Bara tehsil have been shifted to their
homes with 16,000 remaining who will soon be sent to their homes. There were total 27,000 IDPs of Orakzai Agency while out of them, 10,000 have been returned to their homes.
“The federal government has spent an amount of Rs 120
billion for financial assistance to the IDPs as Rs 12,000 were being
given to each family”, he said, adding, “Rs 80 billion are
allocated in budget this year for IDPs”.
He informed that Rs 0.04 million would be given to each
family for construction of homes in their respective areas.
The SAFRON Minister said that sacrifices of the Armed
Forces to restore peace in tribal areas are being acknowledged
at national and international level.
Replying to a question about returning of Afghan refugees,
Abdul Qadir said Pakistan and Afghan government has signed a
agreement for return of Afghan Refugees.
Pakistan's National News Agency
