PESHAWAR, May 23 (APP):Describing the proposed FATA-KP merger as a revolutionary step, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday said it would not only benefit the people of Federally Administered Tribal Areas but would also strengthen the country.
“I know there are different opinions on this subject, but the ultimate decision would be taken keeping in view the country’s interest as well as the aspirations of FATA people,” he said while addressing the inauguration ceremony of 132 KV Grid Station in Tehsil Jamrud of Khyber Agency.
The Prime Minister said consultation continued
on FATA-KP merger over the last three and half months and even today there was a lengthy meeting on subject, adding, the National Assembly and Senate would take the decision in the interest of the people of tribal areas.
He said it was a long process involving financial and administrative measures.
Under the proposed merger FATA would be provided Rs 100 billion per annum for the next ten years as against the current Rs. 25 billion to bring this area as well as the people at par with other areas of the country in terms of education, health, infrastructure and other facilities.
The Prime Minister said the revenue loss of FATA due to abolition of “Rahdari Tax” would be compensated through the provision of additional funds by the federal government.
He said Pakistan Army was extending full support in implementation of FATA reforms.
The Prime Minister said the grid station project was completed at a cost Rs 780 million. Currently power projects worth Rs 2 billion were underway in FATA, he said adding the PML-N believed in provision of equal rights to FATA as were available to other people across the country.
He said PML-N believed in practical work and took practical measures during the five year period in power. He said work on six-lane1700 kilometer Peshawar-Karachi Motorway was in progress which after completion would benefit the people of country in fast travelling.
The Prime Minister referred to his conversation with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and said a motorway from Peshawar to Kabul would be constructed, connecting Pakistan with the Central Asian States.
He said democracy was a pre-requisite for socio-economic development of the country and the present government of PML-N would continue strengthening democratic institution as well as democracy in the country.
The Prime Minister said the federal government had started survey of Tehsil Jamrud for the provision of natural gas, adding, since the Election Commission of Pakistan had banned the inauguration of development works, the project could not be initiated.
He said KP was self-sufficient in gas production and gas would be provided to Jamrud and Bara people.
On the demand of tribesmen for reduction in power outage, the Prime Minister urged the tribesmen to keep check on high losses feeders in FATA for uninterrupted power supply.
However, the Prime Minister added that Jamrud Grid Station would considerably reduce power outage and check low voltage issue in the agency.
Earlier upon his arrival Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Iqbal Zafar
Jhagra, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Murtaza Javed Abbasi and MNA Shah Gee Gul Afridi received the Prime Minister at the helipad.

ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Wednesday urged the interns of PM’s Youth Training Scheme to contribute maximum for the socioeconomic development of their country through hard work and dedication.
He said this during a meeting with the interns who accompanied by Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training and Chairperson PM’s Youth Programme Leila Khan, called on him here at PM Office for a feedback session on the scheme.
The interns, who met the prime minister, were fresh graduates and had completed master’s and BS degrees from different universities across the country.
The PML-N government launched the Prime Minister’s Youth Training Scheme as one of the six component schemes of Prime Minister’s Youth Programme in April-May 2016, in order to provide on-the-job professional training to fresh graduates for productive and more rewarding jobs in the labor market.
Graduates with16 years of education, 3-year Diploma in Associate Engineering or Shahadat ul Aalmiya from Wifaq ul Madaras were offered 12-month paid internship at Rs15,000 per month under the scheme.
So far 95,000 fresh graduates have been offered internship in various reputed public and private sector organizations/ departments under Phase-I and Phase-II of the scheme.
It was encouraging to note that majority of the successful interns have either got jobs or have started their own start ups.
The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the success of the scheme and praised the enthusiasm of young graduates.
The interns thanked the government for providing them an opportunity to gain valuable experience for their practical life.

ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP):Minister for Finance, Miftah Ismail on Wednesday hoped that work on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project will continue at the same pace during the next government.
“Our government is ending in a week’s time, and whosoever (either
we or somebody else) comes to the new government will continue the policies and
agenda set by the Pakistan Muslim League (N) government for the mega project,
because there is a national consensus on CPEC and all political parties are
owning this project as part of national interest,” he said while addressing the programme
titled “Investment Opportunities with CPEC,” organized by Board of Investment
here.
The minister said that the PML-N government had successfully
materialized CPEC as most of the early harvest projects of the corridor were
now completed or in the final stage.
However, he made it clear that the current government did not
work on the mega project for its political purposes but in greater national
interest.
He said during the current government’s tenure, the Pakistan’s economy had turned
around and its growth rate jumped from mere 3 percent in
2013 to 5.8 percent this year and it will further increase to 6.2 percent in
the year to come.
He said inflation remained controlled under 4 percent, and
electricity problem had also been resolved to a great extent after addition of 10,000
MW to the national grid.
He said projects of 25,000 MW additional electricity were in
the pipeline, which would be completed within 5 years.
“Our exports are increasing at a much faster pace and
Pakistan had now become the world’s 8th fastest export growing country
in the world,” he said adding that the increasing exports and declining imports
would help reduce current account deficit burden and the whole system would be
streamlined in next few months.
“We are leaving Pakistan economy in a much better shape
after removing two major impediments-energy and terrorism.”
“We have broken the back of terrorists and peace is
prevailing across the country including Karachi and Balochistan,” he remarked.
Meanwhile Chairman BOI, Naeem Zamindar said that Board had
introduced 75 major reforms to improve ease of doing business in Pakistan which
will help in attracting more Foreign Direct Investment in the country.
Appreciating the role of local private companies he said the
private sector was playing incredible role in the country’s economy.
Secretary Planning, Development and Reforms, Shoaib Siddiqui
said there was still a perception problem regarding Pakistan.
He stressed that the international investors should be conveyed
the true picture of Pakistan, which was now becoming more and more attractive
place for the foreign investors due to higher rate of returns.
He said the real estate sector and the industrial sectors
were the real dividend of Pakistan.
Secretary BOI, Smaira Nazir Siddiqui also gave detailed presentation on the mega CPEC project.

ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Wednesday witnessed signing of an agreement between Pakistan and Somalia for grant of US$ 10.5 million and provision of technical assistance for development of Somalia’s National Identification System.
The signing ceremony here at the Prime Minister Office was attended by Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr. Musadiq Malik, Secretaries of Finance and Interior Divisions, Chairman NADRA and senior officials.
The Somali side included Minister of State for Interior Abdullahi Farah Wehliye, Dr. Nur Derie Hersi, Head of ID project, Ambassador Khadija Mohamed Almakhzoumi and their senior officials.
As part of the initiative, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will develop and supply technology, software and equipment to enable the Government of Somalia to have a state-of-the-art national data and citizen registration system.
The ‘knowledge and technology’ transfer will also help Somalia in Border Management and Elections Management system.
The Somalian State Minister for Interior Abdullahi Farah Wehliye thanked the Government of Pakistan for its assistance in development of National ID System of Somalia.
Underscoring Pakistan-Somalia friendly relations, the State Minister said that opening of Pakistan’s Embassy in Mogadishu would further strengthen the friendly relations of the two countries.
Minister for Finance Dr. Miftah Ismail reciprocated the warm sentiments of the Somalian Minister and said that Pakistan valued its ties with the Government and people of Somalia.
A statement from the PM Office termed the signing of the NADRA contract a great significance and said it would help in further enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries.
The project complements the Government’s “Look Africa” policy for enhanced engagement with the African continent, the statement said.