ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (retd) Nasir-ul-Mulk on Monday chaired a meeting to review progress on the implementation of the Fata reforms.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Law Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, secretary to the PM, secretaries of SAFRON, Finance and Planning Divisions, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ACS Fata and other senior officials.
KP chief secretary Muhammad Azam Khan gave a detailed briefing on the progress so far made towards implementation of the Fata reforms and pointed out various administrative, legal and financial issues that needed immediate attention to ensure the Fata reforms.
He said the agencies and frontier regions have been re-designated as districts and sub divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the posts of political agents and assistant political agents have been re-designated as deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners.
It was informed that with the abolition of Agency Development Fund, collection of all taxes/ levy and rahdaries has been stopped.
The meeting was informed that draft plans for extension of judiciary, policing, prosecution and prisons service in the tribal districts have also been prepared.
An official of the Federal Board of Revenue briefed the meeting about tax exemptions and other financial incentives that have been provided to the people of erstwhile Fata and Pata for the next five years.
Finance secretary informed the moot about financial allocations for development of the region and ensuring smooth implementation of the merger process.
PM Mulk in his remarks said the Fata-KP merger was a landmark development that will go long way in development and bringing a marked improvement in the lives of the people.
He stressed the need for addressing important administrative, legal and financial issues in this regard.
A committee was also constituted under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and comprising of Chief Secretary KP Mr. Muhammad Azam Khan, Advocate General KP, Home Secretary KP, ACS Fata, and representatives of the Finance, Revenue and Planning Divisions, to formulate a strategy for removing bottlenecks and making the merger process seamless.
The committee was directed to complete its work at the earliest. The prime minister emphasized that the process of transition should be completed swiftly and it must provide a sense of security to the people of the erstwhile tribal areas.
 Nasir-ul-Mulk on Monday chaired a meeting to review progress on the implementation of the Fata reforms.){kind=link}