Fata-KP merger will give tribesmen rights being enjoyed by other compatriots: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday said the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) would help provide tribesmen rights being enjoyed by people of other areas of the country.

Giving credit to his party for the historic merger, he said it was a distinction of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) that during its term the 70-year-old system prevailing in Fata was going to be abolished with the adoption of 31st Constitution Amendment by the parliament.

The Senate on Friday approved the Constitution Amendment Bill, 2018 with majority for the merger of the Fata with KP.

The constitution amendment bill has already been passed by the National Assembly with a two-third majority.

Read More: Historic Fata-KP merger bill sails through Senate

It will now be tabled in the provincial assembly of KP for approval before it is sent to the president for endorsement.

According to the amendment, the number of seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly will increase to 145 from existing 124. Fata will be granted 16 general seats, four seats for women and one seat for non-Muslims in KP Assembly.

PM Abbasi also said the ruling party had implemented unprecedented development projects in various sectors across the country.

Addressing inaugural ceremony of a gas supply scheme in Mananwala near Sheikhupura this afternoon (Friday), he said the development work carried out during the last five years was more than that of the past 65 years.

The premier said a network of roads and motorways had been laid across the country; energy projects had been materialized; educational institutions established; new airports inaugurated, and new ports were being developed.

He said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would prove a milestone in development of the country. He said the people who changed their political loyalties only served their own interests instead of interest of the country.

The prime minsiter also announced various development projects for the area, including status of Tehsil for Mananwala, girls degree college in Manawala and construction of stadium and different roads in the area.

PM addresses groundbreaking ceremony in Kala Shah Kaku

Addressing at the groundbreaking ceremony of Overhead Project at the Imamia Colony Railway Crossing near Kala Shah Kaku this evening, the PM said that that project would be completed at a cost of Rs2 billion and facilitate over one million local residence on daily basis.

He said that the project would be completed at a cost of Rs2 billion and facilitate over one million local residence on daily basis.

Read More: PM rules out external pressure behind FATA merger legislation

The prime minister said the PML-N fulfilled its promises made to public.

He said that present government took serious measures to overcome power crisis and added a total of ten thousand megawatts of electricity to the national grid during last five years.

“Work has been initiated to power projects with capacity of twenty five thousand megawatts of electricity which will ensure no shortage of electricity for the next twenty years,” he said.

Criticizing PTI on announcing a plan for first 100 days, he said that those who could not deliver in 1500 days, cannot deliver in 100 days either.

Earlier, the prime minister laid the foundation stone of the Overhead Bridge Project.