The provincial and local government elections should be held immediately in the new tribal districts, also the funds allocated for the development of FATA under NFC Award must be transferred without any delay to foster peace and prosperity in the region. These were the remarks made by the former MNA and PML-N representative Shahabuddin Khan Salarzai during a consultative meeting on Mainstreaming FATA – The Way Forward Post Merger with KP, organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in Peshawar on August 10, 2018. The money allocated under NFC Award for FATA – Rs.100 billion – will be critical to not only address the disgruntled tribal people’s grievances, make up for their 70 years long deprivation but also to foster socio-political, and economic development and last but not the least capital formation in the area. The allocation augurs well for better education and health facilities in the region. The tribal people should also give up old ways of thinking and backward traditions and adapt to the perspectives of modern age; such as harmony and peace. The tribal elders and chieftains should educate their children to help them compete with the counterparts; compatriots from other parts of the country.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s parliamentarians, Mr. Sajid Momand and Iqbal Afridi said that their party would take steps for the repealing of the new FATA Interim Governance Regulation, as it was completely in contrast to the democratic ideals enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan. Recognizing the services and sacrifices of Khasadar force for peace in ex-FATA, they suggested that instead of laying off the cadre, it should be merged into the levy force given the economic reliance of thousands of families on the employment opportunities offered by the force. They called for the application and implementation of the Constitution of Pakistan to the tribal areas in letter and spirit.

Senior journalist and analyst, Dr. Ashraf Ali termed the CRSS consultation a very timely intervention to discuss the way forward for ex-FATA after its merger KP. He said that both media and civil society should also play their role in bringing ex-FATA and its tribesmen and women at par with the rest of the country. Both PPP and PML-N have done their part in mainstreaming FATA, now its PTI’s turn to make its contributions for mainstreaming FATA and speedy development in the region.

CRSS Executive Director, Mr. Imtiaz Gul said that tribal youth needs opportunities for active and effective participation in the democratic processes and national socio-political life. There is a dire need for the delegation of powers to the democratic representatives of the tribal region, as an essential prerequisite for democratic development. The task ahead is to identify, articulate and amplify the strategies to bring FATA at par with other regions. While the prompt transfer of funds allocated under NFC Award is important, the absorption capacity of these funds must also be one of the core considerations.

The other participants – including Ms.  Shagufta Malik, Dr. Noreen Naseer, Mr. Zahir Shah, Ibrahim Shinwari, Safiullah Gul, Shaukat Aziz and Zeeshan Salauddin – called for increasing quota for tribal students for at least 10 years, provision of royalties from electricity and minerals to ensure an equal Pakistan, and restoring people’s trust in state institutions.