The 136th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) aired on the subject theme. The program critically looked at different aspects of the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the importance of this decision for peace in the region.
The first guest on show, Mr. Shafiq Sher, Member, Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, noted that the merger enabled the former FATA residents to access formal justice system and enjoy equal constitutional rights like the citizens in other parts of the country; thus ensuring provision of much better mechanisms for conflict resolution, comparing to traditional Jirga system. The pace of developmental processes especially infrastructural development in the erstwhile FATA needs to be expedited. The efforts women empowerment in this region are direly needed and also one of the core considerations for its development.
The implementation of local government system can dramatically improve the service delivery and respond to basic needs at the grass root level in tribal areas.
The second guest on show, Mr. Shams Mohmand, Project Manager, CRSS, noted that the merger alone cannot just suffice to bring the tribal areas at par with rest of the country, the public awareness and education about their rights and responsibilities needs to happen as well.
The third guest on show, Mr. Fawad Khan, CRSS’s Ulasi Taroon alumnus and a student of Islamia College University, Peshawar, said that merger of FATA augurs well for the participation of people of tribal areas; especially women, in the national socio-political and economic life. Discriminatory treatment with one of part of the country can affect the overall development.
As a matter of women empowerment in tribal areas, the female population should be encouraged and supported for socio-political and economic participation, as an essentiality to be regional development.
About Ulasi Taroon
Ulasi Taroon is a counter radicalization initiative of Center for Research and Security Studies that aims to address the radicalization challenges, extremist ideologies and foster social cohesion through a discourse anchored in the core constitutional values which are fundamentally essential prerequisites for social peace and harmony. The endeavor aims to cultivate and sensitize the people of KP in the core values in the Pakistani constitution and our social contract. It’s an attempt to highlight the criticality of abiding by these ideals – such as adherence to rule of law, primacy and sanctity of constitution, equal citizenry, responsible citizenship, respect for fundamental human rights, tolerance for diversity and different opinions, inclusive democracy and good governance – as a measure of strengthening social cohesion and promoting peaceful co-existence.