Fata gets 177 road schemes

Peshawar: A comprehensive communication network is a prerequisite for development, and top priority has been given to the construction of roads and bridges in the development strategy of Fata.

This is evident from the fact that out of the total outlay of the development budget of Rs 7616 million for the year 2008-09, Rs 2193.622 million is being spent on implementation of 177 roads schemes in Fata to make it more accessible, link its villages, towns and commercial centers with each other and bring about an improvement in the life of the tribesmen.

The government has allocated Rs 1650.605 million for 151 ongoing and Rs 543.017 million for 26 new schemes in the annual development programme. The lion's share, of Rs 352.343 million, goes to South Waziristan Agency, while North Waziristan gets the second highest allocation of Rs 288.637 million.

A sum of Rs 250.884 million has been set apart for construction of 12 road schemes in Khyber Agency. These include construction of a ten km long black-topped road from Bagh (Tirah Valley) to Oblan, up to Orakzai border, and construction of five RCC bridges in Bara, Jamrud and Landi Kotal subdivisions.

Most of the schemes in communication sector in North and South Waziristan Agencies and other parts of tribal belt pertain to construction of new roads, improvement, widening and rehabilitation of the existing roads and construction of bridges to facilitate traffic and connect the far-flung areas.