ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Lt. General (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch on Thursday informed the Senate that a sufficient amount has been allocated for completion of various development projects in Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA).
Replying to a question, the minister informed the Upper House of the Parliament that there was an appropriate monitoring system to check utilization of funds properly in FATA.
He said that steps are also being taken by the government to increase job opportunities for the FATA youth. For this purpose a job placement center has been established with the help of UNDP in FATA Development Authority (FDA) office, he added.
The main purpose was to help in job placement of the trained youth of FATA with different organizations, he added
He said that business development grants project has been initiated with the help of UNDP for promoting self-employment. The grant was awarded to 1610 FATA youth to start their own business.
Besides that all youth passed out from different trainings sponsored by FDA are also provided on job training with reputed service providers and organizations. Most of the time they are absorbed in these organizations, he added.
In a written reply, the minister said during the fiscal year 2016-17, Rs.20587.00 million has been allocated to FATA ADP. Out of the allocated funds, Rs.8234.800 million (40%) has so far been released by the federal government for the first and second quarters.
He said Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd. (OGDCL) has completed 2D seismic survey in the FR Barinu area of Latamber Block in 2016. The drilling would commence by the end of 2017, he added
He added OGDCL would initiate 2D Seismic survey in the Wali Block, which will cover South Waziristan Agency, Lakki Marwat and FR Tank.
He said that an oil and gas exploration and production company has completed “Geological mapping: in 2016 in the areas included FR Peshawar, Orakzai Agency, and Khyber Agency of Peshawar Block.
He said another oil and gas exploration and production company has completed 80 percent of 2D seismic survey in the areas included FR Dera Ismail Khan and South Waziristan Agency of Baska North Block.
He said OGDCL has completed geological mapping in 2016 in these areas included Kurram Agency and Orakzai agency of the Orakzai Block while it is also expected that the 2D seismic survey will start during the year 2017.
