The future of FATA: some suggestions

FATA continues to suffer on multiple counts the implications of lingering militancy, insecurity, geo-political isolation, out-fashioned legal and administration dispensation. It has remained the victim of its own geo-strategic location, serving for most part of the nineteenth and twentieth century as buffer zone between imperial powers. The dwellers of FATA may well take pride in their long history of resistance against foreign powers but the cost they have been paying is far too obvious to be overlooked even by the most casual observer who happens to risk a visit to the war torn and geographically mostly inhospitable landscape of FATA. FATA is undoubtedly one of the worst affected parts of the region in the ongoing conflict triggered by the 9/11 tragedy. How long shall FATA remain plagued like this? What should be done to ameliorate the worsening condition of millions of tribesmen dwelling in FATA? Shall it remain under the existing constitutional and administrative arrangement or should its existing status be revisited? These and similar telling questions have been raised and deliberated both within the policy circles and the public at large but practical steps are yet to be seen on ground.

The committee constituted in pursuance of the National Action Plan, following the APS tragedy, is still deliberating on the fate of FATA. Its much-awaited report is yet to see the light of the day. While the issue of Durand line continues to be disputed by Afghanistan, it is high time Pakistan takes decisive steps towards mainstreaming and integrating FATA into the mainland, and help the people of FATA get their share in national prosperity. Here are some suggestions towards that end.

(1). Merge FATA with KP through a constitutional amendment. Extend the country’s laws, executive dispensation, economic opportunities, civic amenities and rights to FATA immediately.

(2). Reserve special budgetary allocation for FATA uplift program in national budget for a period of ten consecutive years, to meet the development needs of FATA over short, medium and long term basis. It should be distributed among the existing agencies on the basis of poverty, population, inverse population density, revenue contribution and so on, through the Provincial Finance Commission after its re-constitution to include executive heads of each agency.

(3). Eliminate the existing FCR and other draconian laws.

(4). Establish one university, at least 01 degree college, 02 inter colleges, 02 major DHQ level hospitals, 10 RHCs, 20 BHUs, at each agency from Bajaur to South Waziristan. Each of the existing road in FATA may be blacktopped within next ten years. All villages and Tehsils may be connected through a network of roads. Small dams, local cottage industries, and institutions for technical education must be set up at each Tehsil in all agencies. Special Industrial Zones must be set up in FATA with tax holiday for a period of at least 20 years.

(5). Military cantonments must be established at each agency headquarter, with sub offices at Tehsil level to look after security and peace.

(6). There should be at least two national assembly seats, four provincial assembly members, one senator from each agency.

(7). FATA should not be used as a base camp for proxy wars.

(8). Militants and militant outfits must be eliminated with iron hand: there should be zero tolerance for militants, be that “good” or “bad”.

(9). Quota for FATA students and candidates must be increased in national, provincial and other public sector jobs and services.

(10). An effective border management system must be put in place. There should be proper entry and exit points with state of the art multi model terminals for expeditious cross border movement of people and goods.
(Karam Elahi)