Next Govt asked to focus on reviving industry in tribal areas
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Terrorism to resurface if tribal areas ignored by policymakers
Call for facilitating businesses in tribal areas to ensure peace
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Wednesday asked the next government to escalate the revival of industrial activities in tribal areas.
After years of unrest some peace has been restored and life has becoming normal which calls for renewed efforts to support people of tribal areas living miserably, it said.
New wave of terrorism can resurface in the tribal areas if government continued to ignore the revival of business activities in Fata and Pata, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.
He said that business community and overseas Pakistanis should also invest in militancy-hit and cash-starved tribal areas while government should ensure conducive environment, proper communication facilities and smooth supply of energy.
Government should support indigenous industry and businesses, develop public private partnerships, frame proper for setting up industrial estates and zones, hold expos, seminars, job fairs and other activities to promote investment in tribal belt, he said.
Similarly, Dr Murtaza Mughal said, banks should extend their coverage and introduce micro credit schemes in the neglected areas.
Despite vast resources, the tribal region has limited economic base to cater to the basic needs of millions of tribal people because of the neglect spanned over decades, he observed.
Dr Murtaza Mughal said that many industrial concerns have been closed in tribal territory while few have luckily been surviving. Few years back there were fifteen vegetable ghee units in tribal belt while the number has come down to two catering for one sixth of the demand in tribal areas.
He criticised the ghee producers of the settled area who are conspiring against the two surviving units to impose certain levies in violation of the constitutional immunity to get them closed and seize the entire market of the tribal area.
The FBR should not pay heed to the demand Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturing Association forwarded through letter No. PVMA/1097/FBR/2013 as it will be illegal and unconstitutional which will deprive hundreds of their jobs, demanded Dr Mughal.
