PM announces Rs. 1.7 bn for rehabilitation of people in Kurram Agency
ISLAMABAD, Mar 1 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday announced Rs one billion in the current budget and Rs. 700 million in the next year’s budget for the rehabilitation of 32,000 affected people of Kurram Agency, who had to leave their homes because of secretarian riots and militancy.He lauded the efforts of Senators, members of the National Assembly, elders, members of the Jirga, ministers and officials in bringing about peace in the Kurram Agency which helped the people to return to their homes.The Prime Minister made this announcement while addressing the members of the Grand Jirga from the Kurram Agency at the Prime Minister House here.
The Prime Minister stressed that the amount allocated for the purpose of rehabilitation and welfare of the affected people must be spent in the most transparent manner, so that everybody, who had suffered during the last four years, may benefit from the compensation.
He also announced to give special certificates of appreciation to all the members of the Grand Jirga of Kurram Agency for their contribution towards restoring peace and harmony in the area.
The Prime Minister said that the elders and people of Kurram Agency had set an example for the other agencies of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) that through dialogue and discussion, issues can be solved and peace restored.
He stressed upon the elders to identify the miscreants and foreign elements in their respective areas so that such people could be brought to book. Such elements, he added, were distorting the image of Islam and the country.
The Prime Minister said that the basic objective of the government’s 3Ds policy was to establish peace and work for the betterment of the people.
He, however, mentioned that the challenge to the writ of the government would not be accepted. He assured that the government was responsible for the development of FATA region and all possible measures would be undertaken to bring these areas at par with other areas of the country.
The Prime Minister said that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA had made great sacrifices for the country in the war against terrorism which was duly recognized by the people of the country.
The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, he added, had great role in the creation of Pakistan, defending the western frontiers as well as in the struggle for restoration of democracy.
Earlier the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while speaking on the occasion said that he had observed that the leadership at the federal level was fully committed for the betterment of the people of the province, particularly the FATA region.
The process of interaction and dialogue, he mentioned, should continue as it helped create better understanding. The success of dialogue process in Kurram Agency, he added, should encourage the elders and people of other agencies to follow suit and help bring prosperity and development in their areas.
Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Babar Awan while addressing the Jirga said that the people of Kurram deserved special appreciation for setting an example for the entire FATA region. The Jirga system, he added, was a traditional system of dialogue to resolve matters and should be encouraged.
Minister for Interior Rehman A. Malik said on the occasion that by bringing harmony and peace among various sects of religion the people of Kurram Agency had set an example for all the people of the country.
Haji Munir Khan Orakzai, MNA and members of the Grand Jirga of Kurram Agency thanked the Prime Minister for his support and guidance in bringing about peace in the Kurram Agency.
The secretarian tension and militancy which started in April 2007, they said, had finally ended after the successful implementation of Murree Agreement reached in February 2010. The roads and markets, they mentioned, had now been opened and life had
returned to normal. The people had almost returned to their homes,they said, but required support for rehabilitation.
The members of the Jirga said that the Prime Minister had always shown concern and strived for the people of FATA.
The pleasant personality of the Prime Minister and his sincerity for reconciliation, they said, had helped build trust of the people of Kurram Agency.
They also appreciated the role of the armed forces in helping restoration of the peace and harmony.
The Jirga members invited the Prime Minister to visit Kurram Agency to see for himself peace and tranquility in the area. 
The Prime Minister accepted the invitation.The Jirga was attended by Eng. Shaukat Ullah, Minister for State and Frontier Region, Malik Bilal Rehman, MNA, Sajid Hussain  Turi, MNA, Muhammad Kamran Khan, MNA, Abdul Malik Wazir, MNA, Hameed
Ullah Jan Afridi, MNA, Senators Eng. Rashid Ahmed Khan, Hafiz Rasheed Ahmed, Maulana M. Saleh Shah Qureshi, Abdul Raziq, Abdur Rashid, Jirga members Malik Waris Khan Afridi, former Minister,Malik Bismiullah Khan, Malik Zangi Khan, Malik Faizullah Khan Orakzai, Malik Jamal Hussain Orakzai, Malik Badshah Hussain Mian,Malik Noor Najaf Ali, Malik Izat Gul Orakzai, Malik Jahangir Khan,Malik Najaf Ali Turi, and Syed Musadiq Shah, Political Agent Kurram Agency.