President Mamnoon Hussain Thursday signed the 31st Constitutional Amendment Bill into law, formally merging the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
He inked the amendment here at a ceremony at the President’s House, after its passage from the National Assembly and Senate and endorsement by the KP assembly.
KP Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, head of FATA reforms committee Sartaj Aziz, National Security Advisor Lt Gen (r) Nasser Khan Janjua and Prime Minister’s Adviser Barrister Zafarullah Khan witnessed the inking of the historic document.
On the occasion, President Mamnoon Hussain congratulated the people of FATA and said the merger would open up an era of prosperity and development for its people and help them progress in all spheres of life. He said the nation needed to work together to fully benefit from this historic opportunity.
Head of FATA reforms committee Sartaj Aziz said following the constitutional amendment, the people of the FATA are now mainstreamed and will enjoy equal rights like other citizens of the country.
He said all the agencies of FATA would now convert into districts and the assistant political agents would now serve as deputy commissioners. He said a huge amount of Rs 1 trillion would be spent on the development of the area over a period of 10 years.
Published in Daily Times, June 1st 2018.
