Pakistan Army Development Role In Fata And Swat

The Pakistan Army through its presence has done an outstanding job in the rehabilitation in FATA and Swat divisions and organized number of activities and facilities to improve the quality of life of Swat and FATA Peoples. The Pakistan Army having opened the No Go Areas of FATA has undertaken and is continued with multifaceted developments works.

Pakistan army is fighting on different fronts as it is in war with the terrorist elements in FATA and Swat and at the same it has to look after the internally displaced people of the respective areas. Despite Pakistan’s hue and cry America has not stopped drone attacks. It is causing loss in terms of human lives and the infrastructure of the area. In Swat Pakistan army cleared the area from the terrorists in the record time of three months. Afterwards it had to resettle the IDPs by helping them in rehabilitation work etc. Pakistan army is still there as civil administration has failed to deliver.

The projects in FATA cover a wide canvas of works, including construction of over 400 KMs roads, dams, canals and hydroelectric works. The projects speak of the concern at the part of Pakistan army regarding the miseries and helplessness of the common masses because of the war against terror. Pakistan army has however to be appreciated that it has initiated many of the projects out of its reserved resources. International community has not given anything in terms of Coalition support fund since July 2010. It has to be valued however that army is doing all its best to restore the normalcy in the area affected by WOT.

Pakistan Army is working on various development projects in different sectors in district Swat and FATA, including education, tourism, health and sports. The development projects by Pak Army in FATA and Swat cover a wide canvas of works, including construction of over 400 KMs roads, dams, canals and hydroelectric works. Provision of basic facilities, including education, will be the main focus. Pakistan army has however to be appreciated that it has initiated many of the projects out of its reserved resources. All these steps of Pakistan army are for the betterment of their beloved nation, & of course this would not be possible without the kind co-operation of Pakistani nation and without the help of International donors. All these projects are the proof that Pak Army making all efforts for the betterment of the people who were affected by the war against the terrorism.

In this regard, Pakistan Army became involved in training community police, around 2,700 in all of Swat, and 2,300 in lower Swat alone. With the help of foreign friend UAE, completion of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bridge within a package of giant infrastructure projects, indicated that the completion of this bridge will fulfill the needs of the people of area, this inauguration fulfills their hopes, which will contribute by spending a short period of time to reach other region by pushing the wheel of economic developments and improve the living standards across the Khyber Pukhtoon Kha.

Work on the roads was begun by the army’s Frontier Works Organization, which had earlier built the Karakoram Highway and other difficult roads in the frontier region. While this may be an effective way of linking South Waziristan with Pakistan proper, there still remain huge opportunities for the military to involve the youth of FATA in these projects. At 17 percent of the male population, the youth bulge of those between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five numbers some 300,000 in all of FATA. Roadways, small dams, and repair projects offer the fastest method of creating jobs.

Three million rupees worth of medical supplies was distributed, and an estimated 30,000 patients were treated in medical camps. The army also donated Rs. 1.5 million to the Saidu Sharif Hospital, and set up training centers in collaboration with other entities to prepare youth for employment. They also undertook the repair and rehabilitation of infrastructure in Swat and Malakand, restoring bridges and building roads. And in an effort to win back the youth, they opened a new school named Sabaon “Early Morning Breeze” in the Malakand division.

Uplifting education sector in the area, Pakistan Army has so far constructed government primary school in Patibast Banda, additional rooms had been constructed at Government Girls Primary School Tighak.  Renovation of GGPS Tangband has been done from Pakistan Army’s fund.  Pakistan Army constructed Kabal Girls College at expenditure of Rs 30 million and declared it a monument college in district Swats.

Pakistan Army is working on various development projects in different sectors in district Swat / FATA. Development projects were underway in tehsil Kabal, Devlai, Totanu Bandai, Shah Dherai and Kuza Bandai. Pakistan Army had so far worked on parks, gym, youth Centre, library, snooker club as an entertainment points in the areas. Pakistan Army would never leave the people of Swat and FATA in the lurch, as they rendered valuable sacrifices against militancy. Without their support, the army would not be successful in operation against insurgents.

Appreciating the constructive role of the people in the war on terrorism Pakistan Army is fully aware of the sacrifices rendered by the people of FATA / Swat. The respect and love, which the people of Swat / FATA had extended to Pakistan army, will not be forgotten. People of Swat and FATA had played a very positive role in the restoration of peace and proved to be the real spokesmen of the people of Swat.