Anwar Zada Gulyar
Bajaur : Former Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shaukatullah Khan, has expressed deep concern over the lack of development activities in the tribal districts, stating that the promises of progress, prosperity, and modern facilities made to the people at the time of the merger have largely remained unfulfilled. According to him, the tribal people voted with hopes of change and a better future, but they have yet to receive the benefits they were promised.
In a statement, the former governor said that workers and voters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did not elect their representatives based on their development performance, but rather due to the popularity and narrative of PTI founder Imran Khan. Therefore, he said, elected representatives carry a moral and political responsibility to meet public expectations and ensure visible development in their respective constituencies.
Shaukatullah Khan noted that several years have passed since the merger of the tribal districts into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, yet no major mega-project has been launched that could bring a significant change to the lives of the people. Expressing regret, he said that in Bajaur and most other tribal districts, the educational institutions, roads, and infrastructure still largely belong to the former FCR era, while the pace of development after the merger has fallen far short of expectations.
He further stated that there is a clear gap between official claims and ground realities. Although he does not support the FCR system, he is equally dissatisfied with the current administrative and developmental situation. According to him, the primary objective of the merger was to integrate the tribal population into the national mainstream, provide better governance, and create new opportunities for development. However, ordinary citizens continue to struggle for access to basic facilities and services.
Addressing elected public representatives, the former governor urged them to move beyond political rhetoric and demonstrate practical performance. He stressed that even if large-scale development projects are not immediately possible, efforts should at least be made to improve roads, education, healthcare, clean drinking water, employment opportunities, and other basic sectors so that people can feel that their representatives are genuinely committed to addressing their problems.
Shaukatullah Khan said that the tribal people have rendered unparalleled sacrifices for the country while enduring terrorism, insecurity, displacement, and countless hardships. He added that the time has come to acknowledge those sacrifices through concrete development projects, employment opportunities, and the provision of modern facilities. He called upon both the federal and provincial governments to prioritize the development of the tribal districts so that long-standing deprivation can be addressed and the people can finally enjoy the true benefits of the merger.
