Tribesmen in NW Pakistan asked to resolve Disputes
'Pakistan Times' National News Desk

PESHAWAR: The NWFP Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd) Ali Muham- mad Jan Aurakzai has called upon tribal people to resolve their disputes on mineral wealth in their best interest and in the supreme national interest as this is the quickest way to embark on the way to prosperity in FATA.

This, he said while inaugurating Akhurwal Coal-mines, near Darra Adamkhel Wednesday.

There are in total 42 coal mine sites identified in Akhurwal area, of which only seven sites have started production since July 12. These sites were discovered as early as 1978 but due to intra-tribes disputes on the ownership of the mines production could not be started even after the passage of 28 long years, thus the tribesmen kept themselves deprived of this natural wealth for such a long time.

The Governor said that FATA was full of mineral wealth but the petty disputes on the ownership of this invaluable wealth have kept them away from utilizing this undiminished resource.

Had they been shrewd enough and resolved the problem on distribution of this wealth earlier, they would have long been out of the shackles of poverty.

He expressed his happiness that the people of Akhurwal have at last realized the sense of responsibility towards themselves, their children and the nation by reaching an agreement on distribution of coalmine wealth.

The Governor was informed that the production from seven mines that started on July 12 has been picking up and it has now reached 15-20 metric tons a day.

“When all the 42 sites are developed the daily production will increase rapidly thus creating an economic activity in the area touching soon the target of around 3 million rupees, which is going to change the fate of the people of Darra Adamkhel and the surrounding area.

The Governor expressed the hope that people in other areas of FATA would also emulate the people of Akhurwal and take concrete efforts to resolve their disputes over the mineral wealth in their respective areas. He said that it is a petty that Allah Almighty has blessed us with such enormous resources and we are unable to accrue the desired benefit from it.

The Governor was also informed on this occasion that other three sites of coal mines have been discovered in Zarghunkhel, Samikhel and Torchappar in the surrounding area of Darra Adamkhel. The leasing process and other formalities are being completed for these new sites.

In response to the demands of the local area the Governor said that access roads to the mine sites were his priority. He said that concrete steps would be taken for provision of water and electricity on both short and long term basis.●