PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Excise and Narcotics Control Haji Manzoor Khan Afridi was called on by various tribal delegations and Jirgas in Peshawar on the third day of Eidul Fitr and apprised him of problems of the merged districts besides exchanging Eid greetings with him.
A delegation of Kukikhel tribe from Khyber district led by the prominent trader leader Pervez Khan Afridi also held meeting with the Minister and tabled certain problems and demands of the tribal people. Among these issues included ensuring government writ, law and order in tribal districts, increase in education and health facilities, improvement of roads and communication network, ending electricity load shedding, supply of sui gas, prevention of drugs addiction and the launch of alternative agricultural schemes against poppy crops. The delegations also welcomed the efforts of the provincial minister to establish life-saving medicine industry from poppy produce as well as assured full support and cooperation in this regard.
Haji Manzoor Afridi listened to the issues of the tribal leaders patiently and assured that since he himself is the representative of the tribal people and hence in this capacity he will ensure concrete measures both at the provincial and federal level to solve all these problems. The Minister agreed with the argument of tribal leaders that peace is the first imperative for economic, industrial and business development. However, he said that due to the more than 1,000 kilometers long border with the neighboring country Afghanistan, the possibility of unrest and terrorism in the merged districts is a natural phenomena and assured that the provincial government will secure the borders in all respects with the cooperation of the federal government. He said the government’s candid steps will create an ideal atmosphere of lasting peace and harmony so that we are on the path of industrial and economic self-sufficiency in a congenial peaceful environment.
