KP Governor Stops NHA From Collecting Toll Tax In District Khyber

The Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman Thursday stopped National Highway Authority (NHA) from collection on toll plazas in newly merged Khyber district and said the government has waived off tax in the newly merged tribal areas for five years that could possibly be extended for the next five years

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jan, 2019 ) :The Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman Thursday stopped National Highway Authority (NHA) from collection on toll plazas in newly merged Khyber district and said the government has waived off tax in the newly merged tribal areas for five years that could possibly be extended for the next five years.

This, he said while addressing a big representative tribal Jirga of District Khyber here at Governor's House. The matter was pointed by the participants of the tribal Jirga led by MNA, Iqbal Afridi, Commissioner, Peshawar Division; Deputy Commissioner, Khyber District and a large number of tribal elders were present on the occasion.

While justifying the decision of the government, the Governor said, "the unmatched sacrifices rendered by the tribal people deserve to be fully acknowledged with respect and honour." The Governor observed that government has decided to continue all the privileges and incentives available to the tribes before merger of tribal areas, adding that the rights of tribal people would be protected at any cost.

He pointed out that an amount of Rs 20 to Rs 24 billion have been allocated in the provincial budget for development of tribal districts.

Besides this, he added, an amount of Rs100 billion would be spent in the tribal districts to bring the newly merged tribal areas at par with the rest of the country.

Apart of these efforts, the Governor, said, almost 15000 new vacancies will be generated to offer employment opportunities to the tribal youth within the coming few months and to overcome the problem of un-employment.

Referring to the up-coming elections in the tribal districts, he said two from amongst the expected members of provincial assembly hailing from tribal districts would be included in the provincial cabinet.

Further, the Governor said, after holding the local bodies elections in the tribal districts, development funds would also be earmarked at tehsil and village levels to be utilized by the respective tehsil and village Nazimeen in consultation with the respective local tribal Jirgas.

MNA Iqbal Afridi, former minister of State Malik Waris Khan Afridi, prominent tribal elders, Malik Darya Khan Zakha Khel Afridi, Sardar Azam Afridi and some of the other prominent tribal figures also addressed the tribal Jirga on the occasion.