'Reconstruction work in militancy-hit areas of Swat and Malakand division would get momentum in coming days'.

ISLAMABAD, August 23, 2009 (Frontier Star): Speakers at a conference here at Islamabad expressed the hope that the reconstruction work in militancy-hit areas of Swat and Malakand division would get momentum in the coming days and people of these areas would soon start living a normal life again. Expressing their views at a consultative conference `Challenges in Restoration of Livelihoods and Rehabilitation of IDPs' organized by Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) at a local hotel, they said that the financial assistance coming from national and international donors was being channelized for the reconstruction of damaged public facilities on priority basis. The conference was held with an aim to provide recommendations to the government for the formulation of rehabilitation policy for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Policy-makers, NGOs, civil society organizations and a large number of IDPs from Swat and Malakand participated in the conference. Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Special Support Group (SSG) Lt. General Nadeem Ahmed shared government's efforts and plans geared to rehabilitate the displaced families. He said that the government had successfully handled the issue of IDPs and currently it was utilizing all means to provide relief to them in every possible way."The main focus in rehabilitation process is strengthening of government structure, making justice system responsive, improving service delivery, socio-economic growth and ameliorating security apparatus with the help of community policing," he said. Elaborating the government's plan for the development of all sectors under Early Recovery Plan, he said damaged road infrastructure, educational institutions and hospitals would be reconstructed on priority adding, "these would be in better condition as compared to the past." He said the civil administration structure in the area would be improved and Swat, which had only three tehsils in the past would now have seven tehsils. Similarly, in Buner and Swat more tehsils would be set up. Chairman SSG said that for improving law and order in the area around one dozen more police stations be set up in Swat. He said work on dualization of road from Dargai to Kalam would also be started soon.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)