Tribal Decades Strategy (TDS)

After the historical merger of erstwhile FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, first measure undertaken by Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was to have a detailed and widespread consultations, paving way to put in place a framework for bridging the gaps both in institutional set up and socioeconomic development of the region. A perusal of the available statistics of erstwhile FATA indicates that most of the socioeconomic indicators were lagging compared to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. For example, 60% of the people were living below the line of poverty. Literacy ratio was 49 % for male and 14 % for female. Similarly, other indicators of clean drinking water, infant mortality rate, mother morbidity rate were far below than average ratio of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan. All these things coupled with lack of institutional framework and essential infrastructure it was felt necessary that some urgent steps are taken for filling this yawning gap of socioeconomic and institutional development in a befitting manner. Accordingly, a ten-year development strategy was designed known as Tribal Decades Strategy (2020-2030) with clear commitment of federal government for providing yearly special grant of at least Rs. 100 billion every year for the next ten year. The Tribal Decade Strategy (TDS) 2020-2030 aims at redressing the imbalance to bring the tribal people at par with the rest of the country. The provincial cabinet in its meeting held on 9th May 2019, approved the Tribal Decade Strategy. Finalization of the TDS has tapped the beneficiary perspective through deeper consultations to align all planned development with resident needs and priorities. TDS is supported through five pillar of the Development Pentad that forms the basic organizational principles of the developmental approach. The pentad is as follows: 1. Building responsive and accountable institutions 2. Enhancing human potential 3. Expanding economic infrastructure 4. Creating sustainable economic opportunities 5. Instituting sustainable resource management Accelerated Implementation Program (AIP) 2019-2023 Under the Tribal Decade Strategy, a three-year program was prioritized in the form of Accelerated Implementation Program (AIP), comprising of 206 development schemes under various sectors for laying the broader missing foundation of development in the merged district. In the first year 2019-20, a total of 127 schemes were implemented at a cost of Rs.24 billion under different sectors such as health, roads, irrigation, and agriculture etc. which are 100% completed. In financial year 2020-21 a total of 261 schemes under different sector such as health, education, water, irrigation, and agriculture are undertaken at a cost of Rs.49 billion which are in different stages of completion. In 2021-22 a total of 308 schemes including 206 ongoing and 106 new schemes are being implemented at a cost of Rs.36 billion in sector like roads, irrigation, housing, industries, IT, and transport. The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has assigned this task to Sustainable Development Unit headed by Director General, in Planning and Development, exhibiting its commitment of ownership and interest for timely completion of these schemes in judicious manner. The prime objective of this whole exercise of provincial and federal government allocating such huge development portfolio for the first time in development history of Pakistan is to ensure that benefits of merger are truly demonstrated and seen by the residents of Merged Areas through improvement in service delivery and uplift in socioeconomic indicators. In addition to this, a special program titled as Qabail Led Development Program has been introduced in AIP to take care of small community infrastructure schemes in close collaboration with local people of the Merged Areas. Here, the role of community groups in the Merged Areas would be vital for playing a positive role in raising their voices through their elected representatives and other forums made available by government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Community role will become more visible and prominent once the local government elections are held in the Merged Areas. This would open new avenues of development both political and economic empowerment with a focus on youth, women, and other minorities. Communities should engage with government under Qabail Led Development Program for sustainable and need based development through active participation in the whole process starting with identification, execution, monitoring and operation and maintenance of these schemes