PESHAWAR: PTI Chairman Imran Khan has said that nation was unanimous on the merger of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

"FATA naturally seems part of the province" and there was no other option but merger, he added.

This he stated while talking to the participants of a presentation at CM House Peshawar and talking to mediamen during his visit to the HMC to enquire after the health of bomb blast injured.

Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak, PTI Central General Secretary Jehangir Tareen, Speaker KP Assembly Asad Qiaser, Provincial Ministers, Chief Secretary , Additional Chief Secretary also accompanied him.

Imran Khan said that the war on terror has destroyed the whole structure of tribal system that enhanced their problems.

The previous system was rendered unworkable as it was to run the governance through political administration and Maliks and that was not even workable, given the ground realities, he added.

The entire nation was unanimous for the merger of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa adding that FATA had challenges but after the merger these challenges could be overcome.

PTI Chairman said that FATA needed an overall recovery plan for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and re-installing the governance structure and bringing back the internal displaced tribesmen to their homeland.

He said that we have to be prepared for the new wave of terrorism. The governments, the masses, the agencies and all should be prepared for the future challenges in wake of fresh waves of terrorism.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said that FATA was getting Rs.50 billion annually adding that after the merger, its share would increase upto Rs. 80 to 100 billion.

The federal government would continue providing Rs.100 billion annually for the infrastructure development and efficient services etc. This would continue for coming 10 years till the completion of infrastructure, services and installing the governance structure in FATA.

The resources would not be a problem but the challenges would be, adding that the sooner we go for the merger the better it will be for the entire region.

-APP