ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday said reconstruction and development of former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and bringing them at par with rest of the country was top priority of the government.

He said this while chairing a high-level meeting regarding reconstruction and development of former FATA at the PM Office. The meeting was attended by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman, Chief Minister Mehmood Khan, Advisor to the PM Shahzad Arbab, Special Assistant Iftikhar Durrani, Provincial Minister for Revenue Taimoor Salim Khan and senior officials.

The meeting reviewed the administrative affairs, health, education, law and order and development schemes of merged areas of FATA. It also reviewed progress of the merger process and policy for the next three months.

The prime minister directed for provision of health cards to five hundred thousand families of the merged areas by the end of January.

The chief minister, provincial ministers and secretaries concerned should make regular visit to the merged areas of former FATA and its various departments and personally review development works in health and education sectors, the prime minister directed.

The meeting decided that provincial cabinet, in its monthly meeting, would review progress of development works and reforms in the merged areas.

The meeting was directed to expedite efforts for enforcement of local government system in the merged areas.

It was also directed to fill vacant posts in education, health and police departments and start recruitment process immediately.

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