PESHAWAR: The Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa North convened a grand Jirga with Khyber elders at the historic Qila Bala Hisar on Thursday. The assembly brought together 114 tribal elders representing various ethnic groups from across the Khyber district to deliberate on security, development, and the civic grievances of the border region.
The session was attended by the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahab Ali Shah, alongside Inspector General Frontier Corps (IGFC) KP North, Major General Rao Imran Sartaj, and a cohort of senior civil and military officials.
Addressing the gathered elders, the Chief Secretary said that the provincial administration remained committed to a policy of continuous consultation with tribal leaders to resolve simmering local issues.
He unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for the Tirah Maidan area, detailing plans to bolster the capacity of the police, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and the Special Branch to ensure a robust security apparatus.
Beyond security, the government representative highlighted an upcoming wave of infrastructure and socio-economic projects. These initiatives reportedly include the construction of road networks, agricultural development schemes, water supply systems, and widespread solarisation.
The Chief Secretary also noted that administrative efficiency in the region would be prioritised through the capacity building of the tehsil administration.
Regarding the long-standing issue of Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs), the forum was informed that compensation has been disbursed to 13,500 individuals, while the processing of payments for the remaining victims is still underway.
During the dialogue, the tribal elders underscored that the restoration of peace and stability is the primary prerequisite for any meaningful development in the Khyber district, particularly in the volatile Tirah Maidan.
While reiterating their cooperation with security forces and the provincial government, the elders urged the state to honour its developmental promises and address the socio-economic vacuum in the tribal belt.
Concluding the proceedings, Major General Rao Imran Sartaj issued a firm warning against elements seeking to destabilise the region.
He asserted that the security forces would not permit any disruption to the hard-earned peace in Khyber and the Tirah region. The participants expressed their appreciation for the platform, acknowledging the jirga as a vital bridge between the tribal leadership and the state machinery.
