President of Pakistan attends collaborate DIIS-ISSI conference on FATA

A two day International Conference on the Tribal Areas of Pakistan was convened by the Institute of Strategic Studies (ISSI) in collaboration with the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) on March 24-25, 2014 in Islamabad. The President of Pakistan, Mr. Mamnoon Hussain attended the event, which was seen as a significant gesture to the sufferings of the people in the border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The President acknowledged the challenges faced by the people of FATA, and said that the Government of Pakistan is committed to bring lasting peace in the area. He also announced that a development plan for the Tribal Areas was in place, and funds have been allocated for education, health, electricity, and agriculture.

The conference started a much needed debate on the future status of the Tribal Areas and on the challenge of curbing radicalization in the area.

Aside from the president the conference was attended by leading academics, journalists and community leaders from FATA, such as Zartaj Gul Wazir, a female politician from the Tribal Areas, Habib Malik Orakzai, the founder of the first political party in FATA and Ikramullah Jan Kokikhel, an advocate for education and youth empowerment in the Tribal Areas.

Also the Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions attended the conference together with the former Chairman Joint Chiefs of States Committee, Ehsan ul Haq.

Read more about the conference

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