The good tidings of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb in clearing areas along the Afghanistan border of militants as it heads towards its last phase have been positively received all over Pakistan. However, government cannot claim absolute success in its efforts unless it resettles those who were forced to leave their homes because of the on-going military operation or US drone strikes. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Jhagra seems to have realised the critical need of this development on Saturday as he elaborated on the governmental plans to rehabilitate the displaced families.
Government’s resolve to restore peace and development in the affected areas of FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be applauded in the wake of the abysmal living conditions lamented by many repatriates after returning to their homes. While it is quite difficult to ascertain an exact number of the internally displaced individuals, a 2016 report by the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, estimated that more than 450,000 families had been impacted by the ongoing operation. Since government takes much pride in detailing the much-touted repatriation of over 350,000 families, it is high time that it realised its responsibility towards their rehabilitation in their hometowns. Although not all families have yet been assisted in even rebuilding their homes as had been previously promised, this campaign cannot suffice on its own. In order to fully re-establish those displaced from the troubled lands, both military and civil administration should join hands to achieve far-reaching progress on development projects. A small sum of Rs 25,000 cannot even help a man meet his basic needs let alone rebuild his otherwise destroyed house or secure himself a sufficient livelihood.
