Life has started returning to normality in South Waziristan with the return of the internally displaced persons and adoption of new and healthier ways of life, with an active support of the Pakistan Army, which has launched various rehabilitation and livelihood projects in the area, after restoring peace to majority of areas.
Out of some 515,000 population, over 300,000 had migrated from the war-hit area to different parts of the region including DI Khan. The Pakistan Army, working on the strategy of Clear-Hold-Build, has been encouraging rehabilitation of the displaced people and till now, 41,563 families have returned to the area after being verified and enlisted.
“We had nothing left to live on as nomads anymore, and were not sure if we would be able to return to our homes after the devastation. But after we got here, we have seen signs that have encouraged us to bring our families back,” said Rehmanullah, the father of nine, who now earns his livelihood from a shop at the Sararogha.
These shops are part of the ‘Build Better Than Before’ program under which the Army Engineers have so far constructed five complexes with 160 shops at Kotkai, Chagmalai, Jandola and Sararogha to create a base for economic activities.
The backbone of the rehabilitation effort is the 270 kilometre long lifeline of restive South Waziristan starting from its gateway Tank till Wana in the west and till Sararogha, Makin and beyond. Sweeping the pathway off improvised explosive devices (IEDs), other explosives and probable ambush points, building the road was a daunting task.
Sharing developments and the challenging task of rehabilitation, GOC Maj-Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said that helping the locals recover from economic devastation was of prime importance; this in mind, Pak Army engaged the stakeholders and as a first step started construction of market complexes at Kotkai, Chagmalai, Jandola and Sararogha to create a base for economic activities.
The revival of infrastructure, shouldering the pastoral economy and enlivening the shattered ones, seems pivoted along this road as the Model Villages too are built along it.
The facilities like shops, poultry farms, honey extraction facilities, schools, health centres, sports complex, recreational park, public toilets, roadside driver hotels and mosques are planned to serve as hub of village activities. Model villages at Kotkai, Chagmalai and Jandola have been commissioned in a record period of about six months. Model village Sararogha is near its completion.
The water channels have been revived, realigned and channelled to reclaim 644 acres of land. Another 290 acres have been developed into model agriculture patches by Army at Kotkai, Murghiband and Meziwam Kach, where wheat seeds, fertilizer and ploughing facility have been provided free of cost. The lush green patches of wheat crop, currently sowed were a heartening sight during the flight from Jandola to Sararogha.
Health and electricity are another area that needed emergent attention, the GOC said. The demolished and scratched Jandola Civil Hospital was renovated and commissioned in Nov 2011.
The armed forces face an uphill task of getting the local population to adapt to these new ways of living.
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