PESHAWAR: All the arrangements have been completed by the government and other social-welfare organizations for the smooth and dignified return of 23040 Internally Displaced Families of Malakand Division that will formally start from Monday (tomorrow).
The district administration of Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda and Nowshera districts and others relief organizations have made special arrangements to help facilitate IDPs upon their return process that will commence on Monday (July 13). The return process of IDPs will likely to complete in 14 days.
The repatriation process of the IDPs belonged to Malakand, Swat, Dir and Buner districts will be completed in three phases. In the first phase, the in camps IDPs will go to their respective towns and villages while those living in schools and collages will go to their respective destination on second phase. On third phase, IDPs living with their relatives and outside of the province will be asked to return to their homes.
The first caravan of displace people comprising 272 buses and 22 trucks will leave from Charsadda district. Another similar carvan of IDPs will depart from Sheikh Yasin and Sheikh Shahzad camps in Mardan and Swabi consisting of 194 buses and 23 trucks on Tuesday.
According to the Spokesman of NWFP government, as many as 23040 displaced families of Malakand Division would return to their home towns in three phases from June 13-20, 2009. Full security would be provided to IDPs on their return.
In the first phase i-e- July 13-14, 5760 families of Landaki, Gortai, Kotha, and Barikot would depart in 720 buses and 52 trucks.
Another batch of 5760 affected families of Ghaligay, Manyar, Odigram and Billogram would be shifted to the homes in 720 buses and 52 trucks in the second phase July 15-16.
In all 11520 families of Mingora City, would be repatriated in third phase July 17-20 in 1440 buses and 100 trucks.
First people up to Barikot Swat would be asked to return homes while displaced people up to Odigram would return homes in the second phase. Under the plan, the displaced people of Mingora and Saidu Sharif will repatriate on the third phase.
The government will provide transport facilities to IDPs and will be lifted from selected points in Mardan and Swabi.
Eight points have been setup for off camp people in Mardan while Mela ground and Gohati College have been selected for IDPs of Swabi.
According to the plan, each convoy would consist of forty buses which would be duly escorted and protected by FC, army, levies and police all along their way back to home.
Similarly, the returning families would also be provided aerial cover to meet any eventuality. Latest scanners would be installed to keep an over the suspected vehicles during the journey.
The spokesman of NWFP government has appealed to the affected people through media to look after their luggage by themselves and in case of recovery of prohibited bores weapons from the affected families during search, the concerned family would be then responsible for it.
To improve overall security and maintain law and order in Swat, the number of tehsils in Swat has been increased from three to seven which include Babozai, Barikot, Charbagh, Khwazakhela, Bahrian, Kabal and Matta and similarly the strength of the police stations have also been enhanced.
In Buner the numbers of tehsil have also been increased to three from one that included Daggar, Kagara and Mandan.The Commissioner Mardan Division has imposed a complete ban on all kinds of leaves including Sunday of Govt. servants in all District Govt. in view of grave emergency situation and beginning of return process of IDPs in line with announcement of Prime Minister’’s from July 13, 2009.
All District heads of govt. departments in the division comprising Mardan and Swabi districts along with their subordinate staff would remain present on their station of duty and would not leave the station without prior permission of the Commissioner Mardan.
Meanwhile, welcome banners have been installed on roads leading to Swat, Dir and Malakand Agency.
The banners with slogans of long live Pakistan, welcomes to our displaced brethren and says no to militancy have been affixed on various corners of the roads.
Special water coolers have been installed on roadside to provide clean drinking water facilities to IDPs upon their return journey.
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