PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said that the integration of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would help the tribal people play their vital role in the mainstream. He said the people of the FATA have suffered a lot and should now be provided with opportunities to lead a prosperous life. The QWP chairman said that the bill tabled in parliament regarding the merger of FATA with KP was the first step towards the region’s integration into the mainstream. He stated this while addressing a public meeting in Pakha Ghulam, Peshawar. On this occasion, elected representatives of PTI, ANP and JUI including Councillor Zaheer Abbas, Naib Nazim Malik Saeed Khan, Councillor Ashfaq Ahmad Khan, Youth Councillors Zaheer Rehmad, Councillor Abida Jaffar and Councillor Saadia Bibi announced joining QWP. Sherpao hailed the new entrants in the party, saying that they would give strength to the party. He contended that the QWP had become popular due to its policies; therefore, a large number of political workers and general public were joining the party. He asked that pragmatic and proactive measures should be adopted to remove the problems of the tribal people and to play effective role in the national development. About National Action Plan, Aftab Sherpao said that it had been yielding fruitful results; however, more focus was essential on it to achieve the targets. He continued that the Pakhtuns had rendered meritorious sacrifices in the war against terror which badly damaged their infrastructure and economy. He said that the human and material sacrifices of the Pakhtuns are countless; however, they have not been properly compensated. He stressed the need for concentration on the plight of Pakhtuns and beside the rehabilitation of those affected, the government should mainly focus on the revival of infrastructure and socio-economic development which would help redress their grievances. He expressed anguish over unannounced and unscheduled power load-shedding in the province. He said that the excessive load-shedding had brought the life into standstill which badly affected the socio-economic condition in the province. QWP chairman regretted that the share of the province in the net hydropower profit had not been given to the province which caused bottlenecks in the smooth uplift projects. He deplored that the federal government had meted out step-motherly treatment to the province which led to despair among the people. He asked the federal government to take keen interest in the problems of the KP and ensure the timely clearance of net hydel dues to the province. Aftab Sherpao said that effective measures should be adopted to improve working relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said that the peace and development between the two states was only possible through better ties between them. He said that the Pakhtun leadership could better comprehend the intricacy of the relationship between the two neighbours, hence it can play pivotal role to bring normalcy between the two brethrens. He called upon federal government to seriously take the issue so as to bring an end to the mistrust which was essential for the peace and tranquillity in the region.