PESHAWAR: As the ongoing military operation in Swat makes significant headway, the NWFP government has decided to put in place a recovery plan before the IDPs from Malakand region start going back to their homes.

According to an Emergency Response Unit (ERU) handout issued here on Sunday, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, NWFP to discuss the “Early Recovery Plan of IDPs” in Malakand Division. Administrative secretaries of concerned departments and officials from PESCO and PTCL also attended the meeting.

Shakeel Qadir Khan, Chief Economist and Member of Emergency Response Unit (ERU) gave a detailed presentation on the Early Recovery Plan. The heads of the concerned departments were directed to chalk out plans and indentify gaps in service delivery of the affected areas and come up with suggestions by June 4.

The Education Department was directed to identify the number of schools and teachers, who can be mobilized within short span of time. Similarly, the health department was also advised to come up with its action plan for reviving the existing healthcare facilities in the affected areas.

The Revenue Department was directed to enhance its capacity and come up with recommendations for dealing with the expected landlord-tenant issue. The Establishment Department was directed to come up with a plan with special emphasise on the number of good officers to be involved in the early recovery process.

The Works and Service Department was directed to create machinery pool at the earliest to clear rubble from roads that have been blocked due to bombardments. They were also directed to make preliminary damage assessment for public infrastructure damages due to military operation in Malakand Division.

The PESCO and PTCL officials present in the meeting were directed to revive the existing power supply and communication networks before the commencement of IDPs’ return.

The Transport Department was directed to work out plan for provision of vehicles from other provinces at affordable rates since the return of IDPs will require a huge number of transport, which the province does not have.

The Finance Department was informed and directed to make special arrangement for disbursement of salaries to the government officials and deferment of loan payments for couple of months. The Chief Secretary directed the Finance Secretary to hold a meeting with all provincial heads of all the banks to work out modalities for issuance of soft loans for IDPs so that they may take a start to make an economic survival.