Changing lives in South Waziristan

Proudly hoisting the national flag many IDPs are slowly but surely returning to their homes and villages that are being slowly rehabilitated after years of conflict. Men, women and children routinely line up for registration at designated transportation sites -- many with mixed feelings yet fully determined to reclaim their homes and livelihoods lost to a meaningless war. “There is still fear and worries about what tomorrow may bring, but I am not afraid. I have small house, a few cattle and God’s help which is all I need……” says Gulbaz a resident of Lower Chaghmalai, SWA. Getting ready for the long haul, Gulbaz lifted his belongings, jumped on the roof top of a colorful bus that rolled off on a new journey that many IDPs hope they would take sooner than later. Precariously placed on the roof top were his entire belongings. Some charpoys to sleep on, a few pots and pans to use and abundant hope. Fortunately the road is nicely paved and the journey far smoother than what many recall from the years before. Funded by USAID and built by the FWO the new road is a pleasant surprise for most travelers who view this as a huge sign of a government finally taking charge and of more good times ahead.

“This is a big achievement; my bus will now make more trips and I will not have to worry about break downs every other day. This used to be very poor dirt and gravel road but is now as good as the road in Peshawar. I can now get to Wana and back in half the time” These were the words of Dilroze khan the owner/driver of the bus as he got ready to transport a new batch of 70 IDPs to their homes.

Further down the road there are more signs of life finally returning to Waziristan. Khaista khan, a local youth now sits in his makeshift tented shop on the road side, selling vegetables, a little bit of fruit and other groceries. A small enterprise that was unthinkable a few months ago, but now potential prospects, as more and more people come back to their homes.

Right next to Khaista’s grocery shop is Gul Baz khan’s tent who now sells scrap, a potentially lucrative and environmentally friendly trade. “There is so much scrap and junk everywhere in SWA so hopefully business will be good” --- said Khaista khan – an unfortunate but direct reference to the destroyed villages, burnt properties and vehicles, empty bomb shells and more. The remains of an unfortunate war that will now feed into a new business cycle.

Based on recent estimates over 70,000 IDPs have returned to their homes. With increasing activity in the area, local schools, Basic Health Units (BHU’s) and tube wells for drinking water and irrigation are being rehabilitated an slowly opening up in Kotkai, Chagmalai and Murghiband.

Among other signs a makeshift volleyball court run by the local youth in Morghibund/SWA testifies to the brave and free spirit of the SWA tribes. A spirit that refuses to die down even under extreme odds.

In yet another village a small playground with rudimentary but much needed sports equipment now caters to the local children. An unheard of luxury for most school going as well as other kids in SWA.

Funded by USAID the “Quick Impact Project/QIP” is directly contributing to these and other far reaching changes in SWA. New and upgraded roads are not only consolidating (and extending) the writ of the government, they are also directly creating opportunities for the revival of local agriculture, new livelihoods, return of public social services (schools and health units) and creating the infrastructure for expanded trade with Afghanistan in due course.

As one of the largest USAID’s interventions in FATA/Pakistan, work on the 215 KM trunk road projects continue with full momentum and great deal of anticipation. The two major road projects cutting through the Wazir and Mahsood tribal heartlands are now 85 % completed. On full completion these projects will serve the entire SWA population and help the area economy through reduced travel time, savings in fuel and maintenance costs; reduced prices of imported commodities; lower costs for exports of the local agriculture produce; enhanced trade and traffic as well as greater security and predictability services and communications.

Other large USAID assistance covers the rehabilitation of the 11 KV and 33 KV distribution systems and related village electrification which is widely viewed as a high need. Likely to expand to a number of villages in SWA, the currently targeted villages include Spinkai Raghzai, Mandana, Sheikh Nikka, Noi Kach, Murghiband, Raghzai, Kotkai, Shinwam, Ghana Kach, Lalabad, Lower Chaghmalai, Upper Chaghmalai, Siplatoi and Madina Mor.

Implementation is currently underway in 14 villages and likely to benefit over 4000 households, 5 BHUs, 11 Schools and several irrigation schemes. The latter is now helping the local farmers re-establish their farms and small orchards that were abandoned due to continuing conflicts.

Improvement in roads, access to power and other infrastructure interventions has also helped improvements on the education front. Field evidence shows that several public and community schools have re-opened directly benefiting children as well as local employment.

Among other social services a number of ‘basic Health Units” have re-opened ensuring improved access to locals who had to otherwise travel to far off locations to cater to emergencies and basis medical care.

Among other immediate impacts the USAID funded QIP has directly contributed to significant local employment. Annex 1 summarize the current QIP portfolio and a broad assessment of the man hours of skilled and unskilled employment generated in SWA. Based on conservative estimates the QIP has helped generate 1 million man hours of work directly helping the tribal population of SWA.

Annex 1

Summary of QIP SWA Project:

S.No / Tank - Jandola - Makin Road / Kaur - Gomal - Wana Road / 11 KV Rehabilitation works / 33 KV Rehabilitation works / Total
1 / No of Active Sites (sections/ villages) / 5 / 5 / 11 / 4 / 25
2 / No of Contractors / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 4
3 / No of Sub Contractors / 22 / 24 / 1 / 1 / 48
4 / No of Skilled Contractor Staff / 300 / 320 / 15 / 10 / 645
5 / No of Unskilled Contractor Staff / 1,100 / 1,160 / 80 / 30 / 2,370
6 / Estimated Manhours to date (Hrs) / 5,521,600 / 5,837,120 / 177,840 / 74,880 / 11,611,440
7 / Wages
Skilled Staff (PKR / day) / 1,000 / 1,000 / 1,500 / 1,500
Unskilled Staff (PKR/day) / 600 / 600 / 600 / 600
Note / 1,451,430 man days or 48,381 man months

DIRECT EMPLOYEMENT THROUGH QIP SWA:

S.No. / Name of Road / Name of Contractor / Date of Commencement / Total Staff Deployed / Total man-hours’ worked till date since commencement date / Daily Wage Rate
SKILLED / UNSKILLED / TOTAL / SKILLED / UNSKILLED
Road Sector 2
1 / Tank - Jandola - Makin Road / Frontier Works Organization / 01-Jan-10 / 300 / 1100 / 1400 / 5,521,600 / 1000 / 600
2 / Kaur - Gomal - Wana Road / Frontier Works Organization / 01-Jan-10 / 320 / 1160 / 1480 / 5,837,120 / 1000 / 600
Power Sector
1 / 11 KV Rehabilitation works / Frontier Works Organization / 01-Nov-10 / 15 / 80 / 95 / 177,840 / 1500 / 600
2 / 33 KV Rehabilitation works / Frontier Works Organization / 01-Nov-10 / 10 / 30 / 40 / 74,880 / 1500 / 600
Total / 645 / 2370 / 11,611,440