RAWALPINDI: (APP) Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Tuesday visited North and South Waziristan and reviewed pace of stabilization operations, return of temporarily displaced persons (TDPs) and development works in FATA.
According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the COAS expressing satisfaction on the progress of return of TDPs, commended the efforts of everyone involved in ensuring their smooth and timely return with dignity and honor.
He directed them to complete the return of remaining TDPs within stipulated time before end of 2016.
As part of a comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction effort, significant rehabilitation projects were commissioned.
One of those projects, the 84 km long Bannu-Miranshah-Ghulam Khan Road funded by USAID and constructed by FWO, has been opened.
This would become the shortest trade route to Afghanistan wherein travelling time between Bannu and Ghulam Khan Border Post will reduce from 6 hours to only 1.5 hours.
With opening of this road, 705 km long strategic central trade corridor to Afghanistan has been completed for all kind of moves across the border up to Central Asia.
The COAS also inaugurated state of the art Younus Khan Sports Stadium with a packed crowd of viewers watching the inaugural match played between FATA Eleven and Younas Khan Eleven.
The COAS expressed the hope that enormous talent of FATA youth would be honed with upcoming educational and sports facilities and with no dearth of talent, their aspirations to rise at the international level would be accomplished.
Addressing Jirga of tribal elders, General Raheel Sharif said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb had irreversibly eradicated terrorist networks from FATA.
He said we have made considerable gains in our operations and reached close to our objective of total elimination of terrorism from the country's soil.
Paying tributes to tribal people, the COAS lauded them for their full support to the security forces in their effort for achieving peace and stability in the region.
The COAS assured the tribesmen that Pakistan Army and Government were determined to ensure all promises made for their socio-economic development were delivered, to open avenues of prosperity and socio- economic turnaround.
"We will give a secure and prosperous Pakistan to our future generations," he added.
Tribal elders thanked the COAS for cleansing their area from terrorists, bringing peace and ensuring a quality reconstruction work.
Earlier, General Raheel Sharif and begum also visited South Waziristan to see one of the newly opened Army Public School in Chagmalai and spent time with the children.
Speaking at the occasion, he commended the faculty and the students for exhibiting such excellent standards of education in those areas.
The COAS appreciated the locals for their keenness to send their children to schools. Only education can help elevate the future generations to growth and prosperity.
During the visit to Miranshah, Begum Raheel Sharif had a separate interaction with the huge gathering of local ladies. She appreciated their sacrifices and heard their issues related to resettlement.
Earlier, on arrival the COAS was received by Lieutenant General Hidayat Ur Rehman, Corps Commander Peshawar Corps.