More than two years after 2013 polls, NA-38 Kurram Agency has no MNA

PESHAWAR: The central Kurram Agency has no representation in the National Assembly more than two years after the May 2013 general election as polls for the NA-38 constituency has yet to be held.
Former Member National Assembly and leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Munir Khan Orakzai said the tribal people in Central Kurram were facing problems owing to lack of representation in the National Assembly.
Talking to The News on Wednesday, Munir Orakzai said the elders of this constituency always ask visiting government officials as to when election to NA-38 would be held as the situation was now stable and the polls could be held.
He said the total population of the Central Kurram (NA-38) was 212,000 according to the 1998 census, but it would be now more than 300,000.
Munir Orakzai, who received the civil award Nishan-i-Imtiaz on March 23, 2011 and got elected MNA twice from NA-38 in 2002 and 2008, maintained that he got approved Rs17 billion by the government for the victims of sectarian violence in his area. “The government has not initiated any new uplift project in the constituency since 2013,” he stressed.
He claimed to have launched a number of development projects in his constituency including three government colleges for boys and one for girls, 77 new schools, and upgradation of 16 middle schools to high schools and 36 primary schools to middle level. He said more than 200 teachers were appointed to overcome the shortage of the teaching staff in some schools.
Munir Orakzai said that a basic health unit (BHU) was established besides upgrading 14 dispenseries to the Community Health Centre Hospitals. He said 22 veterinary hospitals were also set up in the area. He said projects were also completed to provide drinking and irrigation water, street pavement, electrification, roads, and tree plantation including three orchards.