The 48-member council was established to oversee government affairs in 12 districts where an emergency was imposed
PESHAWAR:
The Area Representatives and Development Council (ARDC), established for 12 districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), has yet to become fully operational more than two weeks after its formation, with its secretariat and offices still not functioning.
The 48-member council was established to oversee government affairs in 12 districts where an emergency was imposed on October 11 amid a PTI protest.
These include Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan, Lower South Waziristan, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat and Bannu.
Former K-P governor Shaukatullah Khan has been appointed chairman of the council.
A separate secretariat has also been established for the 12 districts and placed in charge of 32 departments, for which separate secretaries have been appointed. The old Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) Secretariat building on Warsak Road has been allocated for the purpose.
However, more than two weeks after the council’s formation, offices have not been allocated to the departments and the administrative setup remains incomplete. The government had also decided to establish councils at the tehsil level, but their members have not yet been selected.
