U.S. Helps the FATA Secretariat Build Roads for its People

Peshawar, February 2, 2012

The Tank-Makin road, before and after.

The U.S. funded Tank-Makin road in the South Waziristan Agency (SWA) was inaugurated today in Jandola by the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Secretariat and the Frontier Works Organization (FWO). The 110 kilometer road is part of the FATA Secretariat’s Quick Impact Project in the SWA.

“This road is a wonderful example of cooperation between the Government of Pakistan and the United States and we are proud to have been a partner in building this important road,” said Dr. Andrew Sisson, Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Pakistan. “We share the view that this road is a key to economic recovery and also for the long-term security of this important region of Pakistan. It will help create jobs, link agricultural areas and markets with communities who have not had good access to these in the past, and help promote stability and peace in this region.”

The Tank-Makin road, which was heavily damaged by the 2010 floods, connects Ahmadwam, Sara Rogha, and Kotkai in the SWA to Tank and D.I. Khan. U.S. funding enabled the FATA Secretariat and FWO to repair this section of road, including tunnels and bridges.

The United States has contributed over US$150 million for roads and other key infrastructure projects in South Waziristan.

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