President approves Regulations for Federal Levies Force, 2012 for FATA and PATA‏

Islamabad, 18 June 2012:
President Asif Ali Zardari today on the advice of the Prime Minister has approved the Regulations for Federal Levies Force, 2012 for FATA and PATA under Article 247 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The Summary received by the presidency from the States and Frontier Regions Division, via the Prime Minister’s office, said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan while chairing a high level meeting on Law & Order at Governor House Peshawar on 19th June 2009 had directed for strengthening of Federal Levies Force in FATA and PATA/Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and also upgradation of the existing service structure. It said that accordingly a Regulation was drafted in consultation with all concerned divisions including Law & Justice Division and was notified in May 2010 after the approval of the Prime Minister and the President of Pakistan.
Later, in view of the amendments as proposed by Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the President, two identical but separate Regulations were drafted for Federal Levies Force for FATA and Levies Force for PATA respectively after agreement of all the stakeholders.
After endorsement of these drafts by the Governor KPK and later by Members of Parliament from FATA, the Ministry of SAFRON recommended to the Prime Minister to advise the President to accord his approval for issuance of Federal Levies Force Regulation, 2012 for FATA and Levies Force Regulation 2012 for PATA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Article 247 of the Constitution.
Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the Regulations have been issued to decentralize the operational command and administration of the Federal Levies Forces in FATA & PATA. The earlier regulation notified in 2010 stand repealed.
He said that the step has been taken in order to make the Levies Forces more efficient, organized and disciplined to meet the challenges arising out of the prevailing situation in the Tribal Areas.
According to the new Regulations, Political Agents and DCOs have been declared as commandants of the Levies Forces within their respective jurisdiction. Earlier the commandant use to be a person appointed as such by the Federal Government.
The Regulations state that the Director General Federal Levies shall be responsible for budgetary and procurement matters of the Force. The members of the Force shall receive pay, pension and allowances as may be prescribed by rules, the regulations say.
The Commandant shall exercise his powers and perform his functions under the general supervision and directions of the Federal Government, according to the new Regulations issued today.


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