Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Indigenous and Tribal Populations Convention, 1957 (No. 107) - Pakistan (Ratification: 1960)

Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the development of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) is pursued under the FATA Sustainable Development Plan 2006–15 (SDP) which covers a wide range of sectors, including education, health, infrastructure, rural development, agriculture, industry and mining, and skills development. The Committee also notes the list of projects prepared by the FATA secretariat contained in the Government’s report. However, the Committee notes with concern the Government’s indications that the recent conflict in FATA have severely impacted on the implementation of the SDP. In this context, the Committee also notes that the Pakistan Workers’ Federation (PWF), in a communication of 21 September 2008, stressed the need for further action by the Government to promote the welfare of the tribal population which continues to be affected by poverty and unemployment. Recalling that under Article 2 of the Convention, the Government has the primary responsibility for developing coordinated and systematic action for the protection of the tribal population concerned, including action to promote the social, economic and cultural development of the population concerned and to raise their standard of living, the Committee urges the Government, in cooperation with its international partners, to take the necessary steps to address the consequences of the conflict in the tribal areas, including through appropriate recovery and rehabilitation measures, and to ensure the full implementation of the SDP. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the measures taken and the results achieved in this regard. While noting the Government’s indication that the administration of the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) of the North–West Frontier Province (NWFP) and of Baluchistan is under the direct responsibility of these two provinces, the Committee reiterates its request for information on the measures taken to apply the Convention to the population concerned in these areas.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.