Farooq Hasnat

In a federation, decentralized power is crucial in alleviating ethnic conflicts and addressing sentiments of deprivation among marginalized communities. The historic merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) in May 2018, under the 25th Amendment of Pakistan's 1973 constitution, aimed to address the grievances of this area’s residents and promote peace and development. Despite its strategic significance, the tribal agencies (bordering Afghanistan) have long suffered from socio-economic and political neglect and enduring insurgency since 2002. Consequently, the merger was widely welcomed by residents and political stakeholders in the area. This study presents a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the sentiments of young residents in ex-FATA regarding socio-economic and political changes following the merger with KPK. A survey, interviews, and focus-group discussion were conducted with residents of these tribal agencies. Research findings indicate that while most former FATA inhabitants appreciate the merger, substantial progress in improving their quality of life has yet to be witnessed in practice.