MERGER OF FEDERALLY ADMINISTERED TRIBAL AREAS: MAPPING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL REFORMS

Abstract

The 25th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan marked a significant step in integrating the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). This amendment aimed to bring administrative, judicial, and developmental reforms to the tribal region, replacing the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) with the Interim Regulation Act 2018. The objective of this study is to analyze the process of FATA’s integration into KP and evaluate its impact on governance, judicial structures, and socio-economic conditions in the region. A qualitative research methodology is adopted, utilizing primary data from official declarations, documents, alongside secondary data from books, journals, research articles, newspapers, and online sources. Findings indicate that the integration has led to administrative improvements, legal reforms, and increased economic opportunities, particularly in natural resource management and infrastructure development. However, challenges persist in fully implementing these reforms.  The study concludes that while the merger is a positive step, sustained efforts are required to ensure smooth integration and development. It is recommended that the government focus on institutional capacity building, economic uplift programs, and judicial accessibility to maximize the benefits of the reform.