MINGORA, April 19: The European Union (EU) has praised Pakistan Army for restoring peace in Swat and helping former militants change their radical thoughts.

During a visit to Mishal De-radicalisation Centre in Swat, an 18-member delegation of European envoys led by EU Ambassador to Pakistan Lars-Gunnar Wigemark met former militants, asked them about the rehabilitation programme.

The EU ambassador said the people of Swat had set an example for the entire world to follow by eliminating extremism and added that it was encouraging to see life was returning to normal in the valley, reports APP.

Earlier, the delegation comprising envoys of Denmark, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, Czech Republic, Romania, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy and German attended a briefing by Malakand Division Operation Commander Maj-Gen Ghulam Qamar on Swat operation at Khwazakhela and other parts of the valley.

The EU ambassador said on the occasion that the visit showed that peace had been restored in the violence-ravaged Swat valley with the sacrifices of the military personnel and local people.

He said: “The EU with cooperation of member states has been working through a multi-donor trust fund in various fields, which has set aside $114 million for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Malakand division affected by a military operation in 2009.” He said the EU was the largest donor and had released 70 per cent of the funds promised for the purpose.

Mr Wigemark said education, vocational skills to the young generation and other uplift projects were top priority to contribute in this sector.

He said EU was spending 300 million euros on the reconstruction of schools and other development projects in Swat and Malakand to put the militancy-hit region on path of progress and developments.

The ambassador said like other areas, development in Swat and Malakand division was EU’s top priority.

He said the EU was making all possible efforts to integrate all its programmes, including education, vocational training, energy and agriculture. He said the EU was also supporting the United Nations refugees programme in order to help internally displaced people return.

He reaffirmed the EU’s stand to assist Pakistani civil society by rebuilding it through local communities and said: “Most importantly, we are empowering local communities, especially at the union council level, because we believe in a grassroots approach.”

The EU envoys, who visited Swat for two days, said they were awestruck by the beauty of Swat valley and said they would encourage people of their respective countries to visit the scenic valley more frequently. They said they enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Swat, especially snow-clad mountains and that dwellers of the valley were very friendly,
hospitable and helpful.

The delegates later visited rich archeological site of Gulkada, where they enjoyed historical structures. They also extended cooperation for rehabilitation of archeological sites in the province hit by militants.