PESHAWAR, May 27: Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has said his government is focusing on education by investing billions of rupees in this vital sector to ensure better future for the nation.

He was addressing the second annual day function of Ujala Welfare Society, a welfare organisation for education of the children of low-paid employees of nation building government departments, at the Chief Minister’s House on Sunday. The chief minister is the patron-in-chief of the society.

The chief minister said that the root causes of all ills and turmoil in the region were illiteracy, poverty and injustice, adding the government was fully aware of the situation.

He said that continuity in policies and democratic system was essential for betterment of the people. He said the government was taking concrete steps for promotion of education and employment as per vision of Khudai Khidmatgar leader Bacha Khan.

Mr Hoti said that sincere efforts were being taken to boost the standard of government schools under the “Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa” scheme.

He said under another scheme titled ‘Rokhan Pakhtunkhwa’, the government will bear educational expenses of all children of private high schools in most backward areas which lack the facility of public sector high schools. He added 100 schools had been selected in 25 districts of the province while 300 more will be selected next year.

The chief minister appealed to the well-off people for generous donations and support in the mission of the Ujala Welfare Society. He announced a donation of Rs2 million. He termed Engineer Zahid Arif’s book, “Road Guide”, as foundation for increase in donations to Ujala and said that the book was fountain of knowledge for engineers.

Addressing the gathering, president of Ujala Welfare Society Eng Zahid Arif  and senior vice-president Mohsin Aziz said the funds of Ujala increased to Rs80 million in a very short period but the organisation needed further encouragement and donations from civil society.