SHANGLA: Civil society activists have reminded the provincial government of its promise to establish a working folks school in the Shangla district.

Speaking at a function on Tuesday, they pointed out that about 70 per cent people in the district were working in coalmines across the country but unfortunately most of the workers’ children were out of school due to absence of affordable schooling.

Tariq Rauf said the labourers had long been demanding the school in Shangla, but the provincial government was least bothered.

Hassan Jamala said children of workers were unable to study in private educational institutions owing to high fees. He said a school for children of labour class in Shangla would enable them to get education at their doorstep. He said the government had set up working folks schools in other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but ignored Shangla.

Neelum Abrar said on one hand the government had enforced education emergency in the province, but on the other, thousands of children of coalminers were deprived of their basic right to education.

It is to mention here that former provincial minister Bakht Baidar of the QWP had announced establishment of working folk school in Shangla in 2014, but after he was removed as minister on charge of corruption, the authorities cancelled the tender for the school building.

Several attempts were made to seek comments of Labour and Mineral Development Minister Anisazeb Tahirkheli in this regard but the phone call was dropped again and again. However, MPA Mohammad Rashad criticised the government for failing to fulfill commitments made with the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

ROAD REPAIR DEMANDED: Kana tehsil residents have demanded repair of Karora-Kana valley road which is in dilapidated condition.

Speaking at a news conference, Fazal Mehmood, general secretary of PML-Q, Shangla chapter, Basar Khan, member tehsil council, and Ziaulhaq, member district council Shahpur, said the ramshackle road was a constant nuisance for the people.

They said they held several meetings with the authorities concerned in this regard, but to no avail. They lamented that the provincial government had allocated funds for reconstruction of 30km road but the district nazim had obtained a stay order which led to delay in repair of the road.

ACCIDENT: One person was killed while another was injured when a tractor plunged into ravine in Alpuri on Tuesday.

Police said the tractor on way from Bailly Baba to Basi area plunged into a ravine near Shahtooth. They said a man named Sajid Ali was killed on the spot while driver Said Afzal got injuries. The body and the injured were taken to the district headquarters hospital, Alpuri.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2017