TIMERGARA: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said on Thursday that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had great potential in the sectors of tourism, mining and minerals, hydro energy and agriculture.

Addressing the fifth convocation of University of Malakand as a chief guest, he said that government was working for promotion and development of those sectors.

The sitting and former lawmakers from the area, Malakand Commissioner Riaz Khan Mehsud, Deputy Commissioner Saadat Hassan, UoM Vice-chancellor Dr Gul Zaman, faculty members and students attended the function.

Tells students at UoM convocation to play role in nation building

The chief minister gave away degrees and gold medals to the graduates. A total of 184 students were awarded degrees and 60 got gold medals. He also inaugurated the newly built science block of the university.

“I am happy to hear that University of Malakand has 28 departments,” the chief minister said, adding it started from only six departments. He asked the university administration to focus on standard education and research work.

He said that government had planned to establish new educational institutions of various kinds in Malakand division. He said that hundreds of thousands of tourists visited different parts of Malakand division after opening of Swat Motorway.

The chief minister said that the motorway would be extended to Madyan, Swat in the next phase while Chakdara-Chitral route would also be extended.

He said that government would include all the demands of UoM about development projects in the next budget.

He said he had announced to upgrade the Timergara campus of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan to a full-fledged university during his visit to Timergara.

The chief minister said that classes were started at the women campus of UoM in Batkhela. He said that engineering universities would also be established in Dir and Swat. He advised the students to play active role in the nation building and development.

The chief minister also administered oath to the cabinet members of Chakdara Press Club and announced a grant of Rs2 million for the press club.

Speaking on this occasion, he said that construction of Sanam Dam in Asbanr, Chakdara bypass road and Khadagzai-Chakdara road were approved and work on the projects would be started soon.

He said that completion of those projects would help to resolve many problems faced by the local people. He also announced Rs500,000 for heirs of the slain lawyer, Mohammad Saeed Khan.

He asked the vice-chancellor of UoM to provide free education to children of the killed advocate.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2019