BAJAUR: Speakers at a youth convention here on Tuesday called for building a university and more colleges for both boys and girls and appointing the required staff to the existing educational institutions in Bajaur district.

Malakand Development Network organised the convention. The organisers said the convention was meant to discuss the issues of different sectors, especially education and health, and recommend suggestions for solutions to them.

The speakers recalled that when the former Fata was merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the 25th Constitutional Amendment in 2018, the people were promised improvements in health and education sectors and sustainable development of their region. However, they noted that these promises were yet to be translated into action.

They said that not a single school and a health unit could be established in the district since the region’s merger with the province.

Habibullah Qasimi, Mufti Bill Yasar, Junid Khan, Aslam Khan, Naseer Khan, Waqar Khan and Ali Hazrat, were the key speakers. They said the then chief Minster Mahmood Khan had announced the establishment of a university and several new degree colleges during his visit to the district in 2021.

However, they regretted that work on none of the announced projects could be launched despite the passage of about three years.

The participant also urged the government to provide facilities of transport and science and computer laboratories in all the colleges in Bajaur district.

They also asked the district administration and police to ensure putting in place proper security arrangements at the educational institutions.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024