SOUTH Waziristan is one of the largest districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which has been neglected by successive governments since the emergence of Pakistan. Due to this sustained negligence, poverty, illiteracy, mismanagement, disparity, discontentment and unemployment have prevailed in the region as integral components of life in the region.

The enemies of the country took advantage of this lingering discontentment and ‘used’ many of the locals for their evil designs. As a result, extremism sprang up in the region. The military operations wiped out the terrorism and brought peace to the region, but education, health, infrastructure and overall administration of Waziristan continue to be in a miserable condition.

Education and proper training can mould societies. About 70 per cent of the children in the area are out of school. Many of the government schools do not have proper buildings and the students are compelled to study in the open. Teachers are untrained. Children have to quit their studies and are forced into labour to earn a living.

The healthcare system is in a similar terrible state. There are only a few hospitals, and even they lack medicines and qualified staff.

Regions that were part of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) were merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to help them become prosperous and developed, but not much has changed on the ground. The federal and provincial governments should address the problems on a priority basis and improve the educational system and administration of the South Waziristan tribal district.

Muhammad Haroon
South Waziristan

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2021