Punjab to set up high schools in Fata: CM

[Naveed Yaseen]

CHIEF Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Monday said that the Punjab government would extend all-out assistance to the displaced persons of Federally Administered Tribal Areas while high schools would also be established in all the eight agencies of Fata.

He said a fully equipped Danish School would be set up in the area and the site of the school would be selected by a committee of Fata members of parliament. He said that a special committee had been formed under the chairmanship of Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khosa for the assistance of the displaced persons from Fata and members of the parliament from the area would also be inducted in the committee.

He was talking to Fata MPs during a meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

Mr Shahbaz said the Punjab government would not leave the displaced persons of Waziristan and other areas unattended in their hour of need. He said a three-member committee for assistance of displace persons, headed by Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khosa, would include Fata members of parliament, Shaukatullah, Zaffar Beig Bhattani, Muhammad Kamran Khan and Engineer Malik Rasheed Ahmad Khan. He said the Punjab government would establish high schools in all the agencies of Fata, namely Bajor, Mohmand, Khybar, Aurakzai, Kuram, North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Frontier Agency. He said a Danish School would be a gift from the people of Punjab to their brethren of Fata.

The members of parliament from Fata thanked the chief minister for the assistance to the displaced persons and establishment of high schools a Danish School in the area. They said the steps would further increase mutual contacts between people of Punjab and Fata and promote the national solidarity. The said that by extending help to the displaced persons, the Punjab chief minister had won the hearts of people of the area and added that the help should also be extended to the displaced persons staying at Jalozai Camp, Peshawar.

Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, while giving details of the relief assistance for displaced persons, informed that Punjab government would provide 1,000 tonnes wheat to the affectees. In response to the demand of the members of parliament, he assured that flour, instead of wheat, would be supplied.

Federal Minister for Zakat and Ushr Noorul Haq Qadri, Federal Minister for Environment Hameedullah Jan Afridi, Minister of State for Kashmir Affairs Abdul Razzaq, Parliamentary Leader of Fata in National Assembly Munir Khan Aurakzai, Senator Engineer Malik Rasheed Ahmad Khan, Members National Assembly Muhammad Kamran Khan, Shaukatullah, Zafar Beig Bhattani, Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, MNA Hamza Shahbaz Sharif and Senator Ishaq Dar were also present.

steps for peace: Outgoing British High Commissioner in Pakistan Robert Edward Brinkley paid a farewell visit to Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Monday.

Talking to the British high commissioner, the chief minister said Pakistan was passing through a critical phase of its history while facing serious security challenges which were badly affecting investment and development in the country. He said the whole nation and political leadership was united in the war on terror and after a successful operation in Swat, a similar operation was going on in South Waziristan.

Referring to law and order situation in Punjab, Mr Shahbaz said effective measures were being taken for the maintaining peace in the province while in addition to modern training, police were also being equipped with the latest weapons. He said that services of the army had also been acquired for police training. He said that besides capacity-building of police training schools, a counter terrorism force had also been established. He said that elimination of ignorance, illiteracy and unemployment was important for eradicating terrorism, therefore, the Punjab government had adopted a comprehensive strategy for the uplift of the education sector, promotion of economic activities and generation of job opportunities.

The CM said the government was paying special attention to the promotion of vocational education in the province and Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority was being made a vibrant institution. He said complete autonomy had been granted to Tevta

to promote vocational training for elimination of unemployment and development of a skilled workforce. He said a strategy was being implemented for elimination of disparity from the education sector and Danish Schools, equipped with the latest facilities, were being set up in the backward areas. He said the programme had been started from Southern Punjab.

The chief minister said the world had become a global village and promotion of information technology had become imperative for keeping pace with the developed nations. Therefore, he said, computer labs had been set up in more than 4,000 schools of the province. He said 70 percent population of the country was associated with the agriculture sector and a record production of wheat had been achieved this year whereas solid measures were also being taken for the uplift of livestock and dairy development sectors.

Mr Shahbaz appreciated the efforts of the British high commissioner for strengthening the bilateral relations and trade and economic ties between Pakistan and Britain during his stay. He also lauded the cooperation of Britain in education and other sectors in Punjab.

Outgoing British High Commissioner Robert Edward Brinkley said Britain would extend all possible assistance to Pakistan in the prevailing circumstances. He said his country was already extending support for the improvement of education sector and efficiency of police. He said DIFID would spend 80 million pounds on various projects for the uplift of education sector in Punjab this year whereas a similar plan had been evolved for the next three years. He lauded the efforts of the Punjab chief minister for the progress of the education sector in the province.

Later, the chief minister hosted a luncheon in honour of outgoing British high commissioner and his wife which was also attended by Opposition Leader in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Senator Ishaq Dar, Member National Assembly, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Salaman Shahbaz Sharif and Begum Zakia Shahnawaz.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=208961