MARDAN, May 29: District Nazim Haji Raza Khan has called upon the people to maintain unity in their ranks at this hour of need when the country is faced with security threats from India.

Though Pakistan was a peace-loving country, New Delhi held it responsible for every misdeed and terrorism occurred inside its country, he said.

He was addressing the prize distributing ceremony at Government High School at Rustam (Mardan) here on Wednesday.

He condemned Indian firing at the innocent civilians living along the Line of Control. Pakistan was consistently displaying patience and peace, but the countries that repeatedly called for peace were silent over the situation. This was strange, he deplored.

Mr Khan warned India that they should have neither any misconception about the skills and capabilities of Pakistan army nor about the Pakistanis, and claimed that India would face loss if it initiated war.

He urged politicians to shun their differences and join hands with President Gen Pervez Musharraf to fight foreign aggression and terrorism.

He, highlighting the priorities of the district government, said education had to do a lot with the rise and fall of nations, and that was why the government was fully concentrating on education.  

The Nazim informed the gathering that NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussein Shah had announced NWFP Engineering University for Science and Technology, a board of intermediate and secondary education and a number of colleges for Mardan District.

He also said that 20 per cent of the total district budget had been allocated for the education sector.