TIMERGARA: Panelists at a seminar here on Wednesday said literacy rate won’t increase until parents, education department and civil society joined hands to bring all children to schools.

The seminar was organised by the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) to enrol more out-of-school children.

The officials of the education department, social activists, teachers and elders of the area attended the seminar.

Among panelists were NCHD, Lower Dir and Bajaur general manager Saifullah Zafar, deputy district education officer, Lower Dir Mohammad Riaz, SDO, Samar Bagh Hamidur Rehman and Khewendo Kor’s Ibrash Pasha.

They said despite the government's initiatives over the years, thousands of children continued to be out of schools in the region.

The panelists said it was the collective responsibility of the society to reach out to families, whose students

had not been enrolled in schools.

They asked participants to increase public awareness of education for making Pakistan a prosperous and developed country.

TRADERS THREATEN PROTEST: The Anjuman Tajaran of Timergara on Wednesday threatened to block a major local road after two days against the prolonged suspension of electric supply to parts of the city.

Talking to reporters, Anjuman Tajaran president Haji Anwaruddin and general secretary Laiqzada said power supply to Timergara city had been suspended for four days.

They said power suspension had caused huge losses to traders, while the people struggled to get water for domestic use.

The trader leaders said tailors were in distress under the circumstances as they had to deliver clothes to the people for the imminent Eidul Azha but were unable to do so due to unavailability of electricity.

\They demanded that the district administration and Pesco step in to address their grievances.

Meanwhile, newly-appointed additional deputy commissioner, Lower Dir Umar Javed asked trader leaders to minimise the use of plastic bags.

Published in Dawn, September 25th , 2014