MANSEHRA: The new building of the commerce college, Balakot, would be completed before the start of next fiscal year with an estimated cost of Rs200 million. The college has been functioning in a prefabricated structure since its building was flattened in the October 8, 2005 earthquake.

This was stated by Shakeel Ahmad, director general of commerce education, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while speaking at the prize distribution ceremony at the college on Saturday.

He said that construction work on the building was started some two years ago and would be completed in the stipulated time so that students could get education in a better environment.

“The provincial government has been working on a comprehensive strategy to end unemployment in the province through promoting commerce education,” said Mr Ahmad.

He said that the government wanted to provide quality education to students in the college as Rs40 million would be spent on purchase of computers, furniture and other modern equipments.

The director general of commerce education said that PTI-led provincial government had increased the number of commerce colleges from 17 to 33, adding that more such institutions were also being established in every nook and corner of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Mr Ahmad said that commerce education was also a great source of women empowerment, adding that over 500 female students had been getting education at the commerce college in Abbottabad, who would get respectable jobs after completing their education.

He said the provincial government planned to launch a hotel management college in Hazara as tourism sector in the region was in dire need of skilled human resource.

Mr Ahmad invited parents to send their children to commerce colleges so they could earn respectable living for them after completion of their education.

Mr Ahmad lauded the role of staff and principal of the college for working hard for promotion of commerce education in Balakot.

Later, the commerce education director general gave away certificates and shields to shinning students.

TWO BODIES FOUND: Bodies of two persons were found separately here on Saturday.

The body of a young boy named Mohammad Atif was found in mountainous area of Bajna. According to police some unidentified killers axed him to death and dumped his body there.

The Baffa police registered FIR and began further investigations.

In another incident, the body of a missing man was found in Tarkot Dara area of Baffa. The victim, Abdul Ghani, had gone for shopping earlier this month, but didn’t return home.

The police registered FIR and began investigations to know cause of his death.

Meanwhile, a student of 9th grade was electrocuted while fishing through an electric current in Siren River. Ahsan Ali was shifted to nearby hospital in critical condition, but he couldn’t survive.

The Khaki police registered FIR and began further investigations.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2015

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