TIMERGARA: The nine-day Dir Spring Peace Festival began here at the Rest House Ground on Monday.

NGOs Association for Behaviour and Knowledge Transformation and Khwendo Kor jointly organised the event in collaboration with the South Asia Partnership Pakistan under its Awaz and Accountability programme.

Lower Dir DC Irfanullah Wazir inaugurated the festival during a special ceremony, where people from all walks of life showed up in large numbers.

The festival will continue until April 5.

Organisers say event will help promote peace, brotherhood

Dozens of public and private educational institutions, NGOs and government departments set up stalls at the venue attracting large crowds.

The stalls had cultural backgrounds representing different aspects of the local culture.

The ABKT and KK decorated the venue with colourful and attractive welcome banners and flags of different colours.

KK district chief Ibrash Pasha told Dawn that March 29 had been specified as ‘Martyrs’ Day’ when social organisation would pay tribute to the victims of war against terrorism.

He said the event was meant to promote peace, happiness and brotherhood among the people.

Mr. Pasha said visitors would also benefit from educational stalls besides enjoying watching cultural activities and sports, including cricket, hockey, football, volleyball, basketball, tug of war, high and long jump and gymnastics contests.

He said the schoolchildren would take part in the declamation and singing competitions.

Among the visitors were many children and women, who appreciated the holding of the festival.

The visitors appreciated singers for singing local folk music.

QUALITY EDUCATION: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa MPA and Jamaat-i-Islami Lower Dir emir Aizazul Mulk Afkari on Monday said quality education and positive change in social behaviours were imperative for national development.

Addressing a prize-distribution function at a private educational institution in Samar Bagh here as the chief guest, the lawmaker said students must bring changes in their attitudes and manners.

He said every citizen should thing about national development and prosperity.

Mr. Afkari insisted more corruption cases were reported among educated people as uneducated people had little or no opportunities of commit corrupt practices.

He said the growing corruption incidence was the actual cause of Pakistan’s socioeconomic failure.

“This country needs a leader like (former Malaysian prime minister) Mahathir Mohamad, who ended corruption in his country and helped it enter the comity of modern nations,” he said.

GREEN PAKISTAN DAY: The Al-Khidmat Foundation Lower Dir chapter on Monday arranged a function at the Al-Qalam Education Academy under its orphan care programme to mark the ‘Green Pakistan Day.’

Organisers said the event was held to raise public awareness of forestation and plantation at grassroots level.

On the occasion, every orphan student planted a tree and dedicated it to departed parents.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2016