KHAR: Students have complained that their respective educational institutions have suspended bus service for several weeks now over unknown reasons.

Talking to Dawn, Fawad Khan, a student of Governor Model School & College, Khar, said the institution suspended bus service at the start of new academic session in mid March. Though he did not specify the reasons behind suspension of bus service, he said the institution had four buses, but all of them had been parked, creating problems for the students of far off areas.

Sibghat Anwar, another student of the college, said the suspension of bus facility had forced students to use public transport, which troubled them a lot.

Similarly, the students of Government Girls Degree College, Khar, complained the college had suspended bus service owing to unknown reasons. Asia Bibi, a student of 11th grade, said the suspension of bus service had added to their misery as they had already been facing several challenges while getting education.

The students of Government Postgraduate College, Khar, and Government College of Commerce and Management Sciences also complained about absence of bus facilities for last several months.

Asadullah Khan, a student of postgraduate college, said suspension of bus service at a time when the annual board examinations were underway had badly affected their studies.

When contacted, Bajaur Agency Political Agent Abdul Amir Khattak told Dawn that transportation facilities in government educational institutions had been suspended in line with the directives of the Fata secretariat owing to security concerns.

He said the step had been taken following some reliable information that militants could try to target buses of educational institutions.

WATER SUPPLY SCHEME: Construction work on the first-ever solar-powered water supply scheme started in Bajaur Agency the other day.

The solar-powered water scheme was launched in Rahman Abad village of Khar tehsil. Local administration officials opened work on the scheme at a function attended by elders, local residents, and officials of rural development department. The scheme approved by Senator Hidayatullah Khan would cost Rs8 million and completed in three months.

On the occasion, officials said the scheme would provide clean drinking water to residents as they had been facing water shortage for a long time. They said solar-powered water supply schemes would also be launched in other parts of the agency, especially in far-flung areas.

The tribal elders and local residents thanked the officials for initiating solar-powered water supply scheme in the area.

They asked the government to put the existing water supply schemes on solar power to ensure uninterrupted water supply to residents.

The elders complained about use of substandard materials in the development schemes, and urged the officials to take notice of the matter. The elders accused the agents and relatives of local legislators of getting kickbacks while approving uplift schemes.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2016