LANDI KOTAL: The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in collaboration with political administration have completed distribution of maize seed, poultry and livestock among more than 17,000 recently rehabilitated families of Bara sub-division in Khyber Agency.

The FAO, under its rehabilitation plan of returned families, had conducted a need assessment survey in Malakdinkhel, Akkakhel, Qambarkhel, Shalobar and Sipah areas to collect data of needy and deserving families under their slogan of ‘Apna Ogao, Apna Khao’(grow yourself and eat yourself).

FAO coordinator for Bara Gul Mohammad told Dawn at Qambarabad distribution point that the survey was conducted in a transparent manner with the help of local communities to identify deserving and poor farmers. He said that initially 15,000 farmers were provided with 25 kilograms of Azam brand maize seeds and 20 kilograms of Sorgham brand seed for the current cultivation season in Bara.

“The basic aim of this project is to facilitate the returning families to restart cultivating their barren lands and to enable them to stand on their own feet,” said Gul Mohammad.

He said that FAO also distributed seeds of six different vegetables among another 7,500 families. The FAO also selected at least 2,000 poor widows, who were provided with poultry and livestock during the three-week seed distribution process.

SCHOOL: Pakistan Baitul Maal on Monday inaugurated a primary school in Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency to provide free education to poor students of the area.

The school at Nayee Abadi in Jamrud was inaugurated by managing director of Baitul Maal Sheikh Abid Waheed, MNA Shahjee Gul Afridi and Senator Taj Mohammad in the presence of local officials and tribal elders.

Speaking of the occasion, Mr Waheed said that as many as 120 poor children would be provided free education at the school along with provision of Rs300 as monthly stipend and free uniform.

He said that the school was established on the directives of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to help the needy students of tribal areas. He said that similar schools would be established in other parts of Fata. The poor tribal students would be admitted to Islamabad Sweet Home for better education and look after, he added.

Mr Waheed also distributed cheques of Rs500,000 among 50 poor students and their parents.

Also in the day, at least 120 physically challenged persons of Khyber Agency were enrolled during a registration ceremony organised by a private organisation at the Jirga Hall in Jamrud.

Niaz Afridi, the chief executive of Niaz Disabled Organisation Khyber, said on the occasion that out of the total 3,700 disabled persons in Khyber Agency, 1,900 were registered with the organisation.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2016