KHAR: The students of Government Postgraduate College, Khar, in Bajaur Agency staged a protest demonstration against suspension of the federal government-funded annual scholarship progaramme for Fata students.

Hundreds of students participated in the protest held outside the main gate of their college. Later, they marched to the main Khar-Timergara road and blocked it to traffic for several hours.

The protesting students chanted slogans against the federal government, its ministry of Safron, Fata Secretariat and the local administration, saying that they were responsible for suspension of the scholarship progaramme.

They said that suspension of scholarship was a matter of serious concern for them as the scheme was the only incentive from the federal government to the students of tribal areas, which had been continuing since 1974. They said that the Fata Secretariat and local administration had assured them of resumption of the scholarship in mid-August, but they were yet to take practical steps.

The students urged the prime minister and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor to order immediate release of the scholarship to Fata students so they could continue their studies without any problem. They students threatened to hold another protest in Khar bazaar if their scholarship was not restored till Monday.

PLANTATION DRIVE: The political administration has asked the forest department to expedite its efforts to promote forestry and plant more trees in the region.

Speaking at a ceremony to inaugurate the monsoon tree plantation drive here on Thursday, Bajaur Agency political agent Abdul Amir Khattak said that promotion of forestry in the agency was the need of the hour to boost its economy. Notables of the area and officials of the forest deportment were also present on the occasion.

He said that trees were essential to keep the environment clean and green, adding that forests played important role in protecting land from floods.

Divisional forest officer Hayat Ali briefed the officials on his department’s activities, including the current plantation drive.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2016