MINGORA: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif inaugurated a postgraduate college and a paramedical institute in Saidu Sharif on Wednesday.

The buildings for the two institutes have been constructed by the army’s engineers as part of the post-operation reconstruction plan under the UAE-Pakistan Assistance Programme (UPAP).

According to an official press release, 52 education projects and seven health schemes have been completed in Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past few years. The projects, expected to benefit approximately five million people, have helped in bringing normality to the region.

It said the Government Postgraduate Jahanzeb College is capable of benefiting 600 students and the paramedical institute will have 300 students as well as hostels for 82 boys and 52 girls.

Gen Sharif thanked the government and people of the UAE for their support and said these projects would contribute to socio-economic uplift of the area which had been adversely affected by terrorism.

Appreciating the quality of construction work, he said the army would continue to play its role in rebuilding the area and contribute to long-term efforts for peace, stability and social development.

The UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, Essa Abdullah Al-Bassha Al-Noaimi, and UPAP Director Abdullah Al Ghefeli, local elders and civil officials lso attended the ceremonies.

Earlier on his arrival, the Chief of the Army Staff was received by Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani.