TIMERGARA: Winter camp activities began in the government high and higher secondary schools here on Wednesday, which would continue until Feb 23.

The activities include declamation contests, art and cultural workshops, educational projects and games, sources in the local education department told Dawn.

District education officer Prof Uzair Ali launched the winter camp activities at government high school, Mian Banda, during a function where teachers, students and members of parent-teacher councils were in attendance.

Speaking on the occasion, the DEO said winter camping was aimed to create healthy competition and environment among students.

The DEO accompanied by deputy district education officer Mohammad Riaz, ADO physical and sports Wajeehuddin and other officials also visited different schools in order to check attendance of teachers and students and the winter camp activities, the sources said.

However, attendance of students remained thin in schools due to rain and chilly weather on Wednesday, the sources said.

A function was also held in government high school, Dheri Talash, to inaugurate the camp activities. Attaur Rehman, the school head, urged students and teachers to take active part in the camp activities.

All schools in the district were closed on Dec 24, last year for winter vacations. Usually, the schools reopen on March 1, but high and higher secondary schools in Dir, Swat and Chitral were asked to remain open from Feb 10 to 23 for winter camp activities.

TRADERS’ PROTEST: The traders’ community on Wednesday observed a shutter down strike and held a protest rally against killing of Haji Haleem Jan, a businessman who was shot dead by unknown attackers in Peshawar the other day.

The traders put black armbands and chanted slogans against the government for failure to arrest killers of the slain trader.

Anjuman-i-Tajaran Timergara president Haji Anwar ud Din, addressing a rally at Rest House Chowk, demanded immediate arrest of the killers and provision of security to the business community.

TEACHERS’ ELECTION: The Insaf Teachers’ Association, a teachers’ wing of PTI, on Wednesday named candidates for provincial and district elections of the teachers’ union.

The announcement was made during a meeting chaired by association’s provincial president Sirajuddin.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2016