SWABI: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government should set up the announced metallurgy institute if it really wants to eradicate poverty by utilising natural resources in the province and tribal areas, says an educationist.

Dr Abdul Mateen, who teaches metallurgy at Institute of Space Technology (IST) Islamabad, said that the proposed institute would integrate knowledge based and resources based economic concept in the militancy-hit province.

Dr Mateen said that government realised the importance of the institute and Provincial Minister Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli in the presence of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Senior Minister Sikandar Sherpao and Information Minister Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani announced establishment of metallurgy institute in the province in August last year.

“It is high time to materialise this project. It is unfortunate and not a secret that in our country such constructive efforts face barriers.

“The government should counter such barriers with full vigour,” he said.

Dr Mateen said that last year Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms compiled a report with technical support of UNDP Pakistan and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), University of Oxford that said that multidisciplinary poverty index (MPI) in Fata was 73 per cent, in Balochistan 71 per cent, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 49 per cent, in Gilgit-Baltistan and Sindh 43per cent each and in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir 31 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.

“We have huge resources, but these resources are not properly utilised to eradicate poverty. We have resources but the biggest issue is their management and utilisation,” he said.

He added that there were huge metallic and non-metallic mineral resources in the country.

Dr Mateen said that government should work for establishment of metallurgy institute on priority basis.

“We have submitted a proposal to provincial government which has been approved and we have received offer letter on January 11, 2017.

The concept of small scale industrial cluster for poverty eradication is also highly encouraged and supported by United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and other international institutions,” he added.

Dr Mateen said that the institute would also have a common facilitation centre to support small scale industries.

“If established, the institute for metallurgy will produce people, who can serve mineral sector and can utilise the mineral resources for prosperity of the country and region as well. This institute can also serve Balochistan and Afghanistan,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2017