CHITRAL: Free distribution of boiled eggs and oiled bread among students by army on daily basis has improved attendance in state-run primary school of Gahirat, a backward village of Chitral.

Shafiqur Rahman, the head teacher of the school, told Dawn that more than 250 students were enrolled in the school.

They got a boiled egg and oiled bread every from army, he said, adding that distribution of free food items among the students was ordered last month by General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Swat Division, Maj Gen Ali Aamer Awan during his visit to the school.

He said that the GOC was visiting the school last month when some of the children standing in queue fell down apparently due to ill-health caused by malnutrition. It moved him to announce it on the spot, he added.

Mr Rahman said that the students attended school with more zest and enthusiasm than before. He said that attendance was greatly increased in the school where girls were also enrolled as there was no separate school for them in the village.

He said that the school, established in 1969, had only three rooms. The GOC also ordered construction of two classrooms in the school and those were erected within a short span of two weeks, he added.

Muskan Bibi, a 4th grader, expressed her delight to receive an egg and bread every day in the school.

Lt Col Adnan Shafiq, who was present on the occasion, said that the GOC approved a nutrition package costing Rs4.5 million to overcome the issue of malnutrition among students in the far-flung villages. He said that the package would last for three months.

He said that more than 3,000 students would be benefited from the package in Baroghil, Yarkhun Lusht, Pawer, Damil, Arandu, Arandu Gol, Gobor, Begusht, Jinjirat Koh and all the three Kalash valleys including Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur.

ACCIDENT: A woman teacher was killed and two other persons received injuries when a jeep going to Awi Booni village plunged into a ravine in Jugoomi Barenis here on Tuesday morning.

Chitral police identified the deceased as Hawa Gul, a resident of Awi village in upper Chitral. The injured included Fida Mohammad and Akbar Wali.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2017