KOHAT: Thall, the small and backward tehsil of Hangu district, has witnessed a newfound love for education, particularly among girls, thanks to social and cultural changes taking place in the region.

Until recently not only girls but also boys were discouraged to get education beyond the middle level, but now education is considered must for being a good and a useful member of the society.

In the recently announced results of the second year of higher secondary school certificate examinations, Zohra Akhtar got 742 marks out of 1,100, Saima Bibi 729 and Saira Naz 728, and stood first, second and third in the lone girls degree college. In all, 47 girls appeared in the examinations and all were declared pass, showing 100 per cent result.

In the HSSC first year exam results, Ramla Akhtar obtained 433 marks, Sheema Bibi 428 and Hafza Shafique 416 and got first three top positions in the college. Sixty-four out of 68 students passed the examination results with 94 per cent pass percentage.

Thall is separated from the North Waziristan Agency by the Kurram River. The Peshawar-Kohat-Parachinar road passes from here which is an important route of this area. Thall is a four hours drive from Peshawar and about three hours from Kohat.

The major bazaar of the region is a hub of traders from Kurram Agency, Afghanistan and adjoining areas.

The region has a historic Thall Fort built by the British in 1909, which serves as the headquarters for Thall Scouts, a paramilitary unit of FC. It played a significant role in flushing out banned TTP militants from the area.

But, unfortunately the tehsil has never been considered as mainstream town but given preference from defence point of view since the British ruled the area.

The people have demanded that roads and industrial zones should also be established in Thall which connects Punjab and KP with Afghanistan.

ANP LEADER JOINS PTI: District president of Awami National Party, Hangu chapter, along with 180 families of his tribe announced joining the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in the presence of local lawmakers on Monday.

In this connection a function was held at the Hujra of Yousaf Khan which was also participated by MPAs Ziaullah Bangash from Kohat and Shah Faisal from Hangu.

Yousaf Khan made the announcement in the presence of representatives of 180 families of his tribe which exposed the differences in the ranks of ANP.

On the occasion, Mr Bangash said people were joining PTI because it was carrying out development in the backward constituencies of the province. He said the issue of jobs to locals in the oil exploration companies, enhancing royalty and issue of supply of natural gas would be taken up with the authorities.

MPA Shah Faisal said PTI was becoming a popular party due to its transparent policies in education sector. He expressed the hope that PTI would again sweep the 2018 general elections in Hangu due to its increasing popularity.

Yousaf Khan said leaders of all other parties had been exploiting the voters whereas PTI was the only party which gave importance to the masses.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2017