SWABI: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said on Wednesday that no nation could achieve progress and prosperity without giving contemporary education to their girls.

He was speaking on the occasion of foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Women’s University Swabi (WUS) at Kotha on the premises of Government Sahibzada Khursheed Memorial Degree College, Kotha. At present, the WUS has been functioning for the last two years in a building built for agriculture research at Gulu Dheri.

The chief minister said that WUS would be a full-fledged university and about 2,000 girls would acquire higher education in its different disciplines. Initially, the project would cost Rs3 billion.

CM lays foundation stone of women’s varsity in Swabi

Mr Khattak said that PAF Degree College, PAF hospital and a cadet college would also be built in the district. “We are focused on education and a great attention has been given to providing opportunities to the girls,” he said. He added that the provincial government had not ignored technical education and was taking practical steps for producing trained working class who could deliver in different fields.

He said that the KP government would send 200 children to China for acquiring education and this mechanism would remain intact in future as well.

The chief minister said that it was true that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project would benefit the entire Pakistan. He said that the PTI-led government had brought positive changes in all sectors. However, he said that the struggle for strengthening the institutions would continue in future.

Speaking on the occasion, KP Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser said that mega projects like the women’s university, Gaju Khan Medical College and starting of classes were a good omen for the district.

RECOVERED: Police on Wednesday recovered six transgender persons who were kidnapped at gunpoint from a music party a day before from adjoining Buner district. However, the alleged kidnappers were still at large.

Registering an FIR with the city police station, Kamran alias Sweeti and Zeeshan alias Kashish told police that on the invitation of one Farman Khan, a resident of Panjpir village, they had gone to Kandar area in Saleem village for the night music show.

They stated that the show was in progress when about eight armed people came in vehicles and abducted them and none of the attendees resisted.

However, Sweeti succeeded to flee and later reached the city police station and recorded the statement.

DPO Sohaib Ashraf said that the police traced the abductors and recovered the six transgender persons from the hujra of one Saleem in Buner district. An FIR has been registered against Saleem, Aamir, Bakht Zada and Aqil.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2017