SHANGLA: People from the six most backward districts across the Hazara and Malakand divisions on Sunday demanded of the provincial government to set up the zone six in order to ensure provision of jobs and other economic opportunities to the educated youth.

The demand was made at a meeting convened jointly by Shangla Youth Front (SYF) and Butyal Zwananu Jirga in Bisham.

Social and political activists from Shangla, Kohistan, Kohistan Lower, Kohistan Pallas, Battagram and Torghar participated in the function.

The participants said youth from the area were unable to get job opportunities as Zone three comprised many districts.

“We get very few job opportunities, which are mostly occupied by officers from Peshawar and developed districts like Swat. We want establishment of zone six to help develop these backward districts,” says Tariq Rauf from Shangla.

Abdullah, an activist from newly established Kolai Pallas Kohistan district, said after setting upzone six the region would get job opportunities for its educated youth. He urged the youth from these districts to show unity to push their respective MPAs to raise the issue in the provincial assembly.

Imranullah Khan from Torghar district said he would support the movement for zone six and that MPAs from Torghar district would also take up the issue in the provincial assembly.

“Torghar is the most backward district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but the educated youth could effectively highlight the issues facing the people,” he stressed.

Imranullah said the youth would meet MPAs to demand of them to press the government for establishing zone six.

Sardar Wajid, an activist from Shahpur, Shangla, said if the provincial government was not serious in setting up the zone six then they would take to the streets and stage protests outside the Peshawar Press Club.

A committee having representation from all the six districts was also formed on the occasion, which would hold meetings with lawmakers in Peshawar.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2017