KOHAT: Adviser to the chief minister on education, MPA Ziaullah Bangash has said the government is paying serious attention to the education sector, particularly girls education, in the merged districts.

A statement issued here on Monday said the lawmaker accompanied by Kohat deputy commissioner Khalid Iqbal and education officer Hashmat Khan paid a visit to the Orakzai tribal district, where he was told that a number of girls schools were under-construction.

He lauded security forces for lending help in construction of girls schools. He said education of women was the first step towards development and a civilised society.

He said in that regard awareness campaigns were also being launched to sensitise the parents to the importance of enrolling their children in government schools which were being established close to the populated areas.

He thanked the Sector Commander Southwest Brig Shehzad Akbar for taking interest in construction of government model girls high school, Samana Bazaar, government girls higher secondary school and government degree college for boys, Kalaya, in Orakzai.

POETRY SESSION: Poets enthralled the audience with their verses at a literary function organised to pay tributes to great warrior and Pakhtun leader Khushal Khan Khattak on his 330th death anniversary.

The programme was held under the auspices of Youth Welfare Committee and Khushal Khan Adabi Jirga.

A large number of poets and writers from Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Karak, Bannu and all over the province gathered at the function.

The function had been divided into two sessions, one was for highlighting his personality and literary contributions of Khushal Khan and second for poetry reciting.

The participants said Khushal Baba was an asset for Pakhtuns and guiding force behind the struggle for their rights. They stressed that the new generation needed to be taught about the bravery and poetry of Khushal Khan so they could know the importance of keeping their separate identity alive.

They said the Pakhtuns needed personalities like Khushal Khan who could help realise their rights.

The speakers said Khushal Khan Khattak was also called Baba-i-Pashto.

SHUHADA PACKAGE SOUGHT: The officials of forest department have demanded Shuhada package for the watchman who was killed while stopping drug smugglers from entering the Togh Mangara Safari Park, last week.

They appealed to the chief minister, secretary forest and state minister for interior Shehryar Afridi to announce Shuhada package and monthly stipend for the wife and children of watchman, Vaqarul Hassan.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2019