SWABI: The girl students studying in various private and public sector educational institutions in the district face serious problems owing to non-availability of transport facility.

The staff of these institutions, when contacted, said that it was a great problem for the girl students to reach their classrooms timely and then go back homes after attending classes.

Only few of the educational institutions including University of Swabi, Women University Swabi, various colleges and schools have provided transport facility to the students. Majority of the students remain at the mercy of public transport operators.

The parents said that circumstances had forced girl students to spend hours daily in travelling back and forth between their residence and educational institutions.

Neema Khan, a student, said that during the closing hours of the institutions, overcrowded vehicles did not have space to pick up the students.

“Usually conductors push more students into the vehicles than their capacity,” she added.

The father of a student, who wished not to be named, said that her daughter went to Woman University Swabi. “She along and her classmates have hired a coach and we pay Rs3,000 monthly to the driver,” he added.

The girls of rural areas suffer the most as transporters allegedly overcharge them. Mohammad Ishfaq Khan, a subject specialist, when contacted, said that most of the students and faculty members used public transport to go to their institutions.

The boy students are usually seen hanging dangerously from the vehicles as it is difficult for them to get space inside the vehicle.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2019