TIMERGARA: The youth delegates from the four provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan, who are participating in the second youth peace summit, here on Friday visited different archaeological sites in Talash and Adenzai.

Civil society activist Akbar Khan and district youth officer Izharuddin briefed the delegates about the ancient Buddhist sites.

Talking to Dawn, Izharuddin said a total of 22 youths from Sindh, 16 from Punjab, eight from Balochistan, 14 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two from GB and three from a minority group were participating in the peace summit, exchanging their views on youth issues and their role to address them. He said the delegates took keen interest in the ancient Andan Dherai Buddhist site situated seven kilometres north of Chakdara Bridge. He said the archaeological site was in ruins.

He said the delegates also visited the Dir Museum and took a round of Gandhara, Ethnological and Islamic galleries. The delegates also took part in a plantation drive at selected sites during their visit to a nearby mountain.

The Lower Dir youth affairs department has arranged the five-day youth peace summit that will be concluded on March 9. The youths would also visit the snow-capped Shahi top in Lower Dir and Malam Jabba in Swat, and also attend a cultural night at Shawa Adenzai on the final day.

ANTI-POLIO DRIVE: The district administration on Friday formed special inspection teams for monitoring the anti-polio drive commencing from March 9.

A meeting chaired by deputy commissioner Saadat Hassan in Balambat was informed that all arrangements had been finalised for the national immunisation drive. The meeting reviewed security plan and finalised transit teams for the drive.

District health officer Dr Shaukat Ali informed the meeting that the district had been polio-free since 2006. He said polio cases in the neighbouring Bajaur tribal district were posing threat to children in Lower Dir.

DC Saadat Hassan asked teachers, ulema and social activists to extend cooperation to health teams to help achieve the targets. He asked the DHO to send special teams to parents refusing vaccination of their children.

He said that negligence on part of officials won’t be tolerated.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2020