PESHAWAR: Adviser to Chief Minister Ajmal Khan Wazir said that smart lockdown was enforced in 214 areas in different districts due to most Covid-19 cases as part of the policy to stem tide of the ailment in the province.

Talking to journalists here on Thursday, he said that 805,877 people were confined to their homes in the province.

He said that Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz was supervising the areas where smart lockdown was imposed.

Lockdown ended in 89 areas including 15 in Nowshera, 12 in Bajaur and eight in Abbottabad, two in Bannu, four each in Buner, Charsadda and Peshawar, two in Chitral Upper and five in Mardan.

Similarly, smart lockdown has also been ended in one area each of South Waziristan, Hangu, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber, Kurram, Tank and three in Swat, six in Mansehra, three in Malakand, five in Lower Dir, two in Upper Dir and three in Haripur.

CM’s adviser says healthcare being provided to people in tribal districts

Mr Wazir said that for the first time in the history of country, deprivation of tribal people was being addressed. “Merger process was a difficult task but under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan our government completed it,” he added.

Mr Wazir said that for the first time transparent elections were held in merged districts and tribal people were given representation in assembly.

He added that health facilities were being provided to the people in the tribal districts through Sehat Sahulat Programme.

He said that Khasadar Force was merged into police. He added that for the first time tribal people got the right of lawyer, argument and appeal.

Ajmal Wazir said that Sindh government was not giving three per cent share under NFC award for development of merged districts while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was using all its resources for the development of erstwhile Fata.

He said that steps were being also taken for education of special children in the province.

He added that secondary and higher secondary examinations for the next academic session of special children would be conducted by Peshawar board.

Mr Wazir said that at present 3,300 special children were studying in government institutions.

He added that steering committee was constituted to conduct examinations for special children.

He said that government would provide psychological training to teachers in 34 government schools.

He said that the purpose of the decision was to provide psychological support to children.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2020