PESHAWAR: Rs27 million will be spent on the rehabilitation of the Government Primary School No 1, Tehkal Bala, Peshawar, under the United Nation’s Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas programme.

The funds provided to the education sector under the Raha Programme until now total Rs1.1 billion. Special assistant to the prime minister on establishment Mohammad Shehzad Arbab performed the ground breaking of the rehabilitation here on Monday, according to a statement issued here.

The Tehkal Bala school will be upgraded through the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (Safron), Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees in KP, and UNHCR.

Under it, 335 projects have been executed in various districts of the province on healthcare, education, water and sanitation, infrastructure and livelihood.

Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony, Mohammad Shehzad Arbab said after the implementation of educational projects, Afghan refugee and Pakistani children would have greater access to education at primary levels.

He said the initiative will help create a conducive and safe learning environment for children.

UNHCR Representative in Pakistan Noriko Yoshida said the construction of additional classrooms, toilets and overall rehabilitation of the school would help improve the enrolment of students.

She said through Raha, the UNHCR would continue to invest resources to improve the existing educational facilities to benefit both Afghan refugees and Pakistani communities.

Ms Yoshida praised the generosity of the people and government of Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugee for over 40 years.

“Raha initiative sought to increase tolerance towards Afghan refugees in Pakistan; improve social cohesion to promote co-existence, and provide both the host Pakistani communities and Afghan refugees with development and humanitarian assistance,” said Commissioner for Afghan Refugees Muhammad Abbas Khan.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2020