SWAT: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Director Higher Education Department Prof Zahoorul Haq said here on Saturday that the government had prioritised girls’ education and established over 60 colleges for women in the province over the last few years.

He was addressing the prize distribution ceremony of regional games titled “Sports Mega Event” at the Postgraduate Girls College, Saidu Sharif. KP deputy director sports Abdur Rashid, girls college principal Dr Nargis Ara, Jahanzeb College principal Wafa Mohammad, and teachers and students of the Saidu Sharif, Buner, Khwazakhela and Kanju girls colleges were present on the occasion.

Prof Zahoorul Haq said women constituted half of the country’s population and educated women were indispensable for the development and progress of the country.

Prize distribution ceremony of sports event held in Swat

“Before this government, there were 64 colleges for women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but today we have at least 124 colleges for girls in the province which shows how serious is this government about female education,” he said, adding that educated women must come forward and play their role in the progress of the country.

Mr Rashid said it was an honour for him that he was standing in a sports event in Swat girls’ college where some years ago women were not even allowed to come out of their homes.

“Unfortunately, students these days study only to get higher marks rather than receive good education. Taking part in sports activities is essential for their physical wellbeing. It also develops tolerance and patience among them,” he said.

Dr Nargis Ara congratulated all the winners and said she gave importance to sports along with education in her college. “I am happy that today our college won more trophies than other colleges in the region,” she said.

In the end, the HED director gave away awards to the best teachers and trophies to the winning teams of different colleges.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2021