CHARSADDA: A two-day ‘Business Expo 2024’ began at Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex here on Friday.

The expo has been arranged by the district administration.

A number of stalls displaying famous Charsadda Chappal, Rajar sweet, Moti Chawal (coarse rice), gur (jaggery), Chapli Kebab, furniture, marble and other hand-made products had been set up to attract visitors from home and abroad.

Students of different schools highlighted rich culture of Charsadda through sketches and displays, while students of Government Postgraduate College, Charsadda, flew drones and toy helicopters to amuse the participants.

Event meant to boost economic activities

Speaking at the colourful opening ceremony, deputy commissioner Qaiser Khan, who was the chief guest, and others said the expo was organised to promote economic activities and showcase products made by local artisans.

They said manufacturers would be provided support in marketing and branding their products. They said that promotion of industries in the district would not only boost economic activities but also generate employment.

SEMINAR: Speakers at a seminar held at Bacha Khan University here on Friday said creating awareness among varsity students against the menace of drugs was the best way to curb its use in the society.

The awareness seminar was organised by the varsity in collaboration with the district administration.

The speakers said the growing drug addiction was because of bad company and other social challenges. They said according to a research, youngsters were fast falling fell prey to drugs owing to poverty, lack of family communication, their reluctance to highlight social problems and a feeling of inferiority.

They emphasised that students at the university level could play key role in pursuing the youth away from drug addiction and developing a balanced and healthy society.

On the occasion, Bacha Khan University Vice-Chancellor Prof Zahid Hussain said growing drug use and smuggling had damaged the fabric of the family system.

Students presented a tableau depicting the harms of drugs.

Meanwhile, a two-day workshop concluded here on Friday with participants calling for both individual and collective efforts to curb the cases of child abuse, child labour and child marriages.

They said due to lack of information, guidance and social taboos the parents didn’t report such cases.

The workshop was titled ‘capacity building training for social service workforce’ organised by the child protection unit, Charsadda, in collaboration with Child Protection and Welfare Commission, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Unicef.

Child protection officer Zaitoon Bibi, who performed as resource person, said child protection committees would be formed at the village council level across the district to create awareness among people about the rights of children.

She said the participants of the workshop were provided with the knowledge of child protection laws, including the provisions of the 1973 Constitution, Child Protection and Welfare Act, 2010, and on how to curb child labour and child marriages.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2024