KHYBER: Dozens of school buildings, destroyed in acts of terrorism, in Khyber tribal district have been reconstructed with modern facilities under a China-aided project.

Maqbool Azam, the executive engineer of communication and works department, told this scribe that with the cooperation of China Assistance Programme, 50 educational institutions, which were completely destroyed by terrorists between 2006 and 2014, were reconstructed in Bara tehsil.

“These include 35 primary schools, seven middle schools, seven high schools and one senior high school, catering to both male and female students,” he said.

He said that many schools were destroyed by militants using explosives during their illegitimate occupation of most parts of Bara while leaving students to study in the open for years amid extreme weather conditions when internally displaced families returned to their homes in 2015-16. “The newly-completed project aims to reverse that damage and restore access to quality education.” he added.

Official says Rs2.98bn out of Rs3.21bn project cost utilised

According to Mr Azam, reconstruction of all 50 schools has been completed. These schools have been handed over to education department and are now fully operational.

He said that all those school buildings were reconstructed according to modern architectural standards. These schools are equipped with solar power systems, clean drinking water facilities, electric coolers and proper sanitation systems with the number of classrooms increased from only two to five and additional facilities for teaching staff.

Mr Azam said that the total estimated cost of the project was Rs3.21 billion, out of which Rs2.98 billion was already utilised with efficient coordination between communication and works and education departments and the Chinese management team.

The project was implemented under South Asia Division of Department of Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce of China, with on-ground management by China Railway 17th Bureau Group Co, he said.

He added that fead of Chinese management team Li Homgliang helped in provision of his consistent support, technical oversight and effective coordination throughout the project.

Meanwhile, district education officers Misri Khan Samina Ghani praised the Chinese management team and stated that those schools were among the finest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They demanded more funding to accelerate similar projects in the region.

Local teachers and students also welcomed the initiative and said that the new buildings significantly improved learning environment and also helped in enhancing the number of children in schools.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026