LOWER DIR: A two-day national conference on social work began at the University of Malakand here on Wednesday to help promote context-sensitive social sciences for inclusive and sustainable development in Pakistan.

The third national conference, titled ‘Contextualising Social Sciences for Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Pakistan: Promotion, Challenges and Opportunities’, was organised by the departments of social work of the UoM and the University of Peshawar.

UoM Vice-Chancellor Prof Rashid Ahmad inaugurated the conference.

Addressing the opening session, Prof Ahmad and dean faculty of Social Sciences, Prof Arab Naz, said the conference would prove highly beneficial for students, researchers and stakeholders working in the field of social development.

Malakand varsity hosts national conference on social work

The speakers said such academic forums were essential for encouraging research-based dialogue on social issues and for developing locally relevant strategies to address emerging development challenges in Pakistan.

The inaugural session was attended by researchers from the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Kohat University of Science and Technology and the University of Peshawar, along with representatives of Dost Foundation and the Sarhad Rural Support Programme.

SUSPECTED KILLER ARRESTED: The Upper Dir police on Wednesday arrested a suspect within 24 hours of a triple murder reported in the limits of the Gandigar police station.

According to police, three people, including a woman, were killed in the Gandigar area the other day.

District police officer Aslam Nawaz constituted a special team, which used modern investigative techniques and local intelligence to arrest the suspect, identified as Hazrat Ubaid, a 9th grader.

The police also recovered the murder weapon from his possession.

The police said another suspect was still at large and a search for him was underway.

JI STAND ON OUTSOURCING: Jamaat-i-Islami on Wednesday opposed the proposed outsourcing of Chakdara and Samarbagh hospitals, alleging that ‘vested interests’ within the provincial government were attempting to hand over public health facilities to private parties for personal gain.

Speaking at a press conference in Chakdara, JI Adenzai chief Dr Bashir Mohammad, flanked by other party leaders, said Chakdara Category-B Hospital was providing vital healthcare services and should not be privatised under any circumstances.

He alleged that certain ministers and lawmakers in the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government wanted to acquire public hospitals and educational institutions across the province at throwaway prices under the guise of outsourcing.

The JI leader accused the local lawmakers of failing to protect public interests despite being part of the ruling party.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2026