PESHAWAR, Feb 27: Speakers at a workshop emphasized the need for encouraging suitable women to come forward to fill vacancies of union councillors in the NWFP.

The one-day programme was arranged by the Aurat Foundation, an NGO, for Nazims of the union councils where these seats are lying vacant. The workshop was informed that 129 such positions were in the Peshawar district, 148 in Upper Dir, 196 in Lower Dir, 228 in Kohistan and 120 in Batagram districts.

Speakers said the Nazims could play an important role in encouraging suitable candidates to fill these seats.The by-elections in these union councils are scheduled for March 28.

Aurat Foundation's Asad Khan said that AF and union Nazims could cooperate with each other to help suitable candidates come forward to represent women at the union council level.

Union Nazims from Mithra, Bazid Khel, Mahal Tarai, Sarband, Chamkani, Landi Arbab, Palosi, Faqirabad, Khazana, Hayatabad and Hazarkhwani participated in the workshop.