SWABI, April 13: Ambassadors of the European Union, Finland and Norway have urged the Pakhtoon people to allow their women to take part in political activities and exercise their right to vote. They were speaking at a gathering during their visit to an eye hospital established by a tobacco company in Chota Lahore tehsil on Tuesday.

The delegation consisted of Norwegian Ambassador Janis Bjirn Kanavin, EU Ambassador Ilkka Uvsitalo and Finnish Ambassador Ms Irmeli Mustonen. Representatives of the tobacco company were also present on the occasion. The ambassadors appreciated the facilities provided at the hospital.

They were also briefed about the quality and types of tobacco produced in the district. The ambassador were informed that tobacco was the only cash crop of the district. Speaking on the occasion, Norwegian Ambassador Janis Bjirn Kanavin said that a few days back they visited the war-ravaged Afghanistan and met people there.

On that occasion too, he said, they had requested the Afghans to allow their women to participate in the forthcoming elections in the country which could boost their position and help materialize their future plans.

Similarly, he said, they wanted full participation of womenfolk in the election process in Pakistan. Women, he said, should be given freedom to exercise their right to vote without any fear.

"Pakistani women and those belong to the Pakhtoon community should be allowed to enjoy their right to franchise besides their other rights," he said. Mr Kanavin said the European Union, Finland and Norway had extended finan-cial help to the MMA government in the primary education sector and agriculture which would prove beneficial to the society.

Other foreign envoys in their speeches appreciated the hospitality extended to them on their visit to the district and said that the Pakhtoons were a hospitable people. They said they visited Fata and Afghanistan but did not receive such a warm welcome as given by the people of the district.