KHAR: The political administration has launched a scheme to empower women of the militancy-affected areas of Bajaur Agency by imparting them vocational training on tie-dye skills and sewing machines.

An official said that the administration in collaboration with the social welfare department has launched a scheme for the empowerment of women affected during militancy.

The official said that initially the scheme had been launched only for widows with no source of income in the militancy-hit areas. He said the scheme would soon be extended to poor women in other parts of the agency.

He said that the selection of participants had been completed while the training workshops would be started after Eidul Fitr.

The official said that during the training workshop the women would be imparted different vocational skills such as tying, dyeing and making scarf from cotton, linen, wool, silk etc.

Answering a question, he claimed that the administration had selected the needy and deserving women and with the financial support of the social welfare department it had so far distributed sewing machines among 300 widow women of the agency. The scheme will enhance the skills of women with which they could start small businesses in their villages.

PRISONERS RELEASED: The authorities of Bajaur Agency on Wednesday freed 15 prisoners involved in petty crimes from the agency headquarters prison in Khar in the wake of the holy month of Ramazan.

Bajaur Agency political agent Abdul Jabar Shah and other officials held an open court inside the Khar jail. The political agent was briefed about the number of prisoners and their crimes. Mr Shah ordered release of 15 prisoners involved in minor crimes so they could join their families for Ramazan. He also met with the prisoners and asked about their problems.

The prisoners complained about the rough behaviour of the staff and substandard quality of food in the jail. The PA asked the jail staff to keep the premises clean.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2014