SWABI: Speakers in a gathering here on Wednesday complained that the entire Gadoon tehsil didn’t have any public or private girls’ degree college, depriving formal learning to hundreds of girls in the mountainous terrain.

The issue came under discussion during a meeting called by the National Democratic Movement to discuss the possibility of establishing a girls degree college and other problems.

Leaders from the entire region, including youth, participated in the gathering and vowed that they would continue their struggle with a complete determination to achieve their objective: establishing girls degree college and imparting higher education to girls of the whole Gadoon.

Bushra Gohar, chairperson of NDM, said that Gadoon was granted tehsil status in 2021 but even then, there was a lack of facilities.

She said the region had about 80 villages but the local girls had been without formal education.

“It is the responsibility of the government to address this critical issue and provide facilities and a conductive environment where girls can acquire modern knowledge,” she said.

Nadeem Bacha, provincial finance secretary of NDM, expressed concern over the lack of a girls’ degree college in the area, saying it is depriving hundreds of female students of higher education opportunities.

He said the education department should announce the establishment of a girls’ degree college in Gadoon without delay.

Saddam Jadoon, a local leader of NDM and leading leader of United Gadoon, argued that the establishment of a college would not only improve access to education for women but also contribute to the social and economic development of the region.

The participants said that due to the lack of a higher education institution in the area, a significant number of girls are unable to continue their studies after matriculation and intermediate, causing their lagging behind in every sphere of life and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf is responsible for the whole mess, the party has been ruling the province since 2013.

Meanwhile, a four-year-old girl drowned in the Indus River here on Wednesday.

Officials said when Zarlesha Shah fell into the river, her picnicking family was busy cooking.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Saqib Shah said a team of the emergency service was sent to the area to carry out a search operation.

He said that the operation was under way.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2026