SWAT: Various student organisations in Swat district announced formation of an alliance to jointly struggle for the protection of student rights, prevention of drug abuse and against imposition of federal taxes in Malakand division.
The alliance is named “Mutahida Tulba Swat” (United Students of Swat). Leaders of the alliance including Dr Fazl Subhan, Suleman Khan, Mohammad Osama, Maaz Nangyal and others told journalists here on Tuesday that the alliance was meant to effectively highlight issues of students and make collective efforts for their resolution.
They said that top priorities of the alliance were combating drug abuse and fighting against the enforcement of federal taxes in Malakand division.
They noted that provincial government announced a tax exemption for the region but an official notification regarding the matter was yet to be issued. They demanded of the federal government to withdraw its decision of imposing taxes in Malakand division. They said that contacts would also be made with business community and other social and civic organisations to devise a joint action plan.
The student leaders claimed that approximately 500,000 children in Malakand division were out of school while about 22,000 students were affected by drug addiction. They said that it was an alarming situation.
“About 22,000 students in Malakand division including boys, girls and children in schools, colleges and universities have become addicted to ice (methamphetamine). This trend continues, causing severe harm to them,” they said.
They said that they would form a team against drug abuse. They said that the team would consist of psychiatrists, doctors, lawyers, journalists and members of civil society.
They said that alongside running awareness campaigns, practical steps would be taken in cooperation with relevant institutions and district administration to uproot the menace of drugs.
Setting a deadline for the federal government, the student leaders said that they would announce their future course of protest if the decision to impose taxes in Malakand was not withdrawn till August 5.
Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026