PESHAWAR: The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in collaboration with the Federal German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and German Development Bank (KfW) Wednesday inaugurated the refurbishment of Basic Health Unit (BHU) in Chamkani, a suburb rural locality of the provincial capital.UNHCR’s Deputy Representative, Khassim Diagne and Director General German Ministry Friedel Eggeimeyer inaugurated the project during a ceremony. The project would facilitate 96,500 population of the area.MPA Saqib Chamkani and notables of the area were present on the occasion.Refurbishment of BHU Chamkani is part of a project under which seven basic healthcare units would be renovated and provided new labour, recovery and waiting rooms, new medical equipment along with improved water and sanitation services. Under the project, several girl schools would also be refurbished.The scheme is implemented by Wish International and is one of the projects being launched by Refugee Affected and Housing Areas (RAHA) projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Speaking on the occasion, Friedel Eggeimeyer said that RAHA programme would contribute to better social and economic living conditions of the refugees affected areas as well as the population in the housing areas.Germany supports this initiative since it contributes significantly to balanced and equal access of the population to social infrastructure in these areas, he added.
He also apprised the participants that Germany has provided an assistance of 35 million euros to Pakistan for provision of relief to the flood affectees.Pakistan and Germany, he continued, would also celebrate 50 years of bilateral trade next year.In his address, Khassim Diagne said the RAHA programme recognises the long tradition of hospitality in Pakistan towards Afghan refugees by boosting essential services in areas where refugees live.There are 19 RAHA projects underway in the provincial metropolis and Malakand division financed by the German government, helping more than 6,80,000 people, he added.
These projects focus on improving water supply and sanitation facilities, boosting education and medical facilities besides educating Pakistanis and Afghan communities on clean hygiene practices.Later, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony was also held among the representatives of RAHA and local people.Speaking on behalf of locals, Saqibullah Khan Chamkani thanked the donors for launching the project aimed at improving health facilities in the area
31st National Games vital for KP’s peace, says Iftikhar
Assures foolproof security for players, officials
PESHAWAR: The scheduled 31st National Games in December are vital for maintenance of peace in the militancy-stricken Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and will provide a healthy entertainment to the people disturbed by the acts of terrorism and recent destructive floods.This was stated by Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain while addressing meets the press programme of Khyber Sports Journalist Association (KSJA) here Wednesday.Minister for Sports Syed Aqil Shah, former squash champion Qamar Zaman and Associate Secretary POA Azhar Ali Shah were also present on the occasion.
Iftikhar claimed the province is undoubtedly capable of holding such games and a conducive atmosphere is there as far as holding of the national games is concerned.
e said, “We went through very hard times while facing the menace of terrorism and thousands of our people rendered sacrifices, but thank God we are winning the war against terrorists.”
Devastating deluge, he added, further deteriorated the situation but the people of the province showed tremendous courage during and after the catastrophe.”It’s a golden opportunity through which we can show the world that we have restored peace in our area,” Iftikhar maintained, adding that fight against terror would continue till the elimination of the last terrorist.
He continued: “We are well aware of our responsibilities and are capable to provide foolproof security to the players and officials during the games.”Through games, he said, we wanted to convey the message of peace to the world as sports can bring joy and pleasure to the people.On this occasion, Aqil Shah thanked the information minister for assuring government support to the organising committee of the games.He said these games would be held on its scheduled time for which all arrangements have already been finalised.
He added that teams of Army, PAF, WAPDA, Railways, HEC, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Islamabad, FATA and KP would field above 7,000 athletes and officials to compete for Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.He also announced Khyber Pakhtunkhwa games in the second week of November for team’s selection purposes.Earlier, President KSJA Imran Yousafzai thanked the participants of the event.
Flaws pointed out in cabinet body’s suggestions
PESHAWAR: Gandhara Hindko Board, a literary, cultural and social welfare organisation has said that the provincial cabinet’s committee’s recommendations about the compulsory teaching of various local languages are flawed, incomplete and need to be reviewed.In a statement issued here Wednesday, the board said that while formulating recommendations, the cabinet committee has totally ignored the mixed population factor that is very common in certain districts of the province.
The board further said Hindko was the sixth main language of the country and second largely spoken language in the province, but the committee had tried to confine it to only three districts of Hazara division including Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra and urban areas of the provincial metropolis which was deplorable.The board said apart from Peshawar city, Hindko was also spoken in a number of villages situated along the Grand Trunk Road side by side with Pashto language. But the cabinet committee had recommended compulsory Pashto teaching from Class 1 to XII in the rural areas of Peshawar district which would create problems for children speaking Hindko language.
Also, the board said, Hindko was one of the two major languages in Nowshera and Kohat districts, but the cabinet body had recommended that Pashto should be taught as compulsory subject from Class 1 to XII in Nowshera and Kohat, which, again, will create problems in these bilingual districts if the recommendations were implemented.In order to make suggestions on mother language teachings acceptable and practicable, the board demanded that mother language formula should be applied to entire Peshawar district and also to Nowshera and Kohat districts – Statesman
