On Thursday, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was informed that the Lower Kohistan district lacks a single high school for girls, despite having 28 female students who have reached high school level. This issue was raised by MPA Sajjadullah from PK-32 Lower Kohistan.
In response, the Primary and Elementary Education Department explained that a minimum of 25 students is required to upgrade a middle school to high school status, but currently, the district has only 28 girls eligible for high school education.
The department further noted that while the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had approved the construction and upgrading of high schools in Kohistan, the current government plans to upgrade several middle schools to high schools in the ongoing Annual Development Programme (ADP).
However, due to the absence of the Minister for Primary and Elementary Education, Faisal Tarakai, questions related to the department were deferred to the following day.
Read More: NDMA issues warning of increased glacial lake outburst flood risk in KP, G-B
Additionally, in response to another query from MPA Sajjadullah, the assembly learned that PK-32 constituency has a total of 215 schools, comprising 175 primary schools, 23 middle schools, 12 high schools for boys, and three higher secondary schools. There are two Maktab schools as well, with a total enrollment of 17,537 students.
Meanwhile, PTI MPA Asif Khan from South Waziristan raised concerns over the lack of compensation for landmine victims in his constituency.
He also highlighted the plight of displaced people from the district since 2007, who have not yet received government compensation. Khan called for the formation of a special committee and involvement of the Anti-Terrorism Cell (ATC) and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) to address the pending cases.
In response, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Aftab Alam Advocate, acknowledged that approximately 400,000 families in South and North Waziristan, Kurram, and Orakzai districts were affected by military operations.
He added that these issues are handled by the Relief Department. The call attention notice was subsequently referred to the standing committee of the House for further discussion and investigation.
The assembly also passed a resolution urging either an increase in police salaries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or bringing them on par with the salaries and incentives provided in Punjab and the federal capital. The resolution was tabled by a member of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).
Lawmakers further demanded strict action against the sale of unhygienic food and adulterated milk in the province. They called on the Food Department and other relevant authorities to ensure the supply of hygienic, pure, and fresh food and milk in markets and bazaars.
