Illiteracy, poverty, injustice main reasons behind terrorism: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti on Saturday said literacy, poverty and injustice were the main reasons behind terrorism in the country. The government was taking effective steps to root out terrorism, he said addressing function held under the auspices of Ujala Welfare Society, a welfare organisation working on training and education of children of underprivileged government employees.
He said the government would encourage private sector for undertaking training, education and welfare of poor children. The chief minister, who is also patron-in-chief of the welfare society, appreciated the role of the organisation. He said that sincere efforts were underway for boosting standard of government schools to bring them at par with private schools under, "Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa" scheme. Top 10 position holders in SSC and intermediate of the province were providing talent awards worth Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively on monthly basis.
He declared that the government will bear entire education expenses of children of 100 high schools from 400 union councils where facility of high school was not available under a pilot project in next year budget. He further added that Bacha Khan Khpal Rozgar Scheme for employment opportunities to youth was successful and Rs 1 billion will be allocated for the programme. More than 25,000 families would benefit from the programme and the ratio of loans recovery stood at 95 percent, he maintained.
Hoti furthered informed that the Hunarmand Rozgar Scheme would be launched next year under which interest-free loans worth Rs 3,00,000 will be offered to skilled youths. He added that 1,500 youths were provided training in four major institutes of the province. He said that the government had allotted a precious piece of land free of cost for establishment of Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer Hospital.
The chief minister expressed pleasure over increase in number of children being provided free education during the last six months under Ujala and said that donations to Ujala had also increased. He appealed to the well-off people for generous donations and support in Ujala's mission and announced donation worth Rs 1 million and increased co-operation.
He termed Engineer Zahid Arif's Book, "Road Guide", as foundation for increase in donations to Ujala and said that the book was fountain of knowledge for engineers. Former President Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce, Riaz Arshad announced 10 educational scholarships amounting to Rs 2,00,000 while National Bank of Pakistan announced donation worth Rs 5,00,000. President Ujala Engineer Zahid Arif and Senior Vice President Mohsin Aziz said that the funds of Ujala increased to Rs 6 million in a very short period but the organisation needed more donations.