Schools in North Waziristan, Orakzai agencies: NRDF launches second phase of restoration project

National Research Development Foundation (NRDF) on Friday launched the second phase of Unicef funded pilot project for the restoration of partially damaged educational institutions in North Waziristan and Orakzai agencies.
Speaking at a news conference here at the Peshawar Press Club, Provincial Council NRDF Chairman Jalaluddin said that his organisation had completed survey of damages to educational institutions in the ongoing security forces operations in South Waziristan and Orakzai agencies.
Flanked by Rahim Haqqani, member NRDF Provincial Council; project manger Zahid Akhtar; Dr Qibla Ayaz; Director Institute of Islamic Studies, University of Peshawar, Jalil Jan and JUI-F Provincial Information Secretary, he said that the educational institutions had been badly damaged in the military operation against militants in the areas.
He stressed the need for focusing on revival of education sector in the area on priority basis. Jalauddin said that the educational institutions were yet to be rehabilitated due to meagre resources. He stressed the need of providing free-of-cost education in militancy-hit areas of Khyber Pakhtukhwa and Fata. He also demanded maximum allocation of funds in next budget for education.
Giving details about the project, Zahid Akhtar informed that they would reconstruct educational institutions partially damaged in the security forces operation and would provide basic facilities in educational institutions of South Waziristan and Orakzai agencies. He said that Unicef had allocated huge funds for the rehabilitation of educational institutions, which would cover restoration of 70 percent partially damaged schools and the rest 30 percent would be spent on promotion of recreational and extra curriculum activities.