Federal Government has allocated Rs 45.186 million for promotion of Scouting in FATA under a Youth Capacity Building Programme and 18,000 students of primary, middle and high standard as well as of college will be inducted in the FATA Scouting Movement during the next three years.
This was stated at a ceremony held in honour of three boy scouts from FATA who are going to represent FATA in the 22nd World Boy Scouts Jamboree to be held at Sweden later this month. The Governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Masood Kausar was the chief guest at the ceremony held at Governor's House here on Tuesday and Scouts from FATA participated in it besides officials of FATA Secretariat.
Speaking at the ceremony the Governor congratulated would-be participants in the International Scouts event at Sweden-Tariq Aziz and Haider Ali from Khyber Agency and Rashid Minhas from FR Kohat-and hoped that they would deliver a message to the international community from the youth of FATA that they want peace and are with them for global peace and tranquillity.
The Governor said that the present government has all the expectations from the FATA youth and therefore is focusing on their well-being and welfare. "You are valuable asset for the future of the country and we would provide you with every opportunity to move forward and play your role in the development and prosperity of Pakistan," the Governor said while addressing the young participants in the ceremony.
He said that FATA youth are competent in every field; they are peace loving, patriotic and want to get education. "We will make true all your dreams by providing a peaceful atmosphere and multiple opportunities in every field", the Governor added.
Syed Masood Kausar emphasised the need for removing negative perceptions about FATA saying that we should tell the world that FATA is not a safe place for terrorist rather it is a peaceful area now, where development is taking place in every sphere of life. "An area where peace is taking roots, education is spreading, health facilities are expanding and roads and bridges are being constructed and a new era of development is taking off," the Governor remarked.
Referring to Scouts Movement, the Governor said that it trains the youth physically, spiritually and socially and inculcate in them the spirit of honesty, service to humanity, loyalty to the country and the society besides brotherhood and cohesion. He said that lack of non-formal education like scouting makes the youngster fall prey to the evil forces of terror and extremism. Promotion of scouting in FATA, he added would involve the youngster in positive and constructive activities.
Earlier, the Additional Chief Secretary FATA, Fazal Karim Khattak, who is also the vice-president of FATA Scouts Council, in his welcome address, highlighted the scouting activities in FATA.
He said that the government has formally launched Scouts Movement in FATA and over the next three years 6,000 students of primary level would be inducted as Shahin scouts, 9,000 Middle and High School students as Boy Scouts and 3,000 college students as Rover Adult Scouts.
He said that Rs 45.186 million has been earmarked in the current year's budget for the programme. He further said that cash prizes would also be given to scouts from FATA who won Presidential Gold Medal, Chief Commissioner Gold Medal and Quaid-e-Azam Medal in Scouting.