Moalims

ISLAMABAD: Gen. (Retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, federal minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) has said that tribal people in general and Mehsud tribe of South Waziristan in particular have rendered great sacrifices during the war on terror but the government failed to ensure their repatriation after nine long years of their displacement.

He expressed these views at a ceremony organized by National Testing Service (NTS)- Pakistan regarding scholarships award for Mehsud IDPs talented and deserved students of South Waziristan.

The National Testing Service-Pakistan (NTS) announced offering scholarships to talented students of Internally Displaced Persons (IDS) after the military announced some areas cleared of militants in the South Waziristan Agency---a restive tribal region in FATA.

He praised the NTS for taking part in nation building process regarding allocation of Rs. 10 million fund for IDPs of South Waziristan.

Apart from NTS officials, Senators and Members National Assembly (MNAs) from South Waziristan, Fata, and other stakeholders attended the ceremony.

He said that the people of tribal areas offered gigantic services in the freedom of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. “Mehsud tribesmen had a lion’s share in freedom of Kashmir. It is our responsibility to help educate the displaced kids,” Baloch added.

After 9/11, infrastructure in tribal belt had been totally damaged, he said, adding that donors and other stakeholders would be invited to come forward to rebuild Fata region.

The importance of education in the progress, prosperity and development of any society can’t be denied. In view of the current situation in parts of tribal areas, NTS Pakistan, in collaboration with Mahsud Welfare Association (MWA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for award of scholarship to the children of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Senator Saleh Shah, while speaking on the occasion, appreciated the steps taken by the NTS and said that it was a wonderful move by the NTS, which should continue.

Speaking on the occasion, MNA Jamaluddin said that it was a bold initiative by the NTS and this should be sustained in long-term.

Dr. Sher Zada Khan, Chief Operating Officer NTS, said that his organization is well aware of its social responsibilities towards social and education uplift of society at large and creation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) division to help support the efforts in improving socio-economic condition of underprivileged, and make Pakistan a developed economy is testimony to this fact.

Keeping in view that education sector in the tribal areas was in shambles, the NTS decided to offer scholarship to the displaced kids of the area.

The MWA chairman, Rehmat Khan Mehsud, praised the step taken by the NTS Pakistan. He said that Mahsud Welfare Association had main focus to educate the kids for a better tomorrow.

In 2009, Pakistan military launched anti-insurgents operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan Agency, which triggered mass exodus of tribal families to down districts of the country.

The situation in this tribal belt resulted in closure of schools and colleges which left far-reaching negative impact on the education of the students. Majority of the students couldn’t continue their studies due to financial problems.

It was in this situation that the elders including civil servants of the Mehsud tribe joined hands to help needy students to continue their studies, which resulted in creation of MWA--- a non-profit organization. The mission and vision of the Association is to prevent students from dropping out of schools due to financial problems.

News Reference