Center for Research and Security Studies

Series: Sabawoon
Program: Aman-ao-Khushali
Topic: World Literacy Day
Date: 10-09-2013
Field Story No 1: 21st Jashn-e-Kumrat Kick off in Upper Dir Featuring Major and Regional Games.
(Reporter Afzal Khan Mohmand)
Field Story No 2: Science & Culture Exhibition in Jalozai Camp Nowshera
(Reporter Kamran Afridi)
Anchor Person: Uruj Khan
Co-Anchor Person:

Uruj Khan: International literacy Day celebrates on every 8th September and still different program and events are being held to mark the day underlining the importance of education. On the occasion child enrolment campaign has been commenced by the federal government to make sure every child is in school. The campaign will continue for three days and during these days, dispelled or out-of-school children will be enrolled at maximum level. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, chief of ruling party in KP, himself enrolled two children in government higher secondary school by administrating the drive in the province.
Thirty percent of the total budget is allocated for education sector by the provincial government. The government of KP has set a target to have maximum numbers of students in schools. It is pertinent to mention that about two and half million children are deprived of basic education in Pakistan though countryâs development and prosperity is highly connected with education. USA has announced millions of rupees project for improvement of education in Pakistan. The amount will be disbursed in public education sector.
âReportâ: 21st Jashn-e-Kumrat, a mega sports festival, has been kicked off after almost three years in Upper Dir Stadium. Due to worst scenario of law and order in the district for last three years, the festival was not possible to be celebrated. Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Maj. General Sanaullah Niazi thanked the local people and said that without support and cooperation of inhabitants, peace was not possible to return to the region.
Maj. General: âAs an army officer, I make sure you that peace and tranquility has been revived due to yourâs countless sacrifices and efforts. Sport festival would help promote tourism and restore the confidence of the people in the districtâ. .
Reporter: The history of Jashn-e-Kumrat is about three decades old and it was first celebrated by 1984 in supervision of former federal minister Najmuddin Khan, who was district chairman at the time.
Ex. Federal minister: âWe started the celebration from Kumrat area, where tent village was set up at stadium to serve the spectators. Different kinds of national and regional games were held during festival. However with the span of time, when population of the area increased, the mega activity is either celebrated in Kumrat or any other place. It is aimed at involving youth in positive activities so as to build a healthy society and provide recreational opportunities to the dwellers. People want peace of mind and relaxation as they have fed up from the worsening situations. When such constructive and recreation opportunities are not provided, people specifically youth can indulge in unlawful activitiesâ.
Reporter: A huge number of people thronged the Dir stadium on first day.
Deputy Commissioner: âAround three thousand players signed up to take part in range of sports. I want to say that Dir is a peaceful area. In the tournament, players from all around the country will participate to promote sports as well as it will restore business at local level. The administration accompanied by Pak-Army and public, will leave no stone unturned to make this event a successâ.
Inhabitant: âDwellers are happy with launching Jashn-e-Kumrat since many persons are associated with business and the event provides them an opportunity to make some money. Thousands of spectators participate in the event and all the hotels have already filled with outsiders. Tent village is set up near the stadium to serve people from various parts of the country. They will enjoy the pleasant weather as wellâ.
Reporter: Mr. Tahir, a resident from Dara Adam Khel shared his views that he came to this event happily.
Spectator: âI have heard so much about Jashn-e-Kumrat and beautiful weather of Dir that I couldnât wait for this day. The activity will feature different games i.e. football, cricket and tug on war as well as national songs. The environment is wonderful and security is strong, we have peace of mind here. Militancy affected this area badly for long time, but now situation has turned normal and no such incident has occurred for last many daysâ.
Reporter: Jashn-e-Kumrat has started from 6th September and will continue for ten days. National and international players from neighboring states will participate in the mega sport event.
Afzal Khan Mohmand CRSS Dir
Zahid caller 1: in Bara, Khyber Agency, many schools are either completely destroyed by miscreants and during military operations or these are slightly damaged, but still need rehabilitation and proper renovation. The area is already backward and the inhabitants are leading less privileged life. It merits a mention that with the span of time, people have realized the significant of education and they are even sending their female children to schools though in past many clans were against female education in FATA. The military operation against militants has led to closure of educational institutions in the region for last five or six years. Government should take up on war-footing the rehabilitation and relief work in all tribal agencies particularly rehabilitation of educational institutions. This will promote peace and calmness in the region since education is key to overall national development and progress.
Kaleem Afridi caller 2: I am from district Kohat, it hurts to state that 25 million children are out of schools or deprived of education in the country. It is rather a serious setback for us. I appeal from the parents that they must enroll their children. Secondly females are more than males population-wise in the country, unless they are not educated and brought into the economic mainstream, the dream of progress can never be made come true. Since their presence and role in all spheres of life is imperative. Thirdly political administrations of all tribal agencies of FATA should hold fairs and other healthy and constructive activities to portray a positive image of FATA before the world. Peace and serenity has returned to many places in tribal belt and repatriation process of homeless persons is continued to their hometowns.
Ikram caller 3: I belong to district Dir, I would say that like valley Swat, Dir is a beautiful and attractive site. People must visit to this area for tourism purposes. Jashn-e-Kumrat celebrates every year in Dir and it is a tradition being practiced since long. As compare to last few years, this time the numbers of participants and spectators in the festival is surprising. The players that will take part in the mega sport event of Jashn-e-Kumrat will be given free facility of residence.
~~~Song~~~
Sairaj caller 4: I belong to Bakhshu Pull, I recently came from Saudi Arab. The step of the new government to enroll children in schools for increasing ratio of enrolled students is an appreciable step. As far as celebrations of Jashn-e-Kumrat are concerned, Kumrat is a site located 32 km away in South from Dir. The natural beauty of Kumrat and river Punjkora is worth seeing. Like Naraan and Kaghan, the site can be turned into tourist spot that will generate decent revenue for the government. I regularly listen to Sabawoon programs and appreciate them for their different, but excellent contents.
Uruj Khan: There are plenty of fascinating and natural locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata, these needs to be properly unleashed to attract the visitors and tourists.
Caller 5: I am speaking from Phando road. In remote sites of Peshawar, several buildings of schools exist, but these are not functional. In our locality, a school was established in 1996, with absentee of teachers as it still could not be rehabilitated presenting a look of desert since children are not coming to this institution. The administration might spend millions of rupees on the building, but all in vain since it has no value for children. May I bring this acute problem in kind knowledge of concerned authority, that it should take immediate step to restore the school to safe the future of the children. Former Deputy Speaker Khushdil Khan due to personal matter didnât focus on this side and categorically said that the institution would not be restored since people didnât vote him in previous elections of 2008.
Pervez caller 6: I am from district Mardan, I would share that country can be put on path to development in case education is given to boys and girls equally at grassroots level. PTI led government has accelerated its efforts for spreading education. The rehabilitation of destroyed schools will take time to be functional. Several non-governmental organizations are taking concrete steps for promotion of education; however responsibility lies on the shoulder of parents too to enroll their children.
People can visit to Jashn-e-Kumrat without any fear as situation was not that much worse in district Dir like other parts of the country during rousing and escalating militancy. Such festivals will help defuse propaganda against Pakhtuns.
âReportâ: In order to explore the hidden talent of children and to sensitize the students with the splendor and grandeur of the old culture, science and culture exhibition was organized in phase-1 of Jalozai Camp, Nowshera. Organized by a non-governmental organization, score of children, affectees and representatives of concerned NGO were present in the event. Zareen Khan, who belongs to Bara Tehsil, but currently living in the camp for last four years, remarked that such activities are the call of the day. It will not only ensure them a moment of joy, but children would aware about their culture and tradition.
IDP: âA small Hujra was designed by children giving look of a true natural Hujra. It shows that our children could not remain safe from the effects of militancy and they have deep feeling that their cultural and traditional values are adversely destroyed by militancy. Such exhibition will help aware homeless children as well about their heritage and magnificent culture since they have lost everything in their homelands. Parents must involve their children in such activities to expose them to their old heritage and science and technologyâ.
Reporter: In Science & Culture expo, about ten stalls were set up portraying different models of Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Inscribed with various slogans regarding importance of science and culture, different placards and banners were displayed in these stalls. The model of Hujra drew the attention of participants, in which few children were sitting in charpoy (bed) drinking green tea and smoking artificial chillum in a traditional way. Some children were playing with Rabab and Mangay (traditional musical instruments) to attract the participantsâ.
Student 1: âchildren gave presentations dressed up in their traditional cloths to represent their localities and culture. We didnât have such constructive and healthy opportunities at our schools in our homelands; such opportunities must be provided to students again and again. It will encourage and motivate them to do something different in lifeâ.
Student 2: âSuch functions help the students to bring out their creativity and improve their practical knowledge. Prosperity could only be achieved with the help of scientific knowledge and technology and young students are the asset of nationâ. Kamran Afridi CRSS Jalozai Camp Nowshera

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