MINGORA: A function was organised here on Monday to motivate the community members, including politicians, parents and civil society activists, to play their due role in promoting education in the far-flung Maindam area of Swat district, where dropout rate is abysmally high after primary level.

Civil society organisations, Innovative Youth Forum and Alif Ailaan, organised the event, where a parents union was also set up to promote education in the remote area.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jawad Iqbal, Innovative Youth Forum chief, said that they had been struggling to reduce the dropout ratio in the district, particularly in the remote areas. `Parents and community elders can play vital role in promotion of education,` he added.Mr Iqbal pointed out that literacy rate in Swat was only 29 per cent, saying that only 31 per cent of children of age 5 to 16 years went to schools in Miandam. `The area is one of the unfortunate places in Swat which have maximum dropout rate after primary level,` he said.

Mr Iqbal disclosed that 28 per cent children of age 5 to 16 years had reportedly been dropping out from schools in Swat every year. He said that all the stakeholders, including parents, teachers and politicians should come forward to create an effective environment for education.

Former nazim Mohammad Ali Shah Khan, all primary teachers association, Khawaza Khela tehsil general sectary Saleh Ali Mian and educationist Dr Hafiz Hayat also spoke on the occasion and stressed that promotion of education was a must in the tourist resort of Maindam.`N` ACTIVIST THREATENS TO QUIT PARTY: Vice-president Pakistan Muslim League-Nyouthwing,KhyberPakhtunkhwa chapter, Malik Abdul Kabir Khan on Monday accused the central leadership of ignoring senior party workers in Swat in decision making.

He warned of quitting the party along with his family members if their grievances were not addressed. Talking to reporters in Mingora on Monday, he said that central leadership, particularly Iqbal Zafar Jahgra and PML-N Swat president Qaimoos Khan had been ignoring his family commitments with the party since 1969.

He said that the party leadership didn`t consult them when they were awarding party tickets in the constituency.

`PTI PROMOTING OBSCENITY`: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F provincial chief Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan on Monday alleged that`N` ACTIVIST THREATENS TO QUIT PARTY: Vice-president Pakistan Muslim League-Nyouthwing,KhyberPakhtunkhwa chapter, Malik Abdul Kabir Khan on Monday accused the central leadership of ignoring senior party workers in Swat in decision making.

He warned of quitting the party along with his family members if their grievances were not addressed. Talking to reporters in Mingora on Monday, he said that central leadership, particularly Iqbal Zafar Jahgra and PML-N Swat president Qaimoos Khan had been ignoring his family commitments with the party since 1969.

He said that the party leadership didn`t consult them when they were awarding party tickets in the constituency.

`PTI PROMOTING OBSCENITY`: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F provincial chief Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan on Monday alleged thatsome political elements were promote obscenity among youth to weaken the society, in an apparent reference to PTI sit-ins in Islamabad.

Addressing a party`s general council meeting at Amankot here, he said the JUI-F would foil the conspiracy to promote western culture in the country.

Gul Naseeb claimed said that JUI-F had been struggling for enforcement of Islamic system in the country, saying that the party`s political struggle would continue to protect the ideology of the motherland.

The JUI leader said that it was responsibility of every worker of the party to make people aware about the conspiracy.

Qari Mehmood, JUI-F Swat emir, and general secretary Haji Ishaq Zahid also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the steps being taken by the district chapter for betterment of people.