PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has said that maintaining peace in the province was the foremost priority, as sustainable development and prosperity can only be achieved in a peaceful environment.
Addressing the concluding session of a two-day workshop on promoting tolerance, building resilience and preventing violent extremism on Wednesday, the governor urged young people from the merged districts to become ambassadors of peace and play an active role in the development of theirrespective areas.
The workshop was organised by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism in collaboration with relevant institutions, according to an official statement issued by the Governor’s Office.
Kundi said the people of the merged districts had rendered tremendous sacrifices for the restoration of peace, while security forces and police personnel had also made significant sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
He emphasised that all segments of society, particularly young people, must play their part in promoting peace, toler-ance and development across the province.
The governor said the merged districts had suffered from prolonged conflict and instability, deprivingtheirresidents ofvital development opportunities. He noted that schools and basic health units in these areas had previously been used for purposes other than theirintended functions, adding that such practices would not be allowed in future.
He described the integration of the merged districts into the national mainstream as a collective responsibility and thanked the prime minister for announcing a Rs160 billion development packageforthe region.Kundi said the government would equip young people with technical and vocational skills alongside formal education to enable them to become self-reliant and contribute to the country’s development.
He said residents of the merged districts had been given their democratic right to elect representatives and urged young people to benefit from available opportunities in education, sports and employment.
Terming the denial of educational and sporting opportunities to young people an injustice,the governorsaidproviding better facilities in these sectors was the government’s responsibility.