TIMERGARA, Nov 27: The local leaders of almost all major political parties agreed here on Wednesday to ensure participation of women and youth of the district in the next elections.

They showed willingness for women and youth participation in political process during the launching ceremony of `Jamhori Maidan Programme`, an 18month British High Commission-funded project for three districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Lower Dir.

The ceremony was organised by Association for Behaviour and Knowledge Transformation (ABKT), a non-governmental organisation, in collaboration with the British High Commission.

Besides local political leaders, social and political activists, lawyers, teachers and journalists attended the ceremony.

Jamaat-i-Islami leader former MPA Dr Inayatul Haq, JUI-F leader Mufti Irfanud Din, PPP`s district president Khurshid Ali Khan, former provincial minister Mahmood Zeb Khan, People`s Students Federation provincial leader Alamzeb Utmani, Qaumi Watan Party district general secretary Arshad Khan, PTI districtpresident Advocate Fakhruz Zaman, ANP leader Ghulam Rasheed, ABKT operational manager Aurangzeb Khan, Fayaz Khan and Shad Mohammad spoke on the occasion.

Mr Aurangzeb said that the project was aimed at strengthening, engendering and democratisation of political system with leading role of women and youth at all levels in three districts of the province including Dir Lower, Dir Upper and Malakand.

He said that capacity of political parties, workers and institutions would be built through dialogue, seminars, walks and other political activities. He said that turnout of voters always remain very low in Malakand division.

`This time we will try our best to increase voters` turnout in local government elections by ensuring women and youth participation in political process, Mr Aurangzeb added.

The local leaders on the occasion appreciated launch of the project and agreed that they would take practical steps within their respective parties to ensure women and youth participation in the process.However representatives of the JI and IUI-F were seemed reluctant to announce publicly that they would also ensure women participation in elections.

They said that they would discuss the issue with their central leaders.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahmood Zeb criticised provincial government for dropping approved developmental schemes in Dir Lower while QWP leader Arshad Khan said that there was no government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that thousands of posts were lying vacant in various departments but the government was doing nothing to resolve the problem of unemployment.

However, PTI leader Fakhruz Zaman said that lawmakers were not meant to recruit people and launch development schemes. He said that PTI would fulfil all its promises made with masses during elections.

Fayaz Khan said that all stakeholders would be taken on board to enhance political education of workers with consultation of political parties. He said that it was need of the hour to strengthen democracy. He asked political leaders to cooperate with ABKT in that regard.