PESHAWAR - Corps Commander Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani has said that Pakistan Army attached immense importance to the development of education sector and was actively involved in nation building projects across the areas cleared by the armed forces after operations in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas and Malakand Division.
He was addressing the inauguration ceremony of Model School Wana constructed by Pakistan Army at the South Waziristan Agency. Lieutenant General Khalid Rabbani said that concerted and dedicated efforts were being made to improve literacy rate in the tribal areas. “Pakistan Army has set up schools and cadet colleges where students are groomed to incorporate qualities of good and productive human beings. Most of these schools and colleges were being constructed in the remote and far-flung areas to improve the standard of education of the underprivileged tribal people,” he added.
It is pertinent to mention that 53 educational institutions have been constructed by the Pakistan Army in a record duration of two years in Swat, Buner, Lower Dir, Bajaur and South Waziristan Agency.  At present 30,000 students belonging to over 290 villages are back to their schools. 500 male and 150 female teachers are busy in imparting quality education in these schools and colleges.
Over 2600 strong labour force from these local areas were employed for construction of these projects. The corps commander appreciated the efforts of the army engineers and political administration for facilitating the local community in spreading rays of knowledge in the area.
Earlier on his arrival, the corps commander was received by Major General Akhtar Jamil Rao and Major General Nadeem Raza and was briefed on the ongoing development projects in the area.