LAKKI MARWAT - Intellectuals, educationists and political elite have reiterated the determination that they would launch integrated efforts for establishment of university in the district. "Efforts aiming to set up a varsity for the promotion of education and research will soon prove fruitful enabling the youths to get higher and research based education at local level," they said while speaking at a moot in Begukhel house on Saturday.
The moot was organised by a social media group known as Professionals Marwat Group (PMG) with the aim to bring local politicians affiliated with different political parties and people from other walks of life on a single platform to make efforts of establishing a varsity in the district result-oriented. "After visiting several universities of at least 13 countries in connection with research-based education an idea came to my mind to initiate efforts for establishing a varsity in my native Lakki Marwat district," said Professor Dr Jameel Marwat.  Jameel said that the concept papers he prepared and sent to the higher education commission were handed over to a feasibility committee to look into it thoroughly.
He told that the feasibility committee in its recent meeting discussed the matter in details and forwarded it to the quarters concerned of Ministry of Planning and Development Islamabad. "Now the P&D officials approached the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa higher education department for comments about setting up a university in Lakki Marwat," he maintained.
Elaborating the efforts of former federal minister Saleem Saifullah Khan, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PTI MNA Col (retired) Ameerullah Marwat in this regard he said that the movement launched by the Professionals Marwat Group would soon make the dream of varsity true.
On the occasion, Bacha Khan University Charsada Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Fazal Raheem Marwat appreciated youths for the campaign they launched through social media for setting up a university in Lakki Marwat.  "Marwat tribesmen have a due right to have a high esteem university on their land therefore they need not to beseech for it," he told.
He said that the entire tribe had pinned hopes on youths therefore they should come forward to play their effective role to achieve the goal successfully. JUI-F MPAs Munawar Khan Marwat, Haji Anwar Hayat Khan Marwat, Sher Afzal Marwat, a former judge and PTI regional vice president Salman Saleem Marwat also spoke on the occasion. They said that despite political rivalries they were united for the cause of university.
They assured that they would insert pressure on federal and provincial governments and leadership of their respective political parties to set up a university in Lakki district at all costs.
The lawmakers also promised that they would raise the issue on the floor of provincial assembly.
Another speaker Haji Muhammad Aslam Khan, head of Marwat Qaumi Jirga and chief of Eesakkhel offered to provide 3000 kanal land free of cost for the university.  "It will be an honour for me to provide free piece of land for the establishment of university," he told.
He said that promotion of education helped to end political rivalries and united area politicians for the uplift and prosperity of backward district.