Smart lockdown lifted in 89 K-P areas

CM’s aide says psychological training will be provided to teachers in 34 govt schools

PESHAWAR:

The provincial government has lifted a ‘smart lockdown’ which had been imposed in 89 areas in mid-June to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

This was disclosed by the Adviser to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir during a briefing at the Civil Secretariat in Peshawar on Thursday.

Wazir said they decided to lift the lockdown after the number of new Covid-19 cases in the area fell. He added that just 2,410 people had contracted the virus in areas where some 805,877 people were confined to their homes.

Giving a breakdown of the areas where the smart lockdown was being lifted, Wazir said that the restrictions were lifted in 15 areas of Nowshera, 12 areas of Bajaur and eight areas of Abbottabad, six areas of Mansehra, five areas of Mardan, five areas of Lower Dir, four areas of Buner, four areas of Charsadda, four areas of the provincial capital, three areas of Swat, three areas of Malakand, three areas of Haripur, two areas of Upper Chitral, Upper Dir and two areas of Bannu.

Similarly, the smart lockdown has also been lifted in one area each of South Waziristan, Hangu, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber, Kurram, and Tank.

Talking about the steps taken for the development of the merged districts, Wazir said that for the first time, transparent elections were held in the merged districts and the tribal people were given representation in the provincial assembly.

Regarding projects in the education sector, the provincial adviser said that steps were being also taken for the education of special children in the province.

The secondary and higher secondary examinations for the next academic session of special children will be conducted by the Peshawar education board and a steering committee has been constituted for the purpose, he said.

At the moment, 3,300 special children are studying in government institutions. to conduct examinations for special children which will oversee the entire process.

Wazir further informed that the provincial government has decided to provide psychological training to teachers at 34 government schools.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2020.