Alumna brings water relief to Chakwal school

Resolves longstanding problem of lack of access to clean drinking water

CHAKWAL:

The former student of a renowned female school in Chakwal became a messiah for the staff and students of the educational institute, which lacked basic facilities including drinking water.

Built in 1935 to equip girls with the jewel of education, the Government Girls High School No 1 has so far produced millions of female students, who are now playing multiple roles in society. Around 2,200 female students are currently studying in this school.

Ironically, the largest-ever school in Chakwal district had been lacking basic facilities for the past several years. The absence of a library and clean drinking water became the hallmark of the leading institution. The female students and the academic staff either used to drink contaminated water or bring clean water from their homes. The students suffered from various diseases.

Finally a task, which was the responsibility of the elected representatives and the district government, was done by a former student. Gul Rana Azhar helped install a water filtration plant for Rs1.1 million and inaugurated the plant by cutting the ribbon.

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Earlier, the school’s principal, Musarrat Jabeen, other teachers and students received Gul Rana Azhar and her husband Chaudhry Azhar Mehmood Chakral and showered flower petals on them. Gul Rana told the media that newly-appointed principal Musarrat Jabeen drew her attention to the non-availability of clean water in the school. “I assured the principal of providing the water filtration plant after consulting my husband.” She expressed her pleasure in solving the long-standing problem of drinking water for thousands of students at the school where she studied herself.

Azhar Mehmood said that the installation of the water filtration plant was possible because of his wife’s interest and that the project would keep benefitting the students in future.

Paying tribute to Gul Rana and her husband Azhar, School principal Musarrat Jabeen said that the long-standing problem of drinking water for 2,200 female students and about 60 staff members in the school has been finally resolved.

She said that the school had no facility for the provision of clean water for a long time and repeated reminders to the higher authorities and philanthropists turned out to be a futile exercise.

“The school girls are extremely happy about easy access to the drinking water and pay tribute to the couple for the facility,” she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 29^th, 2024.