Advancement: Electricity lights up small village in Swat
EU to help develop education and power sector in the region.
SWAT:
About 5,000 people living in 600 households in Boyun village will benefit from a 100KW micro-hydro project (MHP) that was inaugurated here on Thursday.
The people seemed to be overjoyed, saying that at last their village received some attention. “For years we lived in darkness and we are glad to have electricity finally,” said Hazrat Muhammad, a resident of Boyun.
Sardar Hussain, the only graduate in the village, said, “Electricity is not just used to light bulbs. It plays a pivotal role in a society as it connects people to the rest of the world.”
The inauguration ceremony was attended by European Union Head of Operations in Pakistan Berend De Groot. During his trip, Groot met with the communities of different areas and visited several MHPs installed by Sarhad Rural Support Programme. He also visited the construction site of single-room shelters at Madyan Valley.
Groot explained that he had come back to Swat after 13 years. Before, he worked for a Swiss company under which the area started cultivating potatoes and other vegetables.
“It is nice to see that people have advanced in agriculture but new problems have arisen due to the floods and insurgency, which have had a negative impact in the area,” he remarked, adding that the EU’s real concern is on the education sector.
“Having only one graduate in the entire village is certainly alarming and we would like to see more graduates in the region. I am sure if we join hands together we will find many other issues which need to be addressed,” said Groot.
Talking on the EU’s future plans in Swat, Groot said that they are looking forward to supply electricity to residents of hilly areas in Kohistan and Swat.
“These areas have a tremendous potential for hydel power as there is plenty of water. Furthermore, the projects will strengthen community based organisations and we look forward to have local support in this regard,” he said.
Boyun, a village located near Kalam has been short of basic facilities since decades. With a population of 5,000 people, the village is a major producer of potatoes, cabbages and turnips. However, the residents are faced with multiple issues such as shortage of electricity and drinking water supply schemes. There is a primary and middle school in the village but there are no teachers.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2011.
About 5,000 people living in 600 households in Boyun village will benefit from a 100KW micro-hydro project (MHP) that was inaugurated here on Thursday.
The people seemed to be overjoyed, saying that at last their village received some attention. “For years we lived in darkness and we are glad to have electricity finally,” said Hazrat Muhammad, a resident of Boyun.
Sardar Hussain, the only graduate in the village, said, “Electricity is not just used to light bulbs. It plays a pivotal role in a society as it connects people to the rest of the world.”
The inauguration ceremony was attended by European Union Head of Operations in Pakistan Berend De Groot. During his trip, Groot met with the communities of different areas and visited several MHPs installed by Sarhad Rural Support Programme. He also visited the construction site of single-room shelters at Madyan Valley.
Groot explained that he had come back to Swat after 13 years. Before, he worked for a Swiss company under which the area started cultivating potatoes and other vegetables.
“It is nice to see that people have advanced in agriculture but new problems have arisen due to the floods and insurgency, which have had a negative impact in the area,” he remarked, adding that the EU’s real concern is on the education sector.
“Having only one graduate in the entire village is certainly alarming and we would like to see more graduates in the region. I am sure if we join hands together we will find many other issues which need to be addressed,” said Groot.
Talking on the EU’s future plans in Swat, Groot said that they are looking forward to supply electricity to residents of hilly areas in Kohistan and Swat.
“These areas have a tremendous potential for hydel power as there is plenty of water. Furthermore, the projects will strengthen community based organisations and we look forward to have local support in this regard,” he said.
Boyun, a village located near Kalam has been short of basic facilities since decades. With a population of 5,000 people, the village is a major producer of potatoes, cabbages and turnips. However, the residents are faced with multiple issues such as shortage of electricity and drinking water supply schemes. There is a primary and middle school in the village but there are no teachers.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2011.