Love, peace and sanitation: Jirga submits 24-point agenda to restore Peshawar’s lost glory

Blames the lack of peace in the provincial capital on incorrect policies of former governments.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Qaumi Jirga and Karwan Movement asked the provincial government to take immediate steps to restore peace and initiate development projects in a city torn asunder by militancy.

The Jirga, held in the Archive Library Hall on Sunday, passed a unanimous resolution consisting of 24 demands for the provincial government. It claimed the apathy of former governments is one of the main reasons which led to Peshawar’s current problems.

“Residents have constantly had to live in fear because of wrong moves taken by the past governments. Until we take steps to restore peace ourselves, the government will not help us,” argued Nasir Ali Sayed, one of the elders present.



The 24-point resolution included improving the environment, restoring heritage, solving sanitation problems, and the provision of health, education and transport facilities among other things.

It also demanded the provincial government to devise effective strategies and give exemplary punishments to all those creating instability in the city.

The jirga was attended by around 300 men from Peshawar. Shahabuddin Khattak, Dr Khalid Mufti, Qari Javed Iqbal, Dr Shafi Ullah, Dr Shabir Ahmad, Advocate Robina Naheed, Hasam Ghauri and Iqbal Sikandar were some the more prominent members of the city in attendance.

“This city has also been ignored in terms of development – now our health and sanitation systems are in shambles,” pointed out Karwan Movement President Khalid Ayub.

The terror-ridden city of Peshawar needs to be given maximum relief from taxes and all funds at hand should be used to restore it to its previous glory.

Talking about its crumbling archaeological sites, Ayub said they were slowly losing their history as no steps were being taken to maintain and restore their heritage.

“Funds are always used on other districts, depriving the denizens of Peshawar of their rightful share,” argued Ayub.

The jirga stressed on the need to give preference to the Shahi Katha, asking for the removal of all encroachments on the historical drainage system.

Better hospitals and free health services were part of the demands as the decades-old hospitals are not enough to cater to the needs of the burgeoning population. The jirga also asked the government to construct a railway track from the city to Hayatabad, and provide the women and youth more employment opportunities by re-opening closed industrial units.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 8^th, 2013.