PAD sets up study camp in Swat to help flood-hit students

FIZAGAT (Swat) — Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) has set up a study camp and hostel for boys in Fizagat, near Swat’s main city of Mingora, for students from the areas devastated by last year’s floods.

Published: Tue 4 Jan 2011, 12:18 AM

Last updated: Wed 26 Aug 2020, 12:08 PM

The Bahali-e-Elm Study Camp, set up on October 15, 2010, is home for 120 students of 6^th to 10^th classes from schools in Madyan, Bahrain and Kalam, where these students were undergoing a six-month crash course to make up for the time lost in the aftermath of floods and to prepare for the coming board exams.
The region still lacks roads infrastructure and it is not possible either for teachers or students to reach schools in the towns hit by floods. Students belonging to families which have taken refuge at other places were the worst sufferer.
Education process in the area was originally disturbed by the militant-linked violence in 2007. Once the situation was brought under control andnormal life returned, the valley was hit by devastating floods. These events could not allow teaching process for as much as three years.
The camp in Fizagat is managed, in cooperation with PAD, by Parwarish School and Hostel established by PAD in Swat for the orphan children of the valley. The expenses of the camp at around Rs300,000 per month are met through PAD Relief, an NGO of PAD in Pakistan.
A delegation of overseas Pakistanis led by PAD President, Mohammad Riaz Farooq Sahi, visited the camp last week. They were welcomed by the camp principal, teachers, students, and prominent personalities of the area.
An elaborate welcome programme was arranged on the occasion which included national songs, poems in praise of natural beauty and peace in Swat Valley, and comedy skits.
Addressing the students, Sahi said PAD was giving priority to education following the teachings of Islam and Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). He said the Bahali-e-Elm Study Camp was part of PAD’s education campaign.
He said that the PAD planned to open a similar study camp in Abbottabad and advised students to bring more students from their area. “Overseas Pakistanis around the world will help you complete your education,” he said.
Farman Ali, Principal of the camp, said the camp would soon be moved from Fizagat to Mingora to accommodate more students with PAD’s help.
Naeemullah, Director of Parwarish, said several NGOs came to Mingora following the floods but none went to far off places like Kalam which was cut off by land route and almost 50 per cent was totally destroyed. Many people lost their lives carrying food given by the NGOs to Kalam.
In these circumstances, PAD came to the relief of the people in Kalam and its office bearers walked several miles in the mountainous terrain to distribute cash and food, Naeem said, reminding that PAD had also helped students with scholarships, through Al Khidmat Foundation and PAD Relief.
Akhter Ali, President of Al Khidmat Foundation Swat District, thanked PAD for helping the affected people of Kalam, and setting up institutions like Parwarish and Bahali-e-Elm Study Camp.
Shah Hussain Orakzai, PAD’s relief incharge, also spoke on the occasion.
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