Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi addresses a public jirga in Tehsil Bara. SCREENGRAB
BARA:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Wednesday formally inaugurated the reconstruction and rehabilitation of 50 schools devastated by terrorism in the Bara area of Khyber tribal district, alongside the opening of a seven-kilometer bypass road.
The projects, completed with Chinese financial and technical assistance, mark a significant step toward restoring education and improving infrastructure in a region long scarred by terrorism.
Funded at a total cost of Rs3.21 billion, the school rehabilitation effort covered 35 primary, seven middle, seven high, and one higher secondary school. Officials briefed that all institutions are now fully operational and have been handed over to the Education Department. Modern facilities including solar power, clean drinking water, cooling systems, and improved sanitation have been installed, providing thousands of students with a safe and quality learning environment after years of disruption.
Separately, the seven-km Bara Bypass Road, constructed at Rs 1.32 billion, was opened to traffic. Authorities said the new route will ease congestion in Bara’s main market and residential areas, enhance connectivity, boost local trade, and stimulate economic activity in the region.
Speaking to the media at the inauguration ceremony, Chief Minister Afridi described the initiatives as more than mere construction. “These are not just buildings; they are investments in future generations,” he said. He highlighted that while terrorism destroyed schools, the provincial government is rebuilding futures. “Terrorism demolished schools, but we are constructing tomorrow. Education is the most effective response to extremism.”
Afridi also addressed relief efforts for families displaced from Tirah Valley due to recent security operations. He assured no negligence in aid distribution, stating that families facing registration issues due to identification or address problems would be verified through local elders (maliks) and national jirgas. “No affected family will be deprived of the relief package,” he emphasized, adding that he is personally monitoring the process.
