18 Girls’ Schools in Upper Dir recommended for t…
LOWER DIR: The District Education Officer (Female) in Upper Dir has recommended the temporary closure of 18 girls’ schools for one week, citing concerns over the safety of students and teaching staff amid the prevailing security situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
According to an official letter sent by the District Education Officer (Female), Upper Dir, to the district deputy commissioner on Saturday, the education department has expressed serious concerns about the security of educational institutions located in border areas. Officials said the uncertain situation has raised fears about the safety of students and teachers travelling to and attending schools in vulnerable areas.
The letter stated that reports received from relevant Sub-Divisional Education Officers indicated that a number of schools were directly exposed to potential security threats because of the ongoing situation in the region.
As a precautionary measure, the education department requested the district administration to approve the temporary closure of 18 girls’ schools from August 15 to August 22. The proposed closure includes girls’ high schools, middle schools and primary schools located in areas considered vulnerable because of their proximity to the affected border region.
The schools included in the recommendation are situated in Panakot, Qulandai, Dobando, Umrailal, Shandalbagh, Qashqari, Rokhan, Kass, Raza Banda and Khan Shaheed.
The official communication was also forwarded to senior officials of the education department and district administration, including the secretary of the Elementary and Secondary Education Department, the director of education, the deputy commissioner of Upper Dir and the district monitoring officer.
However, the proposed closure has not yet been formally approved. The deputy commissioner of Upper Dir told local reporters that the administration had not taken a final decision regarding the closure of the 18 girls’ schools.
The recommendation comes against the backdrop of heightened security concerns in the mountainous areas of Upper Dir. A security operation is currently underway in Dobando, where a gun battle between police personnel and suspected terrorists began on Wednesday night and continued into Thursday.
Officials said the opposing sides remained positioned against each other during the operation and that heavy weapons were reportedly being used. At the time of the reports, however, authorities had not confirmed any casualties resulting from the encounter.
The latest security concerns come after a separate deadly incident in neighbouring Lower Dir last month. Two policemen were martyred and 16 others were injured during an exchange of fire with suspected terrorists at Haidari Top, a mountainous location in the district.
According to officials, law enforcement personnel had launched a search-and-strike operation in the area after receiving information about the presence of suspected terrorists. During the operation, armed militants reportedly launched a sudden attack on the security personnel.
The ensuing gun battle continued for several hours, resulting in casualties among the law enforcement personnel.
The security situation has prompted authorities to remain cautious, particularly in areas where schools are located close to conflict-affected or sensitive zones. The education department’s recommendation to temporarily suspend classes is intended as a preventive measure rather than a permanent closure.
The final decision regarding the 18 girls’ schools will rest with the district administration. Officials are expected to assess the security situation before deciding whether educational activities can continue safely or whether the temporary closure should be implemented.
For now, authorities are closely monitoring developments in the border areas, while the education department has emphasised that the safety of students and teaching staff remains the primary concern.
