ISLAMABAD, June 21 (APP): Law and order has significantly improved over the last two years in the country, after Operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched in the tribal areas.

The accomplishments achieved by Pakistan’s security apparatus
in two years are felt by all and sundry, official sources said.

The fruits of the Zarb-e-Azb are matchless, and the nation is
beholden to the armed forces and all other state institutions and
political players, who, setting aside their differences on other
issues, joined hands against terrorists.

On June 15, 2014 Operation Zarb-e-Azb was started aimed
at rooting out menace of terrorism.

The security situation was very precarious when the present
government took power. The mosques, churches, markets and other
places had become soft targets of the terrorists.

At that time, the incumbent government and the security forces
with the mutual consensus initiated decisive action against
terrorism. Now, peace has largely been restored in the country.

Especially, people of Karachi are now carrying out their day-
to-day activities without any fear.

The phenomenal gains made in the first two years of Zarb-e-Azb
became possible only because of a national consensus and single-
mindedness among all stakeholders and key institutions for which the
federal and provincial governments, political parties, Parliament,
the Supreme Court and armed forces deserve immense acclaim and
approbation.

The federal government and political parties hammered out a
consensus and accorded political ownership to the military campaign;
the parliament passed the requisite amendments in the Constitution
and the army law; the Supreme Court validated these changes; and the
armed forces carried out the operation in an exceptional manner.

Every institution earned kudos and congratulations for its role.
The operation was launched in phases and people were provided
opportunity to be shifted to safe areas. The terrorists’ hideouts
were destroyed in Shawal and many operations were carried out in
FATA and Swat for establishing writ of the government with
sacrifices of the troops.

Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) and combing operations
were carried out in the four provinces to stop terrorists from
spreading. Operations were also undertaken against the facilitators
with the help and cooperation of the citizens.

During the operation, 7,591 IEDs, 35,310 mortar bombs and
rockets and 2,481 land mines and suicide jackets were recovered.
The troops seized about 253 tons of explosive which according
to some calculations was enough for the terrorists to make
ammunition and IEDs for 15 years.

During the two years operation, about 3,500 terrorists were killed
and 992 of their hideouts were destroyed. In achieving this, 490
troops lost their lives while 2,108 others were wounded. The wounded
included those who had either lost their legs or arms or eyes or
much more.

It was no less embarrassment that a real no-go area also
existed in the tribal belt.

Because of restoration of law and order, 61% of the IDPs have returned, while the remaining ones would be back by the end of the year.

During the rehabilitation phase in FATA, schools, mosques and
markets were being built and basic infrastructure was being
developed and 700 kilometer long road was being built in Waziristan.

The new wings of FC and para military forces were being raised to man the check posts allowing the visitors after proper verification along 2600km porous border with Afghanistan.

ISLAMABAD, June 21 (APP): Chairperson National Commission
for Human Development (NCHD) Razina Alam Khan said that over 50.70
million illiterate persons would be made literate in next ten years under vision 2025 programme.

In an interview, she said the literacy ratio would be enhanced from 60 to 90 percent. The literate students would be provided micro credit for starting their own business.

She said a total of 5,981 feeder schools were working in 127
districts of the country under the NCHD. Over 300,000 students are
getting education in these schools.

She said 164,190 non traditional education centres were working in the country, she said adding that 3840000 persons have been made literate in these centres.

She said 2500 students are being imparted English, Science and Mathematics in over 100 seminaries working in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The education ministry has allowed the NCHD to impart quality education to seminary students to bring them at par with other students.

She said vocational training would be initiated in 12,000 literacy Centres. Vocational courses would also be conducted in the centres.

She said over 20.40 million children aged five to sixteen still do not go to schools. The survey would be conducted to ascertain which skills they would be imparted training.

She said special courses would be designed for taxi drivers, gardeners, and labourers.

Feeder schools have been established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for
imparting primary education in the area.

ISLAMABAD, Jun 21 (APP): The federal government has allocated Rs 32 billion under Public Sector Development Programme for the year 2016-17 for construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam.

According to official sources here on Tuesday, upon completion of the Diamer-Bhasha dam, Pakistan’s existing 30-day water storage capacity would reach 90 days.

Diamir-Bhasha Dam, one of the most important energy projects of the country for Pakistan as it would not only generate 4,500 MW of electricity but would also serve as a huge water reservoir for the country.

After a decade, the country is expected to face acute shortage of water so in order to prevent food starvation, this project would be developed at any cost.

The government assigns the highest priority to Diamer-Bhasha Dam because a serious water crisis is looming in next five to ten years which will be much bigger than electricity crisis.

The foundation stone of Diamer-Bhasha Dam, a gravity dam on the River Indus in Gilgit-Baltistan, was laid on October 18, 2011.

Upon completion, Diamer-Bhasha Dam would be the highest roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam in the world.

The dam site is situated near a place called “Bhasha” in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer District, hence the name.

Diamer-Bhasha Dam would produce 4,500 megawatts of electricity through environmentally clean hydropower generation; store an extra 8,500,000 acre feet (10.5 km3) of water for the country that would be used for irrigation and drinking; extend the life of Tarbela Dam located downstream by 35 years; and control flood damage by the River Indus
downstream during high floods.

It will have a height of 272 meters spillway with fourteen gates each 11.5 m x 16.24 m.

The gross capacity of the reservoir will be 8,100,000 acre feet (10.0 km3), with a live storage of 6,400,000 acre feet (7.9 km3). Two underground power houses are being proposed, one on each side of the main dam having six turbines on each side with total installed capacity 4500 MW.

In January 2006, the government announced the decision to construct five multi-purpose storage dams in the country during next 10-12 years.

According to the plan, Diamer-Bhasha Dam project was proposed in the first phase.

In November 2008, the Executive Committee of National Economic Council formally approved the project.

Council of Common Interests Pakistan, a constitutional body representing the provinces, also approved the construction of the dam.

The cost of the Diamer-Bhasha dam was estimated at $12.6 billion.

Detailed drawings of the dam were completed by March 2008.

The project is located on Indus River, about 315 km upstream of Tarbela Dam, 165 km downstream of the Northern Area capital Gilgit and 40 km downstream of Chilas.