LOWER DIR, Oct 13: The Dir Qaumi Pasoon (DQP), a local body of elders working for peace and harmony, has rejected the government’s decision to privatise public educational institutions and hospitals, terming it against public interest and demanding its immediate withdrawal.
The stance was announced during a seminar titled “Education and Health Protection” organised by DQP at a local hotel. The event was attended by teachers, doctors, students, civil society members, and representatives of political and social organisations.
A joint declaration adopted at the conclusion stated that education and health are fundamental human and constitutional rights, and their privatisation amounts to the state neglecting its basic responsibilities.
Speakers, including DQP president Malik Shah Naseem Khan Yousafzai and general secretary Sheikh Sarwar, urged the government to strengthen public institutions instead of privatising them. They called for increased funding, staff recruitment, and modern facilities to improve service delivery.
Participants demanded job security for employees likely to be affected and insisted that no policy be implemented without stakeholder consultation.
The DQP warned that if the government failed to withdraw its privatisation policy, it would launch a protest movement at district, provincial, and national levels. The meeting also announced a public awareness campaign titled “Protection of Education and Health” to highlight the negative impacts of privatisation.
