Afridi blames war on terror for education setback in KP

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi on Wednesday said the US-led war on terror had left an entire generation in the province without proper education, arguing that its long-term impact was a key reason KP continues to lag behind other provinces.

He said the provincial government was now focusing on modernising education by shifting towards market-oriented learning, including new courses in artificial intelligence, robotics and data analytics.

Afridi was speaking at the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence for Digital and High-Tech Skills at the Institute of Management Sciences, developed with support from the European Union.

He said the government was committed to equipping youth with modern skills and expanding collaboration with international partners. He particularly called for stronger engagement with the EU through student and faculty exchange programmes to build capacity in the province’s education sector.

The chief minister said his administration had zero tolerance for corruption and claimed that all recruitment processes were being carried out on merit. He said 16,000 teachers and 2,400 doctors were being hired purely on merit.

He invited students to report any wrongdoing, saying his office was open to complaints and action against corruption would follow immediately.

Afridi said the youth were central to the government’s vision, adding that scholarships and internship programmes were being expanded. He also said students from financially weaker backgrounds would be fully supported.

He urged students to focus on their future, saying that they represented the country’s potential and that collective efforts were needed to strengthen KP and Pakistan.

The chief minister also repeated allegations regarding the treatment of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, claiming they were being held in solitary confinement and denied access to family and medical care. He further alleged that Mr Khan had suffered significant eyesight loss due to negligence in jail, according to him.

Separately, Afridi held a meeting with a European Union delegation led by EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis.

During the meeting, the EU envoy discussed the situation in Afghanistan and its regional impact, according to an official statement.

Afridi stressed that KP and Afghanistan shared deep historical and cultural ties and said dialogue remained the only viable path for resolving issues between the two sides. He reiterated that military solutions were not sustainable, echoing PTI founder Imran Khan’s stance in favour of negotiations.

He noted that prolonged instability in Afghanistan had directly affected KP, particularly its youth, due to geographic and socio-economic linkages.

The chief minister also said trade between KP and Afghanistan, which earlier exceeded Rs10 billion annually, had been disrupted due to border closures and tensions.

Afridi said the provincial government was prioritising investment in youth development in line with Imran Khan’s vision, including increased education spending and reforms in curriculum to match labour market needs.

He highlighted initiatives such as the Education Card for free intermediate education for female students and orphans, along with efforts to modernise the curriculum.

The EU delegation welcomed the establishment of the Centre of Excellence, calling it a forward-looking initiative aligned with future workforce needs, and expressed interest in expanding cooperation in KP’s development and skills sectors.