Islamabad, Jan 30: Avid bloggers in Pakistan have started a campaign to help in rebuilding schools that have been bombed by the Taliban in the picturesque Swat valley.
Human Development Foundation (HDF, a group run by Pakistanis living abroad, is collecting funds on the internet to help rebuild the schools.
The organisation, which has set a target of USD 2000, has so far collected USD 655 through their blogs.
"Let us all please make sure that no schools are destroyed ever, anywhere," wrote columnist Adil Najam and inviting bloggers to donate for the cause.
"If not the HDF, help out any other group that you know better and is doing good work, especially in education. But do whatever you can do for the education of Pakistan's young generation and for the sake of our futures," blog said.
Bloggers have welcomed the step taken by HDF.
"There is no better cause in the world than the education of kids," wrote Tariq Khan, a regular contributor to the blog.
"Let us all stand with those who build schools and against those who destroy them. As proud Pakistanis, we must stand vigilant and speak out against that brings disrepute threatens our country," reads a blog posted on the popular allthingspakistan blog.
The Taliban in Pakistan have banned girl's education from January 15 and bombed or torched nearly 200 schools in Swat in the past two years.
The ban has affected 40,000 students in 400 private schools and 82,000 girls in state-run schools. Some 8,000 teachers fear losing their jobs if the schools remain closed.
The government claims the schools in Swat will reopen
on March 1 following a winter break.
"I'm a French national with very strong ties to Pakistan. Every time I travel over there, we try to give back by providing supplies to schools and places such as SOS. We hope to be able to do even more in the coming years and help the children. I do believe that funding educational programs will build a strong future for Pakistan," said a French citizen who has contributed to the cause..
"Maybe we all can make a small sacrifice and instead of getting that new gadget or nice thing we like, maybe we think about these children… Even small donations can make a difference," he said.
Swat valley, once a popular tourist destination, has fallen under the sway of militants despite a military operation launched in the region in late 2007.
The area is now mostly under the control of the fighters led by Taliban commander Maulana Fazlullah, who rules via Shariah courts and issues edicts on his FM radio broadcasts.
Whippings, executions and the bombing and closure of schools are now quite common.
The main square in Mingora, the headquarters of Swat district, has been dubbed "Khooni Chowk" or Bloody Square because almost every day the bodies of persons executed by the militants are dumped there or strung up on poles.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, January 30, 2009, 00:00