Banks to reopen in Mingora

MINGORA: The State Bank has directed all commercial banks to reopen their branches in Mingora city on Monday.

Official sources told Dawn that the central bank had issued directives to restart operations because of a majority of displaced people had returned home.

The banks have also been told to facilitate disbursement of salaries to government employees.

The local business community has been facing problems because of closure of banks since April last when militants extended their activities to the headquarters of Swat.

Now normalcy has returned to the city and 80 per cent of shops and business centres have reopened. The main bazaars and markets are full with customers.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
The NWFP government announced on Saturday that educational institutions would reopen on Aug 1.

Minister for Higher Education, Qazi Assad, said authorities concerned had been asked to prepare feasibility reports for rebuilding of schools and colleges.

Sources said district authorities had been directed to submit a report on damaged schools and those occupied by security forces and to make alternative arrangements for reopening them.

Around 200 schools have been destroyed completely or partially by insurgents.