Revival of historic sugar mills and school sought

TAKHT BHAI: The social, political, and business circles of Takht Bhai have demanded the revival of the historic Asia’s first sugar mills and the Ajab Memorial High School, both of which have remained closed for several years.

They called on the government to establish an industrial zone in the area to create employment opportunities, eradicate unemployment, and support the growth of small-scale industries.

The demand was made at a consultative meeting organized by the Takht Bhai Press Club.

The meeting brought together representatives from political, social, and business communities to discuss the revival of the Takht Bhai Sugar Mills and Ajab Memorial High School, along with the need for an industrial zone in the region.

Prominent participants included former Tehsil Nazim and president of Central Traders Association Takht Bhai, Muazzallah Khan; President of Small Industries Dost Muhammad Darwaish; ANP Provincial Council member Muhammad Ayub Yousafzai; senior lawyer and former Bar President Qamar Zaman Khan Advocate; Islamic Lawyers Forum President Mushtaq Ali Advocate; JUIF Lawyers Forum President Ikram Safi Advocate; young industrialist Samiur Rahman; president of Citizens and Vegetable Sellers Association Sher Bahadur Sher; president of Meena Bazaar Traders Aftab Mohmand; Senior Vice President Hasnain Khan Mohmand; president of Popular Industry Roman Ali; Flour Mills Industry representative Kashif Khan; PPP Mardan Division Spokesman Ibrahim Syed Yousafzai; labour leader Yousaf Khan Mohmand; senior journalist Izzat Muhammad Khpalwak; trader leader Kashif Khan Habib-ul-Najat; and President of Takht Bhai Press Club Muslim Khan Sabir, among others.

The participants expressed deep concern over the closure of the region’s historic Takht Bhai Sugar Mills and Ajab Memorial High School for the past 18 years.

They said the mills provided livelihoods for thousands of households, which were deliberately pushed into unemployment by its shutdown.

Similarly, the adjacent Ajab Memorial High School — once a renowned educational institution attended by hundreds of students — has been closed and is now in ruins.

The speakers said that Ajab Memorial High School was the property of a trust and therefore cannot be shut down or sold.

The participants demanded the immediate restoration of the school to its original condition and its reopening for educational activities.

They called for the revival of the sugar mills or its replacement with smaller industrial units, as well as the establishment of an industrial zone to alleviate unemployment in the area.

An action committee was formed, comprising Muazzallah Khan, Dost Muhammad Darwaish, Samiur Rahman, Aftab Mohmand, Bar President Saifullah Khan Advocate, Mushtaq Ali Advocate, Qamar Zaman Khan Advocate, Izzat Muhammad Khpalwak, Muhammad Ayub Yousafzai, and Yousaf Khan Mohmand to pursue the demand.

This committee will engage with government officials and mill owners to determine a course of action and initiate negotiations.