Introduction

Education has been overlooked in Fata in general and Waziristan in particular, where literacy rate according to official statistics is very low as compared to other parts of the country. Absence of effective policy and lack of attention to develop education sector in Waziristan resulted in illiteracy, triggering extremist tendencies in the society.

Military launched anti-militants offensive in South Waziristan Agency in 2009, which resulted in displacement of thousands of tribal families to other parts of the country. The operation resulted in closure and destruction of educational institutions and health facilities, which resulted in massive dropouts from educational institutions of the children of the internally displaced person of South Waziristan Agency. On average two academic years have been missed by each IDP student.

According to Fata Development Indicators Household Survey (FDIHS) 2013-14, the literacy rate in Fata is only 33.3 %, far less than national average of 58%. When it comes to female literacy, the situation becomes grimmer as literacy rate for women is only 7.8%. Health sector paints an equally grim picture. For example, maternal mortality rate is 395 per 100,000 compared to 275 for the rest of the country. The number of children completely immunized is only 33% while this figure is 86% for the rest of the country.

In this state of affairs, elders of Mahsud and Burki tribes including serving and retired government officers joined hands in 2014 and established Mahsud Welfare Association (MWA) to act as bulwark against illiteracy and backwardness.

Mahsud Welfare Association -Pakistan