PESHAWAR: Schools in Haripur have made wearing abaya mandatory for girls viewing rising complaints of eve-teasing and harassment.

The school administration said the measure was taken viewing the increasing number of complaints in this regard.

“There’s no restriction on girls in the schools. The rule applies during travelling to and from the school so that when they arrive at school they are fully covered either in abaya or chaddar from head to toe,” the district education officer said.

A circular issued by District Education Officer Samina Altaf asked heads of government schools to ensure that girl students wore an abaya or a chaddar.

“Instruct all students to use gown/abaya or chaddar to veil/conceal/cover up their-selves in order to protect them from any unethical incident,” the circular said.

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She said it was necessary to protect girl students from eve-teasing.

Advisor to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Education Zia Ullah Bangash said the decision was taken viewing the local culture and religion. He said other district education officers were also asked to follow suit.

He said the girls were provided complete protection at schools and police were directed to deploy police officials at the girls school gates at the time when the girls leave for home after school.

The advisor said the situation had improved and the government had kept an eye on everything.