Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
MAR 15 2016
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Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
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MARCH 18 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
[h=1]One-man wolf pack: Naib nazim rids Tank of pollution
[/h]DI KHAN: He comes in a tractor, cleans the roads and shovels away the overflowing filth. Whenever they see him, they applaud and cheer him on. He is Mullah Abdur Rehman, the naib nazim of Tank’s
only tehsil.
Many people revere Rehman because of his passion to work for the people. He drives a tractor himself and initiates cleanliness drives in Tank city, especially during rainy season. People refer to him as “Khadim-e-Tank” – servant of Tank – to honour his commitment to the community.
Rehman won the local government elections in 2015 on a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl ticket and was elected Tank tehsil’s naib nazim.
“I remove mud from the road, roadsides and the footpaths,” Rehman told The Express Tribune. “I get rid of standing water on the roads. I do whatever I can. I am committed to public service. However, there is a lack of funds and resources available.”
He added, “Tank city’s cleanliness has been ignored by the government, Tank Municipal Committee (TMC) is in financial straits and we don’t have enough machinery to keep the city clean.”
According to the tehsil naib nazim, the three tractors the city does have are often lying faulty.
“I repaired one of the tractors myself so I can use it to clean the city,” he said.
However, Ubaidullah, a resident of Tank city, said Rehman needs to reevaluate his priorities and focus on core issues.
“Mullah Abdur Rehman’s cleanliness initiative is commendable,” he said. “However, this is not a solution; he cannot [clean the entire city] alone. He must compel TMC to conduct regular cleanliness drives in the area.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1067845/one-man-wolf-pack-naib-nazim-rids-tank-of-pollution/
[h=1]Improper disposal: Piles of unattended waste a nuisance for residents[/h]
PESHAWAR: Waste accumulation is increasing at a rapid pace in the city of flowers even though Pakistan has ratified international conventions and passed countless laws on environmental protection.
A large number of Christian colonies in the provincial capital – such as Shaheedabad and Hassan Garhi Father’s Colony – are brimming with detritus. This has irked residents and increased the risk of infectious and water-borne diseases. The heaps of unattended waste are also harming the ecology. Flora and fauna in these areas is fast disappearing.
Trash of the titans
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Peter Joseph, a resident of Shaheedabad, said people have no option but to dispose of waste in an open ground due to the absence of garbage drums.
This ground remains unattended for several days. When it rains, pools of stagnant water accumulate on the land and serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, insects and flies. As a result, the risk of dengue, malaria, cholera and other water-borne diseases remains high.
Joseph also said many children have died of rat bites due to improper waste disposal in the city.
“Persistent requests by residents to shift garbage to another site have fallen on deaf ears and authorities seem highly indifferent,” he added.
Rahul Masih, a resident of Hassan Garhi Father’s Colony, said the heaps of waste that are dumped in the area are not collected for several days.
“When it drizzles or rains, waste mixes with mud and water and emits an unbearably foul smell,” he said.
He said children play near these dumping sites, which increases their chances of contracting infectious diseases.
Improper solid waste mismanagement poses not just a health hazard but also endangers the environment. Uncollected solid waste finds its way into open grounds, pits, ponds, rivers and even agricultural land due to the lack of proper disposal sites.
Cycle of negligence
According to World Development Report 2011, the volume of solid waste is increasing in Pakistan and not a single city in the country has a proper mechanism for solid waste management.
When contacted, Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP) Media and Communications Manager Taimur Ahmad said the city generates 810 tonnes of waste each day.
“Litter is collected and disposed of regularly,” he told The Express Tribune. “It is not possible that our staff are not visiting their assigned areas and skipping their duty.”
Ahmad added, “It might be the case that they have not visited their areas for two or three days because of heavy rain.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016http://tribune.com.pk/story/1067798...of-unattended-waste-a-nuisance-for-residents/
[h=1]Unnecessary protocol: PHC requested to ban VIP visits at hospitals during emergencies
PESHAWAR: Pakistan Medical Association approached the Peshawar High Court on Thursday to ban political leaders from visiting hospitals to see victims of major terrorism incidents and catastrophes.
[/h]A writ petition was filed by Dr Hussain Ahmad Haroon through his lawyer, Mian Mohibullah Kakakhel. The petitioner said leaders of various political parties visit hospitals along with dozens of their workers.
As per the petition, all roads and gates leading to hospitals are closed due to these visits. This not only causes problems for patients but also makes it difficult for doctors and nurses to attend to the needs of those who have been injured in blasts and other major incidents.
The petition stated that several people have lost their lives because these VIP visits have interfered with their treatment. It added a six-year-old minor lost his life in Karachi as he could not be taken to the hospital. According to the petition, the road to the hospital was closed because Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was visiting the facility.
“The provincial government issued a notification on December 26, 2015 banning unnecessary protocol for a [politician] or leader [at hospitals],” it stated.
However, after an attack on a court complex in Shabqadar on March 7, Lady Reading Hospital was surrounded by security personnel before Minister for Health Shahram Khan Tarakai visited the premises. As per the petition, the visit violated the notification.
The petition stated political leaders visit the hospital to make speeches and ensure they appear on television.
Haroon made the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary, health secretary and the health DGs respondents in the case. The petitioner requested the bench to ban the visit of political leaders and NGO officials at hospitals.
Following a bus explosion on Sunehri Masjid Road on March 17, a large number of politicians arrived at LRH.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016.
Read more: Peshawar High Court
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1067697...n-vip-visits-at-hospitals-during-emergencies/
[/h]DI KHAN: He comes in a tractor, cleans the roads and shovels away the overflowing filth. Whenever they see him, they applaud and cheer him on. He is Mullah Abdur Rehman, the naib nazim of Tank’s
only tehsil.
Many people revere Rehman because of his passion to work for the people. He drives a tractor himself and initiates cleanliness drives in Tank city, especially during rainy season. People refer to him as “Khadim-e-Tank” – servant of Tank – to honour his commitment to the community.
Rehman won the local government elections in 2015 on a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl ticket and was elected Tank tehsil’s naib nazim.
“I remove mud from the road, roadsides and the footpaths,” Rehman told The Express Tribune. “I get rid of standing water on the roads. I do whatever I can. I am committed to public service. However, there is a lack of funds and resources available.”
He added, “Tank city’s cleanliness has been ignored by the government, Tank Municipal Committee (TMC) is in financial straits and we don’t have enough machinery to keep the city clean.”
According to the tehsil naib nazim, the three tractors the city does have are often lying faulty.
“I repaired one of the tractors myself so I can use it to clean the city,” he said.
However, Ubaidullah, a resident of Tank city, said Rehman needs to reevaluate his priorities and focus on core issues.
“Mullah Abdur Rehman’s cleanliness initiative is commendable,” he said. “However, this is not a solution; he cannot [clean the entire city] alone. He must compel TMC to conduct regular cleanliness drives in the area.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1067845/one-man-wolf-pack-naib-nazim-rids-tank-of-pollution/
[h=1]Improper disposal: Piles of unattended waste a nuisance for residents[/h]
PESHAWAR: Waste accumulation is increasing at a rapid pace in the city of flowers even though Pakistan has ratified international conventions and passed countless laws on environmental protection.
A large number of Christian colonies in the provincial capital – such as Shaheedabad and Hassan Garhi Father’s Colony – are brimming with detritus. This has irked residents and increased the risk of infectious and water-borne diseases. The heaps of unattended waste are also harming the ecology. Flora and fauna in these areas is fast disappearing.
Trash of the titans
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Peter Joseph, a resident of Shaheedabad, said people have no option but to dispose of waste in an open ground due to the absence of garbage drums.
This ground remains unattended for several days. When it rains, pools of stagnant water accumulate on the land and serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, insects and flies. As a result, the risk of dengue, malaria, cholera and other water-borne diseases remains high.
Joseph also said many children have died of rat bites due to improper waste disposal in the city.
“Persistent requests by residents to shift garbage to another site have fallen on deaf ears and authorities seem highly indifferent,” he added.
Rahul Masih, a resident of Hassan Garhi Father’s Colony, said the heaps of waste that are dumped in the area are not collected for several days.
“When it drizzles or rains, waste mixes with mud and water and emits an unbearably foul smell,” he said.
He said children play near these dumping sites, which increases their chances of contracting infectious diseases.
Improper solid waste mismanagement poses not just a health hazard but also endangers the environment. Uncollected solid waste finds its way into open grounds, pits, ponds, rivers and even agricultural land due to the lack of proper disposal sites.
Cycle of negligence
According to World Development Report 2011, the volume of solid waste is increasing in Pakistan and not a single city in the country has a proper mechanism for solid waste management.
When contacted, Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP) Media and Communications Manager Taimur Ahmad said the city generates 810 tonnes of waste each day.
“Litter is collected and disposed of regularly,” he told The Express Tribune. “It is not possible that our staff are not visiting their assigned areas and skipping their duty.”
Ahmad added, “It might be the case that they have not visited their areas for two or three days because of heavy rain.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016http://tribune.com.pk/story/1067798...of-unattended-waste-a-nuisance-for-residents/
[h=1]Unnecessary protocol: PHC requested to ban VIP visits at hospitals during emergencies
PESHAWAR: Pakistan Medical Association approached the Peshawar High Court on Thursday to ban political leaders from visiting hospitals to see victims of major terrorism incidents and catastrophes.
[/h]A writ petition was filed by Dr Hussain Ahmad Haroon through his lawyer, Mian Mohibullah Kakakhel. The petitioner said leaders of various political parties visit hospitals along with dozens of their workers.
As per the petition, all roads and gates leading to hospitals are closed due to these visits. This not only causes problems for patients but also makes it difficult for doctors and nurses to attend to the needs of those who have been injured in blasts and other major incidents.
The petition stated that several people have lost their lives because these VIP visits have interfered with their treatment. It added a six-year-old minor lost his life in Karachi as he could not be taken to the hospital. According to the petition, the road to the hospital was closed because Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was visiting the facility.
“The provincial government issued a notification on December 26, 2015 banning unnecessary protocol for a [politician] or leader [at hospitals],” it stated.
However, after an attack on a court complex in Shabqadar on March 7, Lady Reading Hospital was surrounded by security personnel before Minister for Health Shahram Khan Tarakai visited the premises. As per the petition, the visit violated the notification.
The petition stated political leaders visit the hospital to make speeches and ensure they appear on television.
Haroon made the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary, health secretary and the health DGs respondents in the case. The petitioner requested the bench to ban the visit of political leaders and NGO officials at hospitals.
Following a bus explosion on Sunehri Masjid Road on March 17, a large number of politicians arrived at LRH.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016.
Read more: Peshawar High Court
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1067697...n-vip-visits-at-hospitals-during-emergencies/
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Security SOP issued for Peshawar’s bus terminals
PESHAWAR: The city police on Thursday issued the standard operating procedure for the security of local bus terminals and stands.
The development comes in the wake of the bombing of a government employees’ bus on Sunehri Masjid Road in the limits of Peshawar cantonment, which killed 14 people and injured 55 others.
A meeting between bus stand owners and managements and Peshawar Senior Superintendent of Police (operations) Abbas Majeed Marwat took place in the day.
During the meeting, bus stand owners were told to follow the police’s instructions to ensure the security of buses and passengers.
Drivers to check commuters; won’t stop buses on the way to destinations
The SSP later told Dawn that under the SOP, drivers and conductors would be bound to physically search all passengers before allowing them to enter public transport vehicles.
He said the luggage of the passengers, including the handheld one, would also be thoroughly checked.
Mr. Marwat said for the cargo going on public transport and other vehicles, the bus stand administrations would have to ensure that they have the copies of the identity cards of those sending the consignment along with their names and latest addresses.
He said drivers would not be allowed to stop buses midway once they left their respective bus stations.
The SSP said besides proper physical checking of all passengers, the bus stand operators would have metal detectors as well.
He said in case suspicious items were found on public transport vehicles, driver and conductor would make an announcement about that to ensure it was properly checked.
Mr. Marwat said the drivers would also ensure the video recording of all passengers before buses left for their destinations and would keep the video records with them for at least a week.
He said drivers and conductors would thoroughly search buses once passengers got off to ensure that nothing is left there.
About the investigation into the bus bombing, Mr. Marwat said the police were probing the terrorist attack from various angles and had questioned the driver of the bus.
He said initial investigations had revealed that the coach was left unattended during the night when it was parked at a petrol pump in Dargai and thus, apparently providing an opportunity to terrorists to plant the explosive device in it.
The SSP said both bus conductors identified as Muzzamil and Kashif were seriously wounded and therefore, the police would record their statements once doctors allowed them to speak.
SP cantonment circle Kashif Zulfiqar told Dawn that the formulation of SOP had become necessary in the aftermath of the attack on the government employees’ bus and that was why, the police held a meeting with transporters to make a strategy for the protection of public transport vehicles and their passengers.
He said the city police’s high-ups would sit down with drivers and owners of the buses used by government employees shuttling between Peshawar and other districts to chalk out a strategy to prevent the Wednesday like incidents.
Fayyaz Ali, a government employee at the Civil Secretariat, who had gotten off the attacked bus near Peshawar Central Prison minutes before the bomb went off, told Dawn that several commuters stepped off the bus near Haji Camp, Firdous Chowk and Peshawar High Court.
He however said many people got onto the bus at those places.
He said as the government employees couldn’t afford to discontinue the arrangement altogether due to high cost of travelling, they would sit down and try to devise a strategy for safer commuting.
“We can’t carry on like this and need to follow some security protocols,” he said, adding that such government employees will try to ensure that someone not known to them is not allowed to board their buses.
The employee said he and other commuters won’t allow drivers to stop buses in the limits of the provincial capital.
Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2016
KP govt announces tourism policy
PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the first province to launch its tourism policy after devolution of powers under the 18th Amendment.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Policy launched at the scenic and highest point of Galyaat called Changagali on Wednesday encourages public-private partnership and commercialisation of government-run tourist facilities like rest-houses, promotion of tourist resorts and exploring new tourist destinations across the province.
A press release issued by the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa here on Wednesday, said PTI chairman Imran Khan, foreign diplomats, ambassadors and other officials were present at the launch of the tourism policy. The tourism department also took pride in the fact that in just a year the department had achieved target of ‘generating Rs50 billion’ revenue in tourism sector.
Imran Khan, who congratulated the tourism department for formulating the tourism policy, also announced that the government would make Balahisar Fort in Peshawar a centre for tourism. He said better hotels and facilities for tourists were included in the master plan of the provincial government.
He said the provincial government would commercialise 400 public sector rest houses, besides exploring new tourist destinations. I would also like to commercialise the Chief Minister House too, he maintained.
Imran Khan said all the political parties should join hands to bring peace to the tribal areas. If Fata is included in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it would open new doors to tourist destinations and wealth of natural resources of Fata. The provincial government would develop tribal areas as tourist destination if given an opportunity in future, he promised.
The PTI chief also talked of a master plan for the Peshawar city, and said Rs100 million had been allocated to run a plantation campaign in the provincial capital.
Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246238/kp-govt-announces-tourism-policy
Work on $102m canal extension project to start soon
SWABI: Work on Pehur High Level Canal (PHLC) extension project will start soon as all arrangements have been finalised for it, according to sources.
They said that $102 million would be spent on the project to bring ‘green revolution’ not only in the district but in the entire province. The earlier cost of the project was low but it reached $102 million owing to delay in commencing work on it.
Sources said that a detailed briefing was held about the project three days ago in Peshawar that was attended by consultant and other officials concerned. They said that the project would be completed within 66 months, two and half year, after the 2018 general elections.
They said that the project would make the province self-sufficient in food. The project is being financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) while the share of provincial government is small. A main office of the consultant would be established in Gohati area to oversee all construction activities of the project. Sources said that a total of 222,794 kanals arid land would be irrigated with the completion of the project. Perhaps no infertile land would remain without irrigation in the district, they added.
Sources said that various areas of Chota Lahor, Adina, Shahmansoor, Gaju Khan Desert, Panjpir and Dagai of the district would be irrigated after the completion of the project.
Soon after the 2013 general elections when PTI-led provincial government was established and QWP was its coalition partner, Sikandar Sherpao, who was then senior minister, had announced the project at a function in Chota Lahor.
However, the project was put in cold storage when QWP and PTI parted ways. After rejoining of provincial government by QWP and its only MPA from the district Abdul Karim became adviser to chief minister. Mr Krim played vital role in finalisation of the project.
Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1245993/work-on-102m-canal-extension-project-to-start-soon
Discretionary funds of CM to be cut
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Commission on Monday decided to slash discretionary share of the chief minister and finance minister in the district development funds.
The decision was made during a meeting of the PFC here with finance minister Muzaffar Said in chair.
A statement issued here said the meeting decided that the chief minister’s discretionary quota in the district development funds would be reduced to two per cent from the existing 10 per cent and the finance minister’s to one per cent from five per cent.
The decision will be implemented in the next financial year after the chief minister approves it.
The commission also approved the distribution of this year’s district development funds to local governments in line with the current PFC formula to ensure that the process of development is not hampered.
In future, 50 per cent of the district development funds will be given out to the districts on the basis of population, 25 per cent on poverty, 20 percent on weak infrastructure and five on the basis of local revenue.
Currently, 60 per cent of such funds are distributed on the basis of population and 20 per cent each on backwardness and weak infrastructure.
After the chief minister’s approval, the districts will receive a total of Rs30.27 billion funds, including Rs13.1 billion each for village and neighborhood councils and Rs8.55 billion each for tehsil and district councils.
Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1245796/discretionary-funds-of-cm-to-be-cut
KP govt fails to buy land for garbage dumping site
PESHAWAR: The provincial government has failed to purchase land for a dumping site to scientifically dispose of over 800 tonnes garbage, daily collected from urban areas of the provincial capital.
Sources said that an amount of Rs174.28 million was allocated for the purpose in the Annual Development Programme for the fiscal year 2014-15. “As successive provincial governments have never bothered to arrange land for the proper dumping of the garbage, the Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar has been throwing it in the area adjacent to provincial capital, having negative impacts on environment,” they added.
Talking to Dawn, officials in WSSP and district administration held each other responsible for delay in purchase of land in Maryamzai area, located on Kohat Road, and subsequent establishment of the dumping site there.
“All ponds of the non-functional water waste treatment plant established over 100-kanal more than two decades on Ring Road near Gulbahar area have been filled with the garbage,” said an official of WSSP said.
District administration and Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar hold each other responsible for delay
He said that it seemed that a city of garbage had been established there as thousands of crows were visiting the site on daily basis in search of food.
Sources said that as all the ponds and the land around those had been filled during the last two years. “Now WSSP is using heavy machinery to press the dumped garbage and create space for more waste,” they said.
Officials said that normally garbage should be dumped 12 kilometres away from the populated area to ward off its negative impacts but currently WSSP was throwing it near the city.
Taimur Ahmed Shah, the WSSP manager of communication and media, when contacted, said that WSSP had identified a 536-kanal piece of land in Maryamzai area for establishment of dumping site. However, the land couldn’t be bought owing to the slow process of fund release by the finance department and not acquiring the land by the district administration, he added.
Sources said that WSSP also flouted tenders for awarding contract of environmental impact assessment of the land in Maryamzai area. Several firms have applied for conducting the assessment but it couldn’t be launched as the land has not acquired so far.
Deputy Commissioner Riaz Khan Mehsud, when contacted, said that district administration imposed Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act on the identified land which was the first step for land purchase by the government.
“My staff has also calculated average yearly rate of the identified land and sent the demand for the required amount to WSSP,” he said.
The deputy commissioner said that WSSP was yet to release amount to the district administration to pay to the owners of the land. The acquiring of land was not possible for the district administration without release of fund to it by WSSP, he added. The deputy commissioner said that two reminders were also issued to WSSP for release of fund but in vain. “Acquiring land is not pending on our part,” he added.
An environmentalist said that throwing garbage near the city was hazardous for the population. “WSSP has not been dumping the garbage rather it is throwing it because dumping means covering the garbage with mud and spraying insecticides on it to eliminate breading site of mosquitoes, which causes several diseases,” he added.
The expert said that sheet of special plastic should be laid on the ground prior to dumping of the garbage to stop waste leakage otherwise it would contaminate the ground water after few years. “Unfortunately, such measures were not taken when garbage dumping was started near the city,” he added.
Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2016
Overseas Pakistani doctors willing to join LRH
PESHAWAR: Scores of highly qualified specialists from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, working abroad, are likely to join Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar within a month, according to officials.
“More than 50 doctors currently based in Europe and the United States have shown interest to work in the province’s biggest hospital,” Prof Nausherwan Barki, chairman Board of Governors, LRH told Dawn.
He said that they had advertised several vacant posts of consultants in national newspapers and international medical journals such as British Medical Journal and The Lancet that received overwhelming response from the doctors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, working abroad.
These doctors have been working in institutions of high repute in UK, the US and other countries but they want to serve their own people due to which they have applied for the vacant positions.
Official says scores of highly qualified specialists working abroad want to serve their own people
LRH is well ahead of the other three institutions as far as the enforcement of Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act, 2015 is concerned as its administration is going to appoint people on key positions unlike the other institutions which are yet to take tangible steps.
Dr Barki said the process of wide-range recruitments at the hospital was in progress after which people would find all specialties and diagnostic services under the same roof.
“The Pakistani doctors, who have applied for jobs at LRH, could also be posted at Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar and Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad, the other MTI-covered hospitals to improve patients’ care,” he said.
According to him, the LRH Pharmacy will become operational later this month after which all the hospitalised patients will receive free medicines. “A new 40-line telephone exchange has been installed. About 90 new nurses have been appointed to strengthen patients’ care,” said Dr Barki.
He said that computerisation of LRH was in progress. “There will be a foolproof security system that will not allow entry of unwanted people to the hospital. Wards are being connected to a centralised system,” he said.
Sources at LRH said that about 400 doctors, including those from other provinces, had applied for different positions. Some two months ago, the BoG of LRH asked heads of various departments to inform it about the vacant posts that could be filled, they said.
The BoG was informed about the shortage of posts of consultants in neuro-surgery, orthopaedics, children, ophthalmology, paeds and plastic surgery, cardiology and cardiac surgery, medicines, surgery, ear nose and throat (ENT) and gynecology, they said.
Sources said that there were some specialties for which the government never tried to recruit people due to which patients had to travel to other provinces.
“The implementation of MTIRA has been proving a blessing in disguise. After two months, all specialties would be made available in LRH,” they added.
Sources said that overseas Pakistani doctors always expressed willingness to work in their own areas but they didn’t have chance to do so. Dr Tahir Shah, a trauma specialist working in Saudi Arabia, has been made a member of BoG at LRH. He is working to develop trauma services for the province.
“All the 10 members of the BoG have been working on voluntary basis to upgrade facilities for the local people,” they said.
Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1245573/overseas-pakistani-doctors-willing-to-join-lrh
Govt urged to develop Hangu’s Samana area into a tourist resort
KOHAT: If one travels to Hangu and does not visit the scenic Samana hilly area the tour will be incomplete. Located at 6,300 feet above the sea level, Samana is at three hours journey from Kohat in the west.
Constructions were made in the serene valley in 1891 after the British went there to subdue the Orakzai tribe. It has beautiful rest houses and trees of wild apple and walnut. They rest houses include the Orakzai House, also known as Governor’s Cottage, and that of the communication and works department, while the army has also constructed some rooms there.
The road which goes uphill the Samana is steep, narrow and dangerous and needs expert drivers to reach the spot.
There the Fort Lockhart and the monument of 21 Sikh soldiers who died while fighting are worth seeing.
The serene hill station is located at 6,300 feet above the sea level
The fort was constructed in 1891 after the conclusion of the Miranzai expedition by General Sir William Lockhart, commander of Kohat Garrison. The fort was basically built as a military outpost to humble the formidable Orakzai tribes who did not want to submit to the British Empire.
“When we came out of the rest house after a chilly night in the summer we found ourselves surrounded in the clouds. We passed through them as we strolled in the area,” said Musaddiq Mansoor. The people there are friendly, but backward still living in old ages.
The temperature during summer at Samana remains between 9 and 15 degree Celsius, but it has not been turned into a hilly resort. The visitors have demanded of the government to develop Samana into a tourist res
http://www.dawn.com/news/1245571/govt-urged-to-develop-hangus-samana-area-into-a-tourist-resort
PESHAWAR: The city police on Thursday issued the standard operating procedure for the security of local bus terminals and stands.
The development comes in the wake of the bombing of a government employees’ bus on Sunehri Masjid Road in the limits of Peshawar cantonment, which killed 14 people and injured 55 others.
A meeting between bus stand owners and managements and Peshawar Senior Superintendent of Police (operations) Abbas Majeed Marwat took place in the day.
During the meeting, bus stand owners were told to follow the police’s instructions to ensure the security of buses and passengers.
Drivers to check commuters; won’t stop buses on the way to destinations
The SSP later told Dawn that under the SOP, drivers and conductors would be bound to physically search all passengers before allowing them to enter public transport vehicles.
He said the luggage of the passengers, including the handheld one, would also be thoroughly checked.
Mr. Marwat said for the cargo going on public transport and other vehicles, the bus stand administrations would have to ensure that they have the copies of the identity cards of those sending the consignment along with their names and latest addresses.
He said drivers would not be allowed to stop buses midway once they left their respective bus stations.
The SSP said besides proper physical checking of all passengers, the bus stand operators would have metal detectors as well.
He said in case suspicious items were found on public transport vehicles, driver and conductor would make an announcement about that to ensure it was properly checked.
Mr. Marwat said the drivers would also ensure the video recording of all passengers before buses left for their destinations and would keep the video records with them for at least a week.
He said drivers and conductors would thoroughly search buses once passengers got off to ensure that nothing is left there.
About the investigation into the bus bombing, Mr. Marwat said the police were probing the terrorist attack from various angles and had questioned the driver of the bus.
He said initial investigations had revealed that the coach was left unattended during the night when it was parked at a petrol pump in Dargai and thus, apparently providing an opportunity to terrorists to plant the explosive device in it.
The SSP said both bus conductors identified as Muzzamil and Kashif were seriously wounded and therefore, the police would record their statements once doctors allowed them to speak.
SP cantonment circle Kashif Zulfiqar told Dawn that the formulation of SOP had become necessary in the aftermath of the attack on the government employees’ bus and that was why, the police held a meeting with transporters to make a strategy for the protection of public transport vehicles and their passengers.
He said the city police’s high-ups would sit down with drivers and owners of the buses used by government employees shuttling between Peshawar and other districts to chalk out a strategy to prevent the Wednesday like incidents.
Fayyaz Ali, a government employee at the Civil Secretariat, who had gotten off the attacked bus near Peshawar Central Prison minutes before the bomb went off, told Dawn that several commuters stepped off the bus near Haji Camp, Firdous Chowk and Peshawar High Court.
He however said many people got onto the bus at those places.
He said as the government employees couldn’t afford to discontinue the arrangement altogether due to high cost of travelling, they would sit down and try to devise a strategy for safer commuting.
“We can’t carry on like this and need to follow some security protocols,” he said, adding that such government employees will try to ensure that someone not known to them is not allowed to board their buses.
The employee said he and other commuters won’t allow drivers to stop buses in the limits of the provincial capital.
Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2016
KP govt announces tourism policy
PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the first province to launch its tourism policy after devolution of powers under the 18th Amendment.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Policy launched at the scenic and highest point of Galyaat called Changagali on Wednesday encourages public-private partnership and commercialisation of government-run tourist facilities like rest-houses, promotion of tourist resorts and exploring new tourist destinations across the province.
A press release issued by the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa here on Wednesday, said PTI chairman Imran Khan, foreign diplomats, ambassadors and other officials were present at the launch of the tourism policy. The tourism department also took pride in the fact that in just a year the department had achieved target of ‘generating Rs50 billion’ revenue in tourism sector.
Imran Khan, who congratulated the tourism department for formulating the tourism policy, also announced that the government would make Balahisar Fort in Peshawar a centre for tourism. He said better hotels and facilities for tourists were included in the master plan of the provincial government.
He said the provincial government would commercialise 400 public sector rest houses, besides exploring new tourist destinations. I would also like to commercialise the Chief Minister House too, he maintained.
Imran Khan said all the political parties should join hands to bring peace to the tribal areas. If Fata is included in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it would open new doors to tourist destinations and wealth of natural resources of Fata. The provincial government would develop tribal areas as tourist destination if given an opportunity in future, he promised.
The PTI chief also talked of a master plan for the Peshawar city, and said Rs100 million had been allocated to run a plantation campaign in the provincial capital.
Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246238/kp-govt-announces-tourism-policy
Work on $102m canal extension project to start soon
SWABI: Work on Pehur High Level Canal (PHLC) extension project will start soon as all arrangements have been finalised for it, according to sources.
They said that $102 million would be spent on the project to bring ‘green revolution’ not only in the district but in the entire province. The earlier cost of the project was low but it reached $102 million owing to delay in commencing work on it.
Sources said that a detailed briefing was held about the project three days ago in Peshawar that was attended by consultant and other officials concerned. They said that the project would be completed within 66 months, two and half year, after the 2018 general elections.
They said that the project would make the province self-sufficient in food. The project is being financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) while the share of provincial government is small. A main office of the consultant would be established in Gohati area to oversee all construction activities of the project. Sources said that a total of 222,794 kanals arid land would be irrigated with the completion of the project. Perhaps no infertile land would remain without irrigation in the district, they added.
Sources said that various areas of Chota Lahor, Adina, Shahmansoor, Gaju Khan Desert, Panjpir and Dagai of the district would be irrigated after the completion of the project.
Soon after the 2013 general elections when PTI-led provincial government was established and QWP was its coalition partner, Sikandar Sherpao, who was then senior minister, had announced the project at a function in Chota Lahor.
However, the project was put in cold storage when QWP and PTI parted ways. After rejoining of provincial government by QWP and its only MPA from the district Abdul Karim became adviser to chief minister. Mr Krim played vital role in finalisation of the project.
Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1245993/work-on-102m-canal-extension-project-to-start-soon
Discretionary funds of CM to be cut
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Commission on Monday decided to slash discretionary share of the chief minister and finance minister in the district development funds.
The decision was made during a meeting of the PFC here with finance minister Muzaffar Said in chair.
A statement issued here said the meeting decided that the chief minister’s discretionary quota in the district development funds would be reduced to two per cent from the existing 10 per cent and the finance minister’s to one per cent from five per cent.
The decision will be implemented in the next financial year after the chief minister approves it.
The commission also approved the distribution of this year’s district development funds to local governments in line with the current PFC formula to ensure that the process of development is not hampered.
In future, 50 per cent of the district development funds will be given out to the districts on the basis of population, 25 per cent on poverty, 20 percent on weak infrastructure and five on the basis of local revenue.
Currently, 60 per cent of such funds are distributed on the basis of population and 20 per cent each on backwardness and weak infrastructure.
After the chief minister’s approval, the districts will receive a total of Rs30.27 billion funds, including Rs13.1 billion each for village and neighborhood councils and Rs8.55 billion each for tehsil and district councils.
Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1245796/discretionary-funds-of-cm-to-be-cut
KP govt fails to buy land for garbage dumping site
PESHAWAR: The provincial government has failed to purchase land for a dumping site to scientifically dispose of over 800 tonnes garbage, daily collected from urban areas of the provincial capital.
Sources said that an amount of Rs174.28 million was allocated for the purpose in the Annual Development Programme for the fiscal year 2014-15. “As successive provincial governments have never bothered to arrange land for the proper dumping of the garbage, the Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar has been throwing it in the area adjacent to provincial capital, having negative impacts on environment,” they added.
Talking to Dawn, officials in WSSP and district administration held each other responsible for delay in purchase of land in Maryamzai area, located on Kohat Road, and subsequent establishment of the dumping site there.
“All ponds of the non-functional water waste treatment plant established over 100-kanal more than two decades on Ring Road near Gulbahar area have been filled with the garbage,” said an official of WSSP said.
District administration and Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar hold each other responsible for delay
He said that it seemed that a city of garbage had been established there as thousands of crows were visiting the site on daily basis in search of food.
Sources said that as all the ponds and the land around those had been filled during the last two years. “Now WSSP is using heavy machinery to press the dumped garbage and create space for more waste,” they said.
Officials said that normally garbage should be dumped 12 kilometres away from the populated area to ward off its negative impacts but currently WSSP was throwing it near the city.
Taimur Ahmed Shah, the WSSP manager of communication and media, when contacted, said that WSSP had identified a 536-kanal piece of land in Maryamzai area for establishment of dumping site. However, the land couldn’t be bought owing to the slow process of fund release by the finance department and not acquiring the land by the district administration, he added.
Sources said that WSSP also flouted tenders for awarding contract of environmental impact assessment of the land in Maryamzai area. Several firms have applied for conducting the assessment but it couldn’t be launched as the land has not acquired so far.
Deputy Commissioner Riaz Khan Mehsud, when contacted, said that district administration imposed Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act on the identified land which was the first step for land purchase by the government.
“My staff has also calculated average yearly rate of the identified land and sent the demand for the required amount to WSSP,” he said.
The deputy commissioner said that WSSP was yet to release amount to the district administration to pay to the owners of the land. The acquiring of land was not possible for the district administration without release of fund to it by WSSP, he added. The deputy commissioner said that two reminders were also issued to WSSP for release of fund but in vain. “Acquiring land is not pending on our part,” he added.
An environmentalist said that throwing garbage near the city was hazardous for the population. “WSSP has not been dumping the garbage rather it is throwing it because dumping means covering the garbage with mud and spraying insecticides on it to eliminate breading site of mosquitoes, which causes several diseases,” he added.
The expert said that sheet of special plastic should be laid on the ground prior to dumping of the garbage to stop waste leakage otherwise it would contaminate the ground water after few years. “Unfortunately, such measures were not taken when garbage dumping was started near the city,” he added.
Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2016
Overseas Pakistani doctors willing to join LRH
PESHAWAR: Scores of highly qualified specialists from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, working abroad, are likely to join Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar within a month, according to officials.
“More than 50 doctors currently based in Europe and the United States have shown interest to work in the province’s biggest hospital,” Prof Nausherwan Barki, chairman Board of Governors, LRH told Dawn.
He said that they had advertised several vacant posts of consultants in national newspapers and international medical journals such as British Medical Journal and The Lancet that received overwhelming response from the doctors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, working abroad.
These doctors have been working in institutions of high repute in UK, the US and other countries but they want to serve their own people due to which they have applied for the vacant positions.
Official says scores of highly qualified specialists working abroad want to serve their own people
LRH is well ahead of the other three institutions as far as the enforcement of Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act, 2015 is concerned as its administration is going to appoint people on key positions unlike the other institutions which are yet to take tangible steps.
Dr Barki said the process of wide-range recruitments at the hospital was in progress after which people would find all specialties and diagnostic services under the same roof.
“The Pakistani doctors, who have applied for jobs at LRH, could also be posted at Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar and Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad, the other MTI-covered hospitals to improve patients’ care,” he said.
According to him, the LRH Pharmacy will become operational later this month after which all the hospitalised patients will receive free medicines. “A new 40-line telephone exchange has been installed. About 90 new nurses have been appointed to strengthen patients’ care,” said Dr Barki.
He said that computerisation of LRH was in progress. “There will be a foolproof security system that will not allow entry of unwanted people to the hospital. Wards are being connected to a centralised system,” he said.
Sources at LRH said that about 400 doctors, including those from other provinces, had applied for different positions. Some two months ago, the BoG of LRH asked heads of various departments to inform it about the vacant posts that could be filled, they said.
The BoG was informed about the shortage of posts of consultants in neuro-surgery, orthopaedics, children, ophthalmology, paeds and plastic surgery, cardiology and cardiac surgery, medicines, surgery, ear nose and throat (ENT) and gynecology, they said.
Sources said that there were some specialties for which the government never tried to recruit people due to which patients had to travel to other provinces.
“The implementation of MTIRA has been proving a blessing in disguise. After two months, all specialties would be made available in LRH,” they added.
Sources said that overseas Pakistani doctors always expressed willingness to work in their own areas but they didn’t have chance to do so. Dr Tahir Shah, a trauma specialist working in Saudi Arabia, has been made a member of BoG at LRH. He is working to develop trauma services for the province.
“All the 10 members of the BoG have been working on voluntary basis to upgrade facilities for the local people,” they said.
Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1245573/overseas-pakistani-doctors-willing-to-join-lrh
Govt urged to develop Hangu’s Samana area into a tourist resort
KOHAT: If one travels to Hangu and does not visit the scenic Samana hilly area the tour will be incomplete. Located at 6,300 feet above the sea level, Samana is at three hours journey from Kohat in the west.
Constructions were made in the serene valley in 1891 after the British went there to subdue the Orakzai tribe. It has beautiful rest houses and trees of wild apple and walnut. They rest houses include the Orakzai House, also known as Governor’s Cottage, and that of the communication and works department, while the army has also constructed some rooms there.
The road which goes uphill the Samana is steep, narrow and dangerous and needs expert drivers to reach the spot.
There the Fort Lockhart and the monument of 21 Sikh soldiers who died while fighting are worth seeing.
The serene hill station is located at 6,300 feet above the sea level
The fort was constructed in 1891 after the conclusion of the Miranzai expedition by General Sir William Lockhart, commander of Kohat Garrison. The fort was basically built as a military outpost to humble the formidable Orakzai tribes who did not want to submit to the British Empire.
“When we came out of the rest house after a chilly night in the summer we found ourselves surrounded in the clouds. We passed through them as we strolled in the area,” said Musaddiq Mansoor. The people there are friendly, but backward still living in old ages.
The temperature during summer at Samana remains between 9 and 15 degree Celsius, but it has not been turned into a hilly resort. The visitors have demanded of the government to develop Samana into a tourist res
http://www.dawn.com/news/1245571/govt-urged-to-develop-hangus-samana-area-into-a-tourist-resort
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
19 March 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
20 MARCH 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
21 MARCH 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
22 MARCH 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
23 MARCH 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
[h=1]Hattar Economic Zone: Landowners oppose acquisition of agricultural land for HEZ
[/h]HARIPUR: Landowners of various villages in Khanpur opposed the government’s plan to acquire their agricultural land for Phase VII of Hattar Economic Zone (HEZ). They threatened to resist the decision at every cost.
Talking to media outside the office of Haripur Deputy Commissioner Tasleem Khan on Tuesday, Malik Asif, Malik Zahid, Mushtaq and others said the provincial government imposed Section 4 of Land Acquisition Act, 1969 in Hattar, Chak Muneem, Bandi Muneem, Bandi Gulu and Islam Pur villages. Through this, the government barred all purchase and sale of land in these areas.
Landowners protested outside Tasleem’s office, demanding the cancellation and withdrawal of the recently imposed act. The DC assured them the matter will be taken up with the provincial government.
Hattar Economic Zone part of new chapter in economic development: CM
Bone of contention
According to the plan, the government will acquire 1,000 acres of land from these five villages for Phase VII of HEZ. The landowners said their livelihood depended on that land and they were unwilling to give it up.
The government had already acquired thousands of acres of land from neighbouring villages since the early eighties till the last few years, depriving them of their sources of income, said the landowners. They said the new acquisition will have negative implications on their economic conditions.
“The existing industrial units of HEZ for which our ancestors sacrificed their lands have not given us any reward; they polluted the environment with hazardous emissions, exposing people and the ecology of the area to various kinds of harm,” Mushtaq said. He was pointing towards dust and waste discharge from a cement plant of a known manufacturing firm in Hattar. He said when the government acquired land for HEZ, formerly known as Hattar Industrial Estate, it made tall promises to change the socio-economic conditions of locals but those were never fulfilled.
Talking to the media, Zahid said, “Now the government is out to steal our precious agricultural land where we grow crops not only to fulfill our own food requirement but also sell surplus grains to make a living.” He added the government must acquire arid land for this purpose because given the pace of land acquisition, the region will soon face food shortages.
“We will start depending on imports if this continues,” said Zahid. He added villagers will resist the decision of the government and continue to protest until Section 4 of Land Acquisition Act, 1969 is withdrawn.
When contacted, the Haripur DC was not available for comments. However, one of his colleagues dealing with land acquisition confirmed the imposition of section 4 in five villages in Khanpur.
The aims
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa launched K-P Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KPEZDMC) in 2015 in order to accelerate industrialisation along the route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The government has already acquired 424 acres of land at the cost of Rs379 million to develop Phase VII of HEZ while another 1,000 acres of land was in the process of being acquired.
During the inauguration of HEZ on December 15, 2015, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak told participants the provincial government, through KPEZDMC, was offering a one-window operation facility to investors – from plot purchasing to getting access to utilities like gas and electricity.
Urging both foreign and local investors to set up industries at HEZ, the CM said the government was going to offer them 5% discount on their capital mark up, 25% discount on land purchase process and a five-year income tax holiday for industries established before September 2018. He said the new industrial policy will help the provincial government create 2 million new job opportunities.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23[SUP]rd[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1070761...ose-acquisition-of-agricultural-land-for-hez/
[h=1]A story of old: Raja Gira fort, in the crosshairs of time, neglect
[/h]MINGORA: This is the same story as the last story on ancient sites in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa – words like “indifference” and “natural weathering” will be bandied about to explain why a “glorious” structure is “crumbling”. The story is possibly as old as Raja Gira fort, which is estimated to have been constructed somewhere between 870 CE to 1000 CE. Rulers of the land neglect to value their past, allowing decay to eat away at ancient history.
The fort is said to belong to the last Buddhist ruler, Raja Gira. It is located on the peak of Odigram, 15 kilometres from Mingora city. “The structure has been marked as one of the world’s oldest places ruled by the Hindu Shahi Raj, the greater Hindus,” archaeologist Niaz Ali Shah told The Express Tribune.
Even though the fort is proof of a time and people who once ruled the region, the government of Pakistan and provincial archaeology department have not made any efforts to rehabilitate or protect it. The fort’s walls, once grand, are now pockmarked after having weathered several natural disasters over time. There is no saying if the structure would collapse as no work has been done to evaluate its condition.
However, despite its crumbling walls, the fort still attracts tourists eager to know the history crystallised in its bricks. If a rundown structure can attract tourists, then its restored state would generate revenue. Is that incentive enough for the authorities to invest in the fort? Possibly, since according to Minister for Sports and Culture Mehmood Khan, the government has started efforts to rehabilitate the fort.
The battle for the fort
It has been around 1,100 years since Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi waged war to conquer the mountainous region. The water supply from Swat River was suspended to Raja Gira fort and later the Buddhist ruler, Raja Gira, was defeated and his fort seized. Ghaznavi also constructed a mosque in the area – it still stands; said to be the third oldest mosque in the world.
The fort, however, was discovered by an Italian mission in 1956 and taken over by the government. The 447-canal land claimed by the fort was excavated by Georgia Gullini. The entire process took from 1956 to 1962, after which Gullini explored the fort, Ali said. “The place has geographical importance, it gives a panoramic view of Swat.”
Muhammad Asad, a local, told The Express Tribune there was no route to reach the fort, yet those who wanted to see it took the pains to reach the site.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23[SUP]rd[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1070759/a-story-of-old-raja-gira-fort-in-the-crosshairs-of-time-neglect/
[h=1]Mass wedding: Over 45 couples get hitched
[/h]PESHAWAR: The provincial government sponsored the wedding of 45 couples and arranged a collective ceremony on Tuesday at the Chief Minister House. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan was the chief guest on the occasion. Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, other PTI members and over 500 people participated in the programme, organised by K-P Directorate of Culture.
While addressing the participants, the PTI chief said K-P was an example for other provinces in Pakistan. “We will continue to hold community weddings and sponsor marriages, for over 150 other couples in future,” he said.
While dividing the task, Imran said Khattak will sponsor weddings of over 100 couples while he would sponsor weddings of over 50 couples.
“K-P is one of the provinces most affected by terrorism and the PTI government is trying to bring real change.” He said his government would continue to support the poor people of his province and help utilise all funds available for the welfare of people.
Imran congratulated the newly married couples and prayed for their happiness. He also distributed a grant of Rs0.2 million among the couples.
While talking to the media, Special Assistant to CM for Information and Higher Education Mushtaq Ghani said the government has sponsored the wedding of 50 couples from low-income backgrounds. They belonged to Malakand, Mardan, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swat and Abbottabad. Many couples were adherents of religions other than Islam and belonged to different cultural backgrounds.
Though the couples had already been engaged, they could not afford wedding ceremonies because of financial constraints. The couples were pleased and thanked Imran and Khattak for arranging the event.
Walk down the memory lane
Earlier, Imran said he spent his life doing social work. He spent four years collecting money to construct Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre. “I collected Rs10 million in two and a half years. However, in the last phase, I collected Rs700 million by raising awareness about the project on television,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23[SUP]rd[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1070610/mass-wedding-over-45-couples-get-hitched/#
[h=1]None for the team: Parents of over 12,000 children refuse polio vaccination [/h]
PESHAWAR: Parents of over 12,000 children refused to support the recent immunisation campaign against poliovirus in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and stopped their children from getting inoculated.
A majority of the refusal cases surfaced in the provincial capital after officials dealing with polio eradication campaigns said parents of 5,740 children stopped polio workers from administering drops to their children.
The officials stated 2,316 children could not be inoculated against the crippling virus in Bannu as their parents refused polio teams in the district. They added 1,175 children could not be reached for the same reason in Lakki Marwat.
“Around 870 children were kept out of reach of polio workers in Charsadda, 590 children in Nowshera, 558 in Tank, 375 in Karak, 284 in DI Khan, 189 in Mardan, 59 in Mansehra, 46 in Kohat, 31 in Haripur, 29 in Hangu and parents of some 15 children refused administering drops to their children in Abbottabad,” an official informed The Express Tribune.
However, he said follow-up campaigns are being conduct to inoculate children whose parents had refused the polio teams.
“Teams, that include locals, will try to persuade the parents,” the official said. “However, if they continue to resist, the district administration will take action against them.”
The national immunisation drive began on March 14. The aim was to inoculate around 5,586,250 children during the campaign.
However, the campaign was not carried out in Swabi due to security concerns. In addition, children in at least 10 union councils in Chitral were also not immunised due to snowfall. Plans for a campaign to be held in Swabi are in the pipeline.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016.
Read more: Polio vaccination
[h=1]
[/h]
[/h]HARIPUR: Landowners of various villages in Khanpur opposed the government’s plan to acquire their agricultural land for Phase VII of Hattar Economic Zone (HEZ). They threatened to resist the decision at every cost.
Talking to media outside the office of Haripur Deputy Commissioner Tasleem Khan on Tuesday, Malik Asif, Malik Zahid, Mushtaq and others said the provincial government imposed Section 4 of Land Acquisition Act, 1969 in Hattar, Chak Muneem, Bandi Muneem, Bandi Gulu and Islam Pur villages. Through this, the government barred all purchase and sale of land in these areas.
Landowners protested outside Tasleem’s office, demanding the cancellation and withdrawal of the recently imposed act. The DC assured them the matter will be taken up with the provincial government.
Hattar Economic Zone part of new chapter in economic development: CM
Bone of contention
According to the plan, the government will acquire 1,000 acres of land from these five villages for Phase VII of HEZ. The landowners said their livelihood depended on that land and they were unwilling to give it up.
The government had already acquired thousands of acres of land from neighbouring villages since the early eighties till the last few years, depriving them of their sources of income, said the landowners. They said the new acquisition will have negative implications on their economic conditions.
“The existing industrial units of HEZ for which our ancestors sacrificed their lands have not given us any reward; they polluted the environment with hazardous emissions, exposing people and the ecology of the area to various kinds of harm,” Mushtaq said. He was pointing towards dust and waste discharge from a cement plant of a known manufacturing firm in Hattar. He said when the government acquired land for HEZ, formerly known as Hattar Industrial Estate, it made tall promises to change the socio-economic conditions of locals but those were never fulfilled.
Talking to the media, Zahid said, “Now the government is out to steal our precious agricultural land where we grow crops not only to fulfill our own food requirement but also sell surplus grains to make a living.” He added the government must acquire arid land for this purpose because given the pace of land acquisition, the region will soon face food shortages.
“We will start depending on imports if this continues,” said Zahid. He added villagers will resist the decision of the government and continue to protest until Section 4 of Land Acquisition Act, 1969 is withdrawn.
When contacted, the Haripur DC was not available for comments. However, one of his colleagues dealing with land acquisition confirmed the imposition of section 4 in five villages in Khanpur.
The aims
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa launched K-P Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KPEZDMC) in 2015 in order to accelerate industrialisation along the route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The government has already acquired 424 acres of land at the cost of Rs379 million to develop Phase VII of HEZ while another 1,000 acres of land was in the process of being acquired.
During the inauguration of HEZ on December 15, 2015, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak told participants the provincial government, through KPEZDMC, was offering a one-window operation facility to investors – from plot purchasing to getting access to utilities like gas and electricity.
Urging both foreign and local investors to set up industries at HEZ, the CM said the government was going to offer them 5% discount on their capital mark up, 25% discount on land purchase process and a five-year income tax holiday for industries established before September 2018. He said the new industrial policy will help the provincial government create 2 million new job opportunities.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23[SUP]rd[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1070761...ose-acquisition-of-agricultural-land-for-hez/
[h=1]A story of old: Raja Gira fort, in the crosshairs of time, neglect
[/h]MINGORA: This is the same story as the last story on ancient sites in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa – words like “indifference” and “natural weathering” will be bandied about to explain why a “glorious” structure is “crumbling”. The story is possibly as old as Raja Gira fort, which is estimated to have been constructed somewhere between 870 CE to 1000 CE. Rulers of the land neglect to value their past, allowing decay to eat away at ancient history.
The fort is said to belong to the last Buddhist ruler, Raja Gira. It is located on the peak of Odigram, 15 kilometres from Mingora city. “The structure has been marked as one of the world’s oldest places ruled by the Hindu Shahi Raj, the greater Hindus,” archaeologist Niaz Ali Shah told The Express Tribune.
Even though the fort is proof of a time and people who once ruled the region, the government of Pakistan and provincial archaeology department have not made any efforts to rehabilitate or protect it. The fort’s walls, once grand, are now pockmarked after having weathered several natural disasters over time. There is no saying if the structure would collapse as no work has been done to evaluate its condition.
However, despite its crumbling walls, the fort still attracts tourists eager to know the history crystallised in its bricks. If a rundown structure can attract tourists, then its restored state would generate revenue. Is that incentive enough for the authorities to invest in the fort? Possibly, since according to Minister for Sports and Culture Mehmood Khan, the government has started efforts to rehabilitate the fort.
The battle for the fort
It has been around 1,100 years since Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi waged war to conquer the mountainous region. The water supply from Swat River was suspended to Raja Gira fort and later the Buddhist ruler, Raja Gira, was defeated and his fort seized. Ghaznavi also constructed a mosque in the area – it still stands; said to be the third oldest mosque in the world.
The fort, however, was discovered by an Italian mission in 1956 and taken over by the government. The 447-canal land claimed by the fort was excavated by Georgia Gullini. The entire process took from 1956 to 1962, after which Gullini explored the fort, Ali said. “The place has geographical importance, it gives a panoramic view of Swat.”
Muhammad Asad, a local, told The Express Tribune there was no route to reach the fort, yet those who wanted to see it took the pains to reach the site.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23[SUP]rd[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1070759/a-story-of-old-raja-gira-fort-in-the-crosshairs-of-time-neglect/
[h=1]Mass wedding: Over 45 couples get hitched
[/h]PESHAWAR: The provincial government sponsored the wedding of 45 couples and arranged a collective ceremony on Tuesday at the Chief Minister House. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan was the chief guest on the occasion. Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, other PTI members and over 500 people participated in the programme, organised by K-P Directorate of Culture.
While addressing the participants, the PTI chief said K-P was an example for other provinces in Pakistan. “We will continue to hold community weddings and sponsor marriages, for over 150 other couples in future,” he said.
While dividing the task, Imran said Khattak will sponsor weddings of over 100 couples while he would sponsor weddings of over 50 couples.
“K-P is one of the provinces most affected by terrorism and the PTI government is trying to bring real change.” He said his government would continue to support the poor people of his province and help utilise all funds available for the welfare of people.
Imran congratulated the newly married couples and prayed for their happiness. He also distributed a grant of Rs0.2 million among the couples.
While talking to the media, Special Assistant to CM for Information and Higher Education Mushtaq Ghani said the government has sponsored the wedding of 50 couples from low-income backgrounds. They belonged to Malakand, Mardan, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swat and Abbottabad. Many couples were adherents of religions other than Islam and belonged to different cultural backgrounds.
Though the couples had already been engaged, they could not afford wedding ceremonies because of financial constraints. The couples were pleased and thanked Imran and Khattak for arranging the event.
Walk down the memory lane
Earlier, Imran said he spent his life doing social work. He spent four years collecting money to construct Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre. “I collected Rs10 million in two and a half years. However, in the last phase, I collected Rs700 million by raising awareness about the project on television,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23[SUP]rd[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1070610/mass-wedding-over-45-couples-get-hitched/#
[h=1]None for the team: Parents of over 12,000 children refuse polio vaccination [/h]
PESHAWAR: Parents of over 12,000 children refused to support the recent immunisation campaign against poliovirus in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and stopped their children from getting inoculated.
A majority of the refusal cases surfaced in the provincial capital after officials dealing with polio eradication campaigns said parents of 5,740 children stopped polio workers from administering drops to their children.
The officials stated 2,316 children could not be inoculated against the crippling virus in Bannu as their parents refused polio teams in the district. They added 1,175 children could not be reached for the same reason in Lakki Marwat.
“Around 870 children were kept out of reach of polio workers in Charsadda, 590 children in Nowshera, 558 in Tank, 375 in Karak, 284 in DI Khan, 189 in Mardan, 59 in Mansehra, 46 in Kohat, 31 in Haripur, 29 in Hangu and parents of some 15 children refused administering drops to their children in Abbottabad,” an official informed The Express Tribune.
However, he said follow-up campaigns are being conduct to inoculate children whose parents had refused the polio teams.
“Teams, that include locals, will try to persuade the parents,” the official said. “However, if they continue to resist, the district administration will take action against them.”
The national immunisation drive began on March 14. The aim was to inoculate around 5,586,250 children during the campaign.
However, the campaign was not carried out in Swabi due to security concerns. In addition, children in at least 10 union councils in Chitral were also not immunised due to snowfall. Plans for a campaign to be held in Swabi are in the pipeline.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016.
Read more: Polio vaccination
[h=1]
[/h]
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
[h=1]Opposition lawmakers paint bleak picture of KP situation
[/h]PESHAWAR: The members of opposition benches in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday painted a bleak picture of situation in the province, saying unprecedented increase was witnessed in the incidents of extortion, targeted killing and kidnapping for ransom besides resurgence of bomb blasts.
“No one can imagine foreign investment in such a precarious law and order situation rather the local businessmen have been leaving Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for other parts of the country due to repeated threats from extortionists and target killers,” the lawmakers said.
They said that provincial government was not serious in protecting people as only a few members were sitting on the treasury benches during the debate on the law and order situation.
Discussion on law and order was the sole item on the agenda of the house but most of the lawmakers from the treasury benches and advisers and special assistants to chief minister, parliamentary secretaries and ministers didn’t participate in the debate.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1247439/opposition-lawmakers-paint-bleak-picture-of-kp-situation
[h=1]Ex-CM’s special assistant gets bail in illegal assets case
[/h] PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday granted bail to a former special assistant to an ex-chief minister, Syed Masoom Shah, arrested by the National Accountability Bureau on the charge of possessing illegal assets.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Mohammad Younas Taheem placed ban on his travelling abroad until he made the promised payment of Rs258.75 million in return of the acceptance of his plea bargain by the NAB, and directed the government to place his name on Exit Control List (ECL).
It allowed two petitions, one filed by the accused, Syed Masoom Shah, and another by the NAB chairman, both challenging an order of the accountability court of Feb 18 whereby an application of the NAB for giving final approval to the plea bargain of the accused was rejected.
The bench set aside the said order of the accountability court and referred the case back to accountability court for deciding the plea bargain application afresh.
[h=4]PHC asks government to place Masoom Shah’s name on ECL[/h]
While allowing bail to Syed Masoom Shah, who was special assistant to the then Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti and was arrested by NAB on Aug 1, 2015, the court directed him to furnish two sureties of Rs5 million each.
The plea bargain of Masoom Shah was accepted by the NAB chairman but the accountability judge Mohammad Ibrahim Khan had rejected the NAB’s application for giving final approval to the said plea bargain.
The accountability court had also directed the NAB to complete investigation against the petitioner and file a reference against him for possessing illegal assets within fortnight. The said court had further ordered freezing of an amount of Rs258.75 million, which the accused had offered as settlement amount to NAB on account of plea bargain, with the direction to the NAB authorities to investigate whether the said money was acquired through legal or illegitimate means.
Barrister Zahoorul Haq and Barrister Waqar Ahmad appeared for the petitioner Masoom Shah and said the accused had first submitted an application for voluntary return, which was rejected by the NAB and subsequently he gave application for entering into a plea bargain with the bureau.
They said the NAB’s executive board had given approval for the plea bargain in Dec 2015 following which the case was referred to accountability court for final approval.
Barrister Zahoor pointed out that the accountability court first returned the application raising certain technical points and when those shortcomings were removed and application was submitted to the court it was again returned and termed incomplete. Finally, he stated when the application was submitted for the third time the court raised several queries which were answered by the petitioner and NAB but still the application was rejected.
Barrister Zahoor argued that the court had raised questions whether tax was paid on an amount of Rs120 million which the petitioner had obtained as loan for payment in plea bargain, despite the fact that it not the domain of the court rather it was the jurisdiction of FBR.
He contended that after acceptance of plea bargain by the NAB the only responsibility of the court was to ascertain whether the amount of plea bargain was completely paid or not.
Barrister Zahoorul Haq contended that the option of plea bargain was a matter purely between the NAB and the accused and the acceptance of the accused’s plea bargain was a sole discretion of the NAB chairman and therefore, once it was accepted by the NAB authorities, its rejection by the court amounted to denial of fair trial as ordained by Article 10-A of the Constitution.
NAB deputy prosecutor general Jamil Khan argued that plea bargain was between an accused and the NAB and once it was approved by the NAB chairman the court had no authority to reject it.
Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1247430/ex-cms-special-assistant-gets-bail-in-illegal-assets-case
[/h][h=1]Transvestites block road against ‘police violence’
[/h]PESHAWAR: Scores of transvestites belonging to different areas of the province on Monday demonstrated in the capital city against the Haripur police for violence against them.
The protesters demanded that the provincial government, especially provincial police chief Nasir Khan Durrani, ensure strict action against the Ghazi police station SHO and personnel over the violence.
The protesters marched on the Sher Shah Soori Road, blocked Khyber Road near the provincial assembly’s building, and gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club, suspending traffic for around two hours.
Chahat, a representative of the Shemale Association, told reporters that the police baton-charged transvestites and disrupted a function in Ghazi Barotha when they’re celebrating the birthday of a community member.
“We had sought permission from the relevant district police officer for the birthday function, booked a hotel, and issued invitation cards to hundreds of our guests. We spent at least Rs0.5 million for the function but all that went to waste,” she said.
The transvestite said the police took away Rs1.5 million cash, which was collected for dancers during the function.
He said the police also snatched cellphones and jewellery of transvestites.
“The police have made our lives extremely miserable across the province. We cannot even move freely due to the unnecessary interference of the policemen. The provincial government, especially the ruling PTI’s chairman, Imran Khan, should take notice of the injustice against us and award punishment to the culpable policemen,” he said.
The transvestites opened the road to the traffic after the police assured them of action against the officials involved in violence.
They also said transvestites would get back the seized cash and cellphones.
The transvestites demanded protection as well as a community hall for them to hold functions for livelihood.
They warned they would agitate if the demands weren’t met.
Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1247246/transvestites-block-road-against-police-violence
[h=1]100,000 saplings planted in Peshawar
[/h]PESHAWAR: About 100,000 saplings were planted by the youth during a plantation drive entitled ‘one tree, one life’ inaugurated by PTI chairman Imran Khan in Regi Model Township here on Monday.
One student would be planting one sapling under the initiative, said Imran Khan. He said that it was a great initiative of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and it should be implemented by the federal government in the entire country.
Mr Khan said that planting and growing more trees would bring a better environmental impact in the country. He said that it was alarming that Pakistan was ranked 8th in the global warming index. Planting trees could help to solve the issue, he added.
“Pakistan can become a desert if we don’t plant trees. We need to make a green Pakistan for our children,” said the PTI chief.
[h=4]Imran inaugurates ‘one tree, one life’ drive in Regi Model Township[/h]
Officials of forest department said on the occasion that by Dec 2017, the province would achieve the target of planting one billion saplings. The forest department would plant 160 million saplings by the end of the year and thus the number of planted trees would reach 500 million by the year’s end in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, they said.
Adviser to Chief Minister on Environment Ishtiaq Urmer said that daily 700,000 saplings were being planted and so far 110,000 saplings were planted in that one location, which looked like a record in the history of the country.
Students of various schools participated in the plantation drive.
Meanwhile, the volunteers, who had been painting walls starting from Hayatabad, successfully concluded the first phase of “Rang De Peshawar” beautification initiative by making colourful designs on the walls near Board Bazaar.
Youth including university girls and boys had been painting colourful slogans, designs and images on walls under ‘Rang De Peshawar’ drive, launched about two weeks ago.
The young artists had caught attention of the people and motorists passing by but failed to get attention of Imran Khan, who was supposed to come to the concluding phase of the drive at University Road near Board Bazaar.
Imran Khan did not stop by on his way back from the plantation campaign in Regi Model Township, according to the officials, due to security reasons.
However, girls and boys, who had been facing a bit of harassment, did not mind what was going on around them as they kept doing their amazing colourful work passionately as the convoy of the PTI chairman passed by.
The students kept painting the walls as the cultural music played on and smoke-emitting wagons, rickshaws and cars moved slowly on the road.
“Some people had been calling us white-wash people and an elderly guy even expressed his displeasure at girls, who were painting walls,” said Tariq, a young volunteer.
He said that such criticism did not dent their spirits as they were actually out to do some good work for their city.
“I have covered my face due to the pollution but mostly due to the people, who stop and stare. I have proved that veil doesn’t stop us from coming out to do something good,” said Qainaat, a student of University of Peshawar, who volunteered for ‘Rang De Peshawar” drive.
Her classmate Habiba Hayat said that Peshawar used to be a city of flowers but its walls were dirty and ugly. “We want to restore some of its past beauty by brining colour on walls around the city,” she said.
Amir Farooq, another volunteer, said that all he wanted was for Peshawar to look beautiful so he had volunteered for ‘Rang De Peshawar’.
Amjad Khan said that the designs were approved and around 20 to 30 students of Iqra Univerisity and University of Peshawar had volunteered for it. People appreciate how dreary looking walls have been made colourful with little effort of the youth.
Abdul Basit, director of culture department, said that in the next phase walls near Aman Chowk would be painted with beautiful colours and designs but he said that residents of the city also needed to look after and keep the walls and city clean.
The youth had painted on the walls slogans like “Pakhair Raghlay” (Welcome to Peshawar), ‘Unity, Faith and Discipline’, designs from historic Sethi House, some sports images and other depicting the culture and beauty of the city.
Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1247255/100000-saplings-planted-in-peshawar
[h=1]Post of Kohat varsity VC vacant for 18 months
[/h] KOHAT: The post of vice-chancellor of the Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST) has been lying vacant for the last 18 months, badly hampering the routine work of the varsity.
Sources told Dawn on Monday that several qualified people were available in Kohat, who could be appointed as VC, but the government was delaying the appointment for unknown reasons.
After the removal of vice-chancellor Nasir Jamal Kahttak in 2014, no permanent VC has been appointed to the post.
A senior professor, who served as controller of examinations at Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Kohat, and chairman Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Malakand, while talking to Dawn regretted that the government could not find a qualified person to be appointed as the vice chancellor. This showed the inefficiency of the Higher Education Commission, he added.
He said the PTI-led government claimed that the education topped its priority list, but its failure to appoint a permanent VC to KUST had badly hampered the university affairs.
The incumbent VC, Fida Younis Khattak, a senior dean, could not handle the affairs of the university, the sources said, adding once a strike called by class-IV employees and students continued for an entire month, but he (Fida Younis) was reluctant to talk to them. Later, MPAs had to intervene to resolve the issue.
Similarly, the sources said the posts of chairman and controller of examinations were being run by acting officials.
Meanwhile, officials said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan would visit the university to deliver a lecture on the occasion of the Pakistan Day on Wednesday.
They said MNA Shehryar Afridi, MPA and chairman of the district advisory development committee, Ziaullah Bangash, deputy commissioner Zahir Mohmand and district police officer visited the university on Monday to oversee the arrangements in that regard.
Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1247253/post-of-kohat-varsity-vc-vacant-for-18-months
[h=1]
[/h][h=1]
[/h][h=1]
[/h]
[/h]PESHAWAR: The members of opposition benches in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday painted a bleak picture of situation in the province, saying unprecedented increase was witnessed in the incidents of extortion, targeted killing and kidnapping for ransom besides resurgence of bomb blasts.
“No one can imagine foreign investment in such a precarious law and order situation rather the local businessmen have been leaving Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for other parts of the country due to repeated threats from extortionists and target killers,” the lawmakers said.
They said that provincial government was not serious in protecting people as only a few members were sitting on the treasury benches during the debate on the law and order situation.
Discussion on law and order was the sole item on the agenda of the house but most of the lawmakers from the treasury benches and advisers and special assistants to chief minister, parliamentary secretaries and ministers didn’t participate in the debate.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1247439/opposition-lawmakers-paint-bleak-picture-of-kp-situation
[h=1]Ex-CM’s special assistant gets bail in illegal assets case
[/h] PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday granted bail to a former special assistant to an ex-chief minister, Syed Masoom Shah, arrested by the National Accountability Bureau on the charge of possessing illegal assets.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Mohammad Younas Taheem placed ban on his travelling abroad until he made the promised payment of Rs258.75 million in return of the acceptance of his plea bargain by the NAB, and directed the government to place his name on Exit Control List (ECL).
It allowed two petitions, one filed by the accused, Syed Masoom Shah, and another by the NAB chairman, both challenging an order of the accountability court of Feb 18 whereby an application of the NAB for giving final approval to the plea bargain of the accused was rejected.
The bench set aside the said order of the accountability court and referred the case back to accountability court for deciding the plea bargain application afresh.
[h=4]PHC asks government to place Masoom Shah’s name on ECL[/h]
While allowing bail to Syed Masoom Shah, who was special assistant to the then Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti and was arrested by NAB on Aug 1, 2015, the court directed him to furnish two sureties of Rs5 million each.
The plea bargain of Masoom Shah was accepted by the NAB chairman but the accountability judge Mohammad Ibrahim Khan had rejected the NAB’s application for giving final approval to the said plea bargain.
The accountability court had also directed the NAB to complete investigation against the petitioner and file a reference against him for possessing illegal assets within fortnight. The said court had further ordered freezing of an amount of Rs258.75 million, which the accused had offered as settlement amount to NAB on account of plea bargain, with the direction to the NAB authorities to investigate whether the said money was acquired through legal or illegitimate means.
Barrister Zahoorul Haq and Barrister Waqar Ahmad appeared for the petitioner Masoom Shah and said the accused had first submitted an application for voluntary return, which was rejected by the NAB and subsequently he gave application for entering into a plea bargain with the bureau.
They said the NAB’s executive board had given approval for the plea bargain in Dec 2015 following which the case was referred to accountability court for final approval.
Barrister Zahoor pointed out that the accountability court first returned the application raising certain technical points and when those shortcomings were removed and application was submitted to the court it was again returned and termed incomplete. Finally, he stated when the application was submitted for the third time the court raised several queries which were answered by the petitioner and NAB but still the application was rejected.
Barrister Zahoor argued that the court had raised questions whether tax was paid on an amount of Rs120 million which the petitioner had obtained as loan for payment in plea bargain, despite the fact that it not the domain of the court rather it was the jurisdiction of FBR.
He contended that after acceptance of plea bargain by the NAB the only responsibility of the court was to ascertain whether the amount of plea bargain was completely paid or not.
Barrister Zahoorul Haq contended that the option of plea bargain was a matter purely between the NAB and the accused and the acceptance of the accused’s plea bargain was a sole discretion of the NAB chairman and therefore, once it was accepted by the NAB authorities, its rejection by the court amounted to denial of fair trial as ordained by Article 10-A of the Constitution.
NAB deputy prosecutor general Jamil Khan argued that plea bargain was between an accused and the NAB and once it was approved by the NAB chairman the court had no authority to reject it.
Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1247430/ex-cms-special-assistant-gets-bail-in-illegal-assets-case
[/h][h=1]Transvestites block road against ‘police violence’
[/h]PESHAWAR: Scores of transvestites belonging to different areas of the province on Monday demonstrated in the capital city against the Haripur police for violence against them.
The protesters demanded that the provincial government, especially provincial police chief Nasir Khan Durrani, ensure strict action against the Ghazi police station SHO and personnel over the violence.
The protesters marched on the Sher Shah Soori Road, blocked Khyber Road near the provincial assembly’s building, and gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club, suspending traffic for around two hours.
Chahat, a representative of the Shemale Association, told reporters that the police baton-charged transvestites and disrupted a function in Ghazi Barotha when they’re celebrating the birthday of a community member.
“We had sought permission from the relevant district police officer for the birthday function, booked a hotel, and issued invitation cards to hundreds of our guests. We spent at least Rs0.5 million for the function but all that went to waste,” she said.
The transvestite said the police took away Rs1.5 million cash, which was collected for dancers during the function.
He said the police also snatched cellphones and jewellery of transvestites.
“The police have made our lives extremely miserable across the province. We cannot even move freely due to the unnecessary interference of the policemen. The provincial government, especially the ruling PTI’s chairman, Imran Khan, should take notice of the injustice against us and award punishment to the culpable policemen,” he said.
The transvestites opened the road to the traffic after the police assured them of action against the officials involved in violence.
They also said transvestites would get back the seized cash and cellphones.
The transvestites demanded protection as well as a community hall for them to hold functions for livelihood.
They warned they would agitate if the demands weren’t met.
Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1247246/transvestites-block-road-against-police-violence
[h=1]100,000 saplings planted in Peshawar
[/h]PESHAWAR: About 100,000 saplings were planted by the youth during a plantation drive entitled ‘one tree, one life’ inaugurated by PTI chairman Imran Khan in Regi Model Township here on Monday.
One student would be planting one sapling under the initiative, said Imran Khan. He said that it was a great initiative of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and it should be implemented by the federal government in the entire country.
Mr Khan said that planting and growing more trees would bring a better environmental impact in the country. He said that it was alarming that Pakistan was ranked 8th in the global warming index. Planting trees could help to solve the issue, he added.
“Pakistan can become a desert if we don’t plant trees. We need to make a green Pakistan for our children,” said the PTI chief.
[h=4]Imran inaugurates ‘one tree, one life’ drive in Regi Model Township[/h]
Officials of forest department said on the occasion that by Dec 2017, the province would achieve the target of planting one billion saplings. The forest department would plant 160 million saplings by the end of the year and thus the number of planted trees would reach 500 million by the year’s end in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, they said.
Adviser to Chief Minister on Environment Ishtiaq Urmer said that daily 700,000 saplings were being planted and so far 110,000 saplings were planted in that one location, which looked like a record in the history of the country.
Students of various schools participated in the plantation drive.
Meanwhile, the volunteers, who had been painting walls starting from Hayatabad, successfully concluded the first phase of “Rang De Peshawar” beautification initiative by making colourful designs on the walls near Board Bazaar.
Youth including university girls and boys had been painting colourful slogans, designs and images on walls under ‘Rang De Peshawar’ drive, launched about two weeks ago.
The young artists had caught attention of the people and motorists passing by but failed to get attention of Imran Khan, who was supposed to come to the concluding phase of the drive at University Road near Board Bazaar.
Imran Khan did not stop by on his way back from the plantation campaign in Regi Model Township, according to the officials, due to security reasons.
However, girls and boys, who had been facing a bit of harassment, did not mind what was going on around them as they kept doing their amazing colourful work passionately as the convoy of the PTI chairman passed by.
The students kept painting the walls as the cultural music played on and smoke-emitting wagons, rickshaws and cars moved slowly on the road.
“Some people had been calling us white-wash people and an elderly guy even expressed his displeasure at girls, who were painting walls,” said Tariq, a young volunteer.
He said that such criticism did not dent their spirits as they were actually out to do some good work for their city.
“I have covered my face due to the pollution but mostly due to the people, who stop and stare. I have proved that veil doesn’t stop us from coming out to do something good,” said Qainaat, a student of University of Peshawar, who volunteered for ‘Rang De Peshawar” drive.
Her classmate Habiba Hayat said that Peshawar used to be a city of flowers but its walls were dirty and ugly. “We want to restore some of its past beauty by brining colour on walls around the city,” she said.
Amir Farooq, another volunteer, said that all he wanted was for Peshawar to look beautiful so he had volunteered for ‘Rang De Peshawar’.
Amjad Khan said that the designs were approved and around 20 to 30 students of Iqra Univerisity and University of Peshawar had volunteered for it. People appreciate how dreary looking walls have been made colourful with little effort of the youth.
Abdul Basit, director of culture department, said that in the next phase walls near Aman Chowk would be painted with beautiful colours and designs but he said that residents of the city also needed to look after and keep the walls and city clean.
The youth had painted on the walls slogans like “Pakhair Raghlay” (Welcome to Peshawar), ‘Unity, Faith and Discipline’, designs from historic Sethi House, some sports images and other depicting the culture and beauty of the city.
Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1247255/100000-saplings-planted-in-peshawar
[h=1]Post of Kohat varsity VC vacant for 18 months
[/h] KOHAT: The post of vice-chancellor of the Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST) has been lying vacant for the last 18 months, badly hampering the routine work of the varsity.
Sources told Dawn on Monday that several qualified people were available in Kohat, who could be appointed as VC, but the government was delaying the appointment for unknown reasons.
After the removal of vice-chancellor Nasir Jamal Kahttak in 2014, no permanent VC has been appointed to the post.
A senior professor, who served as controller of examinations at Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Kohat, and chairman Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Malakand, while talking to Dawn regretted that the government could not find a qualified person to be appointed as the vice chancellor. This showed the inefficiency of the Higher Education Commission, he added.
He said the PTI-led government claimed that the education topped its priority list, but its failure to appoint a permanent VC to KUST had badly hampered the university affairs.
The incumbent VC, Fida Younis Khattak, a senior dean, could not handle the affairs of the university, the sources said, adding once a strike called by class-IV employees and students continued for an entire month, but he (Fida Younis) was reluctant to talk to them. Later, MPAs had to intervene to resolve the issue.
Similarly, the sources said the posts of chairman and controller of examinations were being run by acting officials.
Meanwhile, officials said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan would visit the university to deliver a lecture on the occasion of the Pakistan Day on Wednesday.
They said MNA Shehryar Afridi, MPA and chairman of the district advisory development committee, Ziaullah Bangash, deputy commissioner Zahir Mohmand and district police officer visited the university on Monday to oversee the arrangements in that regard.
Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1247253/post-of-kohat-varsity-vc-vacant-for-18-months
[h=1]
[/h][h=1]
[/h][h=1]
[/h]
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
[h=1]12 women teachers appointed in Lakki
[/h] LAKKI MARWAT: The Lakki Marwat District Education Officer, Female, Zubaida Khattak, has appointed 12 teachers against the vacant posts in government girls schools.
An official of the district education department said the new appointments included six certified teachers, two drawing teachers, two Arabic teachers and one each theology and physical education teacher.
He said the appointments had been made on merit as written test and interviews were conducted by the NTS.
“The teachers’ appointment will help overcome shortage of teaching staff in state-run girls schools,” the official quoted DEO Ms Khattak as saying.
YOUTH MEMBERSHIP: The local chapter of Jamat-i-Islami has accelerated the youth membership drive in Lakki Marwat district.
Talking to reporters after a meeting here on Sunday, JI district secretary general Sabz Ali Naveed said office-bearers of the party were making direct contacts with the youth to make the drive a success.
He said camps would be set up to convince the youths to join the JI’s drive against corruption.
“The JI activists have distributed pamphlets and hand bills to sensitise the youths to their role in eliminating corruption,” he maintained, saying the youth had the capability to make Pakistan corruption-free.
Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246946/12-women-teachers-appointed-in-lakki
[h=1]Chitral social welfare bodies receive uplift funds
[/h]CHITRAL: Cheques were handed over to 31 community-based organisations (CBOs) for carrying out development works in their respective villages.
Additional deputy commissioner Abdul Ghaffar gave away the cheques at a ceremony here.
Speaking on the occasion, he said the cheques were given under the provincial government’s community development and local development (CDLD) project financed by the European Union.
He said the project would last for five years aimed at supporting the rural communities to carry out development projects selected by themselves.
Mr Ghaffar said Rs340 million had been earmarked for the current year, adding Rs300 million would be used for building the battered infrastructure devastated by the floods.
The development works would be carried out in irrigation, communication, women development, sanitation and education sectors, he added.
Tariq Ahmed, the Sarhad Rural Support Programme’s district manager, asked the CBO representatives to fully utilise the available funds for development of the infrastructure and promoting social harmony.
A recipient of the cheques, Shahina Bibi of the CBO based in Awi area upper Chitral, told Dawn that Rs1 million had been allocated for her organisation for establishing a vocational training centre in the village.
She said women would start getting training by end of current year.
She said Awi was an isolated village and the women aspiring for learning handicraft, stitching and embroidery skills had no such facility.
Shahina Bibi said establishment of the centre would increase the per capita income of women in the village thereby raising their living standard.
Published in Dawn, March 21st, 201
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246945/chitral-social-welfare-bodies-receive-uplift-funds
[h=1]40 teachers appointed in Karak
[/h] KARAK: The education department has issued a notification regarding recruitment of 30 primary schoolteachers and 11 certificate teachers in different schools of the district.
Sources in the education department told Dawn on Saturday that the district education officer Abdus Salam Marwat issued the notification.
The teachers were directed to take the charge of their new assignments within stipulated time.
The finance secretary of Tanzeem-i-Asataza, Khairullah Hawari, and district president of All Primary Teachers Association (APTA) Javed Iqbal Khattak expressed satisfaction over the recruitment of the teachers as the schools had been facing shortage of teachers since long.
They expressed optimism that the shortage of teachers in schools would be overcome from the new academic session scheduled to be started from April.
COMPENSATION SOUGHT: The local farmers association on Saturday demanded of the government to compensate the growers as hailstorm damaged standing crops of wheat and gram and vegetables across the district.
They made the demand at a meeting chaired by the association’s district president Mohammad Iqbal Khattak.
The farmers hailing from different parts of the district said the hailstorm on Friday night had damaged standing crops, inflicting heavy losses on them. They said they were expecting good yield this year, but the hailstorm dashed their hopes.
They demanded that the Karak should be declared calamity-hit and an assessment of the damages should be carried out to compensate the affected farmers.
PROTEST: The internally displaced persons of North Waziristan Agency held a demonstration against the delay in repatriation to their native areas here on Saturday. The protesters gathered in the Tappi area and chanted slogans calling for their early repatriation.
Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246823/40-teachers-appointed-in-karak
[h=1]Students of govt schools to have new uniform
[/h] PESHAWAR: The Elementary and Secondary Education (E&SE) Department has proposed three different types of uniforms for students of the government schools to be used from the upcoming academic year.
Officials said that the parent-teacher councils (PTCs) of the schools would be authorised to select a uniform for the respective schools. Currently, students of the government schools wear shalwar-kameez made of militia cloth. The uniform for girl students will remain the same, they said.
According to the education department’s specification, students at the primary level will wear shalwar-kameez of militia cloth or medium grey trouser, sky blue shirt and navy blue pullover as the official school uniform.
The students enrolled in the middle, high and higher secondary schools will be wearing white shalwar-kameez or grey trouser, sky blue shirt and navy blue pullover. The students would not wear cap as part of their uniform as they currently do, the officials said.
The PTC is a school-based body consisting of parents of the enrolled students, influential of the area and administration officials of the respective school. It executes civil works like construction of the additional classrooms, boundary wall, lavatories and purchase of furniture, classroom consumables, laboratory equipment, etc.
“The PTC is authorised to select the uniform for the school whether to use shalwar-kameez or trouser and shirt. But it is mandatory that all students of the respective school will wear one type of uniform,” a senior official in the education department told this correspondent. He said that the members of PTCs would decide about the uniform keeping in view the local culture and convenience of the students.
Talking to Dawn, a headmaster of a government primary school hailed the education department’s decision of changing the students’ uniform. He said that the students of government schools did not feel good while seeing the colourful uniform of the private schools.
However, he said that wearing trouser and shirt would put the students in trouble in those schools where the students used to sit on the floor in the absence of furniture. He said that majority of the 28,000 government schools in the province lacked furniture.
The government is determined to provide furniture to the schools as around Rs2 billion has been allocated in the current financial year for buying furniture, an official said, adding that it would take four to five years to provide furniture to all the government schools.
One of the district education officers said that white shalwar-kameez would easily get dirty while sitting on floor in the absence of furniture. The mothers would not be happy with this as they have to wash their sons uniform frequently, he said, adding that they would go for militia uniform.
Then Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government had also replaced the militia uniform in the government schools with white shalwar-kameez uniform some 10 years back. However, the Awami National Party-led provincial government reintroduced the militia uniform in the schools.
Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246826/students-of-govt-schools-to-have-new-uniform
[/h] LAKKI MARWAT: The Lakki Marwat District Education Officer, Female, Zubaida Khattak, has appointed 12 teachers against the vacant posts in government girls schools.
An official of the district education department said the new appointments included six certified teachers, two drawing teachers, two Arabic teachers and one each theology and physical education teacher.
He said the appointments had been made on merit as written test and interviews were conducted by the NTS.
“The teachers’ appointment will help overcome shortage of teaching staff in state-run girls schools,” the official quoted DEO Ms Khattak as saying.
YOUTH MEMBERSHIP: The local chapter of Jamat-i-Islami has accelerated the youth membership drive in Lakki Marwat district.
Talking to reporters after a meeting here on Sunday, JI district secretary general Sabz Ali Naveed said office-bearers of the party were making direct contacts with the youth to make the drive a success.
He said camps would be set up to convince the youths to join the JI’s drive against corruption.
“The JI activists have distributed pamphlets and hand bills to sensitise the youths to their role in eliminating corruption,” he maintained, saying the youth had the capability to make Pakistan corruption-free.
Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246946/12-women-teachers-appointed-in-lakki
[h=1]Chitral social welfare bodies receive uplift funds
[/h]CHITRAL: Cheques were handed over to 31 community-based organisations (CBOs) for carrying out development works in their respective villages.
Additional deputy commissioner Abdul Ghaffar gave away the cheques at a ceremony here.
Speaking on the occasion, he said the cheques were given under the provincial government’s community development and local development (CDLD) project financed by the European Union.
He said the project would last for five years aimed at supporting the rural communities to carry out development projects selected by themselves.
Mr Ghaffar said Rs340 million had been earmarked for the current year, adding Rs300 million would be used for building the battered infrastructure devastated by the floods.
The development works would be carried out in irrigation, communication, women development, sanitation and education sectors, he added.
Tariq Ahmed, the Sarhad Rural Support Programme’s district manager, asked the CBO representatives to fully utilise the available funds for development of the infrastructure and promoting social harmony.
A recipient of the cheques, Shahina Bibi of the CBO based in Awi area upper Chitral, told Dawn that Rs1 million had been allocated for her organisation for establishing a vocational training centre in the village.
She said women would start getting training by end of current year.
She said Awi was an isolated village and the women aspiring for learning handicraft, stitching and embroidery skills had no such facility.
Shahina Bibi said establishment of the centre would increase the per capita income of women in the village thereby raising their living standard.
Published in Dawn, March 21st, 201
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246945/chitral-social-welfare-bodies-receive-uplift-funds
[h=1]40 teachers appointed in Karak
[/h] KARAK: The education department has issued a notification regarding recruitment of 30 primary schoolteachers and 11 certificate teachers in different schools of the district.
Sources in the education department told Dawn on Saturday that the district education officer Abdus Salam Marwat issued the notification.
The teachers were directed to take the charge of their new assignments within stipulated time.
The finance secretary of Tanzeem-i-Asataza, Khairullah Hawari, and district president of All Primary Teachers Association (APTA) Javed Iqbal Khattak expressed satisfaction over the recruitment of the teachers as the schools had been facing shortage of teachers since long.
They expressed optimism that the shortage of teachers in schools would be overcome from the new academic session scheduled to be started from April.
COMPENSATION SOUGHT: The local farmers association on Saturday demanded of the government to compensate the growers as hailstorm damaged standing crops of wheat and gram and vegetables across the district.
They made the demand at a meeting chaired by the association’s district president Mohammad Iqbal Khattak.
The farmers hailing from different parts of the district said the hailstorm on Friday night had damaged standing crops, inflicting heavy losses on them. They said they were expecting good yield this year, but the hailstorm dashed their hopes.
They demanded that the Karak should be declared calamity-hit and an assessment of the damages should be carried out to compensate the affected farmers.
PROTEST: The internally displaced persons of North Waziristan Agency held a demonstration against the delay in repatriation to their native areas here on Saturday. The protesters gathered in the Tappi area and chanted slogans calling for their early repatriation.
Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246823/40-teachers-appointed-in-karak
[h=1]Students of govt schools to have new uniform
[/h] PESHAWAR: The Elementary and Secondary Education (E&SE) Department has proposed three different types of uniforms for students of the government schools to be used from the upcoming academic year.
Officials said that the parent-teacher councils (PTCs) of the schools would be authorised to select a uniform for the respective schools. Currently, students of the government schools wear shalwar-kameez made of militia cloth. The uniform for girl students will remain the same, they said.
According to the education department’s specification, students at the primary level will wear shalwar-kameez of militia cloth or medium grey trouser, sky blue shirt and navy blue pullover as the official school uniform.
The students enrolled in the middle, high and higher secondary schools will be wearing white shalwar-kameez or grey trouser, sky blue shirt and navy blue pullover. The students would not wear cap as part of their uniform as they currently do, the officials said.
The PTC is a school-based body consisting of parents of the enrolled students, influential of the area and administration officials of the respective school. It executes civil works like construction of the additional classrooms, boundary wall, lavatories and purchase of furniture, classroom consumables, laboratory equipment, etc.
“The PTC is authorised to select the uniform for the school whether to use shalwar-kameez or trouser and shirt. But it is mandatory that all students of the respective school will wear one type of uniform,” a senior official in the education department told this correspondent. He said that the members of PTCs would decide about the uniform keeping in view the local culture and convenience of the students.
Talking to Dawn, a headmaster of a government primary school hailed the education department’s decision of changing the students’ uniform. He said that the students of government schools did not feel good while seeing the colourful uniform of the private schools.
However, he said that wearing trouser and shirt would put the students in trouble in those schools where the students used to sit on the floor in the absence of furniture. He said that majority of the 28,000 government schools in the province lacked furniture.
The government is determined to provide furniture to the schools as around Rs2 billion has been allocated in the current financial year for buying furniture, an official said, adding that it would take four to five years to provide furniture to all the government schools.
One of the district education officers said that white shalwar-kameez would easily get dirty while sitting on floor in the absence of furniture. The mothers would not be happy with this as they have to wash their sons uniform frequently, he said, adding that they would go for militia uniform.
Then Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government had also replaced the militia uniform in the government schools with white shalwar-kameez uniform some 10 years back. However, the Awami National Party-led provincial government reintroduced the militia uniform in the schools.
Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246826/students-of-govt-schools-to-have-new-uniform
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
[h=1]Work begins on new pavilion at sports complex
[/h]PESHAWAR: Work on a new pavilion at Qayyum Sports Complex here began on Friday to provide modern sports facilities to the people of the violence-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The project is to cost Rs163 million.
Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Mehmood Khan was the chief guest at the launching ceremony. Deputy secretary sports Adil Saeed Safi, director general sports Rashida Ghaznavi, office-bearers of various sports associations and players were in attendance.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said the pavilion would be completed by end of the current year. He said the construction of pavilion had actually started six months ago before finalising all documental formalities with a view to complete the project transparently.
The pavilion, he said, would be equipped with all updated facilities like player changing rooms, facilities for indoor games, gymnasium with full weight machines, multiple halls, and space for running athletic, snooker, table-tennis, taekwondo, judo, wushu, karate and wrestling academies. He said the academies would help bring forth new talent to represent the province at national and international level.
Mehmood Khan said trained coaches would be appointed to run the academies to groom raw talent into quality players.
The minister said another project entailing construction of walking tracks for families with flood-lit facilities, and beautification and pavement of roads inside the complex would be completed by June 30 at a cost of Rs10.40 million.
He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa players who excelled at national and international levels would be honoured with cash prizes.
Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246647/work-begins-on-new-pavilion-at-sports-complex
[h=1]Controversy over rebuilding of Hindu shrine lingers on
[/h] KOHAT: Controversy over reconstruction of a Samadhi (shrine) of a Hindu saint in Teri area of Karak district continues to linger on as occupant of a house allegedly constructed at the relevant site has alleged that despite court orders last year he had not been paid compensation by the provincial government despite demolition of his house.
The then occupant of the demolished house, Mufti Iftikhar Khan, told this correspondent that his house was demolished by the Auqaf Department as the Supreme Court had ordered the KP government to reconstruct the Samadhi.
He claimed that the court had asked the government that a compensation of Rs5 million should be given to the occupant. He said that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had promised him that he would be given a plot in lieu of reconstruction of the Samadhi of Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj, a Hindu saint who had died in 1919 and was buried in Teri village. However, he said the chief minister had also not fulfilled his promise.
Mufti Iftikhar claimed that instead of demolishing a portion of his house over which the Hindu community had claim of presence of the Samadhi, the government had demolished the entire spacious residence.
Similarly, he said that under Section 8 of the relevant Auqaf Department’s rules first the land was to be separated into shares and after the owners’ position the rest of the place which was a single room would have to be demolished. He added that the Samadhi was reconstructed by demolishing the entire house.
He said that he had filed appeal in a Bannu court about his claim and compensation which was pending. He also demanded his portion in the house.
The issue of ownership of the site resurfaced on August 15, 1997 when a delegation of Hindus, who came to Teri to pay homage to their late guru, was attacked by local people. The Samadhi was also allegedly vandalised.
The apex court had ordered the KP government on April 17, 2015 to reconstruct the Samadi.
“We have allocated funds for reconstruction of the Samadhi at Teri in Karak district,” said Sardar Soran Singh, special assistant to the chief minister on minorities affairs. He said that they had been facing certain complications in the reconstruction process as there was no Hindu population in Teri and Karak.
A representative of Hindu community in Kohat, Rohit Kumar advocate, told this correspondent that the issue was being managed by their MNA and Sindh community elders.
“Our temples situated in Hindu Mohallah renamed as Mohallah Sikandar Khan Shaheed in old Kohat city shall also be vacated and restored because these are our worship places,” Mr Kumar demanded.
Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246818/controversy-over-rebuilding-of-hindu-shrine-lingers-on
[h=1]Governor’s House a burden on exchequer
[/h]PESHAWAR: The old building of Peshawar’s Governor’s House, a reminiscent of colonial era, seems to have become a liability on the public exchequer as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has been spending millions of tax payers money on its maintenance and preservation.
The century old structure perched on a mound does not carry any pride or significance for the people of this region except it occupies a status of a relic of Colonial era, which is not part of our history.
The taxpayers’ money is being spent just to provide comfort to the governor’s family otherwise the Governor’s House has no utility.
[h=4]Old structure’s repairs, maintenance underway at cost of over Rs80m[/h]
This is worth mentioning that a Governor’s House in Nathia Gali (Abbottabad) and cottages in almost every tribal agency of Fata have been properly maintained for the constitutional head of this poor province.
Extensive maintenance and repair work is in progress to preserve this dwindling structure, which officials said was about to collapse. The estimated cost of the building’s repairs, renovation and conservation is more than Rs80 million.
Experts from the University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, National College of Arts (Lahore), KP department of archeology and consultants of a private company from Lahore have been engaged in repair and preservation work to protect the building.
Former Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan in his last press conference had said Rs180 million had been spent on the maintenance and repairs of the building during the last five years.
He had also said the old portion of the Governor’s House was in bad condition and cracks had appeared in its structure despite the use of millions of rupees in the name of repairs.
Sardar Mahtab was in the office at the start of the repairs and preservation, which is still in progress.
The unending make-up of the building will eat up how much millions of rupees from the taxpayers’ money is a question, which needs to be answered. However, no one wants to speak on it.
Covered area of the Governor’s House sprawling over 28 acres is being expended by raising new structure. Every governor wants his own mark by initiating new construction, renovation and alteration.
A former governor ordered mirror work in the old Darbar Hall.
When retired Lt-General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah assumed the office of governor, he ordered the removal of mirror work and got the hall back to its original shape.
He constructed another Jirga Hall and funds were provided from annual development plan for Fata.
Another governor had ordered to establish mini zoo.
Owais Ahmad Ghani when he was holding the office started construction of a monument to those who lost their lives in militancy. The monument was later left incomplete for unidentified reasons.
A former governor had disclosed that several precious items including some antiques had been missing from the Governor’s House and probably his predecessors had taken along these items before leaving the office. He had directed to make proper catalogue of all items in the Governor’s House to avoid theft of such items.
Significantly PTI chairman Imran Khan has been opposing the maintenance of palatial houses for governors. He publicly announced that the Governor’s Houses would be used for productive activities if his party came into power. However, his government in KP is spending hefty amount on the preservation of KP Governor’s House.
Apart from repair and renovation work a two-storey kitchen along with a basement is being constructed while old kitchen is also going through repair work.
According to the contractor, the faulty drainage system had caused severe damages to the old structure, which is being repaired.
He said Rs80 million had been allocated for repairs and construction of kitchen, while additional amount had been sanctioned for renovation.
Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1246814/governors-house-a-burden-on-exchequer
[/h]
[h=1]WWB releases Rs320m to pay students’ transport fee
[/h] SWABI: The Workers Welfare Board (WWB), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has released Rs320 million for paying transport charges of students of working folks grammar schools in the province.
Sources told Dawn on Friday that a cheque had been given to the officials concerned and the amount was expected to be disbursed among the parents very soon. They said the WWB officials had told the parents that they should pay the transport fee of their children, which would be reimbursed to them in due course of time, but the payment was delayed for four months.
The sources said the parents had threatened to stop paying fares any more. They said the WWB used to pay monthly Rs2,000 as transport charges per student.
Meanwhile, the sources said salary of teachers and other staff had not been paid for last three months, adding the teachers had been holding protests for release of the salary, but to no avail.
RAIN WEAKENS MUD HOUSES: Afghan refugees living in mud houses in two camps here have been forced to shift to safer places due to intermittent rains.
The affected Afghans told Dawn on Friday that two mud houses had collapsed killing a girl and injuring another. They said the rain had weakened the mud structures.
Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246653/wwb-releases-rs320m-to-pay-students-transport-fee
[h=1]AG’s assistance sought in Essential Services Act case
[/h] PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Friday issued notice to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government asking its advocate general to assist it on the question whether the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1958, could be invoked in the health sector or not.
A bench consisting of Justice Roohul Amin Khan and Justice Syed Afsar Shah stopped the health department from taking any adverse action against senior doctor Musa Kaleem, an employee of the Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, to whom a show cause notice was issued by the government for participating in a protest against certain health policies.
After preliminary hearing of a writ petition filed by Dr Musa Kaleem, who is also president of Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI) Teachers Association, the bench directed the government not to take any action against the petitioner.
[h=4]High court asks if that law could be applied to health sector[/h]
The next hearing into the petition will be fixed later.
The petitioner’s lawyer, Qazi Jawad Ihsanullah, raised several questions related to the applicability of the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1958, to the health sector and said the law could only be applied to certain services including civil defence, transport, educational boards and universities.
He argued that the petitioner was issued a show cause notice by the government on Feb 3 for addressing a protest gathering at Lady Reading Hospital. However, he stated that the government had issued a notification on Feb 8 wherein it was mentioned that provisions of the Essential service (Maintenance) Act would be applied to Medical Teaching Institutes functioning under the MTI Reforms Act, 2015, and other public sector health facilities.
Qazi Jawad argued that in the said law it was not mentioned that strike and holding protest meeting were prohibited. He argued that the said Act empowered the government to use directives that any person or persons engaged in any employment to which this Act was applied should not depart out of such area or areas and for such period not exceeding three months.
He requested the bench to declare the applicability of the said Act to health sector as illegal and also to declare the issuance of show cause notice to the petitioner as illegal.
DRC PROCEEDINGS STAYED: The bench stopped a dispute resolution council in Peshawar from further proceedings in a monetary dispute between two persons and issued notices to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Police Officer, the superintendent of police Peshawar cantonment and the relevant DRC for replies in the case.
The bench was hearing a writ petition filed by a citizen, Qaiser Khan, challenging proceedings conducted by a DRC in an application filed by his rival, Irshadul Haq, who alleged that he was having a monetary dispute with the petitioner.
Advocate Alamzeb Khan appeared for the petitioner and stated that applicant Irshadul Haq had approached the DRC and had alleged that he was having a monetary dispute to the tune of Rs2.7 million with the petitioner.
He said earlier the then SP (Cant), Rana Umar Farooq, had stopped the proceedings and had stated that the DRC was not having jurisdiction in a dispute of such a big amount.
The counsel said earlier, the high court had taken notice of the functioning of DRCs in the province without legal backing.
He added that last year amendments were made in the Police Order so as to provide legality to the DRCs and following those amendments the present dispute had again been reopened.
The lawyer said the police had been harassing the petitioner.
He added that the DRC had no legal authority to entertain such like complaints as it was a civil dispute.
Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1246654/ags-assistance-sought-in-essential-services-act-case
[/h]
[h=1]
[/h]
[h=1]
[/h]
[/h]PESHAWAR: Work on a new pavilion at Qayyum Sports Complex here began on Friday to provide modern sports facilities to the people of the violence-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The project is to cost Rs163 million.
Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Mehmood Khan was the chief guest at the launching ceremony. Deputy secretary sports Adil Saeed Safi, director general sports Rashida Ghaznavi, office-bearers of various sports associations and players were in attendance.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said the pavilion would be completed by end of the current year. He said the construction of pavilion had actually started six months ago before finalising all documental formalities with a view to complete the project transparently.
The pavilion, he said, would be equipped with all updated facilities like player changing rooms, facilities for indoor games, gymnasium with full weight machines, multiple halls, and space for running athletic, snooker, table-tennis, taekwondo, judo, wushu, karate and wrestling academies. He said the academies would help bring forth new talent to represent the province at national and international level.
Mehmood Khan said trained coaches would be appointed to run the academies to groom raw talent into quality players.
The minister said another project entailing construction of walking tracks for families with flood-lit facilities, and beautification and pavement of roads inside the complex would be completed by June 30 at a cost of Rs10.40 million.
He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa players who excelled at national and international levels would be honoured with cash prizes.
Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246647/work-begins-on-new-pavilion-at-sports-complex
[h=1]Controversy over rebuilding of Hindu shrine lingers on
[/h] KOHAT: Controversy over reconstruction of a Samadhi (shrine) of a Hindu saint in Teri area of Karak district continues to linger on as occupant of a house allegedly constructed at the relevant site has alleged that despite court orders last year he had not been paid compensation by the provincial government despite demolition of his house.
The then occupant of the demolished house, Mufti Iftikhar Khan, told this correspondent that his house was demolished by the Auqaf Department as the Supreme Court had ordered the KP government to reconstruct the Samadhi.
He claimed that the court had asked the government that a compensation of Rs5 million should be given to the occupant. He said that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had promised him that he would be given a plot in lieu of reconstruction of the Samadhi of Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj, a Hindu saint who had died in 1919 and was buried in Teri village. However, he said the chief minister had also not fulfilled his promise.
Mufti Iftikhar claimed that instead of demolishing a portion of his house over which the Hindu community had claim of presence of the Samadhi, the government had demolished the entire spacious residence.
Similarly, he said that under Section 8 of the relevant Auqaf Department’s rules first the land was to be separated into shares and after the owners’ position the rest of the place which was a single room would have to be demolished. He added that the Samadhi was reconstructed by demolishing the entire house.
He said that he had filed appeal in a Bannu court about his claim and compensation which was pending. He also demanded his portion in the house.
The issue of ownership of the site resurfaced on August 15, 1997 when a delegation of Hindus, who came to Teri to pay homage to their late guru, was attacked by local people. The Samadhi was also allegedly vandalised.
The apex court had ordered the KP government on April 17, 2015 to reconstruct the Samadi.
“We have allocated funds for reconstruction of the Samadhi at Teri in Karak district,” said Sardar Soran Singh, special assistant to the chief minister on minorities affairs. He said that they had been facing certain complications in the reconstruction process as there was no Hindu population in Teri and Karak.
A representative of Hindu community in Kohat, Rohit Kumar advocate, told this correspondent that the issue was being managed by their MNA and Sindh community elders.
“Our temples situated in Hindu Mohallah renamed as Mohallah Sikandar Khan Shaheed in old Kohat city shall also be vacated and restored because these are our worship places,” Mr Kumar demanded.
Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246818/controversy-over-rebuilding-of-hindu-shrine-lingers-on
[h=1]Governor’s House a burden on exchequer
[/h]PESHAWAR: The old building of Peshawar’s Governor’s House, a reminiscent of colonial era, seems to have become a liability on the public exchequer as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has been spending millions of tax payers money on its maintenance and preservation.
The century old structure perched on a mound does not carry any pride or significance for the people of this region except it occupies a status of a relic of Colonial era, which is not part of our history.
The taxpayers’ money is being spent just to provide comfort to the governor’s family otherwise the Governor’s House has no utility.
[h=4]Old structure’s repairs, maintenance underway at cost of over Rs80m[/h]
This is worth mentioning that a Governor’s House in Nathia Gali (Abbottabad) and cottages in almost every tribal agency of Fata have been properly maintained for the constitutional head of this poor province.
Extensive maintenance and repair work is in progress to preserve this dwindling structure, which officials said was about to collapse. The estimated cost of the building’s repairs, renovation and conservation is more than Rs80 million.
Experts from the University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, National College of Arts (Lahore), KP department of archeology and consultants of a private company from Lahore have been engaged in repair and preservation work to protect the building.
Former Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan in his last press conference had said Rs180 million had been spent on the maintenance and repairs of the building during the last five years.
He had also said the old portion of the Governor’s House was in bad condition and cracks had appeared in its structure despite the use of millions of rupees in the name of repairs.
Sardar Mahtab was in the office at the start of the repairs and preservation, which is still in progress.
The unending make-up of the building will eat up how much millions of rupees from the taxpayers’ money is a question, which needs to be answered. However, no one wants to speak on it.
Covered area of the Governor’s House sprawling over 28 acres is being expended by raising new structure. Every governor wants his own mark by initiating new construction, renovation and alteration.
A former governor ordered mirror work in the old Darbar Hall.
When retired Lt-General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah assumed the office of governor, he ordered the removal of mirror work and got the hall back to its original shape.
He constructed another Jirga Hall and funds were provided from annual development plan for Fata.
Another governor had ordered to establish mini zoo.
Owais Ahmad Ghani when he was holding the office started construction of a monument to those who lost their lives in militancy. The monument was later left incomplete for unidentified reasons.
A former governor had disclosed that several precious items including some antiques had been missing from the Governor’s House and probably his predecessors had taken along these items before leaving the office. He had directed to make proper catalogue of all items in the Governor’s House to avoid theft of such items.
Significantly PTI chairman Imran Khan has been opposing the maintenance of palatial houses for governors. He publicly announced that the Governor’s Houses would be used for productive activities if his party came into power. However, his government in KP is spending hefty amount on the preservation of KP Governor’s House.
Apart from repair and renovation work a two-storey kitchen along with a basement is being constructed while old kitchen is also going through repair work.
According to the contractor, the faulty drainage system had caused severe damages to the old structure, which is being repaired.
He said Rs80 million had been allocated for repairs and construction of kitchen, while additional amount had been sanctioned for renovation.
Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1246814/governors-house-a-burden-on-exchequer
[/h]
[h=1]WWB releases Rs320m to pay students’ transport fee
[/h] SWABI: The Workers Welfare Board (WWB), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has released Rs320 million for paying transport charges of students of working folks grammar schools in the province.
Sources told Dawn on Friday that a cheque had been given to the officials concerned and the amount was expected to be disbursed among the parents very soon. They said the WWB officials had told the parents that they should pay the transport fee of their children, which would be reimbursed to them in due course of time, but the payment was delayed for four months.
The sources said the parents had threatened to stop paying fares any more. They said the WWB used to pay monthly Rs2,000 as transport charges per student.
Meanwhile, the sources said salary of teachers and other staff had not been paid for last three months, adding the teachers had been holding protests for release of the salary, but to no avail.
RAIN WEAKENS MUD HOUSES: Afghan refugees living in mud houses in two camps here have been forced to shift to safer places due to intermittent rains.
The affected Afghans told Dawn on Friday that two mud houses had collapsed killing a girl and injuring another. They said the rain had weakened the mud structures.
Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1246653/wwb-releases-rs320m-to-pay-students-transport-fee
[h=1]AG’s assistance sought in Essential Services Act case
[/h] PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Friday issued notice to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government asking its advocate general to assist it on the question whether the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1958, could be invoked in the health sector or not.
A bench consisting of Justice Roohul Amin Khan and Justice Syed Afsar Shah stopped the health department from taking any adverse action against senior doctor Musa Kaleem, an employee of the Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, to whom a show cause notice was issued by the government for participating in a protest against certain health policies.
After preliminary hearing of a writ petition filed by Dr Musa Kaleem, who is also president of Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI) Teachers Association, the bench directed the government not to take any action against the petitioner.
[h=4]High court asks if that law could be applied to health sector[/h]
The next hearing into the petition will be fixed later.
The petitioner’s lawyer, Qazi Jawad Ihsanullah, raised several questions related to the applicability of the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1958, to the health sector and said the law could only be applied to certain services including civil defence, transport, educational boards and universities.
He argued that the petitioner was issued a show cause notice by the government on Feb 3 for addressing a protest gathering at Lady Reading Hospital. However, he stated that the government had issued a notification on Feb 8 wherein it was mentioned that provisions of the Essential service (Maintenance) Act would be applied to Medical Teaching Institutes functioning under the MTI Reforms Act, 2015, and other public sector health facilities.
Qazi Jawad argued that in the said law it was not mentioned that strike and holding protest meeting were prohibited. He argued that the said Act empowered the government to use directives that any person or persons engaged in any employment to which this Act was applied should not depart out of such area or areas and for such period not exceeding three months.
He requested the bench to declare the applicability of the said Act to health sector as illegal and also to declare the issuance of show cause notice to the petitioner as illegal.
DRC PROCEEDINGS STAYED: The bench stopped a dispute resolution council in Peshawar from further proceedings in a monetary dispute between two persons and issued notices to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Police Officer, the superintendent of police Peshawar cantonment and the relevant DRC for replies in the case.
The bench was hearing a writ petition filed by a citizen, Qaiser Khan, challenging proceedings conducted by a DRC in an application filed by his rival, Irshadul Haq, who alleged that he was having a monetary dispute with the petitioner.
Advocate Alamzeb Khan appeared for the petitioner and stated that applicant Irshadul Haq had approached the DRC and had alleged that he was having a monetary dispute to the tune of Rs2.7 million with the petitioner.
He said earlier the then SP (Cant), Rana Umar Farooq, had stopped the proceedings and had stated that the DRC was not having jurisdiction in a dispute of such a big amount.
The counsel said earlier, the high court had taken notice of the functioning of DRCs in the province without legal backing.
He added that last year amendments were made in the Police Order so as to provide legality to the DRCs and following those amendments the present dispute had again been reopened.
The lawyer said the police had been harassing the petitioner.
He added that the DRC had no legal authority to entertain such like complaints as it was a civil dispute.
Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2016
[h=1]http://www.dawn.com/news/1246654/ags-assistance-sought-in-essential-services-act-case
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Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
24 march 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
25 march 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
march 26 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
March 27 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
MARCH 28 2016
