KPK Updates

[Syed Haider Imam]

Oct 04 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

October 05, 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

October 06 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Oct 07 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

October 08 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

October 09 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

October 10 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

October 11 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

October 12 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Bhamala heritage site to open for tourists

PESHAWAR: The government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will open the recently excavated portion of Bhamala’s historical sites for tourists on Sunday, said a Directorate of Archaeology and Museums official on Wednesday.
The excavations were carried out by the Archaeological Research and Conservation Programme India and Pakistan (ARCPIP), Hazara University and K-P Directorate of Archaeology & Museums. These institutions completed a two-year field study of the Bhamala Buddhist Archaeological Complex.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bhamala is situated some 25 kilometres from Taxila Museum. The excavation data reveals relics that date back to the third century CE. More than 500 priceless artefacts were recovered, including a Maha Puri Nirvana (death of Buddha) statue measuring 14 metres in length.

According to officials, excavation was put on hold till the beginning of next year to exhibit the already discovered artefacts. Arrangements were made to facilitate tourists to visit the sites which will be inaugurated by senior officials on Sunday. “There are special sheds constructed to protect the recovered heirlooms from any damage,” said Abdul Samad, Director at Archaeology and Museums. The new discoveries will help attract tourism to the province.​

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/969226/bhamala-heritage-site-to-open-for-tourists/


Louder than words: Development budget to be equally divided among districts: Inayatullah





PESHAWAR: A unique system for running local governments is being introduced in the province, said K-P Local Government and Rural Development Minister Inayatullah Khan. “I hope other provinces are able to follow the example set up by K-P,” he added.

“The development budget will be equally divided among all district governments without any discrimination.” Inayatullah said this at Monday’s opening ceremony of a two-day orientation workshop for district nazims held at a hotel in the city. Around 22 district nazims from across the province participated.

Minister for Higher Education and Information Mushtaq Ghani, Minister for Finance Muzaffar Said, Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan and other senior government and international organisation officials were also present at the workshop.
Rule of business

Inayatullah said the rules of business are almost ready and will be handed over to district nazims later in October.

“The rules will be amended if a district nazim suggests a change,” he added. Four nazims will be elected by the nazims themselves, who will present their recommendation to the Provincial Finance Commission.
He emphasised nazims should value the fact that they were elected. “People have put all their confidence in you. Indeed this is a great honour and privilege,” he said. Inayatullah added the people have done their bit by voting and it was now the nazims’ responsibility to leave no stone unturned to serve their respective areas.
Need-based assessment

Inayatullah instructed the local representatives to use development funds wisely. “About 30% of the developmental budget will be made available to you, which is a lot more than what nazims have received in the past,” he said. “This means you have to be extra careful, and follow the guidelines for planning and development responsibly.”

He advised nazims to do need-based assessments and make their own development plan according to what the people in their area demand. The LG minister suggested representatives hold a local poll to approve their development plan. Speaking on the occasion, Ghani said, “We have fulfilled our promise of devolving power, and made you—and ourselves—accountable to the province.” The information minister added the government was going to ensure good governance through transparency, without political interference in bureaucracy.

K-P Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan said, “You have to play a key role in streamlining things at the district level to make local authorities accountable and ensure the government works in an efficient manner,” he said. “We have set up a system which will monitor your activities,” he said to the nazims at the orientation session.
​

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/967953/...-equally-divided-among-districts-inayatullah/



A long time coming: Govt, PTI leaders okay rules of business for LG



PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government officials and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership have informally approved the rules of business for the local government (LG) system. Government representatives and the PTI central leadership held a meeting under the chairmanship of Imran Khan at the K-P House Islamabad on Saturday that went well into the night.

K-P Local Government and Rural Development (LG&RD) Minister Inayatullah Khan told The Express Tribune the proposed rules of business have been approved in the meeting and will be officially notified soon. “The rules of business are not something infallible,” he added.
Agreements and verdicts


Inayatullah said it was decided to form a review committee to resolve the issues of nazims. The MPAs raised concerns over the granting of power to the nazim, a matter will be discussed in more detail at upcoming sittings of the house.

The pay cheque

Regarding the salaries of nazims of all the three tiers, Inayatullah said the government has approved Rs60,000 as the salary for district nazim, Rs50,000 for district naib nazim, Rs40,000 for tehsil nazim, Rs30,000 for tehsil naib nazim, Rs20,000 for village council nazim and Rs15,000 for village council naib nazim.

According to one of the participants at the meeting, “The finance department will release Rs42 billion to the LG department without further delay.”

It was decided that Provincial Finance Commission (defined and described in the Local Government Act 2013) chaired by the finance minister will soon be established to give guidelines to LG representatives for utilising allotted funds.
While the government will give full autonomy to the nazims, they will be assisted by people who have more technical knowledge about running the office.

Guidance for nazims

“The nazims are new and have no experience of technical issues, therefore, this will be a helpful move – for the nazims as well as for the administration,” a participant of the Saturday night meeting said.
It was decided the district nazim will be autonomous but will be guided by deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, additional deputy commissioners and engineers in different matters.

“The district nazim will be a member of the District Development Advisory Committee (DDAC) which will supervise development funds given to MPAs, but the MPAs will have no business in the funds given to the nazim who will exercise complete autonomy in utilising those funds,” he said. Nazims at all three tiers of the LG will use funds under the rules defined for them which include proper tendering of projects, and keeping checks and balances on the utilisation of funds. He added Imran Khan did not want the MPAs and MNAs to get involved in street and sanitation issues but rather, to focus on legislative matters.

It was also decided postings and transfers in the districts and tehsils will be made under the existing rules formed by the provincial government and the district government will have no say in this regard.
Cliff hangers

Nothing was decided regarding the possible reshuffling in the K-P cabinet in the presence of all the participants.
A participant, however, confirmed Minister for Information Mushtaq Ghani—who is expected to be affected by the reshuffling—was not present at the meeting. “After the three-hour-long meeting, the chief minister and Imran Khan went to a separate room and I do not know the details of that closed-door meeting,” he said.
Saturday’s meeting at K-P House in Islamabad was attended by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Minister for Health Shahram Khan Tarakai, Minister for Education Atif Khan, Minister for Revenue and Estate Ali Amin Gandapur, Minister for Finance Muzaffar Said, PTI leaders Jahangir Tareen, Saifullah Niazi and Asad Umar. The K-P Chief Secretary and other administrative secretaries were also present at the meeting. One of the participants seeking anonymity, said, “Imran called the meeting to generally review the performance of K-P government.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/967371/...vt-pti-leaders-okay-rules-of-business-for-lg/



Fighting depression: Child trauma cases rise by 17% in nine years, says experts

PESHAWAR: A programme titled ‘Essentials of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists Practice’ was held at a hotel where experts emphasised the need to create and include trauma and stress relieving courses in
school syllabi.
According to medical experts at the session on Saturday, trauma cases had increased by 17% in the last nine years, at “an alarming rate”. They said since Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was not well-equipped to deal with students who had developed severe cases of trauma in the aftermath of the Army Public School attack, parents feared sending their children to schools. Students were also equally reluctant to leave
their homes.
While addressing doctors and other health professionals, Professor Dr Khalid Mufti said K-P did not have a single child psychiatrist. “Trained and specialised individuals from other parts of Pakistan — also from other countries — have to step in,” he said.
He added the incidence of depression had increased due to ongoing militancy and drone strikes in the region. “Suicide bombings have also become more rampant which also adds to the menace,” said Mufti.
Propositions and solutions
According to Dr Mufti, the aim of the programme was to come up with ideas and ways to introduce trauma and stress relieving courses to primary-level students.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Mufti said, “We need to include these courses not just in schools but also at religious seminaries.” He said these recommendations were made to Khyber University of Health Sciences.

World Psychiatric Association (WPA) Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Section Co-chair Dr Gordana Milavic said since a large number of children and their families were under stress and trauma, a global partnership was needed to help establish capacity building programmes in the country.
“To increase the speed of facilitation, teachers, youth and nurses should learn and train others,” she said. Milavic said while including courses to help deal with trauma into the curriculum would be a good step, the focus should be on crafting them locally.
In the past
A seminar was held on post-trauma management at Ibadat Hospital in Nishtarabad on Wednesday. The speakers were of the view that although a four-month course on trauma psychology, along with school mental health management, had become part of the courses offered in different universities, the problem will only be ameliorated if ‘trauma counseling’ was taught as a separate subject.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/966800/...-cases-rise-by-17-in-nine-years-says-experts/



Two councillors arrested for refusing to inoculate children



PESHAWAR/MARDAN: Peshawar DC Riaz Mehsud has put two councillors behind bars for refusing to inoculate children against polio virus.

According to a statement issued by the district administration on Friday, Minhaj and Saleem, two councillors from Larama and Dag union councils respectively, were arrested under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960.
Earlier, in March, the provincial government devised a strategy to reduce the number of refusal cases in the province. It urged the district administrations to arrest parents who do not vaccinate their children against the crippling virus. As a result, over 450 parents had been arrested by March 3. Although World Health Organization (WHO) voiced reservations over this policy, the Peshawar district administration decided to resume the practice to rid the city of polio.
All geared up
At least 369,056 children will be vaccinated against poliovirus during an immunisation campaign scheduled for this month in Mardan.
Plans for the drive were discussed during a meeting held at the office of Mardan DC Shahidullah Khan on Friday. The moot was attended by WHO representatives, assistant commissioners of various tehsils.
The DC announced that 1,002 teams have been constituted for the campaign. “This includes transit, fix and mobile teams,” he said. “I strongly urge officials to ensure that the drive is successful.”

According to Shahidullah, certificates will be issued to those teams who achieve their targets within the stipulated period. He also pressed parents to have their children inoculated.
“If they refuse to vaccinate their children, we will have no choice but to arrest them under Section 3 of the 1960 Ordinance,” he added.
Show of support
Polio Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Chairman Jean Marc has lauded measures taken by the government to ensure security to frontline workers. He said their endeavours have reduced the number of polio cases in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). This was stated in a press release issued on Friday.
Marc was speaking at the Emergency Operation Centre in the city where he was briefed about polio eradication initiatives, Continuous Community Protected Vaccination (CCPV) and new approaches to bring the virus under control.

“Marc voiced hope that the CCPV initiative launched in Peshawar, Bannu, Tank, Khyber Agency, FR Bannu and North Waziristan Agency would help decrease the number of refusal cases,” read the statement. “Furthermore, he said the initiative would enable polio workers to carry out campaigns in relatively inaccessible areas.”​

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3[SUP]rd[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/966391/two-councillors-arrested-for-refusing-to-inoculate-children/

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

October 15 2015

Khattak inaugurates high security prison in Mardan

MARDAN: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak inaugurated a high security prison here on Wednesday and said that the new jail having three-layer security walls had the capacity to accommodate around 2,200 prisoners.
He pointed out that construction of the high security prison was an effort to thwart challenges like Bannu and DI Khan jailbreaks in future and to ensure security of the prisoners.
The chief minister was accompanied by Chief Secretary Amjid Khan, Provincial Education Minister Mohammad Atif Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MNA Mujahid Khan, MPA Zahid Durrani, DIG Saeed Khan Wazir and other relevant officials.
After visiting different sections of the newly-constructed building, Mr Khattak told journalists that the provincial government had decided to construct the high security prison in Mardan in line with the national security policy a few years ago.
He said that prisoners from the old jail in Mardan would be shifted to this new building in the next 10 days. He said that the new building of Mardan jail was constructed with the cost of Rs1.7 billion and it had the capacity to accommodate about 2,200 prisoners.
“There are nine sectors for prisoners with each accommodating 150 inmates, 10 segregation cells, 20 death cells and two special security sectors each having 62 cells,” he said.

---

Jail has capacity to accommodate over 2,000 prisoners

---

He said that other facilities included civil prisoners sector, A and B class containing 18 rooms with attached bath and kitchen in the sector, female section for 105 prisoners, juvenile section for 105 prisoners and five cookhouses.
Mr Khattak said that the administration block of the new building of Mardan jail also had the IT and CCTV control room; three interview rooms for the male, female and A and B class prisoners; gallows cell for executions; and store besides barber/welfare shop, establishment office and three overhead water tanks.
He said that keeping in view the security challenges the government had ensured that the new Mardan jail building was equipped with all modern facilities and a secured prison.
He revealed that arrangements provided in the new prison included three-layered security walls around the prison, mobile pickup for round-the-clock surveillance around prison, floodlights in the sectors and on towers, streetlights both inside and outside the prison area, electric alarm system, pop-up blocker, eleven watch towers on perimeter wall, six pickets on the wall, four on main gates, eight pickets in prison colony and outer gate, walkthrough gates /detectors, steel barrier in front of outer main gate (first entrance), and guard rooms in all sectors.
He said that there were 399 CCTV cameras, RCC wall around the jail premises, three electric gates and provision of eight jammers. Facilities for prisoners include a mosque, geysers in female/juvenile sections and family quarters, laundry for prisoners in all sections, steel shelf and hangers in barracks, 180-bed hospital having physician/surgeon and other specialist doctors, computerized interview system and PCO(s) in all sectors.
He said that the problems of overcrowding in the prisons of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be reduced considerably. He said that the people of Mardan, Peshawar and Malakand divisions would be facilitated with the establishment of this prision in Mardan.
Published in Dawn, October 15th , 2015

http://www.dawn.com/news/1213215/khattak-inaugurates-high-security-prison-in-mardan

Web portal unveiled for service delivery to citizens



PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Wednesday unveiled a dedicated web portal for citizens to know about the performance of all tiers of the government through the use of information technology.
The web portal has been prepared by the performance management cell (PMC) at the chief secretary’s office in collaboration with the Directorate of Science and Information Technology.
Briefing mediapersons at the Civil Secretariat, chief secretary’s personal staff officer Farrukh Atiq and deputy coordinator (technical) reforms implementation cell Dr Altamash Janjua said that that PMC would manage the web portal entailing information about the performance of the district governments and provincial departments, polio eradication efforts and law and order situation. It would also facilitate online file tracking system, monitoring of annual development programme, deputy commissioner e-office and GIS-based analysis of social services delivery in the province besides carrying reports of the independent monitoring unit about the health and education departments.
Mr Atiq said that the new system would help in effective service delivery to citizens, promote accountability and transparency in government functioning, support better governance through e-governance and ensure a culture of quantified performance management for government employees.

---

Officials say step to lead to greater transparency in govt affairs

---

He said that the system was aimed at making information about the work of government functionaries accessible to public. He said that the government was also sending teams to the districts off and on to substantiate the data uploaded to the service by the DC offices across the province and even some officials had been panelized on the basis of such data.
He said that the initiative would help foster a digital culture that would lead to greater transparency in government affairs. He said that the system would be formally launched by the chief minister soon.
Dr Altamash Janjua said that they were also introducing a smart phone application, which was available for download at the citizen portal. He said that through this App, people could submit complaints supported by the video, pictorial and audio evidence of any issue related to the government affairs. He said that in case the DC office did not take that complaint into account it would automatically reach the commissioner’s office.
Published in Dawn, October 15th , 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1213218/web-portal-unveiled-for-service-delivery-to-citizens


Over 100 officials face action for concealing status on passports


PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved disciplinary action against 147 officials of excise and taxation department for concealing their status on passports and visiting foreign countries without getting official approval, according to sources.
Sources said that the officials neither mentioned their occupation as government employee on their passports and many of them visited foreign countries without getting No Objection Certificates (NOC) from their departments.
They said that the officials even did not mention their foreign visits in their annual income declarations. “Now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan has approved action against the said officials,” they added.
Documents available with this scribe show that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Directorate of Immigration and Passports also assisted the excise and taxation department in the inquiry launched earlier this year.
The documents say that it has been reported in the information received from the Directorate of Immigration and Passports regional office Peshawar and also from the travel history of the officers of excise and taxation department received from FIA regional office Peshawar that many of these employees have willfully concealed their official status while applying for visas for their visits abroad.
“It has also surfaced that reportedly many of these foreign visits are made without properly taking ex-Pakistan leave from the competent authority,” the documents say.

---

Documents say officials of excise and taxation department visited foreign countries without getting approval

---

The willful concealment of the official status is a criminal offense in itself, liable to be proceeded against under the 6 section of sub-section (i) of the Passport Act 1974. Visiting foreign countries without seeking ex-Pakistan leave from the competent authority is also against Government Servants Efficiency and Discipline (E&D) rules.
The inquiry recommends that all those officials should be proceeded against and FIRs should be lodged against them by FIA under 6 section of the sub-section (i) of Passport Act, 1974 for willful concealment of their official status in their passports.
It also says that all those excise and taxation officials, who have not obtained ex-Pakistan leave while visiting abroad, should be preceded against E&D rules. It also suggests that this exercise, which has proved so useful and successful, may also be recommended for the perusal of the provincial chief secretary, so that the same could be carried out in all other departments to ensure transparency, discipline and curb irregularities.
Another document states that hectic exercise proves that most officers of excise and taxation department were complying with the conduct/service rules. It says that the data received from both FIA and Immigration and Passports office shows that most of the staff constantly visits the foreign countries without proper permission, getting NOCs from the government and without bothering to apply for ex-Pakistan leave and violating the Passport Act by the false statements and concealing their identities.
“This unprofessional, illegal and pathetic approach on the part of the excise and taxation employees is highly condemnable and cannot allowed to go unnoticed,” the document says.
The data of the 147 employees, available with this scribe, shows that a deputy director of BPS-18, a system analyst and a computer programmer of BPS-17, nine excise and taxation officers (ETOs) of BPS-17, a assistant director accounts of BPS-17, 48 excise and taxation inspectors of BPS-14, six assistant ETOs of BPS-16, five stenographers of BPS-14, two data-processing supervisors of BPS-14, two sub-inspectors of BPS-9, 29 computer operators of BPS-12 and 43 assistant sub inspectors of (ASI) BPS-7 are among those, who concealed their status on their passports.
The acting secretary of excise, when contacted for comments, confirmed that chief secretary approved action against those officials on Friday last. He said that after the approval of the chief secretary, the director general of excise and taxation was the competent authority to take action against those officials.
Published in Dawn, October 15th , 2015

http://www.dawn.com/news/1213217/over-100-officials-face-action-for-concealing-status-on-passports

Women teachers get cash prizes for good performance

IMERGARA: Cash prizes of Rs100,000 and Rs50,000 were distributed among six head teachers and 42 teachers of government girls high, higher and middle schools in Lower Dir for their good performance.

The schools’ heads were also provided with computer sets, printers and teachers’ tablets during a function held at government girls’ centennial model high school here. JI woman wing deputy secretary Ayesha Syed was the chief guest.
The prizes were given to the teachers on the report of the independent monitoring unit, which assessed their performance. Girl students also presented tableaus, national anthem and songs and speeches on the occasion and received appreciation from the audience.
Addressing the gathering, MNA Ayesha Syed appreciated the role of female teachers in educating girls despite threats to their lives by militants.
She said the present government had given priority to the education sector and now it was responsibility of the teachers to help the government achieve the goal.
On the occasion, the district education officer said all state run girls schools in the district were being provided with basic facilities and staff
http://www.dawn.com/news/1213216/women-teachers-get-cash-prizes-for-good-performance








PM protecting Punjab’s interests at the cost of smaller provinces: ANP



PESHAWAR: Awami National Party central president Asfandyar Wali Khan on Wednesday said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and some other quarters were interested in protecting interests of Punjab at the cost of small federating units.
“The message is being given that Pakistan is Punjab and Punjab is Pakistan,” he said, warning consequences of such policy would be dangerous for the country as the ANP would protect rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Fata and Pakhtuns.
Asfandyar was addressing the ANP provincial executive council here at Bacha Khan Markaz on Wednesday, said a statement.
He spoke on various issues including Kalabagh dam, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, changing scenario in Afghanistan, terrorism, and reforms in tribal areas.
The ANP leader came down heavily on the federal government for ‘changing’ stand on Kalabagh dam and CPEC, saying like Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif was also in the habit of making U-turn on policy statements and announcements.
“Besides external challenges, Pakistan is facing internal threats too. Unfortunately, our rulers and some institutions are desirous to build Kalabagh dam,” the statement quoted Asfandyar as saying.

---

Asfandyar Wali castigates Nawaz Sharif for changing stand on Kalabagh, CPEC

---

The ANP leader also said some quarters including Nawaz Sharif had developed consensus on the CPEC and adopted policy to protect interests of Punjab.
Expressing serious reservations about the CPEC, he said Nawaz Sharif had changed his stand and that the federal ministers were violating unanimous decisions of the All-Party Conference held in Islamabad.
Asfandyar said it was the unanimous decision of the APC to start construction of western route of the CPEC to protect interests of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but that decision was being violated.
About the issue of Kalabagh dam, he said very powerful and authoritarian regimes could not build the dam, then who they (Nawaz Sharif and his team) were to put up the controversial water reservoir.
The ANP leader said his party had a very clear policy and stand on Kalabagh dam, Fata, terrorism and National Action Plan, and would protect all constitutional rights of the province and Pakhtuns at all costs.

About the situation in Afghanistan, Asfandyar said Islamabad and Kabul were on the path of reconciliation after the visit of Afghan president Ashraf Ghani to Pakistan, but that spirit was not maintained.
“It seems that some quarters have re-adopted their previous policies regarding Afghanistan,” he said, adding that peace in Afghanistan was inevitable for peace and prosperity in Pakistan.
The ANP leader said Afghanistan had changed and that the time had gone when the Taliban or any other force was imposed on Afghan people.
He said it was imperative to abandon the policy to use force and soil against each other.
Regarding Fata, Asfandyar said the ANP was in favour of drastic and genuine legal, political and administrative reforms in the country’s northwest tribal region.
He said his party’s policy was to merge Fata with KP and bring the neglected belt to the mainstream politics.
The ANP leader called for the implementation of National Action Plan in letter and spirit in order to eliminate terrorism and extremism from Pakistan, Afghanistan and the entire region.
He said his party did not support violence and negative politics and believed in political struggle.
Asfandyar also criticised policies of the coalition government in KP and said bad governance was one of the serious issues in the province.
He said the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had expelled the Qaumi Watan Party from the government over corruption but recently accommodated the latter in the ruling coalition.
The ANP leader said Imran Khan didn’t accept defeat and began hue and cry about rigging when his party lost polls.
He said when the PTI won polls, only then he (Imran) termed the process transparent and fair.
Published in Dawn, October 15th , 2015

http://www.dawn.com/news/1213223/pm...nterests-at-the-cost-of-smaller-provinces-anp


Seven kilograms of heroin recovered from car



SWABI: A big quantity of heroin was recovered from a Punjab-bound car and the alleged smuggler was arrested here on Wednesday, police said.
DPO Javid Iqbal told a press conference that on a tip-off the Chota Lahor police were told to be vigilant as a big quantity of heroin would be smuggled to Punjab through Swabi-Jehangira road.
He said policemen stopped a car (LTF 7591) near Chota Lahor canal. On search, the personnel found seven kilogram of the contraband from the car and arrested its driver, Fawad Ali Raza of Kabali Gate, Peshawar. The police also impounded the vehicle and registered FIR against the alleged drug trafficker.
The DPO said that the detained smuggler confessed that he wanted to smuggle the drugs to the Punjab province.
Meanwhile, the police also arrested four robbers in Tordher, and recovered Rs37,000, six mobiles, a motorcycle and four pistols from their possession.
Similarly, Razaar tehsil police arrested six robbers and recovered Rs70,000, four pistols, a Kalashnikov and five mobiles from them. The police registered FIRs against them and started investigations.
MILITANT IDENTIFIED: Police said on Wednesday the militant who blew himself up during Tuesday night encounter with the police had been identified as Asim Khan of Malikabad, a village in Gadoon mountainous region.
DPO Javid Iqbal said the militant was involved in imparting training to his accomplices and wanted to police in various cases.
The police officer admitted that when the police conducted operation in Maini area at night some other militants accompanying Asim escaped taking advantage of the darkness.
He said the body of the militant was handed over to his family, and an FIR was registered in Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate police station against unknown terrorists.
Published in Dawn, October 15th , 2015

http://www.dawn.com/news/1213222/seven-kilograms-of-heroin-recovered-from-car


KP notifies Local Govt Commission headed by minister


PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Wednesday notified formation of the Local Government Commission to carry out its mandated functions and responsibilities.
According to the notification, Provincial Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan will head the commission as its chairman. The members of the commission include MPA Sardar Mohammad Idrees Khan, MPA Mahmood Ahmad Khan, Dr Mohammad Iqbal Khalil as technocrat, Shumaila Tabassum as female technocrat, Law Secretary Mohammad Arifeen and Local Government Secretary Syed Jamalud Din Shah. Local Government Director General Adil Siddiq would be act as secretary of the commission.
Section 55 of the Local Government Act, 2013, which is about the functions of the Local Government Comm-ission, states that its functions shall be to conduct annual and special inspections of local governments and submit reports to the government.
It shall conduct, on its own initiative or, whenever, so directed by the chief minister or, whenever, a reference is made by a nazim, district council, an inquiry by itself or through district government into any matter concerning a local government.
The law has also empowered the commission to resolve disputes between local governments. The commission will submit to the chief minister an annual report on the overall performance of district governments and tehsils municipal administrations and take cognisance of violations of laws and rules by a local government.
Section 55 (2) states: “Where the Local Government Commission is of the opinion that suspension of a nazim, naib nazim or a member of a local council is necessary for the purposes of a fair inquiry or preventing him from continuing with any unlawful activity during an inquiry, it may recommend to the chief minister for suspension of such nazim, naib nazim or a member of a local council, as the case may be, for a maximum period of thirty days.”
The law says that where, on an inquiry, the Local Government Commission holds a nazim, naib nazim or member of a council guilty of misconduct, it shall recommend appropriate action, including his removal, to the chief minister.
Published in Dawn, October 15th , 2015

http://www.dawn.com/news/1213211/kp-notifies-local-govt-commission-headed-by-minister

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Oct 14 2015

Tour de Galyat Cycle Race concludes
[h=1]

[/h]ABBOTTABAD: Habibullah of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) lifted the glittering trophy of the Tour de Galyat Cycle Race organised jointly by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa tourism department and KP cycling association.
Total 78 cyclists representing nine teams took part in the cycle race which was started from Islamabad and ended at Nathiagali. The race was organised in two phases; cyclists completed their first leg from Islamabad to Abbottabad on Tuesday, covering a distance of 119km, and the final round was held from Abbottabad to Nathiagali where cyclist covered a distance of 30km.
In the final relay, Najeebullah of Wapda covered the journey in one hour 25 minutes and 27 seconds, followed by Habibullah of SSGC covering the distance in one hour 27 minutes and 44 seconds, while the third place was captured by Awais of SSGC.
On the first leg, Habibullah of SSGC had got first position, Awais second and Nisar of Wapda third.
Amjad Afridi, adviser to the chief minister, was the chief guest at the closing ceremony.
Published in Dawn, October 15th , 2015

http://www.dawn.com/news/1213209/tour-de-galyat-cycle-race-concludes


[h=1]Private hospitals lack facilities needed for life-saving procedures

[/h]PESHAWAR: Lack of emergency health care services at the private hospitals has been causing complications to patients that force them to go to teaching hospitals for further treatment, according to doctors.
“There is no intensive care unit (ICU) in the Dabgari Gardens where 80 per cent of the private hospitals are located. Over 200 small and big operations and biopsies take place in more than two dozen operation theatres daily, but patients suffer when they develop complications,” a senior consultant told Dawn. The patients have to suffer in case of emergencies due to unavailability of ICU, CCU and other facilities needed for life-saving procedures at the hospitals, he said.
The situation with regard to functioning of the private hospitals elsewhere in the city is no different.
Women with post-delivery complications often land in the teaching hospitals due to unavailability of ICUs and other essential emergency support services in private hospitals, a physician said. Infants are also rushed frequently to the teaching facilities as the ill-equipped hospitals lack the desired infrastructure, he said.
He said that majority of the hospitals did not have the required setup for emergency patients due to which patients developed problems.

---

[h=4]Patients developing complications often have to go to teaching hospitals[/h]

---

A surgeon said that he performed only simple operations at the private hospital in the evening because he could not put the lives of chronic patients at risk. “We do all complicated operations in the government hospital in the morning because we can manage emergencies easily there,” he said.
He said that the patients were examined by physicians, cardiologists, etc to see if they were fit for anesthesia before being operated upon by surgeons at the teaching hospitals, but in private hospitals such protocols weren’t followed.
All the privately-owned medical centres run their own network of clinical laboratories, X-ray, Ultrasound and other diagnostic procedures, etc where the patients were sent from the clinics. Most of such labs operated unauthorised in the absence of any mechanism by the government to check their working.
Diabetic and hypertensive patients are the worst sufferers at the private centre. “The private hospital lack resuscitation services, and trained and regular staff to look after seriously-ill patients,” he said.
At most of the labs at the private centre, hepatitis ‘B’ and ‘C’ tests are done on ICT – an old method in the presence of Aliza, a new worldwide technique, which leads to infections. “People are also being referred to the government hospitals due to severe infections of wounds after surgeries,” he said.
The KP health department has been dragging its feet on the Health Care Commission (HCC) Act 2015, implementation of which PTI chairman Imran Khan wants at the earliest.
The HCC was initially described as a compressive law to check private hospitals and later amendments were proposed, which are awaited.
Sources said that the health department was under pressure to seek magisterial powers for the HCC through amendments, but they added that there was opposition because powers of arrest and prosecution would lead to arbitrariness. Powers to impose penalties on the violators is the domain of court, they said. The HCC has been notified five months ago, but is yet to start working.
Dr Mohammad Zafar, chairman board of governors HCC, told Dawn that the amendments had been proposed by experts to make the law effective. He said that the commission would set quality standards for each and every outlet in the private sector so that patients could receive quality care.
Dr Zafar said that action against unauthorised private hospitals was in progress under the deputy commissioners. “Once the HCC is fully in place, we will be able to streamline the operations of private hospitals,” he said.
Published in Dawn, October 14th , 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1212990/private-hospitals-lack-facilities-needed-for-life-saving-procedures


[h=1]KP police stations, posts to have modern facilities

[/h]PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Tuesday announced to convert all 282 police stations and police posts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into modern facilities on the lines of the model police stations established in Peshawar and certain other cities of the province.
He was chairing a meeting held here to review the proposed amendments in the Police Act.
Senior Local Government Minister Inayatullah Khan, Senior Minister for Health and Information Technology Shahram kahan Tarakai, Minister for Education Atif Khan, Minister for Public Health Shah Farman, MPA Aneesa Zeb Tahirkheli, Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan and IGP Nasir Khan Durrani were among those in attendance.
Mr Khattak also formed a four-member committee to examine legal implications of the amendments in the Police Act suggested by the cabinet’s sub-committee and the police department.
The chief minister stressed the need for devising a foolproof, smooth and independent system to deal with postings, transfers and appraisal of the civil servants.
The meeting constituted a committee headed by the senior local government minister to suggest civil services reforms or amendments in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Servants Act.
Mr Khattak directed the police department to establish its own traffic engineering department and asked the relevant authorities to prepare PC-1 for renovating all police stations of the province and equipping them with latest facilities and trained and well mannered police officials.
Published in Dawn, October 14th , 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1212984/kp-police-stations-posts-to-have-modern-facilities


[h=1]Police take two prisoners into custody for ‘abusing’ fellow inmates

[/h]PESHAWAR: The police on Tuesday took into custody two inmates of Peshawar Central Prison on the charge of sexually abusing other prisoners on the premises.
The police officials told Dawn that an FIR was registered at the East Cantonment police station against two prisoners and three officials of Peshawar central jail on last Friday after a teenage inmate complained of sexual abuse against them.
They said Peshawar district and sessions judge Shahid Khan had ordered the registration of the FIR against the suspects under sections 377 and 109 of Pakistan Penal Code.
The officials said the police’s investigation staff had secured the custody of two prisoners named in the FIR.
They said a judicial magistrate gave the suspected prisoners in the police’s custody on their request for interrogation.
The official identified prisoners as Ghulam Nabi alias Prisoner No 75 and Rahat, a resident of Kangra village of Charsadda district.

---

[h=4]FIR lodged against five including three jail officials on teenage inmate’s complaint of abuse[/h]

---

They said the police had yet to arrest three jail staff members named in the FIR and that the arrests would be made after securing the prison department’s approval. A copy of the FIR available with Dawn shows that an undertrial juvenile prisoner had complained against five people, including three jail staff members and two prisoners.
The suspects were charged under sections 377 and 109 of Pakistan Panel Code. Section 377 deals with voluntary unnatural sex, while Section 109 is about abetment of a crime.
The FIR dated October 9, 2015 identifies the suspects as prisoner No 75, Numbardar Rahat, jail assistant Ajmal Khan, and chakki (confinement cells) chiefs at the prison Anwar Din and Siyar.
The FIR states that complainant in his statement before a judicial magistrate said that he was incarcerated in the Peshawar central jail and jail staffers including jail assistant Ajmal Khan and chakki chiefs Anwar Din and Siyar took Rs6,000 from prisoner No 75 identified by police as Ghulam Nabi and took him to the said prisoner’s barrack at night.
The complainant added that when he made hue and cry, another prisoner Numbardar Rahat beat him up and later Ghulam Nabi alias prisoner No 75 committed unnatural sex with him.
He also said he was ready for his medical examination and that justice should be dispensed to him.
Few days ago, the prisoner had lodged a complaint about the matter with Peshawar district and sessions judge Shahid Khan, who had ordered an inquiry into it.
The complainant named in two theft cases has been in the prison since Aug 18, 2014.
An official told Dawn that after the alleged victim had lodged complaint the district judge had referred him to a judicial magistrate for recording his statement and also conducting preliminary inquiry into his allegations.
Sources informed that the magistrate had recorded statements of some inmates of the prison.
In light of the said preliminary inquiry (when), the district and sessions judge had exercised his powers of Justice of Peace under Section 22-A of Code of Criminal Procedure and had directed the Peshawar senior superintendent of police (investigation) to take action under relevant provision of law.
Meanwhile, the provincial information department said in a statement that its juvenile section was completely segregated from the adult section and that juvenile prisoners were not allowed to mix up with adult prisoners.
It added that juveniles were also not confined to barracks meant for adults and that adolescent prisoners of the age group of 18-21 were kept in a separate barrack.
The department claimed that the age of some of the prisoners confined in adolescents barracks was certified by the Jail Medical Officer to be above 21 years and therefore, they were shifted out of adolescents barracks where upon they started sending complaints to various authorities so as to get back to their previous barrack by pressuring and blackmailing jail administration on grounds of false and ill-founded non specific allegations.
“In the same campaign, one of them, who is not juvenile or adolescent, alleged sexual harassment by another prisoner of the same barrack insisting he was put in that barrack by prison officials purposely. There are no instances of sexual harassment of juvenile inmates in this jail,” it insisted.
Published in Dawn, October 14th , 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1212985/police-take-two-prisoners-into-custody-for-abusing-fellow-inmates

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

October 13 2015

[h=1]Traders pull down encroachments voluntarily

[/h]MANSEHRA: Traders have begun demolishing unmovable encroachments from Shinkiari Road, a highly congested area in the city, after receiving notices from the district administration.
“We are voluntarily pulling down encroachments even multi-storey buildings. At the same time, we want the administration to execute the ongoing anti- encroachment campaign across the board,” trader leader Khurram Qadir told reporters on Monday.
The district administration had served notices on traders to demolish their shops or commercial centres located in the right of way.
Khurram Qadir said the voluntary demolition of encroachments was underway in the area from Markazi Chowk to Nari Masjid.
Qadir said deputy commissioner Mansehra Amer Khattak held talks with traders and sought their support in removal of encroachments.
“We extended all kinds of cooperation to the district administration and started demolishing shops and trade centres but now the administration should immediately put up steel grills on sewers and blacktop vacated portion of roads,” he said.
The district administration had planned anti-encroachment campaign on Shinkiari Road to ensure flow of traffic. Trader Mohammad Bilal said it was a good sign that the government had begun anti-encroachment drive but it should be spread to other roads in the city and its suburbs too. He said both traders and road users were badly affected by encroachments and that the crackdown on them would ease traffic jam.
Bilal said traders in other areas should follow suit and remove encroachments themselves.
He said the tehsil municipal administration should provide better civic services to the people, including traders.
POWER OUTAGES: The frequent power cuts have stressed out the people in Mansehra.
The Peshawar Electricity Supply Company had suspended electricity from early morning to late evening on Sunday and Monday and thus, causing water shortage at homes and commercial centres.
Syed Jabran Shah said power outages during the last two days brought the life to a standstill in Mansehra.
He said the situation had caused heavy losses to traders.
Mohammad Waqar said he paid Rs10 for a document’s photocopy due to power outage.
He said the government instead of addressing the people’s problems was increasing them.
Published in Dawn, October 13th , 2015

http://www.dawn.com/news/1212776/traders-pull-down-encroachments-voluntarily




[h=1]KP to have biodegradable shopping bags after three months

[/h]PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and manufactures have agreed to replace non-biodegradable shopping bags with biodegradable ones after three months.

“The owners of the factories manufacturing shopping bags have agreed with the provincial government that they will stop the production of the black coloured polythene shopping bags” MPA Shaukat Yousfazai, who heads a special committee constituted by the chief minister for the purpose, told Dawn.
He said that provincial government and manufacturers also agreed to convert the machinery of making biodegradable shopping bags within three months.
A meeting chaired by Chief Minister Prevez Khattak here on Monday also decided to enact strict and effective laws to cover all aspects of use and manufacturing of non-biodegradable shopping bags, food containers, bottles and such other hazardous products, according to a statement.
The meeting also decided to impose ban on use of black coloured polythene shopping bags as first step to stop use, sale and manufacturing of all sorts of polythene shopping bags.
The report of the special committee, constituted by the chief minister last month with MPA Shaukat Ali Yusafzai as its head, was also presented during the meeting that highlighted all aspects of the issue and suggested measures to address the problem.

---

[h=4]MPA says manufacturers have agreed to stop production of black coloured polythene bags[/h]

---

The chief minister had formed the committee to chalk out a strategy to impose ban on polythene bags and explore ways and means for introducing feasible, economical and acceptable alternative for it.
“The factories will not manufacture the hazardous shopping bags after three months as the government has directed them to phase out their existing stock in three months,” Mr Yousafzai told Dawn, when asked about the decisions taken in the meeting.
He said that strict punishment for the shopkeepers and manufacturers was also under consideration that would to be implemented after six months. He said that all the wholesalers were also directed to dispose of the available stock of non-biodegradable shopping bags.
The district administration, nazims, naib nazims and councillors of the local government would help the government to implement its decision of introducing biodegradable shopping bags in the markets, he said. “They would visit the markets for checking the non-biodegradable shopping bags,” he said.
Expressing his resolve to get rid of the menace of hazardous shopping bags, the chief minister said that no compromise would be made to ban use as well as manufacturing of the shopping bags which had been declared dangerous for human health and the sanitation system.
He said that even difficult decisions would not be avoided to stop manufacturing, sale and use of such bags. He directed the authorities concerned to take necessary measures including desirable legislation to deal effectively with menace of unsafe and harmful shopping bags.
Besides others, the meeting was attended by secretaries of local government, environment and industry department, director general environmental protection agency (EPA), chief executive of WSSP, chairman of Chief Minister Complaint Cell, commissioner of Peshawar and representatives of traders.
The participants of the meeting termed use of black coloured shopping bags the most dangerous for human health as well as sanitation system of the province. It was decided that in the first phase complete ban would be imposed on manufacturing, sale and use of black shopping bags, however, three months time would be given to the traders, retailers as well as the factory owners for disposal of existing stock of black polythene bags and the hazardous raw material used in making of such bags.
The meeting decided that in future manufacturing of only biodegradable polythene bags, bearing thickness of at least 30 micron, would be allowed.
It was also decided to register manufacturers, traders and retailers of plastic shopping bags with the local council concerned to regulate the business and proper regulations regarding manufacturing and marketing of safe plastic shopping bags would be formulated and the EPA would be strengthened to check the plastic bags and other food packing materials.
Published in Dawn, October 13th , 2015

http://www.dawn.com/news/1212758/kp-to-have-biodegradable-shopping-bags-after-three-months


[h=1]Juveniles abused in Peshawar jail, alleges teenage inmate

[/h]PESHAWAR: A juvenile prisoner of the Peshawar Central Prison has alleged that he and other juvenile inmates have been sexually abused inside the jail and that certain prison officials ‘supply’ them to adult prisoners.
Official sources informed that few days ago, the boy, stated to be around 14-15, had lodged a complaint with the Peshawar district and sessions judge, Shahid Khan, who had ordered an inquiry into the matter.
The district judge, who is also having powers of the presiding officer of the juvenile court, directed judicial magistrate Asif Khan Jadoon to conduct the inquiry and submit the report to him.
An official said the judicial magistrate had recorded statement of the alleged victim and ordered the production of the record of the jail’s juvenile section.

According to official data, there are around 105 juvenile prisoners in the Peshawar central prison.
Among them are 95 under-trials and 10 convicts. There are around 338 juvenile prisoners in all the prisons and judicial lock-ups in the province including 311 under trial juveniles and 27 convicted.
The official said the alleged victim had submitted his complaint last Thursday when he was brought from the prison to a local court on completion of his judicial remand.

---

[h=4]Magistrate probing matter, seeks record of prison’s juvenile section[/h]

---

The court had recorded his statement and forwarded his complaint and the statement to the district judge.
The official said the boy had named four prison officials doing duties inside the main prison compound.
Although the juvenile section is separate, it is situated inside the prison’s building.
The boy has allegedly said the said officials had randomly been taking out juvenile inmates and supplying them to different prisoners on return for monitory considerations.
He has also requested that his medical examination might be conducted. He has alleged that other prison officials were aware of the heinous acts but they had turned a blind eye to it.
The ‘victim’ said other juvenile inmates had not been raising their voice out of fear of torture by the prison officials as well as adult prisoners.
Under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Juvenile Justice System Rules 2002, a juvenile means a person who at the time of commission of an offence has not attained the age of 18 years and includes a child and a youthful offender.
Interestingly, the said rules were notified in 2012 and under them, the government will set up a borstal institution for juvenile offenders in each of the district, but despite passage of over a decade no institution has so far been made functional in the province.
“The previous provincial government had enacted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Borstal Institution Act, 2012, under which the government was to establish one or more Borstal institutions at such place or places in the province as it may determined,” said Jehanzeb Khan, the regional head of Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child.
However, he said the provincial government had so far not notified rules for the functioning of the borstal institutions.
Despite the presence of the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance, 2000, and the Borstal Institution Act, 2012, the successive governments have failed to set up such institutions separate from the existing prisons.
Presently, juvenile sections have been functioning inside different prisons and have been supervised by the same prison officials, who have not been trained on juvenile delinquency.
Jehanzeb said a child offender should be kept behind bars as a last resort, but in Pakistan, the objective could not be achieved despite the promulgation of the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance around 15 years ago.
He said children continued to languish in prisons even in petty offences like theft.
Published in Dawn, October 13th , 2015

http://www.dawn.com/news/1212760/juveniles-abused-in-peshawar-jail-alleges-teenage-inmate

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

[h=1]Creative grants: K-P funds artists to promote local culture



[/h]PESHAWAR: The directorate of culture has announced on Tuesday the approval of Rs5 million for the welfare of artists. The funding will be distributed among deserving artists by next week.
Director Mehmood Khan told The Express Tribune that 114 singers, actors, musicians, poets and writers were selected by a special committee of artists and government officials.
Secretary Azam Khan approved the funds for artists struggling due to the lack of cultural activities in the province. “There have been hundreds of applications submitted by artists and singers during the last couple of years; however, no action was taken by the government,” said Mehmood, adding there were a total of 355 applications of financial assistance.
Read: Za Yam Pakhtunkhwa: Project to preserve culture to be launched
Some of the artists selected for funding included Khyal Muhmmad, Hidayatullah, Ahmad Gul, Akbar Husain, Zarsanga, Mashooq Sultan, Aqal Mena, Almas Khalil, Naeem Jan, Gulab Sher, Jalil Shabnum, Sardar Ali, Zeenat Mahal, drama artist Samina Sahar, Ashiq Husain, Ishrat Abbas, Iftikhar Qaiser, Sohail Asad and film star Aman.
“These are artists who have played an important role in the promotion of our culture,” said Mehmood, adding, “We are trying to take steps for their welfare so they can continue their services in a better manner.”
Earlier in July, the directorate proclaimed another Rs30,000 out of the Rs180 million allocation to be provided to deserving artists. A committee will soon be formed for this purpose.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/972413/creative-grants-k-p-funds-artists-to-promote-local-culture/



[h=1]Step in the right direction

[/h]PESHAWAR: In 2004, surveys by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicated that Pakistan’s consumption would increase to a staggering 112 billion plastic bags by 2015.
The industry manufacturing these environmental hazards saw a 15% growth rate back in early 2004 with an average of 397 plastic bags used per individual. It was based on this growth rate that the agency made its prediction. Ever since environment was devolved to provinces under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, another survey has not been conducted.
These statistics, though alarming, caused little concern at the time. In 2008, the National Assembly passed a resolution in April demanding plastic shopping bags be banned and replaced by biodegradable ones.
However, it was not until recently that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government took the first and most important step of not just officially banning black shopping bags, but also banning the manufacture of plastic bags less than 30 microns.
The policy devised is based on an extensive study aiming to find a long lasting solution for the problem. There are over 300 plastic manufacturing units in K-P alone. The main concern of the factories and the government is the workforce employed by these units.
Read: Green shopping habits : Biodegradable shopping bags to replace black plastic in K-P
Finding a middle ground
However, certain measures have been taken to avoid any confrontation. While the usage of biodegradable materials will increase the cost of shopping bags, the government now plans to ban the import of cheap quality shopping bags from outside K-P. In addition, equipment will be sent to all district offices of the EPA where deputy commissioners and nazims will be responsible for keeping a constant check on plastic shopping bags used in their districts. Reports will also be filed on a regular basis.
These steps are highly commendable, especially taking the situation in places like Peshawar into account. The provincial capital and other parts of the province see their pipelines choked even during seasonal rainfalls. This results in millions of rupees worth of damage to the drainage and sewerage system.
Changing perceptions
Above all, the public believes the government is not serious about the job at hand. However, most importantly, it is the people who need to understand the environmental hazards of using plastic bags. Unfortunately, legislation alone cannot guarantee a ‘clean and green society’ – to use the famous clich of the PTI-led government. The masses must be sensitised on the matter.
Read: Non-degradable products: Plastic bags posing environmental hazards
Recent legislation moved in the K-P assembly, through an amendment in the Canal and Drainage Act 1873, increased the fines from Rs50 to Rs20,000. The British-era law allows penalties for anyone blocking sewage lines or throwing polythene bags to clog them. The fines are coupled with a prison term between a month and one year.
About time
The negligence itself is visible. After all, it is only the first amendment in 142 years in an environment that has deteriorated drastically over the last century and a half.
However, the recent steps must be considered a step in the right direction. Credit should be given where it is due; not many previous governments have realised the effects of environmental hazards. The counter argument is that not many governments confronted the kind of environmental hazards K-P has faced in recent times. Regardless, one of the oldest clichs on the book applies aptly to the current situation; desperate times demand desperate measures.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/972414/step-in-the-right-direction/

Tech-aches: Computerisation of land records at standstill
[h=1]

[/h]PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa may be on the road to automation, but not before it irons out some chinks in existing computerisation projects.

One such current project on the verge of collapse is related to the computerisation of property tax records and is run by the K-P Excise and Taxation Department.
The project was launched in November 2005 with the Science and Technology and Information Technology (ST&IT) department as the financier, while the E&T department was the executor and operator.
The ST&IT recruited computer experts for the project to create a database for records across K-P.
No one on the other end
Officials dealing with the matter said the project was not extended due to the lack of government interest. As a result, it holds no operational funds or money to pay salaries, much to the dismay of employees.
The project staff and E&T officials blame the Planning and Development (P&D) for not granting an extension, while the latter claims the former is delaying PC-1 for the project.
Project manager Arsalan Ahmed Khan told The Express Tribune, “I have to convince my staff on a daily basis issues are going to get resolved and salaries will get paid.” He added they have to borrow printer pages from other departments.
“We are at a stage in life where you can’t ask your parents for money and most of my colleagues have children,” Asghar Ali, a deputy project manager explained.

Khan and Ali said some of their staff members had been associated with the project for the past 10 years. They urged the govern-
ment to either regularise them or appoint them as ad hoc employees.
“They are all highly educated and trained in their fields and now they can’t get jobs in other departments because they have crossed the age limit,” Ali said.
Three more years
He added the officials want the P&D department to extend the project for three and a half years. The period would allow them to not only complete the first project, but others too, or so they claimed.
“We will computerise tax, the E&T record room, and form-1 for confiscated vehicles in the extended period,” Khan said. He said the geographical information system (GIS) module for the department would enable it to find new construction in the province and thus increase its tax net.
“Since 2005, we have earned Rs2.7 billion in revenue for the department, while the project cost only Rs129.89 million,” he claimed. “We have brought everything to their fingertips. Calculations which used to take weeks are now a click away because of the hard work of the staff.”
Ali said that since 2005, they have put in 16 million entries into the database and now an inspector of the E&T department has access to a computerized challan with details of the property taxpayer in seconds. A computerised challan is mandatory to submit property tax in the State Bank of Pakistan.
“The State Bank of Pakistan does not accept a handwritten challan so if the project is not extended, the E&T would lose revenue generated from property tax collections,” said Khan, He complained salaries were secondary to the blood and sweat poured into a project which could take years to rebuild.
When asked about the issue, P&D Rural Development chief Muhammad Islam said the project PC-1 had been approved twice by the department and extended until June 2015 through the ADP.
“We can’t approve a project’s PC-1 more than two times legally. They have to take the CM’s permission for the PC-1 approval and also okay it in the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) meeting,” said Islam.
He said the project had been running for 10 years and the E&T department should either regularise staff or stop the project.

The project, if extended for another three and a half years under the Annual Development Programme, would have an estimated cost of Rs189 million.​

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.


http://tribune.com.pk/story/972958/tech-aches-computerisation-of-land-records-at-standstill/

[h=1]Of propositions and solutions: ANP opposes construction of Kalabagh Dam

[/h]PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan opposed the construction of Kalabagh Dam at a meeting of the party’s working committee at Bacha Khan Markaz held on Wednesday.
Asfandyar said the construction of the dam will be opposed at all cost and his party’s stance in this regard was crystal clear. “No one should misunderstand the position of ANP regarding the building of Kalabagh Dam – we will resist it and subsequently defend the rights and interests of Pukhtuns,” he said.
He added many people in the country were trying to create an impression that only Punjab was the real Pakistan. “This false assumption needs to change since all other nationalities and provinces are also part of Pakistan and will remain so,” said Asfandyar.
“There are some people in the country who only want to take care of Punjab’s interests on important matters like China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Kalabagh Dam but let me tell them, ANP will work tirelessly to defend the interests of the Pukhtun nation,” said Asfandyar.
Restoring old friendship
ANP chief said it was a pity Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani’s visit created only a short-lived friendship.
“Peace in Pakistan is tied to peace in Afghanistan and since the age of installing Taliban on the throne of Kabul is long gone, both nations should cooperate and work together,” said Asfandyar. “None of the two countries should allow their soil to be used against the other.”
Exposing hypocrisy
According to Asfandyar, Pakistan was faced with a lot of challenges but instead of solving these problems, the ruling elite was trying to create more anarchy in the country by touching controversial matters.
“The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government was adopting dubious tactics,” he said. “At first, it expelled Qaumi Watan Party from the government on corruption charges but has now included it once again – this shows PTI’s real face to the world,” said ANP chief.
“In the areas where PTI won, it claimed voting was fair and impartial but in areas where it lost votes, it stated elections had been rigged,” he added.

Regarding the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Asfandyar said it should be made part of K-P and reforms should be introduced to make it a part of mainstream politics.​

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/972962/...ons-anp-opposes-construction-of-kalabagh-dam/



[h=1]Agent of change: Social activist continues to lead Pabbi to progress

[/h]PESHAWAR: Dilshad Begum is no stranger to philanthropy. Social activist and a councillor on a reserved seat for women from Pabbi tehsil, Nowshera, the 65-year-old has devoted years to help those in need.

She has struggled to ensure children in the region have access to quality education.
“My mission is to see pens and not guns in the hands of young people,” she tells The Express Tribune. “If there is something that can bring change in our society, it is education.”
Unlike most children she has helped, Dilshad Begum has only completed her primary education. However, she wants children in Pabbi to go to school and gain the potential to excel.
Helping hand
Every year, Dilshad Begum oversees a checklist of arrangements to assist children who want to get an education. She has helped over 200 children obtain books, bags and uniforms. At least 15 children have been able to gain admission at various schools in Pabbi through her endeavours.
She is currently collecting funds for a student who has passed his entrance test for a medical college but cannot afford to study at the institute. Her efforts have not gone in vain as she has garnered the trust of her community through her generosity and goodwill. So far, many people have donated large sums of money to help the student get an education. Dilshad Begum has also encouraged girls who are unable to go to school to learn a skill.
The 65-year-old’s willingness to give back to the community does not end there. She has also installed 70 water pumps to provide clean water to various parts of the province. Dilshad Begum is a glaring testament to the belief that you do not need to run an NGO or rely on funds from other organisations to help people. On the contrary, the community can play a pivotal role to bring a positive change.
Domino effect
“There are some customs that have had a negative impact on society,” she says. “Many families cannot afford to pay dowry and therefore many young women cannot get married. I have made it a point to help women from underprivileged families get married.”

Dilshad Begum has helped 15 women in Pabbi pay for their wedding expenses and deal with the ever-increasing demands of dowry.
“Only education can change people’s perceptions,” he said.
Into the fray
Before she was elected on the women’s seat, the 65-year-old dabbled in politics as she believed it was a suitable avenue to help people. She was inspired by two of her relatives, Ghaniur Rahman and Fazli Raheem, who were actively involved in the Khudai Khidmatgar Movement.
Dilshad Begum took part in the 2008 general elections as an independent candidate and won by a landslide even though she was pitted against stalwarts such as Awami National Party leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain. She was voted in once again during the local bodies’ polls in 2015. “It was the love and confidence of the people that helped me win both elections,” she explains. “If the people want to earn their rights, they have to actively engage in political activities.”
She adds, “I am grateful people have appreciated my work and I will continue to work for them.”
A woman’s world
According to Dilshad Begum, women must raise their voice to secure their rights.
“No one will come forward and give them what they deserve,” she says. “Women in most villages of the province have not only been deprived of their rights but also lack awareness about them.” Dilshad Begum added, “Women who have been elected on reserved seats should instil the seeds of change at the village level. Women in villages have the ability to push for change. All they need is the courage to pursue this objective.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 15[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/972931/...activist-continues-to-lead-pabbi-to-progress/
[h=1]

[/h]

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Oct 16 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Oct 17 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Oct 18 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Oct 19 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Oct 20 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Oct 21 2015