Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
23 Jan 2016
KPK Updates
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Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
jan 24 2015
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
JAN 25 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
[h=1]Billed to the unit: 12 districts to receive uninterrupted, cheap power by 2017
[/h] MHPP in Battagram. PHOTO COURTESY: SYED NOMAN SHAH
MANSEHRA:
The residents of remote areas of 12 districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will receive cheap and uninterrupted electricity through a local generation and distribution system as 356 micro hydropower projects (MHPP) will be completed in 2017.
This was stated by Fazale Rabi, an official of Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO), while talking to the media on Sunday. He said two of nine micro hydropower projects have started generating electricity in Battagram district – 175KW project in Rashang village and 75KW in project in Pitaow village. These projects were to be inaugurated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairperson Imran Khan on January 17, however, were delayed as the leader’s trip was cancelled due to inclement weather. They were inaugurated a day later by PEDO CEO Akbar Ayub and have commenced operation.
Acquiring targets
The micro hydropower projects in Rashang and Pitaow villages will provide an uninterrupted supply of electricity to over 500 consumers at Rs3 per unit cost.
With seven other projects near completion in Battagram, the K-P government’s target of supplying uninterrupted and cheap power to the residents of remote areas of the province looks achievable. All nine projects are expected to be completed and begin functioning from 2017.
According to Rabi, all nine projects will contribute about 34,693KW electricity to K-P; this can be increased in the future depending on the requirement of the area.
Responding to a question, Rabi said the electricity generated from these micro hydro projects will not be transmitted to national grid for further distribution. “It will be supplied to the residents of surrounding areas through a local distribution mechanism, guaranteeing faster and more efficient provision,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1033503...to-receive-uninterrupted-cheap-power-by-2017/
[h=1]A guard, a professor and a heartbroken brother
[/h]
PESHAWAR / CHARSADDA: When a chowkidar (an untrained private guard) and a chemistry professor fight off terrorists to protect students, bravery justifiably becomes a laurel worn by citizens.
Judging from his looks, Shahzad could not be more than 20 to 25 years old. But the contract employee held on to his Kalashnikov assault rifle, turning it on the terrorists he saw scaling the back wall of the Bacha Khan University Wednesday morning.
Nation in mourning: Blood on the campus
Shahzad told The Express Tribune he was near the Arts and Social Sciences Block when he saw four terrorists breach the school. “They opened indiscriminate fire,” so he fired back.
Shahzad said he asked staff members to go hide, escape.
“My firing cornered them, forcing them to enter Mahmood Makhfi Hostel for boys,” he said. “I fought with only my Kalashnikov till the police arrived.”
Eight police commandos reached the campus, said Mardan circle DIG Saeed Wazir, paying tributes to the guard who fought bravely.
Shahzad remained unscathed by some miracle but the same could not be said for Dr Syed Hamid Hussain, the assistant chemistry professor who joined the university three years ago. Hauntingly reminiscent of the Army Public School attack in 2014, Hussain died trying to save students.
University guard Ashfaq told The Express Tribune that Hussain fired at the terrorists with his pistol, trying to prevent them from gaining ground. No one can begin to quantify the value of his actions, but the father of two died guns ablaze, the role of armed protector forced upon the educationist in the blink of an eye.
Ten days ago, Hussain could only think of celebrating his son’s third birthday, posting pictures of the occasion on Facebook, his last update. From an impoverished family in a village in Swabi district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, he was the only one who pursued higher education – a PhD in chemistry from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom.
Breakthrough achieved in identifying Charsadda attackers: DG ISPR
Talking to The Express Tribune, Hussain’s close friend and class fellow from Government High School Swabi, Tariq Ameen, said Hussain always worked very hard. “That’s how he got a scholarship at UoP.”
Ameen added, “We just met last week in our village. He told me they were celebrating his son’s third birthday.” Ameen said Hussain laughed and said time was going very fast and “we were now almost old”.
His funeral prayers were offered in his ancestral graveyard in Swabi. He was married in 2012 and leaves behind a wife and two children – three-year-old Hasher Hussain and a one-year-old daughter.
When the security forces concluded the operation, Hussain was found with the pistol still in his hand.
Brother bereaved
At the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, another university employee’s loss was tearing at the heart of his family – his brother. Assistant Librarian Iftikhar Ahmad died at the LRH, as a result of Wednesday’s carnage.
“Someone help me identify the terrorists and I will fight them alone to avenge my brother’s death,” cried Younas, Ahmad’s elder brother.
Aftermath of Charsadda attack: Universities beef up security
Younas, who followed the ambulance which carried his brother to the LRH, was utterly broken by the loss. Younas, who was inconsolable, propped up by people present at the hospital, kept repeating, “What was my brother’s fault? Someone please show me the terrorists [so I can take revenge.”
Ahmad was meant to get married in 20 days. Instead of rejoicing, Ahmad was instead prepared for his final rites on Wednesday.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21[SUP]st[/SUP], 2016.
[h=1]http://tribune.com.pk/story/1031573/a-guard-a-professor-and-a-heartbroken-brother/
[/h]
[/h] MHPP in Battagram. PHOTO COURTESY: SYED NOMAN SHAH
MANSEHRA:
The residents of remote areas of 12 districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will receive cheap and uninterrupted electricity through a local generation and distribution system as 356 micro hydropower projects (MHPP) will be completed in 2017.
This was stated by Fazale Rabi, an official of Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO), while talking to the media on Sunday. He said two of nine micro hydropower projects have started generating electricity in Battagram district – 175KW project in Rashang village and 75KW in project in Pitaow village. These projects were to be inaugurated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairperson Imran Khan on January 17, however, were delayed as the leader’s trip was cancelled due to inclement weather. They were inaugurated a day later by PEDO CEO Akbar Ayub and have commenced operation.
Acquiring targets
The micro hydropower projects in Rashang and Pitaow villages will provide an uninterrupted supply of electricity to over 500 consumers at Rs3 per unit cost.
With seven other projects near completion in Battagram, the K-P government’s target of supplying uninterrupted and cheap power to the residents of remote areas of the province looks achievable. All nine projects are expected to be completed and begin functioning from 2017.
According to Rabi, all nine projects will contribute about 34,693KW electricity to K-P; this can be increased in the future depending on the requirement of the area.
Responding to a question, Rabi said the electricity generated from these micro hydro projects will not be transmitted to national grid for further distribution. “It will be supplied to the residents of surrounding areas through a local distribution mechanism, guaranteeing faster and more efficient provision,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1033503...to-receive-uninterrupted-cheap-power-by-2017/
[h=1]A guard, a professor and a heartbroken brother
[/h]
PESHAWAR / CHARSADDA: When a chowkidar (an untrained private guard) and a chemistry professor fight off terrorists to protect students, bravery justifiably becomes a laurel worn by citizens.
Judging from his looks, Shahzad could not be more than 20 to 25 years old. But the contract employee held on to his Kalashnikov assault rifle, turning it on the terrorists he saw scaling the back wall of the Bacha Khan University Wednesday morning.
Nation in mourning: Blood on the campus
Shahzad told The Express Tribune he was near the Arts and Social Sciences Block when he saw four terrorists breach the school. “They opened indiscriminate fire,” so he fired back.
Shahzad said he asked staff members to go hide, escape.
“My firing cornered them, forcing them to enter Mahmood Makhfi Hostel for boys,” he said. “I fought with only my Kalashnikov till the police arrived.”
Eight police commandos reached the campus, said Mardan circle DIG Saeed Wazir, paying tributes to the guard who fought bravely.
Shahzad remained unscathed by some miracle but the same could not be said for Dr Syed Hamid Hussain, the assistant chemistry professor who joined the university three years ago. Hauntingly reminiscent of the Army Public School attack in 2014, Hussain died trying to save students.
University guard Ashfaq told The Express Tribune that Hussain fired at the terrorists with his pistol, trying to prevent them from gaining ground. No one can begin to quantify the value of his actions, but the father of two died guns ablaze, the role of armed protector forced upon the educationist in the blink of an eye.
Ten days ago, Hussain could only think of celebrating his son’s third birthday, posting pictures of the occasion on Facebook, his last update. From an impoverished family in a village in Swabi district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, he was the only one who pursued higher education – a PhD in chemistry from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom.
Breakthrough achieved in identifying Charsadda attackers: DG ISPR
Talking to The Express Tribune, Hussain’s close friend and class fellow from Government High School Swabi, Tariq Ameen, said Hussain always worked very hard. “That’s how he got a scholarship at UoP.”
Ameen added, “We just met last week in our village. He told me they were celebrating his son’s third birthday.” Ameen said Hussain laughed and said time was going very fast and “we were now almost old”.
His funeral prayers were offered in his ancestral graveyard in Swabi. He was married in 2012 and leaves behind a wife and two children – three-year-old Hasher Hussain and a one-year-old daughter.
When the security forces concluded the operation, Hussain was found with the pistol still in his hand.
Brother bereaved
At the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, another university employee’s loss was tearing at the heart of his family – his brother. Assistant Librarian Iftikhar Ahmad died at the LRH, as a result of Wednesday’s carnage.
“Someone help me identify the terrorists and I will fight them alone to avenge my brother’s death,” cried Younas, Ahmad’s elder brother.
Aftermath of Charsadda attack: Universities beef up security
Younas, who followed the ambulance which carried his brother to the LRH, was utterly broken by the loss. Younas, who was inconsolable, propped up by people present at the hospital, kept repeating, “What was my brother’s fault? Someone please show me the terrorists [so I can take revenge.”
Ahmad was meant to get married in 20 days. Instead of rejoicing, Ahmad was instead prepared for his final rites on Wednesday.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21[SUP]st[/SUP], 2016.
[h=1]http://tribune.com.pk/story/1031573/a-guard-a-professor-and-a-heartbroken-brother/
[/h]
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Draft law for regulating private schools ready for cabinet’s approval
ESHAWAR: After a delay of over two and a half years, the Elementary and Secondary Education (E&SE) Department has finally prepared draft of a law for regulating private educational institutions, which is likely to be placed for approval of the cabinet next week, according to sources.
The proposed bill is almost replica of the bill tabled by the previous Awami National Party-led government in the provincial assembly in 2012, sources in the E&SE Department told Dawn. The previous government couldn’t pass the bill till end of its tenure due pressure from the strong lobby of private schools in the province, the sources said.
They said that the slow speed with which the incumbent government was moving to establish a regulatory authority for private schools showed that the current bill could also meet the same fate.
In the present draft bill, a clause regarding fee concession for siblings has been deleted. Clause 27 of the previous bill states: “Every school shall make concession in fee to two or more brothers and sisters studying in the same school or in different schools under the same management or administration or owners, at such rates as the regulatory authority may prescribe.”
A similar bill could not be passed in 2012 due to strong lobby of private schools
Section 8 of the present draft bill states that the regulatory authority shall register and regulate schools, supervise their curricula, scheme of studies, fee structure, academic schedules, co-curricular activities and ensure observance of vacations of summer, winter, spring and other holidays in schools as being observed by the public sector schools.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235279/dr...g-private-schools-ready-for-cabinets-approval
Shortage of ventilators in hospitals hampers neonates’ treatment
PESHAWAR: The shortage of ventilators and incubators has been hampering treatment of children and neonates at the public sector hospitals in the province, according to pediatricians.
“These machines are designed to maintain breathing of very sick children temporarily. Incubators are used to save lives of those, who are born either prematurely or have other serious diseases,” they said.
The pediatricians said that there was only one ventilator at Khyber Teaching Hospital which couldn’t be properly used owing to administrative issues.
The 35-bed neonatal ward of the hospital had seven incubators, of which two were out of order, they added.
Pediatricians say there is an urgent need to upgrade children wards at district headquarters hospitals
The hospital, which admits more than triple of patients than its sanctioned capacity, desperately needs ventilators and incubators to save children and newborns from preventable deaths.
“We require 20 incubators to ensure treatment of neonates, who are hospitalised due to premature birth, low temperature and other infections.
We have recorded three per cent increase in deaths caused by birth taking place before 37 weeks of pregnancy,” Dr Hamid Bangash, registrar of nursery ward at KTH, told Dawn.
He said that of the total hospitalised babies, 28 per cent accounted for premature birth. Last year, 65 per cent babies died of premature birth, he said.
Pediatricians say that there is no ventilator in the public sector hospitals in the province.
The children and newborns face the same problems at the province’s biggest and oldest Lady Reading Hospital.
The 700-bed Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) is no exception where the 20 cots nursery unit has two incubators.
Pediatricians say that 54 of newborns die annually per 1,000 in Khyber, highest in the country, with acute infections such as low birth weight, birth asphyxia and premature birth but the facilities established a decade ago are not upgraded.
Only KTH has a sanctioned post of consultant and junior registrar for nursery ward.
Other hospitals don’t have permanent positions for nursery wards, which are managed by children wards of the respective hospitals.
The people have to rush their children to private hospitals or Islamabad due to lack of facilities at the public sector hospitals in the province.
“The existing facilities receive patients, three-times more than its available space due to which they are unable to provide them treatment to a desired level,” experts said.
Doctors admit two or more neonates on one bed which entails harms for patients but they can’t refuse admission to them.
“There is an urgent need to upgrade children wards at the district headquarters hospitals with provision of incubators to reduce rush on the city’s hospitals,” they said.
A pediatrician at HMC said that the province had got abundant human resources to strengthen facilities for neonates but equipment was required to ensure avoidable deaths at the district hospitals. According to him, one more nursery unit is required each at KTH, LRH and HMC.
“Those affected are the neonates and children whose parents can’t afford expenses of private hospitals where machines and equipment never go out of order,” he said.
Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235266/shortage-of-ventilators-in-hospitals-hampers-neonates-treatment
KP to have 300 more community girls schools
PESHAWAR: The Elementary Education Foundation (EEF) has completed arrangements for opening 300 more community girls schools from the upcoming academic year commencing from April, according to sources.
With the establishment of 300 more community girls’ schools, their number would reach 1,550 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the sources said, adding that 1,250 such schools were already established by EEF.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa needs thousands of primary schools, particularly for girls, to enrol the out-of-school children as currently around 1.5 million children were out of school.
The need for thousands of primary schools and the construction of new schools at the snail’s pace has prompted the provincial government to immediately establish community schools as a stopgap arrangement to enrol maximum number of out-of-school children, officials in the Elementary and Secondary Education Department said.
Programme aimed at providing education to girls in their areas
They said that the provincial government had allocated Rs1 billion in the 2014-15 budget to be spent over three years on 1,000 community-based girls schools, while Rs450 million would be spent on operating the 300 new schools.
The sources said that the sole purpose of these schools was to provide education facilities to the children in areas near their homes. Like previous year in which 1,000 community girls schools were established, 300 more such schools would be established on need basis in the areas where the government has so far failed to construct any primary school, the sources said.
They said that a community school would be established in areas where there was no government school in one kilometres radius.
The sources said that the number of out-of-school children would be high in the areas where no government primary schools existed. However, the number of out-of-school children further increased in such areas when the parents couldn’t afford to admit their children to the private schools, if available, they said.
The officials said that the presence of 30 children would be necessary in the respective area for establishment of a school. The local community would provide two rooms and drinking water for establishing a school.
The establishment of the school is also linked with the availability of an intermediate pass female teacher who would be paid Rs12,000 a month by the government, they said, adding a second female teacher could be hired if the number of enrolled students reached 50.
Under the project, the government has been providing free textbooks to the enrolled students and bearing the expenses for the class consumable items, including writing boards, jute mate, chalks, etc.
The establishment of community school would also help in minimising the gender disparity as the governments in past had given more attention to construction of the boys’ schools.
The sources said that the construction of regular primary schools took two to three years to complete. If the government wants to construct 300 regular primary schools it would take around three years, while 300 community schools will take a few weeks to establish.
The sources said that the construction of a six-room primary school cost over Rs12 million on the condition that land for the school was provided free of cost by the philanthropist or the respective school was constructed on the government land.
Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235072/kp-to-have-300-more-community-girls-schools
KP govt to call jirga on NFC Award delay
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to convene a multi-party jirga to discuss the delay in the award of the eighth National Finance Commission.
It also will contact the Balochistan and Sindh governments on the matter.
The decision was made during a meeting chaired by KP finance minister Muzafar Said at the Civil Secretariat on Saturday.
A handout issued here said the meeting decided to adopt a new course of action in order to secure the province’s rights.
Says it will also contact Balochistan, Sindh govts on matter
The participants discussed the provincial government’s strategy for the NFC Award and progress on in its preparation.
They decided to prepare realistic figures of poverty for the province, revitalisation of planning and development department and the Bureau of Statistics, increase in the number of financial advisers, and appointment of expert consultants.
The finance minister said the federal government was politicising all issues, including that of the NFC Award, which was inimical to interests of the state.
He said under the current circumstances, it had become necessary for the provincial government to take all political forces into confidence on those issues.
Mr. Muzafar said though the issue of net hydel profit uncapping had been resolved, the province had yet to get around Rs635 billion share in the profit under the AGN Kazi formula. He said a meeting would soon be convened in this respect.
The minister said the federal government had to pay Rs29 billion arrears in lieu of oil and gas cess and Rs119 billion under the 1991 Water Accord to KP.
He said the federal government acted as guarantor in the 1991 Water Accord and other provinces used the KP’s share of around three million cubic feet of water for around a decade putting its charge at Rs1.19 trillion.
Mr. Muzafar said the provincial government had raised the issue at the Council of Common Interest but the federal government’s response had not been positive.
He said the payment of one percent from the federal divisible pool for war on terrorism was just like a joke with the poor economy of the province and therefore, it should be increased up to five percent.
Provincial finance secretary Ali Raza Bhutta, special secretary Kamran Rehman, consultant Ihtesham Khan, NFC member Professor Ibrahim Khan and other relevant officials also attended the meeting.
Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235067/kp-govt-to-call-jirga-on-nfc-award-delay
500 drivers fined for using tinted glass, rule violations
TIMERGARA: The Lower Dir police on Saturday issued tickets to 500 drivers for using tinted glass in their vehicles and violating traffic rules.
A special team comprising DSP headquarters Haqeeq Hussain, SHO Timergara Roshan Zada, district traffic in-charge Hazrat Hussain and Khall traffic in-charge Shad Mohammad carried out the operation and checked vehicles on different routes.
Tinted glasses from hundreds of vehicles were removed on the spot.
The officials also took action against under-age drivers, and non-registered vehicles.
Talking to journalists DSP Haqeeq Hussain said the operation was being conducted in the wake of the Charsadda carnage.
He said the crackdown would continue across the district.
Also in the day, the local administration continued its anti-encroachment drive and action against profiteers.
A raiding party led by assistant commissioner, Timergara, Mohammad Ayaz Momand visited different markets in the city and checked cleanliness, quality and rates of various items.
The team sent 10 shopkeepers to jail and fined 15 more for violating official pricelist, not maintain hygiene at their outlets and encroaching spaces outside their shops.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235065/500-drivers-fined-for-using-tinted-glass-rule-violations
Encroachments a perennial problem in Peshawar
Despite tall claims of officials of the relevant government departments to have cleared encroachments in Peshawar, most parts of roads, streets and narrow lanes have been turned into mini-bazaars and illegal parking lots with no proper checking by the authorities concerned.
Most busy areas of Peshawar city have been in the grip of encroachers since long, but no serious attention was paid by successive governments to this core issue affecting normal life. Illegal occupation of roads and streets has become a routine in the provincial metropolis where action against the violators is taken off and on, but there is no permanent follow-up plan to maintain the writ of the government and thus encroachers continue to create traffic problems in different areas.
Peshawar being a provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is daily visited by thousands of people in vehicles from various other districts and tribal regions in connection with routine official or private work. It is always difficult to save time by doing many things in a minimum time because of the traffic congestion on main arteries of the city.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235063/encroachments-a-perennial-problem-in-peshawar
No reply from centre to KP’s security package request
PESHAWAR: The federal government has failed to respond the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s request made for a Rs66.280 billion special security package for the province in March last year.
The relevant officials told Dawn that the KP government wrote to the federal finance ministry again on Dec 31, 2015, reminding it of the province’s financial needs for security, but there came no response.
On Thursday, the provincial cabinet, after holding a meeting on the Bacha Khan University Charsadda terrorist attack, demanded that the federal government increase the province’s one percent share in the federal divisible pool for the war against terrorism.
KP is estimated to get Rs30.146 billion in lieu of one per cent of the divisible pool for the current year.
An official said both letters to the federal finance ministry were sent by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa home and tribal affairs department.
Official says federal govt not providing Rs66.28bn despite promise
He said the special security package was sought to strengthen the law-enforcement agencies to combat militancy and terrorism and meet the province’s current and future security challenges.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1234885/no-reply-from-centre-to-kps-security-package-request
ESHAWAR: After a delay of over two and a half years, the Elementary and Secondary Education (E&SE) Department has finally prepared draft of a law for regulating private educational institutions, which is likely to be placed for approval of the cabinet next week, according to sources.
The proposed bill is almost replica of the bill tabled by the previous Awami National Party-led government in the provincial assembly in 2012, sources in the E&SE Department told Dawn. The previous government couldn’t pass the bill till end of its tenure due pressure from the strong lobby of private schools in the province, the sources said.
They said that the slow speed with which the incumbent government was moving to establish a regulatory authority for private schools showed that the current bill could also meet the same fate.
In the present draft bill, a clause regarding fee concession for siblings has been deleted. Clause 27 of the previous bill states: “Every school shall make concession in fee to two or more brothers and sisters studying in the same school or in different schools under the same management or administration or owners, at such rates as the regulatory authority may prescribe.”
A similar bill could not be passed in 2012 due to strong lobby of private schools
Section 8 of the present draft bill states that the regulatory authority shall register and regulate schools, supervise their curricula, scheme of studies, fee structure, academic schedules, co-curricular activities and ensure observance of vacations of summer, winter, spring and other holidays in schools as being observed by the public sector schools.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235279/dr...g-private-schools-ready-for-cabinets-approval
Shortage of ventilators in hospitals hampers neonates’ treatment
PESHAWAR: The shortage of ventilators and incubators has been hampering treatment of children and neonates at the public sector hospitals in the province, according to pediatricians.
“These machines are designed to maintain breathing of very sick children temporarily. Incubators are used to save lives of those, who are born either prematurely or have other serious diseases,” they said.
The pediatricians said that there was only one ventilator at Khyber Teaching Hospital which couldn’t be properly used owing to administrative issues.
The 35-bed neonatal ward of the hospital had seven incubators, of which two were out of order, they added.
Pediatricians say there is an urgent need to upgrade children wards at district headquarters hospitals
The hospital, which admits more than triple of patients than its sanctioned capacity, desperately needs ventilators and incubators to save children and newborns from preventable deaths.
“We require 20 incubators to ensure treatment of neonates, who are hospitalised due to premature birth, low temperature and other infections.
We have recorded three per cent increase in deaths caused by birth taking place before 37 weeks of pregnancy,” Dr Hamid Bangash, registrar of nursery ward at KTH, told Dawn.
He said that of the total hospitalised babies, 28 per cent accounted for premature birth. Last year, 65 per cent babies died of premature birth, he said.
Pediatricians say that there is no ventilator in the public sector hospitals in the province.
The children and newborns face the same problems at the province’s biggest and oldest Lady Reading Hospital.
The 700-bed Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) is no exception where the 20 cots nursery unit has two incubators.
Pediatricians say that 54 of newborns die annually per 1,000 in Khyber, highest in the country, with acute infections such as low birth weight, birth asphyxia and premature birth but the facilities established a decade ago are not upgraded.
Only KTH has a sanctioned post of consultant and junior registrar for nursery ward.
Other hospitals don’t have permanent positions for nursery wards, which are managed by children wards of the respective hospitals.
The people have to rush their children to private hospitals or Islamabad due to lack of facilities at the public sector hospitals in the province.
“The existing facilities receive patients, three-times more than its available space due to which they are unable to provide them treatment to a desired level,” experts said.
Doctors admit two or more neonates on one bed which entails harms for patients but they can’t refuse admission to them.
“There is an urgent need to upgrade children wards at the district headquarters hospitals with provision of incubators to reduce rush on the city’s hospitals,” they said.
A pediatrician at HMC said that the province had got abundant human resources to strengthen facilities for neonates but equipment was required to ensure avoidable deaths at the district hospitals. According to him, one more nursery unit is required each at KTH, LRH and HMC.
“Those affected are the neonates and children whose parents can’t afford expenses of private hospitals where machines and equipment never go out of order,” he said.
Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235266/shortage-of-ventilators-in-hospitals-hampers-neonates-treatment
KP to have 300 more community girls schools
PESHAWAR: The Elementary Education Foundation (EEF) has completed arrangements for opening 300 more community girls schools from the upcoming academic year commencing from April, according to sources.
With the establishment of 300 more community girls’ schools, their number would reach 1,550 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the sources said, adding that 1,250 such schools were already established by EEF.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa needs thousands of primary schools, particularly for girls, to enrol the out-of-school children as currently around 1.5 million children were out of school.
The need for thousands of primary schools and the construction of new schools at the snail’s pace has prompted the provincial government to immediately establish community schools as a stopgap arrangement to enrol maximum number of out-of-school children, officials in the Elementary and Secondary Education Department said.
Programme aimed at providing education to girls in their areas
They said that the provincial government had allocated Rs1 billion in the 2014-15 budget to be spent over three years on 1,000 community-based girls schools, while Rs450 million would be spent on operating the 300 new schools.
The sources said that the sole purpose of these schools was to provide education facilities to the children in areas near their homes. Like previous year in which 1,000 community girls schools were established, 300 more such schools would be established on need basis in the areas where the government has so far failed to construct any primary school, the sources said.
They said that a community school would be established in areas where there was no government school in one kilometres radius.
The sources said that the number of out-of-school children would be high in the areas where no government primary schools existed. However, the number of out-of-school children further increased in such areas when the parents couldn’t afford to admit their children to the private schools, if available, they said.
The officials said that the presence of 30 children would be necessary in the respective area for establishment of a school. The local community would provide two rooms and drinking water for establishing a school.
The establishment of the school is also linked with the availability of an intermediate pass female teacher who would be paid Rs12,000 a month by the government, they said, adding a second female teacher could be hired if the number of enrolled students reached 50.
Under the project, the government has been providing free textbooks to the enrolled students and bearing the expenses for the class consumable items, including writing boards, jute mate, chalks, etc.
The establishment of community school would also help in minimising the gender disparity as the governments in past had given more attention to construction of the boys’ schools.
The sources said that the construction of regular primary schools took two to three years to complete. If the government wants to construct 300 regular primary schools it would take around three years, while 300 community schools will take a few weeks to establish.
The sources said that the construction of a six-room primary school cost over Rs12 million on the condition that land for the school was provided free of cost by the philanthropist or the respective school was constructed on the government land.
Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235072/kp-to-have-300-more-community-girls-schools
KP govt to call jirga on NFC Award delay
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to convene a multi-party jirga to discuss the delay in the award of the eighth National Finance Commission.
It also will contact the Balochistan and Sindh governments on the matter.
The decision was made during a meeting chaired by KP finance minister Muzafar Said at the Civil Secretariat on Saturday.
A handout issued here said the meeting decided to adopt a new course of action in order to secure the province’s rights.
Says it will also contact Balochistan, Sindh govts on matter
The participants discussed the provincial government’s strategy for the NFC Award and progress on in its preparation.
They decided to prepare realistic figures of poverty for the province, revitalisation of planning and development department and the Bureau of Statistics, increase in the number of financial advisers, and appointment of expert consultants.
The finance minister said the federal government was politicising all issues, including that of the NFC Award, which was inimical to interests of the state.
He said under the current circumstances, it had become necessary for the provincial government to take all political forces into confidence on those issues.
Mr. Muzafar said though the issue of net hydel profit uncapping had been resolved, the province had yet to get around Rs635 billion share in the profit under the AGN Kazi formula. He said a meeting would soon be convened in this respect.
The minister said the federal government had to pay Rs29 billion arrears in lieu of oil and gas cess and Rs119 billion under the 1991 Water Accord to KP.
He said the federal government acted as guarantor in the 1991 Water Accord and other provinces used the KP’s share of around three million cubic feet of water for around a decade putting its charge at Rs1.19 trillion.
Mr. Muzafar said the provincial government had raised the issue at the Council of Common Interest but the federal government’s response had not been positive.
He said the payment of one percent from the federal divisible pool for war on terrorism was just like a joke with the poor economy of the province and therefore, it should be increased up to five percent.
Provincial finance secretary Ali Raza Bhutta, special secretary Kamran Rehman, consultant Ihtesham Khan, NFC member Professor Ibrahim Khan and other relevant officials also attended the meeting.
Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235067/kp-govt-to-call-jirga-on-nfc-award-delay
500 drivers fined for using tinted glass, rule violations
TIMERGARA: The Lower Dir police on Saturday issued tickets to 500 drivers for using tinted glass in their vehicles and violating traffic rules.
A special team comprising DSP headquarters Haqeeq Hussain, SHO Timergara Roshan Zada, district traffic in-charge Hazrat Hussain and Khall traffic in-charge Shad Mohammad carried out the operation and checked vehicles on different routes.
Tinted glasses from hundreds of vehicles were removed on the spot.
The officials also took action against under-age drivers, and non-registered vehicles.
Talking to journalists DSP Haqeeq Hussain said the operation was being conducted in the wake of the Charsadda carnage.
He said the crackdown would continue across the district.
Also in the day, the local administration continued its anti-encroachment drive and action against profiteers.
A raiding party led by assistant commissioner, Timergara, Mohammad Ayaz Momand visited different markets in the city and checked cleanliness, quality and rates of various items.
The team sent 10 shopkeepers to jail and fined 15 more for violating official pricelist, not maintain hygiene at their outlets and encroaching spaces outside their shops.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235065/500-drivers-fined-for-using-tinted-glass-rule-violations
Encroachments a perennial problem in Peshawar
Despite tall claims of officials of the relevant government departments to have cleared encroachments in Peshawar, most parts of roads, streets and narrow lanes have been turned into mini-bazaars and illegal parking lots with no proper checking by the authorities concerned.
Most busy areas of Peshawar city have been in the grip of encroachers since long, but no serious attention was paid by successive governments to this core issue affecting normal life. Illegal occupation of roads and streets has become a routine in the provincial metropolis where action against the violators is taken off and on, but there is no permanent follow-up plan to maintain the writ of the government and thus encroachers continue to create traffic problems in different areas.
Peshawar being a provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is daily visited by thousands of people in vehicles from various other districts and tribal regions in connection with routine official or private work. It is always difficult to save time by doing many things in a minimum time because of the traffic congestion on main arteries of the city.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235063/encroachments-a-perennial-problem-in-peshawar
No reply from centre to KP’s security package request
PESHAWAR: The federal government has failed to respond the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s request made for a Rs66.280 billion special security package for the province in March last year.
The relevant officials told Dawn that the KP government wrote to the federal finance ministry again on Dec 31, 2015, reminding it of the province’s financial needs for security, but there came no response.
On Thursday, the provincial cabinet, after holding a meeting on the Bacha Khan University Charsadda terrorist attack, demanded that the federal government increase the province’s one percent share in the federal divisible pool for the war against terrorism.
KP is estimated to get Rs30.146 billion in lieu of one per cent of the divisible pool for the current year.
An official said both letters to the federal finance ministry were sent by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa home and tribal affairs department.
Official says federal govt not providing Rs66.28bn despite promise
He said the special security package was sought to strengthen the law-enforcement agencies to combat militancy and terrorism and meet the province’s current and future security challenges.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1234885/no-reply-from-centre-to-kps-security-package-request
Last edited:
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
JAN 26 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
JAN 27 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
JAN 28 2015
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
JAN 29 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
JAN 30 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
[h=1]Spreading terror: BDU neutralises five bombs planted on electricity pylon in city
[/h]BANNU / PESHAWAR: The bomb disposal unit (BDU) neutralised five explosive devices in Shaftal Banda in the city on Thursday. In Bannu, one bomb planted near a mobile tower exploded while two others were defused.
The bombs were first spotted by locals within the jurisdiction of Phandu police station in the city. The police was called and an officer told The Express Tribune explosives were packed inside four pressure cookers and planted on the pillars of an electricity transmission tower in Shaftal Banda; one bomb in a plastic case was planted in the middle of the tower. The explosives weighed around four kilogrammes each.
The BDU was called, and the pressure cooker bombs and the one in the plastic casing were defused successfully.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1035923...e-bombs-planted-on-electricity-pylon-in-city/
[h=1]Padlocked: Lack of funds force schools to close down in Swat
[/h]SWAT: The future of around 1,620 students is at stake in Swat as the paucity of funds has led to the closure of schools run under the Rokhana Pakhtunkhwa Talimee Programme.
The initiative was launched during the tenure of Awami National Party government in areas where there was a lack of high schools. The programme was launched with the assistance of UK’s Department for International Development (DfID) and Rs4 billion were released to run it.
However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government froze these funds, which resulted in the closure of schools run under the initiative.
The programme started in 2012. An agreement was signed with the participating schools. The appropriation of funds was closely monitored and the schools were functioning smoothly. Over 1,620 students were enrolled in about 11 schools for the 2016 session and would have received free education and appeared for their board exams in March. However, the school administration stopped receiving funds after October 2015.
Representatives of all political parties in Swat held a news conference at Swat Press Club on January 22 and decided to raise the issue with the provincial government. Participants at the news conference appealed to the provincial government to provide funds needed for the programme and resolve this issue immediately as exams are around the corner.
Javeria and Shazia, who are students of class nine, told The Express Tribune the school administrations said the PTI-led provincial government has stopped funding the programme. Therefore, students might have to opt for taking their exams as private candidates.
“Our parents cannot afford our uniforms. How will they be able to pay for the examination?” one of the girls said.
However, Swat DC Mehmood Aslam Wazir said the programme has not been cancelled.
“There is an issue in releasing the funds and meetings are being held to resolve this glitch,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 28[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1035245/padlocked-lack-of-funds-force-schools-to-close-down-in-swat/
[h=1]Wildlife breeding on the cards for K-P
[/h]PESHAWAR: The wildlife department has proposed legislation to allow rearing native and as yet undetermined wildlife species in farms in the province. If implemented, the move is meant to encourage breeding and protect species from going extinct.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Divisional Wildlife Officer Muhammad Niaz says the farming of species is possible under the recently passed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife and Biodiversity (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act, 2015. He adds that was why officials were actively considering legislation to regulate the process.
Wildlife under threat in Waziristan
“Animal farming in the province will have a very positive impact,” Niaz says. The official states it will be decided which species will be included in the list and the department will also provide animals to the farm owners for breeding.
“If handled correctly, it will have a great impact on wildlife, but farmers will have to get a licence from the department,” he adds. The official reveals law has been proposed to allow these farmers to exchange animals with each other for breeding.
Snow leopards on a leash?
“The public will be able to buy these animals from the farms and keep them as pets at homes.” Niaz believes this will nurture love for wild animals among the public which is generally apathetic towards most animals.
Trophy hunting helps revive Markhor numbers
He says the farming of some species was already taking place and new legislation would help regulate it. “Rules and regulations have been proposed. These will be sent for final approval, vetting and then be implemented. It is a part of what is allowed in the newly passed wildlife act,” he explains.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1034074/animal-farm-wildlife-breeding-on-the-cards-for-k-p/
[/h]BANNU / PESHAWAR: The bomb disposal unit (BDU) neutralised five explosive devices in Shaftal Banda in the city on Thursday. In Bannu, one bomb planted near a mobile tower exploded while two others were defused.
The bombs were first spotted by locals within the jurisdiction of Phandu police station in the city. The police was called and an officer told The Express Tribune explosives were packed inside four pressure cookers and planted on the pillars of an electricity transmission tower in Shaftal Banda; one bomb in a plastic case was planted in the middle of the tower. The explosives weighed around four kilogrammes each.
The BDU was called, and the pressure cooker bombs and the one in the plastic casing were defused successfully.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1035923...e-bombs-planted-on-electricity-pylon-in-city/
[h=1]Padlocked: Lack of funds force schools to close down in Swat
[/h]SWAT: The future of around 1,620 students is at stake in Swat as the paucity of funds has led to the closure of schools run under the Rokhana Pakhtunkhwa Talimee Programme.
The initiative was launched during the tenure of Awami National Party government in areas where there was a lack of high schools. The programme was launched with the assistance of UK’s Department for International Development (DfID) and Rs4 billion were released to run it.
However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government froze these funds, which resulted in the closure of schools run under the initiative.
The programme started in 2012. An agreement was signed with the participating schools. The appropriation of funds was closely monitored and the schools were functioning smoothly. Over 1,620 students were enrolled in about 11 schools for the 2016 session and would have received free education and appeared for their board exams in March. However, the school administration stopped receiving funds after October 2015.
Representatives of all political parties in Swat held a news conference at Swat Press Club on January 22 and decided to raise the issue with the provincial government. Participants at the news conference appealed to the provincial government to provide funds needed for the programme and resolve this issue immediately as exams are around the corner.
Javeria and Shazia, who are students of class nine, told The Express Tribune the school administrations said the PTI-led provincial government has stopped funding the programme. Therefore, students might have to opt for taking their exams as private candidates.
“Our parents cannot afford our uniforms. How will they be able to pay for the examination?” one of the girls said.
However, Swat DC Mehmood Aslam Wazir said the programme has not been cancelled.
“There is an issue in releasing the funds and meetings are being held to resolve this glitch,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 28[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1035245/padlocked-lack-of-funds-force-schools-to-close-down-in-swat/
[h=1]Wildlife breeding on the cards for K-P
[/h]PESHAWAR: The wildlife department has proposed legislation to allow rearing native and as yet undetermined wildlife species in farms in the province. If implemented, the move is meant to encourage breeding and protect species from going extinct.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Divisional Wildlife Officer Muhammad Niaz says the farming of species is possible under the recently passed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife and Biodiversity (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act, 2015. He adds that was why officials were actively considering legislation to regulate the process.
Wildlife under threat in Waziristan
“Animal farming in the province will have a very positive impact,” Niaz says. The official states it will be decided which species will be included in the list and the department will also provide animals to the farm owners for breeding.
“If handled correctly, it will have a great impact on wildlife, but farmers will have to get a licence from the department,” he adds. The official reveals law has been proposed to allow these farmers to exchange animals with each other for breeding.
Snow leopards on a leash?
“The public will be able to buy these animals from the farms and keep them as pets at homes.” Niaz believes this will nurture love for wild animals among the public which is generally apathetic towards most animals.
Trophy hunting helps revive Markhor numbers
He says the farming of some species was already taking place and new legislation would help regulate it. “Rules and regulations have been proposed. These will be sent for final approval, vetting and then be implemented. It is a part of what is allowed in the newly passed wildlife act,” he explains.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26[SUP]th[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1034074/animal-farm-wildlife-breeding-on-the-cards-for-k-p/
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Restructuring of energy development organisation okayed
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved a proposal to restructure the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (Pedo) and form the KP Power Company Limited (KPPCL).
An official of the energy and power department told Dawn on Friday that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had accorded the approval to the summary few days ago.
He said following the summary’s approval, the KPPCL would turn the existing power stations into companies before using them as sureties to finance more energy projects in the province.
The summary was moved by the energy and power department around six month ago under the title of KP Power Holding Company and Special Purpose Vehicles.
In order to overcome issues faced by the Pedo and fully exploit power generation potential of the province, mobilise additional resources for power sector and run power generation sector on modern corporate lines, the Energy Apex Committee, in its meeting held on June 6, 2015 approved the plan to set up the KPPCL and SPVs.
According to the summary, in the first phase, the KPPCL and SPVs will be established and an assessment will be carried out regarding the need for formation of KP Electric Power Regulatory (Kepra) and KP Private Power Board (KPPPB) before the launch of the second phase in which these organisations will be set up.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1236299/restructuring-of-energy-development-organisation-okayed
Rs250m projects for Peshawar
PESHAWAR: The district government, Peshawar, has approved Rs250 million for development schemes in 92 union councils of the district with special instructions to officials of the relevant departments to ensure timely completion of the projects.
The approval was given in the first meeting of the district government development committee which met with district nazim Arbab Asim Khan in the chair at his office on Thursday.
Deputy commissioner, Peshawar, Riaz Khan Mehsud, assistant director Local Government Faizullah, district planning officer Amir Jan, EDO finance Alamzeb, district council member Shamsul Bari and officials of the communication and works department attended the meeting.
According to a statement, the approved schemes include installation of street lights, repair of pavements, etc. The nazim said that all the schemes had been approved in consultation with the relevant elected representatives after proper study to facilitate the people in need.
He said that the relevant district council members would look after the construction work on the schemes and timely report in case of any lethargy on the part of contractors and government officials so that action could be taken against them.
The district nazim said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had come into power with its slogan to bring change in lives of people and would fulfil its commitment. He said that people would soon feel a change because the district government had planned to ensure timely completion of projects.
Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2016
KP DCs get oversight, guidance role on budget-making by district govts
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local government and rural development department has notified budget rules for all three tiers of local government system in the province, giving powers to the respective deputy commissioners of overall oversight and guidance on the budget’s preparation and its submission to the district governments.
A relevant official told Dawn on Thursday that the deputy commissioner would be the principal accounting officer of the respective district government having several functions with respect to the budgeting of the district government.
“The budget rules are for the city district government, tehsil and municipal administration and village and neighbourhood councils. They have been based on the 2003 budget rules introduced under the Local Government Ordinance 2001 of the then military government of Musharraf,” he said.
He said for the first time, budgets rules had been framed for the village and neighbourhood councils in sharp contrast to those of 2003, which covered district and tehsil municipal administrations only.
Govt notifies budget rules for all tiers of LG system in KP
“Union councils being the lowest tier of the local government were not covered under the previous rules but now for the first time, rules have been framed for local government lowest tier,” he said.
The official said the local government department had focused on making corrections to lacunas existing in past rules in the new version.
“We have tried to ensure the accommodation of reforms introduced on provincial, national and international levels during this period into the body of these rules and improvement of community involvement in the local government system,” he said.
The official said under the 2003 local government system, budget rules was not completely synchronised with the provincial budgeting cycle and the current set of the rules had remedied this major flaw.
He said the provincial budget was presented in June but in the 2003 rules, the district budgeting process began a month later and lasted until September and thus, wasting around four months and leaving little time for the execution of development projects.
The official said the new budget rules attempted to synchronise the provincial and district budget cycles and thus, increasing time for projects to execute at district level.
“The new rules have bound the district government to start budget process in October every year when the province’s budget-making process begins with the issuance of budget call circular,” he said, adding that at the same time, the districts will also inform about their schemes.
The official said the district budget process would follow similar steps and thus, leading to the improved predictability of development projects, better performance and availability of sufficient funds.
He said under the new rules, district government would prepare a ‘citizen budget’ for the people’s understanding as the budget documents were very difficult to understand for them.
The official said in order to ensure the greater budgetary transparency and make it public through a mix of communication media, citizen budgets would be developed by the respective district officers (planning and finance).
He said it would be a non-technical completion of budget for a layman and would be developed on forms to be devised by the district governments.
The official said the new rules stated that the district governments would pay attention to the fiscal planning in a multi-year perspective.
He said it was a common practice to prepare budget for a single fiscal year, leaving little space for predictability in financial planning for medium to long term development schemes.
“However, each district government shall develop a medium-term district development plan and the annual development programme formulated each year shall be in line with the policy objectives of the district plan. The multiyear planning shall be based on a robust fiscal framework for determination of fiscal space requiring most realistic future revenue prospects and expenditures.”
The official said the medium term plan would be for a period of three years, including the ensuing financial year and two outer years, while the projections for the ‘outer year’ would be updated every year on ‘rolling basis’.
He said special focus had also been paid to ensure the integration of planning and budgeting.
About the powers given to the deputy commissioners, the official said the DC office was the principal accounting officer under the local government rules and that the budget rules should follow the overarching framework provided by the rules in question and couldn’t deviate from it.
Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1236126/kp-dcs-get-oversight-guidance-role-on-budget-making-by-district-govts
Heads of 450 KP schools, colleges booked for poor security
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have booked the heads of over 450 educational institutions in the province for a lack of security on campus.
The information was shared with participants of a meeting the Peshawar police held with the principals and owners of the city’s government and privately-owned schools and colleges at the Malik Saad Police Lines here about security arrangements at their respective premises.
Representatives of around 80 educational institutions attended the meeting chaired by city police chief Mubarak Zeb. Similar meetings took place in Bannu, Charsadda and Hangu districts in the day.
Police, representatives of educational institutions discuss arrangements for protection of campuses
During the Peshawar meeting, Peshawar SSP (operations) Abbas Majeed Marat briefed participants about security requirements for educational institutions.
He said the strength of the provincial police stood at 68,000, while there were around 64,000 educational institutions across the province.
The SSP said the police and public needed to work together under the current delicate security situation.
“Schools, colleges and universities should have 14 feet boundary walls with three to four feet high barbed wires. In addition, they should also install CCTV cameras and deploy an adequate number of guards. There should also have proper lighting system and emergency alarm system on the premises,” he said.
The SSP said guards should patrol near boundary walls of smaller educational institutions, while bigger ones should arrange such patrols on motorcycles and automobiles.
He said at the start of classes, senior faculty members should check the secluded places around their premises, while the school administrations should not allow pushcart vendors to stand near or roam around campus and sought the police’s help for the purpose.
The SSP said besides having guards, the school buses should also be marked less prominently.
City police chief Mubarak Zeb said the current security situation was a huge challenge and its needs to be tackled with joint efforts of police, educational institutions and general public.
He said the security challenge could be countered with participatory security.
“Deployment of armed guards at schools is not the police’s wish. Instead, it’s the result of security compulsion as children need to get education regardless of all terrorist threats,” he said.
Mr. Zeb said Peshawar being the provincial capital was more prone to terrorist attacks.
He said all 30 SHOs of the provincial capital, 11 DSPs and three SPs had been asked to stay in the field from 7am to 3pm to monitor the security situation by themselves.
He said the city police had formed 12 mobile squads with two covering Charsadda Road, GT Road, Badbher and Ring Road, Machni Gate, Hayatabad and University of Peshawar each.
Principals and owners of the educational institutions also shared their complaints and suggestions with the police officials.
In Bannu, commissioner Kamarn Zeb and RPO Tahir Khan met school owners and administrations and directed them to take necessary steps to ensure security of students and staff members on campus. They said all educational institutions should link themselves with the SOS system.
In Charsadda, district nazim Fahd Riaz Khan held a meeting with school administrations in his office and discussed security situation of educational institutions in the aftermath of the recent Bacha Khan University Charsadda attack.
The nazim was asked to secure funds from the provincial government for the security of schools and colleges in the district in light of their unavailability.
In Hangu, officials of the district administration directed school administrations to ensure security of their premises.
They warned in case of any security lapse by them, the police would register FIRs against the administrations of the respective schools.
Officials told participants including district nazim Mufti Obaidullah, DPO Shah Nazar and deputy commissioner Nasim Khan that all schools across the district had been given Rs800,000 each for putting in place security checks but even then, most schools had neither installed CCTV cameras nor had they hired armed guards.
SCHOOL OWNERS BOOKED: The Mardan police have registered cases against owners of 62 schools over a lack of security on their respective premises.
Mardan DIG Saeed Khan Wazir told reporters here on Wednesday that soon after the Charsadda university attack, owners and administrations of educational institutions were asked to make security arrangements in and around their campuses but the instructions were not taken seriously by most.
He said he had asked the district police officers of Mardan, Sawabi, Charsadda and Nowshera to call a meeting of government and private schools to ensure appropriate security measures on campus.
In Mingora, too, the police asked the government and private schools to ensure proper security on the premises.
Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235865/heads-of-450-kp-schools-colleges-booked-for-poor-security
Court suspends order for inquiry against PA secretary
PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court bench on Tuesday suspended a notification issued by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s speaker of the establishment of a committee to probe the alleged violation of discipline by the assembly’s secretary and issuance of a charge sheet in that respect.
Justice Qaiser Rasheed and Justice Irshad Qaiser also issued notice to Speaker Asad Qaiser and sought reply from him on a petition filed by secretary Amanullah Khan. The bench fixed Feb 17 for the next hearing into the petition.
Ijaz Anwar, lawyer for the petitioner, said on Jan 18, 2016, the impugned notification was issued whereby an inquiry committee was constituted in terms of Rule 5 (1)(b) of the KP Government Servants (Efficiency and Disciplinary) Rules, 2011.
He said the inquiry committee consisted of provincial minister Syed Imtiaz Qureshi (chairman), special assistant to chief minister Dr Amjid Ali (member) and parliamentary secretary Dr Haider Ali (member) and that its creation was illegal and unconstitutional and in violation of provisions of the E&D rules.
The lawyer said non-civil servants could not lawfully be appointed as chairman and members of the committee and therefore, the impugned notification was liable to be struck down.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235664/court-suspends-order-for-inquiry-against-pa-secretary
Work on Swat Expressway to start in June
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that work on Swat Expressway will be initiated in June this year.
Presiding over a meeting here on Tuesday, he directed the officials concerned to speed up preparatory process for the project, said a handout. The chief minister was told that the project would be executed through public-private partnership while tender had already floated to invite firms for its construction.
He was informed that a number of firms had shown interest in the project while process of evaluation to select a suitable firm for the task was in progress.
The chief minister approved establishment of a special project directorate to make implementation of the scheme smooth and effective. He also approved financial consultants to devise mechanism for public-private partnership for implementation and running of the project.
CM directs officials to speed up preparatory process for the project
The 81-kilometre long expressway will connect motorway from Karnal Sher Khan Interchange to Chakdara to provide easy road access to Malakand division. Bank of Khyber will provide financial support for the project while private firm will design, implement and maintain the project. The government will bear 40 per cent expenses of the project while 60 per cent of the cost will be borne by the private firm.
Earlier, the chief minister chaired a meeting about developmental activities in Peshawar district. The meeting was attended by Peshawar district nazim, local MPAs, additional chief secretary and officials of various nation building departments.
Expressing concern over delay in implementation of development schemes, the chief minister directed completion of the projects within one year. He said that action would be taken against the contractor if he failed to complete a scheme in the stipulated time.
Mr Khattak also ordered handing over of the completed building to the department concerned within one week after its completion. He also directed recruitment of former army men and police personnel on the vacant posts of security guards in the educational institutions.
The chief minister ordered arrangement of training for security guards of the educational institutions. He directed the authorities concerned to notify all vacant posts of Class-IV employees within one week.
He was told the 14 earthquake affected schools would be reconstructed under Peshawar uplift project to be funded by the USAID.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235635/work-on-swat-expressway-to-start-in-june
KP bureaucrats using forest institute to serve own ends
PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI) has been turned into a grazing ground by bureaucracy, who seldom let lose a chance to milk the cow and oblige those at the helm of affairs.
The country’s premier education and research institute has been functioning without a director general since 2011.
Any senior bureaucrat, who is posted the environment secretary, also retains the position of the PFI director general as additional charge.
Instead of focusing on academic activities, they (bureaucrats) try to appease the high-ups and politicians by appointing their nominees to various posts, giving them vehicles and other incentives. Recently, the additional chief secretary, who has now been repatriated to the centre, kept the post of the DG, too.
The PFI established in 1947 was entrusted to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the 18th Constitutional Amendment. The DG’s post has been kept vacant since 2011 and the environment secretary is given the additional charge.
Officials said the PFI had become a recreation centre for the bureaucrats, who assumed this additional charge.
The institute surrounded by maple, pine and olive trees adjacent to the Agriculture University had become a recreation centre, where bureaucrats holding this additional charge came just to shed fatigue.
The post of the DG has been declared ‘schedule post’ under which ‘any suitable officer from amongst the PCS/MS/PAS officers of BS-20/21 as DG.’
Please high-ups, politicians by employing their nominees, giving them vehicles, other facilities
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan had announced that the PFI would be given the status of the university, but the bureaucracy is playing own cards.
Another notification was issued on January 6, 2016 for the creation of three posts of the additional director general of BPS-20 in different disciplines and one post of director (biodiversity) of BPS-19.
“The appointment of non-technical person as DG will not be in the interest of the institute, which is already in crisis due to shortage of teaching staff and financial resources,” said one official.
After the Peshawar High Court’s intervention, the government posted the senior most academician of the PFI, Syed Hakeem Shah, as the DG of the Institute.
However, a legal battle between the government and the PFI teachers is still underway.
According to the documents, whose copies are available with Dawn, former ACS Hammad Owais Agha had appointed 22 employees to various posts in the institute on contractual basis in 2014.
Of the total 22 appointed employees, 12 belonged to Nowshera, hometown of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak.
Interestingly, PFI deputy director (technical) issued an order on January 4 and relieved all contractual employees before the ACS quit the office of the DG. These employees were appointed to the posts of gardeners, naib qasid, lower division clerks and assistants.
Officials claimed that all these appointments were illegal because no code of formalities including the publication of advertisement in newspapers, formation of a selection committee, and the holding of tests and interviews of the candidates was observed.
They said the forestry, environment and wildlife department had imposed a ban on all kinds of postings and transfers in the attached formation of forestry, environment and wildlife in February 2015 but despite that, many people were posted to the PFI.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235655/kp-bureaucrats-using-forest-institute-to-serve-own-ends
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved a proposal to restructure the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (Pedo) and form the KP Power Company Limited (KPPCL).
An official of the energy and power department told Dawn on Friday that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had accorded the approval to the summary few days ago.
He said following the summary’s approval, the KPPCL would turn the existing power stations into companies before using them as sureties to finance more energy projects in the province.
The summary was moved by the energy and power department around six month ago under the title of KP Power Holding Company and Special Purpose Vehicles.
In order to overcome issues faced by the Pedo and fully exploit power generation potential of the province, mobilise additional resources for power sector and run power generation sector on modern corporate lines, the Energy Apex Committee, in its meeting held on June 6, 2015 approved the plan to set up the KPPCL and SPVs.
According to the summary, in the first phase, the KPPCL and SPVs will be established and an assessment will be carried out regarding the need for formation of KP Electric Power Regulatory (Kepra) and KP Private Power Board (KPPPB) before the launch of the second phase in which these organisations will be set up.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1236299/restructuring-of-energy-development-organisation-okayed
Rs250m projects for Peshawar
PESHAWAR: The district government, Peshawar, has approved Rs250 million for development schemes in 92 union councils of the district with special instructions to officials of the relevant departments to ensure timely completion of the projects.
The approval was given in the first meeting of the district government development committee which met with district nazim Arbab Asim Khan in the chair at his office on Thursday.
Deputy commissioner, Peshawar, Riaz Khan Mehsud, assistant director Local Government Faizullah, district planning officer Amir Jan, EDO finance Alamzeb, district council member Shamsul Bari and officials of the communication and works department attended the meeting.
According to a statement, the approved schemes include installation of street lights, repair of pavements, etc. The nazim said that all the schemes had been approved in consultation with the relevant elected representatives after proper study to facilitate the people in need.
He said that the relevant district council members would look after the construction work on the schemes and timely report in case of any lethargy on the part of contractors and government officials so that action could be taken against them.
The district nazim said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had come into power with its slogan to bring change in lives of people and would fulfil its commitment. He said that people would soon feel a change because the district government had planned to ensure timely completion of projects.
Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2016
KP DCs get oversight, guidance role on budget-making by district govts
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local government and rural development department has notified budget rules for all three tiers of local government system in the province, giving powers to the respective deputy commissioners of overall oversight and guidance on the budget’s preparation and its submission to the district governments.
A relevant official told Dawn on Thursday that the deputy commissioner would be the principal accounting officer of the respective district government having several functions with respect to the budgeting of the district government.
“The budget rules are for the city district government, tehsil and municipal administration and village and neighbourhood councils. They have been based on the 2003 budget rules introduced under the Local Government Ordinance 2001 of the then military government of Musharraf,” he said.
He said for the first time, budgets rules had been framed for the village and neighbourhood councils in sharp contrast to those of 2003, which covered district and tehsil municipal administrations only.
Govt notifies budget rules for all tiers of LG system in KP
“Union councils being the lowest tier of the local government were not covered under the previous rules but now for the first time, rules have been framed for local government lowest tier,” he said.
The official said the local government department had focused on making corrections to lacunas existing in past rules in the new version.
“We have tried to ensure the accommodation of reforms introduced on provincial, national and international levels during this period into the body of these rules and improvement of community involvement in the local government system,” he said.
The official said under the 2003 local government system, budget rules was not completely synchronised with the provincial budgeting cycle and the current set of the rules had remedied this major flaw.
He said the provincial budget was presented in June but in the 2003 rules, the district budgeting process began a month later and lasted until September and thus, wasting around four months and leaving little time for the execution of development projects.
The official said the new budget rules attempted to synchronise the provincial and district budget cycles and thus, increasing time for projects to execute at district level.
“The new rules have bound the district government to start budget process in October every year when the province’s budget-making process begins with the issuance of budget call circular,” he said, adding that at the same time, the districts will also inform about their schemes.
The official said the district budget process would follow similar steps and thus, leading to the improved predictability of development projects, better performance and availability of sufficient funds.
He said under the new rules, district government would prepare a ‘citizen budget’ for the people’s understanding as the budget documents were very difficult to understand for them.
The official said in order to ensure the greater budgetary transparency and make it public through a mix of communication media, citizen budgets would be developed by the respective district officers (planning and finance).
He said it would be a non-technical completion of budget for a layman and would be developed on forms to be devised by the district governments.
The official said the new rules stated that the district governments would pay attention to the fiscal planning in a multi-year perspective.
He said it was a common practice to prepare budget for a single fiscal year, leaving little space for predictability in financial planning for medium to long term development schemes.
“However, each district government shall develop a medium-term district development plan and the annual development programme formulated each year shall be in line with the policy objectives of the district plan. The multiyear planning shall be based on a robust fiscal framework for determination of fiscal space requiring most realistic future revenue prospects and expenditures.”
The official said the medium term plan would be for a period of three years, including the ensuing financial year and two outer years, while the projections for the ‘outer year’ would be updated every year on ‘rolling basis’.
He said special focus had also been paid to ensure the integration of planning and budgeting.
About the powers given to the deputy commissioners, the official said the DC office was the principal accounting officer under the local government rules and that the budget rules should follow the overarching framework provided by the rules in question and couldn’t deviate from it.
Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1236126/kp-dcs-get-oversight-guidance-role-on-budget-making-by-district-govts
Heads of 450 KP schools, colleges booked for poor security
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have booked the heads of over 450 educational institutions in the province for a lack of security on campus.
The information was shared with participants of a meeting the Peshawar police held with the principals and owners of the city’s government and privately-owned schools and colleges at the Malik Saad Police Lines here about security arrangements at their respective premises.
Representatives of around 80 educational institutions attended the meeting chaired by city police chief Mubarak Zeb. Similar meetings took place in Bannu, Charsadda and Hangu districts in the day.
Police, representatives of educational institutions discuss arrangements for protection of campuses
During the Peshawar meeting, Peshawar SSP (operations) Abbas Majeed Marat briefed participants about security requirements for educational institutions.
He said the strength of the provincial police stood at 68,000, while there were around 64,000 educational institutions across the province.
The SSP said the police and public needed to work together under the current delicate security situation.
“Schools, colleges and universities should have 14 feet boundary walls with three to four feet high barbed wires. In addition, they should also install CCTV cameras and deploy an adequate number of guards. There should also have proper lighting system and emergency alarm system on the premises,” he said.
The SSP said guards should patrol near boundary walls of smaller educational institutions, while bigger ones should arrange such patrols on motorcycles and automobiles.
He said at the start of classes, senior faculty members should check the secluded places around their premises, while the school administrations should not allow pushcart vendors to stand near or roam around campus and sought the police’s help for the purpose.
The SSP said besides having guards, the school buses should also be marked less prominently.
City police chief Mubarak Zeb said the current security situation was a huge challenge and its needs to be tackled with joint efforts of police, educational institutions and general public.
He said the security challenge could be countered with participatory security.
“Deployment of armed guards at schools is not the police’s wish. Instead, it’s the result of security compulsion as children need to get education regardless of all terrorist threats,” he said.
Mr. Zeb said Peshawar being the provincial capital was more prone to terrorist attacks.
He said all 30 SHOs of the provincial capital, 11 DSPs and three SPs had been asked to stay in the field from 7am to 3pm to monitor the security situation by themselves.
He said the city police had formed 12 mobile squads with two covering Charsadda Road, GT Road, Badbher and Ring Road, Machni Gate, Hayatabad and University of Peshawar each.
Principals and owners of the educational institutions also shared their complaints and suggestions with the police officials.
In Bannu, commissioner Kamarn Zeb and RPO Tahir Khan met school owners and administrations and directed them to take necessary steps to ensure security of students and staff members on campus. They said all educational institutions should link themselves with the SOS system.
In Charsadda, district nazim Fahd Riaz Khan held a meeting with school administrations in his office and discussed security situation of educational institutions in the aftermath of the recent Bacha Khan University Charsadda attack.
The nazim was asked to secure funds from the provincial government for the security of schools and colleges in the district in light of their unavailability.
In Hangu, officials of the district administration directed school administrations to ensure security of their premises.
They warned in case of any security lapse by them, the police would register FIRs against the administrations of the respective schools.
Officials told participants including district nazim Mufti Obaidullah, DPO Shah Nazar and deputy commissioner Nasim Khan that all schools across the district had been given Rs800,000 each for putting in place security checks but even then, most schools had neither installed CCTV cameras nor had they hired armed guards.
SCHOOL OWNERS BOOKED: The Mardan police have registered cases against owners of 62 schools over a lack of security on their respective premises.
Mardan DIG Saeed Khan Wazir told reporters here on Wednesday that soon after the Charsadda university attack, owners and administrations of educational institutions were asked to make security arrangements in and around their campuses but the instructions were not taken seriously by most.
He said he had asked the district police officers of Mardan, Sawabi, Charsadda and Nowshera to call a meeting of government and private schools to ensure appropriate security measures on campus.
In Mingora, too, the police asked the government and private schools to ensure proper security on the premises.
Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235865/heads-of-450-kp-schools-colleges-booked-for-poor-security
Court suspends order for inquiry against PA secretary
PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court bench on Tuesday suspended a notification issued by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s speaker of the establishment of a committee to probe the alleged violation of discipline by the assembly’s secretary and issuance of a charge sheet in that respect.
Justice Qaiser Rasheed and Justice Irshad Qaiser also issued notice to Speaker Asad Qaiser and sought reply from him on a petition filed by secretary Amanullah Khan. The bench fixed Feb 17 for the next hearing into the petition.
Ijaz Anwar, lawyer for the petitioner, said on Jan 18, 2016, the impugned notification was issued whereby an inquiry committee was constituted in terms of Rule 5 (1)(b) of the KP Government Servants (Efficiency and Disciplinary) Rules, 2011.
He said the inquiry committee consisted of provincial minister Syed Imtiaz Qureshi (chairman), special assistant to chief minister Dr Amjid Ali (member) and parliamentary secretary Dr Haider Ali (member) and that its creation was illegal and unconstitutional and in violation of provisions of the E&D rules.
The lawyer said non-civil servants could not lawfully be appointed as chairman and members of the committee and therefore, the impugned notification was liable to be struck down.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235664/court-suspends-order-for-inquiry-against-pa-secretary
Work on Swat Expressway to start in June
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that work on Swat Expressway will be initiated in June this year.
Presiding over a meeting here on Tuesday, he directed the officials concerned to speed up preparatory process for the project, said a handout. The chief minister was told that the project would be executed through public-private partnership while tender had already floated to invite firms for its construction.
He was informed that a number of firms had shown interest in the project while process of evaluation to select a suitable firm for the task was in progress.
The chief minister approved establishment of a special project directorate to make implementation of the scheme smooth and effective. He also approved financial consultants to devise mechanism for public-private partnership for implementation and running of the project.
CM directs officials to speed up preparatory process for the project
The 81-kilometre long expressway will connect motorway from Karnal Sher Khan Interchange to Chakdara to provide easy road access to Malakand division. Bank of Khyber will provide financial support for the project while private firm will design, implement and maintain the project. The government will bear 40 per cent expenses of the project while 60 per cent of the cost will be borne by the private firm.
Earlier, the chief minister chaired a meeting about developmental activities in Peshawar district. The meeting was attended by Peshawar district nazim, local MPAs, additional chief secretary and officials of various nation building departments.
Expressing concern over delay in implementation of development schemes, the chief minister directed completion of the projects within one year. He said that action would be taken against the contractor if he failed to complete a scheme in the stipulated time.
Mr Khattak also ordered handing over of the completed building to the department concerned within one week after its completion. He also directed recruitment of former army men and police personnel on the vacant posts of security guards in the educational institutions.
The chief minister ordered arrangement of training for security guards of the educational institutions. He directed the authorities concerned to notify all vacant posts of Class-IV employees within one week.
He was told the 14 earthquake affected schools would be reconstructed under Peshawar uplift project to be funded by the USAID.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235635/work-on-swat-expressway-to-start-in-june
KP bureaucrats using forest institute to serve own ends
PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI) has been turned into a grazing ground by bureaucracy, who seldom let lose a chance to milk the cow and oblige those at the helm of affairs.
The country’s premier education and research institute has been functioning without a director general since 2011.
Any senior bureaucrat, who is posted the environment secretary, also retains the position of the PFI director general as additional charge.
Instead of focusing on academic activities, they (bureaucrats) try to appease the high-ups and politicians by appointing their nominees to various posts, giving them vehicles and other incentives. Recently, the additional chief secretary, who has now been repatriated to the centre, kept the post of the DG, too.
The PFI established in 1947 was entrusted to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the 18th Constitutional Amendment. The DG’s post has been kept vacant since 2011 and the environment secretary is given the additional charge.
Officials said the PFI had become a recreation centre for the bureaucrats, who assumed this additional charge.
The institute surrounded by maple, pine and olive trees adjacent to the Agriculture University had become a recreation centre, where bureaucrats holding this additional charge came just to shed fatigue.
The post of the DG has been declared ‘schedule post’ under which ‘any suitable officer from amongst the PCS/MS/PAS officers of BS-20/21 as DG.’
Please high-ups, politicians by employing their nominees, giving them vehicles, other facilities
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan had announced that the PFI would be given the status of the university, but the bureaucracy is playing own cards.
Another notification was issued on January 6, 2016 for the creation of three posts of the additional director general of BPS-20 in different disciplines and one post of director (biodiversity) of BPS-19.
“The appointment of non-technical person as DG will not be in the interest of the institute, which is already in crisis due to shortage of teaching staff and financial resources,” said one official.
After the Peshawar High Court’s intervention, the government posted the senior most academician of the PFI, Syed Hakeem Shah, as the DG of the Institute.
However, a legal battle between the government and the PFI teachers is still underway.
According to the documents, whose copies are available with Dawn, former ACS Hammad Owais Agha had appointed 22 employees to various posts in the institute on contractual basis in 2014.
Of the total 22 appointed employees, 12 belonged to Nowshera, hometown of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak.
Interestingly, PFI deputy director (technical) issued an order on January 4 and relieved all contractual employees before the ACS quit the office of the DG. These employees were appointed to the posts of gardeners, naib qasid, lower division clerks and assistants.
Officials claimed that all these appointments were illegal because no code of formalities including the publication of advertisement in newspapers, formation of a selection committee, and the holding of tests and interviews of the candidates was observed.
They said the forestry, environment and wildlife department had imposed a ban on all kinds of postings and transfers in the attached formation of forestry, environment and wildlife in February 2015 but despite that, many people were posted to the PFI.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1235655/kp-bureaucrats-using-forest-institute-to-serve-own-ends
Day Dreamer
Citizen
where is mega city?
Where is tameer school program?
Day Dreamer
Citizen
خواب دکھانا تو بہت ہی آسان ہے لیکن خوابوں کی تعمیر۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔آہا
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
JAN 31 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
JAN 01 2016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
JAN 02 2016
Last edited:
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
JAN 03 3016
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
[h=1]Combating terrorism: SPU formed to protect VIPs
[/h]PESHAWAR: In a bid to provide security to government functionaries, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police has established a special protection unit (SPU). A police official told The Express Tribune on Monday the unit was raised keeping in view the deteriorating law and order in the province.
The main objective of the SPU will be to protect visiting delegations, including government functionaries. He added these police personnel will not perform duty in police uniforms. Photographs of the SPU show men sharply dressed in suits. The police official said, “These men would be deployed in addition to police commandos.” He stated, “These policemen will be armed with modern weapons; it is a multi-task highly trained and professional force.”
A few days ago, an SSG-type Al-Zarrar Force was also raised in the province to combat terrorism and provide security to educational institutions. The force comprises 90 commandos and was trained by the Pakistan Army. It carried out mock exercises in schools across the city as part of security measures.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1038367/combating-terrorism-spu-formed-to-protect-vips/
[h=1]Sluggish performance: Govt only utilised 18% ADP funds: CGPA
[/h]PESHAWAR: The provincial government has only utilised around 18% of the Annual Development Programme funds for fiscal year 2015-16, stated a press release issued by Centre of Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA) on Monday.
According to the statement, expenditure on development has remained “sluggish” in the province. Details of spending available on the K-P government finance department’s website reveal only Rs31.14 billion of Rs175.02 billion was spent till January 5, 2016. “As of January 5, 2016, the K-P government has released Rs67.8 billion for development projects,” the CGPA statement added.
Withheld
As per the press release, CGPA had filed two requests for information regarding the utilisation of ADP funds to the finance and the planning and development (P&D) departments, respectively, on January 1. This was done under Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act 2013.
“However, it has been over 20 days and no details have been provided.” CGPA has urged the government to speed up the utilisation of the development budgets.
Actual expenditure
The statement reveals the road sector utilised Rs6.41 billion of Rs19 billion allocated under the ADP for FY 2015-16 which constitutes 33.7% of funds allocated. “At least 20.12% funds set aside for the districts have been spent,” read the document. “Around Rs30.2 billion had been allocated and Rs6.08 billion was utilised.” It added, “The local government department, which was allocated Rs18.3 billion, utilised only Rs2.7 billion.”
The research and development sector—which only includes the restoration of Thana Bazaar Road in Malakand—was allocated Rs234 million. However, only Rs1.4 million was utilised.
“The project could have fallen under either the road or the transport sectors,” the CGPA statement read.
Seeking accountability
As per the statement, CGPA Programme Manager Malik Masood has urged the K-P government to ensure efficient and accountable mechanisms to improve utilisation of ADP funds. “There has always been a difference in the claims made by the K-P government and finance and P&D departments regarding the utilisation of funds,” the document read. “[The failure to fulfil the request filed on January 1] depicts the sorry state of the RTI law.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1038379/sluggish-performance-govt-only-utilised-18-adp-funds-cgpa/
[h=1]From stigmatisation to inaction: Protection of Women Act 2006 brings no relief to rape victims
[/h]PESHAWAR: For decades, human rights activists attacked the Hudood Ordinance 1979 for its treatment of rape victims. This ordinance was introduced by Council of Islamic Ideology but in fact, was widely criticised by Islamic scholars as well.
Heinous crime: Man held for child rape attempt
A 35-year-old man, a resident of Bajaur Agency, has been arrested on suspicion.
Talking to The Express Tribune, police said the five-year-old girl went out of her house Saturday afternoon and did not return for several hours.
She was kidnapped, raped and found by her family members in a deserted plot later, not completely aware of her surroundings and badly hurt. She was rushed to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH). According to an official at the facility, she is still admitted there after undergoing an emergency operation at the gynaecology ward.
“The girl had been raped; her family members found her sitting in a deserted plot, unable to talk or even stand,” said an official of Yakatoot police station, requesting anonymity. He added, “She was bleeding and taken to LRH and we were immediately informed.”
He said since evidence suggests she was raped, an FIR under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code against the culprit has been registered.
The father of the girl, a resident of Esa Khel, Mohmand Agency who has been living in the city for the past 15 years, is a daily wage earner.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1[SUP]st[/SUP], 2016.
Read more: rape victims
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1037760...en-act-2006-brings-no-relief-to-rape-victims/
[h=1]PDA requests security for hospitals, doctors hostels
[/h]PESHAWAR: The Provincial Doctors Association (PDA) has requested the government for security at hostels meant for doctors across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
In a letter addressed to the K-P chief secretary, PDA K-P President Dr Amir Taj said keeping in view deteriorating law and order in the province, the government must provide security to all hospitals, including medical teaching institutions, across the province.
The letter, issued on Saturday, spoke of the association expressing concern over the lack of security at hospitals, including Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Ayub Medical Complex, Saidu Medical Complex, Mardan Medical Complex, Bannu Medical College and Gomal Medical College. Similar fears were shared for hostels for doctors across K-P.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1037728/pda-requests-security-for-hospitals-doctors-hostels/
[h=1]On a visit: ‘Invest in human development for progress’
[/h]PESHAWAR: Nations progress when money is invested on human development instead of concrete buildings.
This was said by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan during a conference at Khyber Medical University in the city on Saturday. The conference was aimed at highlighting advancements being made by the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences regarding cancer treatment and haematology.
“No matter how much you invest in metros and [Orange Line] trains, the nation will never progress until human development is spent on,” he said.
Imran Khan inaugurates Bab-e-Peshawar flyover
Imran added the federal government was taking loans and burdening the public when its own wealth is out of the country.
According to the PTI chief, civilised nations always spent money on research. This is why Japan and Germany grew into economic giants after World War II as they invested in human development and research, he added.
Derelict hospitals
About the state of government hospitals in the province, PTI chief said lack of management is the reason why hospitals have not yet been brought on the right track.
However, he promised visible changes would be seen in the next six months.
“If [change is not witnessed], then you can say K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and I have failed.”
Earlier on the occasion, KMU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Hafizullah urged Imran to provide facilities for the university. He said eight constituent institutions and 29 different medical colleges are affiliated with the university.
Hafizullah demanded facilities like a sports ground, gym, research equipment for computer laboratory, stipend for medical officers and scholarship for students.
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Director Professor Jawad Ahmad told The Express Tribune doctors from across the country were participating in the conference.
“Specialists will exchange ideas and expertise to train future experts,” he added.
Celebrating artists
On the same day, the PTI chief attended a ceremony where cash payment worth Rs30,000 each were distributed among 500 artists.
The event was held at CM House. “A number of artists have left the province in the past,” Imran said. “But we have our own legends that represent our culture.” He urged artists to develop their talent according to their own culture so that their work could be presented to the world.
Imran added, “There is a cultural attack on Pakistan from Hollywood and Bollywood and this can only be countered with creativity that is present in our heritage.”
He also spoke about the old heritage sites of the province, saying the dilapidated buildings will be preserved. He said Bala Hissar Fort would be taken back from the Frontier Corps and would be turned into a true cultural centre for people of Peshawar.
“It could be made a tourism centre that would earn billions.”
On the occasion, Khattak announced an endowment fund of Rs50 million for artists, saying an arts council with halls and libraries would be set.
While briefing Khattak and Imran, Culture Director Abdul Basit said that since earning a living has become difficult for artists in this day and age, the culture department officials felt artists would be able to produce creative ideas if they are released of the tension of livelihood.
However, artists present on the occasion had suggestions for the list of artists who will be awarded with the money till December. A poet and historian, Dr Salahuddin said a category should be created for those who read naats and artisans. Dr Salma Shaheen, a writer, said regional languages should be promoted so that they are kept alive
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1037040/on-a-visit-invest-in-human-development-for-progress/
[/h]PESHAWAR: In a bid to provide security to government functionaries, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police has established a special protection unit (SPU). A police official told The Express Tribune on Monday the unit was raised keeping in view the deteriorating law and order in the province.
The main objective of the SPU will be to protect visiting delegations, including government functionaries. He added these police personnel will not perform duty in police uniforms. Photographs of the SPU show men sharply dressed in suits. The police official said, “These men would be deployed in addition to police commandos.” He stated, “These policemen will be armed with modern weapons; it is a multi-task highly trained and professional force.”
A few days ago, an SSG-type Al-Zarrar Force was also raised in the province to combat terrorism and provide security to educational institutions. The force comprises 90 commandos and was trained by the Pakistan Army. It carried out mock exercises in schools across the city as part of security measures.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1038367/combating-terrorism-spu-formed-to-protect-vips/
[h=1]Sluggish performance: Govt only utilised 18% ADP funds: CGPA
[/h]PESHAWAR: The provincial government has only utilised around 18% of the Annual Development Programme funds for fiscal year 2015-16, stated a press release issued by Centre of Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA) on Monday.
According to the statement, expenditure on development has remained “sluggish” in the province. Details of spending available on the K-P government finance department’s website reveal only Rs31.14 billion of Rs175.02 billion was spent till January 5, 2016. “As of January 5, 2016, the K-P government has released Rs67.8 billion for development projects,” the CGPA statement added.
Withheld
As per the press release, CGPA had filed two requests for information regarding the utilisation of ADP funds to the finance and the planning and development (P&D) departments, respectively, on January 1. This was done under Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act 2013.
“However, it has been over 20 days and no details have been provided.” CGPA has urged the government to speed up the utilisation of the development budgets.
Actual expenditure
The statement reveals the road sector utilised Rs6.41 billion of Rs19 billion allocated under the ADP for FY 2015-16 which constitutes 33.7% of funds allocated. “At least 20.12% funds set aside for the districts have been spent,” read the document. “Around Rs30.2 billion had been allocated and Rs6.08 billion was utilised.” It added, “The local government department, which was allocated Rs18.3 billion, utilised only Rs2.7 billion.”
The research and development sector—which only includes the restoration of Thana Bazaar Road in Malakand—was allocated Rs234 million. However, only Rs1.4 million was utilised.
“The project could have fallen under either the road or the transport sectors,” the CGPA statement read.
Seeking accountability
As per the statement, CGPA Programme Manager Malik Masood has urged the K-P government to ensure efficient and accountable mechanisms to improve utilisation of ADP funds. “There has always been a difference in the claims made by the K-P government and finance and P&D departments regarding the utilisation of funds,” the document read. “[The failure to fulfil the request filed on January 1] depicts the sorry state of the RTI law.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1038379/sluggish-performance-govt-only-utilised-18-adp-funds-cgpa/
[h=1]From stigmatisation to inaction: Protection of Women Act 2006 brings no relief to rape victims
[/h]PESHAWAR: For decades, human rights activists attacked the Hudood Ordinance 1979 for its treatment of rape victims. This ordinance was introduced by Council of Islamic Ideology but in fact, was widely criticised by Islamic scholars as well.
In 2006, an amendment (Protection of Women Act) put zina or rape clause under the Pakistan Penal Code. This meant a rape victim who had to go to court along with four eyewitnesses previously could now go to a police station and register an FIR instead. The amendment also reduced the number of eyewitnesses to two people.PTI worker, two others booked for raping woman in FaisalabadHowever none of the changes actually helped rape victims as people had expected – not in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at least. Relief deniedVictims and families complained the police, in most cases, do not register an FIR. Even if after delays FIRs are registered, faulty investigation results in the accused being released by courts.
In K-P in particular, the police do not cooperate with rape victims and avoid registering FIRs.In August 2015, a polio worker was raped in her house in Nowshera and even after four months of persistent pleas, the Akbarpura police station did not register her case.In fact, the Nowshera DPO claimed the victim was trying to be another Mukhtaran Mai – a woman who was first gang-raped and then paraded naked in front of the neighbourhood.Local journalists went one step ahead and accused the rape victim of concocting the story in a bid to seek asylum in the United States.Five-year-old girl raped, left semi-conscious in PeshawarWhile it may be possible there was no rape, the police, however, are in no position to come to that conclusion. Without a thorough forensic and medical investigation, the police cannot make such claims.The victim said after being raped, she went to the police who indulged in delaying tactics. This forced her to hold a press conference in Peshawar on December 22. Victim blamingVictim blaming is not new – not in Pakistan, not in other countries in the world. “She is lying to get attention” or “She was asking for it, walking alone at night” or “She said no, but she meant yes” are statements people make to justify the horrifying act of rape.
Talking to The Express Tribune, human rights activist Uzma Mehboob said police officials often blame victims. According to Mehboob, police officials conveniently claim the crime was reported several days after the rape – when no data or evidence can be collected.She said several seminars on the subject have been organised where forensic experts have said the passage of days does not necessarily destroy the evidence.Even in the case of the polio worker from Nowshera, police claimed the victim had burnt her clothes.Mehboob also said the treatment of rape was inappropriate by not just the police but the entire society.Middle-aged woman gang-raped at panchayat“Rape victims are often advised to not publicise their plight as it would stigmatise them and bring ill-repute to the family,” she said. “Even the police place the onus of responsibility on the victim and ask incorrect questions like, ‘Why were you outside in the first place?’” Mehboob added. Potential for resolutionTalking to The Express Tribune, DSP Shahzadi, who worked as the SHO of the women police station in Hazara for 12 years, said rape cases could be handled better if policewomen deal with them.“The number of policewomen in K-P is very limited but it will really help victims if policewomen register these cases,” she said. “In every police station, policewomen should deal with violence against women.”Shahzadi added in Hazara, rape was the most common crime faced by women while in Peshawar, murder and violence were more common.Woman rights activist Rukhsanda Naz also advocated for women police to deal with cases concerning violence against women as they are in a better position to understand their problems. “In this regard, desks with policewomen can be established in all police stations,” she added.Case registered: Five-year-old raped, abandoned in plot
A five-year-old girl was raped and left in a semi-conscious state, bleeding, in a deserted plot in Wazir Bagh near Yakatoot police station Saturday evening. She was rushed into emergency surgery which she survived, however, few details have been released yet.
Heinous crime: Man held for child rape attempt
A 35-year-old man, a resident of Bajaur Agency, has been arrested on suspicion.
Talking to The Express Tribune, police said the five-year-old girl went out of her house Saturday afternoon and did not return for several hours.
She was kidnapped, raped and found by her family members in a deserted plot later, not completely aware of her surroundings and badly hurt. She was rushed to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH). According to an official at the facility, she is still admitted there after undergoing an emergency operation at the gynaecology ward.
“The girl had been raped; her family members found her sitting in a deserted plot, unable to talk or even stand,” said an official of Yakatoot police station, requesting anonymity. He added, “She was bleeding and taken to LRH and we were immediately informed.”
He said since evidence suggests she was raped, an FIR under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code against the culprit has been registered.
The father of the girl, a resident of Esa Khel, Mohmand Agency who has been living in the city for the past 15 years, is a daily wage earner.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1[SUP]st[/SUP], 2016.
Read more: rape victims
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1037760...en-act-2006-brings-no-relief-to-rape-victims/
[h=1]PDA requests security for hospitals, doctors hostels
[/h]PESHAWAR: The Provincial Doctors Association (PDA) has requested the government for security at hostels meant for doctors across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
In a letter addressed to the K-P chief secretary, PDA K-P President Dr Amir Taj said keeping in view deteriorating law and order in the province, the government must provide security to all hospitals, including medical teaching institutions, across the province.
The letter, issued on Saturday, spoke of the association expressing concern over the lack of security at hospitals, including Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Ayub Medical Complex, Saidu Medical Complex, Mardan Medical Complex, Bannu Medical College and Gomal Medical College. Similar fears were shared for hostels for doctors across K-P.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1037728/pda-requests-security-for-hospitals-doctors-hostels/
[h=1]On a visit: ‘Invest in human development for progress’
[/h]PESHAWAR: Nations progress when money is invested on human development instead of concrete buildings.
This was said by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan during a conference at Khyber Medical University in the city on Saturday. The conference was aimed at highlighting advancements being made by the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences regarding cancer treatment and haematology.
“No matter how much you invest in metros and [Orange Line] trains, the nation will never progress until human development is spent on,” he said.
Imran Khan inaugurates Bab-e-Peshawar flyover
Imran added the federal government was taking loans and burdening the public when its own wealth is out of the country.
According to the PTI chief, civilised nations always spent money on research. This is why Japan and Germany grew into economic giants after World War II as they invested in human development and research, he added.
Derelict hospitals
About the state of government hospitals in the province, PTI chief said lack of management is the reason why hospitals have not yet been brought on the right track.
However, he promised visible changes would be seen in the next six months.
“If [change is not witnessed], then you can say K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and I have failed.”
Earlier on the occasion, KMU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Hafizullah urged Imran to provide facilities for the university. He said eight constituent institutions and 29 different medical colleges are affiliated with the university.
Hafizullah demanded facilities like a sports ground, gym, research equipment for computer laboratory, stipend for medical officers and scholarship for students.
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Director Professor Jawad Ahmad told The Express Tribune doctors from across the country were participating in the conference.
“Specialists will exchange ideas and expertise to train future experts,” he added.
Celebrating artists
On the same day, the PTI chief attended a ceremony where cash payment worth Rs30,000 each were distributed among 500 artists.
The event was held at CM House. “A number of artists have left the province in the past,” Imran said. “But we have our own legends that represent our culture.” He urged artists to develop their talent according to their own culture so that their work could be presented to the world.
Imran added, “There is a cultural attack on Pakistan from Hollywood and Bollywood and this can only be countered with creativity that is present in our heritage.”
He also spoke about the old heritage sites of the province, saying the dilapidated buildings will be preserved. He said Bala Hissar Fort would be taken back from the Frontier Corps and would be turned into a true cultural centre for people of Peshawar.
“It could be made a tourism centre that would earn billions.”
On the occasion, Khattak announced an endowment fund of Rs50 million for artists, saying an arts council with halls and libraries would be set.
While briefing Khattak and Imran, Culture Director Abdul Basit said that since earning a living has become difficult for artists in this day and age, the culture department officials felt artists would be able to produce creative ideas if they are released of the tension of livelihood.
However, artists present on the occasion had suggestions for the list of artists who will be awarded with the money till December. A poet and historian, Dr Salahuddin said a category should be created for those who read naats and artisans. Dr Salma Shaheen, a writer, said regional languages should be promoted so that they are kept alive
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1037040/on-a-visit-invest-in-human-development-for-progress/
