KPK Updates

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

Instant alert: IGP orders SOS system for jewellery shops

PESHAWAR: IGP Nasir Durrani has directed DPOs to bring all jewellery shops and currency dealers in the fold of the newly-introduced SOS One-Click alert system across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The SOS system was initially introduced for educational institutions following the Army Public School massacre in December 2014, but a recent daylight robbery in Ander Sher prompted the police chief to extend the system to jewellery shops and currency dealers.

During the robbery in Ander Sher, robbers got away with eight kilogrammes of gold. The theft was carried out in one of the main gold markets of the city. Through the SOS system, the traders will be able to alert the police instantly about any robbery of cash, gold or jewellery.

Durrani issued a special circular to regional police officers and DPOs, ordering them to hold meetings with gold traders and currency dealers.

The officers were asked to brief the businessmen about the importance of the system which works through smartphones.

Once included in the system, jewellers will be able to alert police with just a single tap on the phone screen in the event of an emergency and the rapid response force will be dispatched immediately.
In total 2,677 educational institutions have been added to the system. The application is installed free of cost by the police on smartphones using the Android operating system, connecting users to a main server operated by the police.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/902621/instant-alert-igp-orders-sos-system-for-jewellery-shops/

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

DAWN JUNE 11 2015

The road to Saiful Muluk Lake in bad shape

MANSEHRA: Tourists have complained about the ‘dangerous and rough’ road leading to famous Saiful Muluk lake in the scenic Kaghan valley.
With the temperatures fast rising, the region is pulling large crowds of people from across the country these days.
Seeing Saiful Muluk lake, which is situated at an elevation of 3,224 meters (10,578 feet) above the sea level, is must for tourists but according to them, 10km road to the lake (Naran-Saiful Muluk Road) is so dangerous and rough that its users run the risk of facing accident.
“I enjoyed a lot when a storyteller narrated romance of Prince Saif with a fairly at this place (Saiful Muluk lake). No doubt this is a place where such imaginary romantic drama would have taken place,” said Javed Asghar, a tourist from Karachi.
He said traveling from Naran to Saiful Muluk by jeep was a highly risky and difficult and that he personally seen people riding in jeeps much terrified.
“After seeing the shabby road to the paradise on earth, I strongly feel the government is not sincere about promoting tourism,” he said.
The tourists, who make it to the lake after frightening journey, feel really excited.
“I am speechless to see such a natural beauty. Though snow melted last week after covering lake for eight months, we can still see thick snow around the place. Seeing all this is an unforgettable movement for me and my family accompanying me,” said Mohammad Shaoib, another tourist.
Sahibzada Jawad Alfaizi, the managing director of Saibaan Development Organisation, said small shops and garbage spread by tourists around the lake spoiled natural beauty and environment of the area.
He said the district administration had imposed Section 144 of CRPC to ban presence of horses and mules around the lake and use of ferry in the lake.
He, however, said horses and mules continued to pollute environment around the lake.
Alfaizi said SDO, which also worked for pollution-free society, held a walk in Naran and cleanliness campaign at the lake and collected garbage scattered there.
“A lot more needs to be done to protect nature here,” he said.
Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1187539/the-road-to-saiful-muluk-lake-in-bad-shape

Independent councillors join PTI after defeating its candidates

HARIPUR: Some of the independent councillors-elect, who had defeated the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf nominees in May 30 local government elections, have joined the PTI ranks against the will of their grouchy supporters.
According to a self-contradictory law, they were supposed to join any of the political parties after their victory in the elections. They were eligible to contest elections as independent candidates, but they cannot retain their independent status after getting elected.
This law, a relic from the Gen Musharraf regime, strips councillors of their basic right of not siding with the government or joining any political party. It itself is repugnant to the spirit of the constitution and abuse of political rights.
Commenting on the excision of political independence, Amjad Chugtai, a local leader of ANP, said that political expediency was called a virtue, when committed by the government. He said that those, who had splurged a lot during the electioneering, were finding safe havens for them by joining the government.

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Senior lawyer terms it the worst kind of political expediency

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The district councillors-elect Advocate Sardar Mumtaz from union council Dingi, Syed Zulfiqar Shah from union council Bakka, Shahid Amin from union council North, Haripur, Qazi Raza from union council Central, Haripur, Malik Hasrat Ali from union council Sirya, Saeed Khan from union council Tofkian and Sikandar Hayat from union council Khalabat, have joined PTI.
Similarly, tehsil-councillors-elect Syed Aleem Pasha from union council North, Haripur, Zahid Afzal from union council Sirya and Mohammad Ishtiaq from union council Manikrai too have jumped on the bandwagon of Imran Khan.
Syed Aleem Pasha, who was an independent candidate, defeated PTI former district president Kamal Ghaznavi. The PTI didn’t put its candidate for the post of district councillor against Shahid Amin Khan, who won his seat as independent candidate and then joined PTI.
All the new entrants in PTI had given a crushing defeat to the PTI nominees, but after bagging seats, they have become integral part of PTI. A local senior advocate termed it the worst kind of ‘political expediency’. “Here lies a question, what will be the fate of PTI office-bearers and well-wishers, who had campaigned against the PTI new faces (erstwhile independent candidates),” he added.
Two of the independent district councillors-elect -- Chaudhry Dad Mohammad from Rehana union council and Malik Pervez from Bagra nion council -- had joined PML-N. It was an interesting competition as it is the native union council of MNA Omar Ayub Khan. Chaudhry Dad Mohammad has won the seat from Riaz Khan, who has been a supporter of PML-N.
Meanwhile, Syed Taimur Shah, a district councillor-elect from union council Ali Khan, along with two other tehsil councillors-elect, joined Jamaat-i-Islami here on Wednesday.
JI provincial ministers Muzaffar Said and Inyatullah Khan visited the residence of Taimur Shah and welcomed him in the party. Shahid Gohar, the local information secretary of JI, said that tehsil councillors-elect Saleh Mohammad from union council Ladermang and Munwar Khan from union council Panian also joined JI.
Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1187543/independent-councillors-join-pti-after-defeating-its-candidates


Swati’s nephew named for Mansehra nazim slot


MANSEHRA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Wednesday fielded a nephew of Senator Azam Khan Swati as its candidate for the post of district nazim.
During a PTI meeting at the New Circuit House with Azam Khan Swati in the chair, participants agreed to the name of Shaharyar Khan Swati, who is son of former MNA Laiq Mohammad Khan, as candidate for the slot of district nazim and Shaharyar Khan for that of deputy nazim.
They also named Kashif Khan, the brother of former oppositional leader in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahzada Gustasib Khan, candidate for the office of tehsil nazim in Mansehra and Nadar Khan for that of deputy nazim.
Speaking on the occasion, Azam Swati said his party was going to form district and tehsil governments in Mansehra.
He said his party had made a comprehensive strategy before the May 30 local government elections, which paved the way for the success of their party and supported candidates in district and tehsil wards.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which is also backed by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, has claimed it will form district government in Mansehra.
“We are going to install our government not only in the district but also in two tehsils of Mansehra,” PML-N district president Zafar Mehmood told reporters here on Wednesday.
Earlier, the party held a consultative meeting here with federal minster for religious affairs Sardar Mohammad Yousaf.
JUI-F district chief Syed Hidaitullah Shah also attended the meeting.
Shah announced support of his party’s two councilors for PML-N in the meeting which according to PML-N district president was attended by 30 councilors-elect.
However, participants failed to name a unanimous contender for the office of district nazim.
Former provincial minister Akhtar Hussain Shah and Mehmood Khan are in the running for the slot.
“I have also been elected councilor on reserved seat of peasant but the party’s high command will decide about contender for the office of district nazim. All will accept it wholeheartedly,” he said.
The PML-N district president said his party had majority in Mansehra and Balakot tehsils with the support of independents to form governments there.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1187540/swatis-nephew-named-for-mansehra-nazim-slot

Modern sheep farm in Mansehra soon

PESHAWAR: A modern sheep farm would be established at Jabba area of Mansehra district to provide facilities to the livestock farmers to produce quality wool and enhance mutton production.
This was stated by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade (KP-BoIT) vice-chairman Senator Mohsin Aziz while presiding over a meeting regarding various projects undertaken by the board with relevant provincial government departments.
He claimed that the board had gained milestones and undertaken pragmatic measures for attracting local as well as foreign investment in the province.
Highlighting significance of the sheep farming (wool, mutton production and processing), at Jabba, Mr Aziz said that a modern facility was being provided to the livestock farmers so that they could enhance yield of fine quality wool as well as keep intact the nucleus breed for improving production of the sheep.
He said that a piece of land measuring 300 acres had been identified for investors to establish an international standard sheep farm in the district.
It will enhance and expand sheep farming in the area to meet growing demand of both mutton and wool, says a press release.
The board vice-chairman said that the project had been initiated in collaboration with the provincial directorate of livestock extension.
He said that the proposed land would be leased out to investors for 30 years. He said that the establishment of wool processing facilities (grading and scouring) would produce best quality wool, which could also generate hefty revenue for the livestock farmers.
Mr Azizi said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had offered a large base of organic mutton production, approximately 0.87 million sheep and 4.41million goats.
He said that investors would earn huge revenue through meeting local demand for mutton, particularly by providing animals to the market. He stated that the establishment of the facilities for wool and slaughterhouse would also attract investment, which would generate cash inflows for the investors.
Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

JUNE 12 2015

PTI accused of foul play in Kohat district politics


KOHAT: Strongly criticising Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan and its two lawmakers from Kohat, local leaders of opposition parties have said that the slogan of change has been exposed in the massively rigged local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Addressing a rally near Shah Faisal Gate, Kohat, on Thursday, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam district general secretary Jameel Ahmed, Awami National Party district general secretary Masood Khan Khalil and Ibrahim Ayub of PML-N said that mismanagement and massive rigging in the LG elections had exposed Imran Khan and his team.
They criticised MPA Ziaullah Bangash and claimed that a person who was a gardener in Kohat Development Authority in 2000 had suddenly become owner of millions of rupees. They alleged that the lawmaker had misappropriated over Rs1.2 billion during last two years.
Mr Jameel demanded fresh elections in the province under the supervision of army. He said that Mr Khan himself was sitting in glass room and making blunt accusations against the JUI-F and PML-N.

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JUI-F, ANP leaders say ‘massive rigging’ has exposed Imran’s slogan of change

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Now he has to reap what he had sowed last year in front of the parliament house, he said.
Mr Khalil alleged that politics of briefcases had returned and PTI was busy in purchasing the winning councillors.
Meanwhile, ANP district president Javed Khattak and representatives of some other political parties have alleged that PTI has assembled independent winners of district council seats at some undisclosed place to buy their loyalties.
They also claimed at their public meetings that the independent winners had not been seen in their respective villages for the last couple of days. It is compulsory for the independent winners to join any political party by June 15.
Source said that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had asked party’s district secretary general to form an ‘alliance’ with the Afridi brothers for the formation of the district government.
Of them, former senator Abbas Afridi is associated with PML-N, while his brother Amjid Afridi is from PTI and adviser to the chief minister.
However, sources said that Mr Amjid was adamant to get his son, Barbar Azeem (independent) elected as district nazim and JUI-F’s Shahid Mahmood as tehsil nazim.
But in reality it could not happen because Imran Khan had cleared before the LG polls that no office-bearer of his party should field his relatives in the elections otherwise he would be disqualified.
The sources said that a large number of winners during a meeting at the residence of councillor-elect Mahtabul Hassan had announced support to Babar Azeem. It has been learnt that former district nazim from JUI-F, Seth Gohar Siafullah, has refused to extend support to Afridi’s son.
Reliable sources said that former tehsil nazim, Dilbar Khan, had contested elections on the request of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and he could also emerge as a strong candidate for district nazim.
For the seat of tehsil nazim, Dr Zulfiqar, son of former chief justice of Peshawar High Court Syed Ibne Ali, and Pir Adil Shah are said to be the frontrunners.
Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2015


Terrorists adopting ‘hit-and-run’ tactic, says IGP

PESHAWAR: Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani has said that the law and order situation has improved compared to the last five years, but the fight against terrorists would continue till elimination of the last terrorist.
He said that terrorists had been denied shelters inside the city due to which they were adopting ‘hit-and-run’ tactic.
The police chief said this while talking to media persons after offering funeral prayer for the two police constables, Ibrar from Mardan and Lal Bahader from Swabi, at Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines, Peshawar, on Thursday. The two constables were killed in a suicide attack on deputy commandant FRP Tariq Malik earlier in the day.
He said that extreme threat alerts were received during the local government election and some calls were also intercepted. He said that in the light of these threats extensive search and strike operations were carried out in which explosives and suicide jackets were recovered.
Answering a question, Mr Durrani said that some terrorist groups involved in an attack on the army and police forces had been identified, while some of these terrorists have been arrested. He said that the police force was ready to combat terrorism.
The two constables were killed in a suicide attack at Hayatabad on Thursday. Deputy commandant FRP Tariq Malik and two other constables, Ismail Shah and Noor Bahadar, were injured in the attack.
Earlier, funeral prayers for both the constables was offered with full official honour.
A contingent of police presented a guard of honour to the coffins. Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and the IGP laid floral wreaths on the coffins. A large number of high-ranking police and civil officers also attended the funeral.
Later, according to a police spokesman the IGP visited Hayatabad Medical Complex where he enquired after the injured police officials. He asked the doctors to take special care of the injured police officials.
Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2015


Music show pulls crowd in Swat

MINGORA: The families and young people thronged Wadudia Hall in Saidu Sharif to enjoy the live performance of famous Pashto singers on Wednesday evening.
After several years of gloom and destruction, melodious songs and music echoed in the hall that took back the audience to the good old days of the picturesque valley, which fell pray to militancy in 2007.
Organised by Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the music night at the historical Wadudia Hall attracted hundreds of people. Most of the participants had come to the show along with their families.
The local women, who attended the music night, appreciated the event as according to them there were limited opportunities of recreation for families.
“For the first time, after the uprooting of militancy, we came to enjoy the music night. The music and gathering of so many people is really encouraging,” said Shagufta Ali, a woman teacher, who had come from Mingora for the music night.
She said that several activities were organised in Swat after restoration of peace in the valley but they were majorly attended by men.
Renowned Pashto singers Karan Khan, Khalid Malik, Shaukat Mehmood, Nabila, Muskan and others performed in the show while famous poet Zafar Khan also presented his humorous poetry to entertain the audience.
“Not only, Swat valley is famous for its scenic beauty but its people are also cultured, peace-loving and hospitable. Today they received us warmly and gave us real love,” Khalid Malik, a Pashto singer told Dawn.
Popular singer Karan Khan, also a resident of Swat, said that he performed after a long time in Swat which satisfied his soul.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1187667/music-show-pulls-crowd-in-swat


Parties finalise nominees for nazim, naib nazim slots in Dir

TIMERGARA: The political parties finalised names of their candidates for the slots of tehsil nazims and naib nazims in Dir Lower here on Thursday.
The local leaders of Jamaat-i-Islami said that their party would form government in five of the seven tehsils of the district. They finalised names of their candidates for nazims and naib nazims at tehsil and district level.
Sources said that newly elected tehsil councillor from Noorakhel Talash ward Riaz Mohammad was nominated for Timergara tehsil nazim slot while Asfandyar Khan for naib nazim solt.
Similarly, for tehsil Balambat councillor from Lajbok Imranud Din would be candidate of JI for tehsil nazim slot while Zainul Abideen for naib nazim slot.For Samar Bagh tehsil, Saeed Ahmad Bacha was nominated candidate for nazim slot and Bashirul Haq for naib nazim slot. For Munda tehsil, Mohammad Humayun was nominated for nazim slot while Hussain Ali Shah for naib nazim.
The JI sources said that candidates for nazim and naib nazim slot in Maidan tehsil would be taken on June 14. Sources said the JI was in position to form tehsil government in Timergara, Balambat, Munda, Samar Bagh and Maidan tehsils while it for coalition government with PTI in Adenzai tehsil. In Khall tehsil, PML-N formed alliance with PTI and according to the agreement Yousaf Adil of PTI would occupy tehsil nazim slot while Malik Asad Khan of PML-N would become naib nazim.
JI has already nominated Mohammad Rasool Khan for district nazim slot and consultations are underway for district naib nazim.
ANP: The PTI-led government in the province was involved in large scale poll rigging, said ANP provincial president Ameer haidar Khan Hoti here on Thursday.
Addressing a party meeting in Toormang are, he said that chief minister and his cabinet should tender resignation after PTI chief Imran Khan admitted poll rigging. A prominent political figure of the area, Malik Mohammad Zeb, the brother of PML-N leader Malik Jehan Zeb, announced to ANP.
Besides Malik Mohammad Zeb, his brother Advocate Malik Aurang Zeb, his son Malik Aftab along with 24 newly elected councillors also announced to join ANP on the occasion. — Correspondent
Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1187671/parties-finalise-nominees-for-nazim-naib-nazim-slots-in-dir


PHC asks officials to explain position in misconduct case

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday asked the defence secretary, Bannu cantonment station commander and other relevant officials to separately respond to a case of alleged misbehaviour of army personnel with one of its judges at a Bannu check post and release of the footage of the incident on social media.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Irshad Qaiser observed that all respondents in the case, including defence secretary, Bannu station commander, cantonment executive officer and division commissioner, and Pakistan Army’s Judge Advocate General branch, should file replies on the matter with it within 14 days.
The bench was hearing a contempt of court petition filed by the additional registrar of high court Circuit Bench in Bannu against the personnel deputed at Muslim Gate check post, where misbehaviour was reported.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1187672/phc-asks-officials-to-explain-position-in-misconduct-case


Shabqadar police seize explosives


CHARSADDA: The Shabqadar police claimed to have foiled a terrorist attempt and seized explosives and other devices used in bomb making near a checkpost here on Thursday.
Officials said that the police received information that some suspicious things were lying near the Hajizai checkpost. They said that the police soon cordoned off the locality and recovered three kilogrammes of explosives powder, four hand grenades, two time devices, safety fuses and two detonators. Later, the explosives were safely defused.
The police station registered the case against unidentified accused and have intensified search in the area to track down the culprits.
Meanwhile, workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf blocked the road and staged a sit-in to protest against what they said rigging allegedly committed by the polling staff to defeat the PTI candidates during the LG polls in Shabqadar tehsil.
The protesters, led by PTI tehsil president Ghafar Sheikh, erected tents outside the office of the returning officer on Shabqadar-Peshawar road and staged a sit-in. They chanted slogans against the local administration and the election staff, including the returning officer for UC Katozai. They alleged that the polling staff had conspired against the PTI candidates and rigged the polls in favour of their rival candidates. — Correspondent
Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1187676/shabqadar-police-seize-explosives

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

jUNE 13 2015

Progress on uplift projects reviewed

KOHAT: Deputy commissioner, Kohat, Kamran Afridi on Friday took a serious notice of the slow work on projects of fiscal years 2013-14 and 2014-15 and directed the executing agencies to complete the development schemes without further delay.
He was chairing a meeting of the review committee, which was attended by district finance officer Wahidur Rehman, executive engineer of communication and works department Jamshed Khattak, chief municipal officer Mohammad Shoaib, assistant director of local government Mohammad Abid and other officials.
Mr Rehman explained the status of work on the projects with the help of charts, depicting very slow construction.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the ongoing projects carried out with the royalty of oil and gas special development package, production bonus and district council funds, the deputy commissioner asked the relevant departments to speed up work and made it clear that corruption would not be tolerated in the projects.
He said that those found responsible for delay in the completion of projects would be taken to task.
POLICE RECORD: The police assistance lines facility has been providing relief to the affected people.
A report issued by the police here on Friday claimed that in 2014, 10,461 cases were reported to the police, including 1,460 of verification and character certificates and inquiry of 5,722 rented houses, murder and attempted murders, theft and robberies. It said that action was taken on complaints about Sui gas and electricity-related problems of the people.
It stated that free legal assistance was provided to the 97 housewives for redressal of their social problems and 86 people were provided advocates for the solution of their disputes pending in courts for several years.
The police claimed that in 2015, over 1,300 people were issued character certificates and 183 suspicious vehicles verified. It added computerisation of 4,000 FIRs was completed and 58 lost children were found.
Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2015


Increase in agriculture budget, its proper utilisation urged

SWABI: Speakers at a dialogue on “allocation to agriculture sector in KP budget” said on Friday that in the last several years the allocated agriculture funds had not been fully utilised and there was a need for mechanism to use such funds in a proper way to achieve the desired agriculture yield and improve financial position of poor farmers.
The participants also demanded that the agriculture budget should be increased in the coming provincial budget. At the end of current fiscal year it is expected that about 80 per cent of the agriculture budget would be utilised, they said.
The dialogue was organised by Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) in collaboration with welfare bodies here. Representatives of farmers’ organisations, civil society and agriculture experts from Mansehra, Mardan, Swabi, Buner, Peshawar and Charsadda participated in the discussion.
They said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was giving importance to suggestions of the small farmers and hoped that their proposals would be incorporated in the coming budget, to be presented on Monday.

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Speakers at dialogue hope proposals of small farmers will be incorporated in budget

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They claimed that food security had been boosted in the province during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led government. They said that the government was working to modernise the agriculture sector.
“The expected food help could not come from Punjab whenever Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faced food shortages, while our province failed to produce enough foodstuffs to meet the people’s demands,” said Rehman Sher, a representative of a local welfare body.
Officials of agriculture department also said that there was need for increasing agriculture budget and improving its utilisation.
Allah Dad Khan, former provincial director-general of agriculture department, said that small farmers had the capability to deliver if they were provided the required budget and guidance on how they would use the modern techniques, seeds and pesticides.
Liaquat Yousufzai, provincial coordinator of PKI, said that farmers needed proper guidance and education from the agriculture department. “We also want increase in the agriculture budget and its proper utilisation,” he said.
Pervaiz Iqbal, programme officer of ActionAid, said that they had been playing their role in helping the farmers in making result-oriented planning. “The growers’ illiteracy has proved to be their main dilemma,” he said.
Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1187931/increase-in-agriculture-budget-its-proper-utilisation-urged

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

June 13 , 2015

 

[Bawa]

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[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

June 14, 2015
Aaj Peshawar

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

June 15 2015
Aaj Peshawar

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

June 16 2015
Aaj Peshawar

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

June 17 2015
Aaj Peshawar

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

June 18 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

June 19 2015

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

Missing facilities in province’s health centres belie govt claims

PESHAWAR: With a nearly 10% increase expected in the allocation for K-P’s health sector in the Annual Development Programme (ADP), the amount for 2015-16 is expected to be over Rs9 billion as compared to last year’s Rs8.2 billion. However, despite the government’s tall claims over the years, many facilities are still missing in the province’s medical centres.
According to an official of the finance department in spite of an Rs8.2 billion allocation for the sector in 2014-2015’s ADP, the situation on ground is ample proof of mismanagement.
“Only Rs3.7 billion had been utilised till June 5 from the allocated amount,” said the official, adding only 63% of the funds received under foreign assistance were utilised. “This clearly suggests the health ministry lacks [adequate] management,” said the official, requesting anonymity since he was not authorised to talk to the media.
Urban-rural divide
Moreover, the health department had announced that facilities in rural areas will be upgraded so that the burden on health facilities in urban areas is reduced. However, most of the rural health centres remain understaffed and lack medicines, specifically life saving drugs.
“We have around 102 health facilities in Peshawar district but we have observed that many, with the exception of the ones in the provincial capital, lack basic machinery, proper infrastructure, staff and even medicines sometimes,” a senior government official told The Express Tribune.
The attendance conundrum
Although the government installed biometric attendance systems in hospitals, formed vigilance committees and teams to visit hospitals and identify shortcomings, and even appointed health monitors, much is left to be desired in the province’s health sector.
Commenting on the attendance system, he said, “Doctors had initially refused to follow the biometric attendance system but with the passage of time and the government’s continued commitment, doctors and other staff members have begun following the directives,” said another senior official at the health department. “But mere attendance does not mean things are moving in the right direction since patients also need medical facilities,” he said.
A case of missing specialists
Aside from providing facilities in other districts, the PTI government claimed it will change the lives of the residents of Peshawar. He said hospitals will be improved, new machinery will be installed and people will observe a visible change. This, however, remains a far-fetched goal.
Although the major hospitals are all situated in the provincial capital and have facilities that pull people from across K-P to them. The city’s medical facilities themselves are lacking trained specialists and a number of basic facilities, including machinery for running diagnostic tests. In some facilities, even doctors are yet to be recruited and the posts have been lying vacant for months, or even a year.
The Institute of Kidney Diseases (IKD) in Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) has yet to appoint paediatric urologists. The posts were advertised in August 2014 but are yet to be filled.
On February 12, Dr Mushtaq Khattak, a surgeon who is on the selection panel, informed The Express Tribune the process is likely to be completed by March. Three months have passed since then, and till now only an interview date has been supplied – Monday (today).
Moreover, there isn’t a single cardiac surgeon in K-P who can perform a heart surgery on infants. In an interview in February, Assistant Professor and Lady Reading Hospital Paediatric Cardiac Ward In Charge Dr Ijaz Hussain said, “We are overburdened and feel sorry for parents who are advised to take their kids elsewhere for surgery.”
These specialists are yet to be hired. In their absence, parents or relatives are forced to travel long distances for their ailing children.
Most of these little ones are either taken to Lahore or the federal capital for the surgery, which is risky enough without the additional aspect of travelling in a pressurised cabin or a tricky train journey.
Similarly, for over two years, the MRI machine at HMC has not been functional. The machine installed is a 1992 model and has been repaired many times over a period of several years before it finally gave in.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 15[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/903501/missing-facilities-in-provinces-health-centres-belie-govt-claims/

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

Sowing the seeds: Major chunk allocated to local govt, districts

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government seems to be delivering on its promises of devolving powers to the grass-roots level by allocating a major portion of the 2015-16 development budget for expenses of the newly-formed local governments.

The provincial government on Monday presented its annual budget of Rs487.884 billion for 2015-16 with Rs174.884 billion set aside for the Annual Development Programme (ADP). Besides Rs42 billion of the ADP 2015-16 going to the local government, an additional Rs102.384 billion would be set aside from the general budget, bringing the total to over Rs144 billion.

This would include Rs98.555 billion for salary expenditures and Rs5.303 billion for non-salary expenditures of the local government.
Presenting the budget at the K-P Assembly, Minister for Finance Muzaffar Said seemed enthusiastic as he announced the prospect of devolving powers to the grass-roots levela major objective of the PTI-led government.
Said provided details of the ADP allocation for local government and revealed over Rs13 billion was earmarked for village and neighbourhood councils, while more than Rs8 billion would be left at the disposal of district and tehsil governments.

Rs12.3 billion will be transferred to those government departments that are going to be devolved in accordance with the Local Government Act 2013, he added.
Opposing opposition
The minister initially faced resistance from opposition parliamentarians when he started his budget speech. Opposition leader Maulana Lutfur Rehman, joined by parliamentarians from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Awami National Party and Pakistan Peoples Party, shouted slogans of shame shame as the speech commenced. They registered their protest and rejected the budget by walking out of the session. This gave Said the necessary silence to announce K-Ps 2015-16 budget.

Said highlighted the achievements of the K-P government in FY 2014-15 before announcing next years budget and a supplementary budget of Rs26.39 billion for the current year.
Not quite tax free
Said called the new budget tax free as not a single new levy was imposed. However, there was an increase in existing taxes under certain heads such as commercial property tax. Similarly, the tax on CNG stations, petrol pumps and service stations was increased along with a rise in levies on commercial vehicles and automobiles with heavy engines.
It was also suggested that taxes coming under the transport department such as parking fee, route permits fee and others be increased.

Public benefit
We have allocated more funds for already running projects so the public can benefit, the minister said. He added under the ADP, there are 1,525 development projects across the province, including 911 ongoing schemes.
Besides local government and devolution of powers, this years budget seems to prioritise education and health by allocating over Rs97 billion and more than Rs29 billion, respectively, for the sectors from the current revenue expenditure heads.
Little solace for govt servants
The 2015-16 budget did not bode well for government employees as there was an increase of just 10% in their salaries and pensions. However, the finance minister said this was a comprehensive relief package.
Like the Centre, the K-P government also increased the medical allowance of government employees by 25%.
Talking about the benefit of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the minister said 19 development projects were referred to the federal government to be included in the Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP). These included 10 energy and power sector projects, eight schemes for irrigation. For youngsters, particularly those with technical skills, the government planned to start Youth Challenge Fund Scheme under which they can get loans of up to Rs2 million from the Bank of Khyber to start small and medium level businesses.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/904252/sowing-the-seeds-major-chunk-allocated-to-local-govt-districts/

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Top priority: Health gets a booster shot of 19%

PESHAWAR: With a focus on both prevention and cure, Minister for Finance Muzaffar Said emphasised health was a massive priority as he announced the budget. The sector saw an increase of 19% from the fiscal year (FY) 2014-15.
The minister said free treatment programmes would continue through 2015-16. He said funds were allocated for the purpose.
Rs29.5 billion has been provided for the sector; an 18.69% increase from 2014-15. However, Rs22.9 billion of this is for salaries alone, according to the white paper.
Rs8.28 billion has been allocated in local development funds for 98 projects of which 75 were ongoing. The amount set aside for the continuing schemes was Rs7.214 billion. Over Rs1.06 billion was allocated for 23 new projects including food and drug testing laboratories in Swat, DI Khan and Abbottabad districts. In addition, six basic health units would be upgraded to rural health centres.
A sum of Rs1.56 billion was allocated for grant-in-aid of different projects including Rs100 million for the endowment fund, Rs725m for the provision of emergency drugs for patients on a need-basis, Rs200m for creation of posts in the projects due for completion this year and Rs2.5 million for the Red Crescent Society. Another Rs4.152 billion in foreign project assistance is allocated to health under the annual development programme.
For free
The government will continue to provide free medical assistance for mother and child health as well as (to some extent) hepatitis, malaria, dengue, tuberculosis and cancer patients. A five-year province-wide immunisation programme will also kick off with assistance from GAVI.

An integrated programme was also included for HIV, hepatitis and thalassaemia patients. The establishment of Nowshera Medical College, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical College in Peshawar, Gajjo Khan and a medical college in Timergara was taken into consideration for the budget. There are also plans to set up an orthopaedic and spine surgery institute at Hayatabad Medical Complex. The budget also provided for the installation of a new air-conditioning plant at Khyber Teaching Hospital during FY 2015-16.
Strategic focus
According to the speech and the white paper, other strategies would focus on the optimal usage of health facilities which would lead to measurable improvement in primary, secondary and tertiary health care. The document read that as per the government’s policy, it plans to build and improve the health delivery and management system. Another objective was to ensure low income and vulnerable income groups were protected in terms of health care.
As part of the implementation of the Local Government Act 2013, mother and child health care centres, basic health units and hospitals other than DHQs, teaching and tertiary hospitals, would be devolved to the newly-established local bodies.
The creation of 1,885 posts in various categories, including 900 nursing and 500 paramedic staff, was proposed in the 2015-16 budget.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/904240/top-priority-health-gets-a-booster-shot-of-19/

 

[Syed Haider Imam]

Re: Update on KPK hydel projects

Govt goes full throttle to utilise remnant ADP funds

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government claimed on Tuesday 93% of development funds from the current budget would be used by the end of the month.

During a briefing on the 2015-16 budget, Minister for Finance Muzaffar Said and Finance Secretary Syed Badshah Bukhari told the media quality would be ensured in all the schemes.
Journalists were told 82% of the total outlay of the 2014-15 Annual Development Programme had been utilised and work was continuing at a rapid rate. They said Rs21 billion of the ADP was still in the government’s hand, adding an average of Rs2 billion a day is consumed in the last month of a fiscal year. “The Planning and Development department has said 93% of the ADP will be used,” said Bukhari.

The finance minister first read the salient features of the fiscal budget for next year and later fielded questions. He said the total volume of the Rs487.884 billion budget was 21% more than FY2014-15.
Taxation conundrums
The tax revenue from the federal government was Rs53 billion less than expected.
“As far as K-P’s own collection is concerned, the province is targeting Rs55billion in tax receipts, some 86% more than the outgoing year. This includes expectations of Rs14 billion in [receipts] from the housing sector and Rs8 billion from the Environment and Forestry department,” added Said.
“The government will not allocate funds for ministers and parliamentarians, but rather for development projects,” he said. “The schemes will get funds in every constituency without prejudice.”
“It is the policy of the government that funds are not given to MPAs,” Bukhari who flanked the minister quipped in. “Schemes get funds.”
Speaking about tax rates, the minister said the province would only receive Rs270 million from the increase introduced in the budget which is a mere fraction of its total expectations.
Debt
The total volume of debt in the province is Rs121 billion of which Rs5 billion are owed to the federal government. The rest are foreign loans.
“We pride ourselves on the fact that our debt volume is less than that of other provinces,” said the secretary. He added the loans were taken on a standard mark-up set by the donor, adding it was much less than the money borrowed during the 1990s at a 17-18% mark-up. “The provincial government has decreased allocations for certain heads which would be paid as the markup,” he said. “The amount set aside for this purpose was Rs7.20 billion.”
All for development
Although the government did not announce any mega projects in the budget, Rs1 billion was allocated for the uplift of Peshawar and its surrounding areas and the same amount was also set aside for water supply and sanitation in the city. The budget also earmarked funds for an elevated U-turn for traffic management in the provincial capital.
The frugal life
The government imposed complete bans on the travel of politicians abroad for treatment and the purchase of vehicles. However, the chief minister has the authority to relax these regulations in special cases.
The budget is again dependent on a massive Rs68 billion which the provincial government is expecting from the Centre in the form of its net hydel profit share and arrears. Skeptics believe K-P may not get the amount which would only increase the budget deficit. However, the finance secretary was hopeful the matter would be resolved by the end of the year. “The provincial government has held meetings with the Centre and it has assured us of providing the arrears and uncapping the NHP.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 17[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/904843/govt-goes-full-throttle-to-utilise-remnant-adp-funds/