KPK Updates

Syed Haider Imam

Syed Haider Imam

Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
FEB 18 2016

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Syed Haider Imam

Syed Haider Imam

Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

KP govt seems oblivious to importance of mother language

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PESHAWAR: Only Pakhtun nationalist political parties observed the International Mother Language Day in the province while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government seemed unaware of the importance of the day.
The day was observed only by Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and Awami National Party (ANP). They demanded that Pashto, spoken by majority of people in Khyber Pakthunkhwa, should be promoted as official, educational, judicial and financial language of the province.
“The present government has conspired to sabotage our efforts to promote mother tongues,” alleged ANP general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain while addressing a function held at Bacha Khan Markaz in connection with International Mother Language Day.
He said that rulers were continuing to behave the way they behaved with the Bengalis. “If Bengalis were given their due right, neither Pakistan would have lost it nor there would have been any ethnic issues that it faced today,” he added.
Only Pakhtun nationalist political parties hold events to observe mother language day

Mr Hussain said that Pakhtuns were also pushed into a war during the last 40 years which had nothing to do with them as a nation but they were forced to bear the brunt of it. He said that the previous provincial government of ANP tried to promote Pashto and other mother tongues and give them due importance but the present government due to its ‘anti-Pakhtun’ behaviour sabotaged all those efforts. The ANP leader said that no one could progress without promotion of mother tongue.
Pakhtuns all over the world termed inclusion of Pashto language by Google in its translator a great gift for them as it coincided with International Mother language Day, however, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government seemed not to care much about the importance of mother tongue as neither a statement was issued nor any function was held to show its will to promote mother languages.
Pakhtun Students Federation also took part in a rally to raise awareness about importance of mother tongue. The participants of the rally called it one’s basic right to learn in one’s mother tongue.
“From the looks of it, ANP is the only political party that celebrated the International Mother Languages Day,” said Khushal Khattak, chief of National Youth Organisation, speaking about the event held at Bacha Khan Markaz.
However, seizing the opportunity of observing the mother languages day in provincial capital, the activists of PkMAP also took out a rally. The participants of the rally were holding red banners on which slogans were written in Pashto.
They demanded that Pashto should be promoted by the government as official, judicial and educational language so that it could flourish.
Despite a Pashto speaking populated province having many other regional languages like Hindko, Khowar (Chitrali), Seraikli, Kohistani and many other languages, Urdu and English are mostly used for official, educational and even business purposes. Due to the promotion of only Urdu and English, children don’t learn to write or read their mother tongues. “It has hampered their study of a treasure of literature written in their mother tongue and has estranged them from their own culture,” said participants of the event at Bacha Khan Markaz.
Pakhtun Nobel Peace Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai and her family also tweeted a photograph, holding a placard with a Pashto verse about importance of learning one’s mother tongue. The verse explains how learning foreign languages is an art but forgetting one’s mother tongue is a tragic flaw.
Many Pakhtuns on social media, especially twitter, expressed their regrets at people for ignoring importance of the mother tongue and for speaking with their children in English or Urdu.
“Our mother tongue gives us identity and it is our pride,” said Palwasha Abbas, a young political activist.
Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1241109/kp-govt-seems-oblivious-to-importance-of-mother-language



‘Hired assassin’ arrested in Lower Dir


TIMERGARA: The police on Sunday claimed to have arrested a hired assassin within hours after he allegedly killed a youth at Tazagram area in the jurisdiction of Ouch police on Saturday night.
Talking to journalists, district police officer Qasim Ali Khan said a police party chased the killer identified as Khan Zada of Sauni Upper Dir soon after he allegedly shot dead Mohammad Arif and injured his friend, Irfanullah at Tazagram village. He said the policemen arrested the killer and registered a case against him.
The DPO said head constable Noor Mohammad, who led the party, was awarded cash prize for nabbing the murderer. The motive behind the crime was stated to be a woman dispute.

KP hospitals lack specialised services for child patients



PESHAWAR: Lack of specialised paediatric health services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s hospitals, including its teaching institutions, has been causing complications to the child patients requiring specialised treatment by nephrologists, neonatologist, neurologists, gastroenterologists, pulmonologist, etc.
“Those who can afford treatment can take their children to Lahore, Islamabad and even abroad, but the poor ones have to rely on general paediatricians,” doctors said.
They said that there was no planning by the government or vision to think and take measures and develop services at least on the pattern of Punjab, if not Agha Khan University, which had enhanced facilities and services for over two decades now.
There are 40 sub-specialties in the Lahore’s Children Hospital where children with different diseases have access to specialist doctors and proper services. The Punjab government has provided training to doctors in UK and other advanced countries long ago and now they have established full-fledged departments which are training more and more paediatricians.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa neither have specialist paediatricians except paediatric cardiologist at present nor has a plan to develop such services in the near future, they said.
‘No improvement made in facilities for children for past 15 years’

The doctors said that wards for adults were being developed at the three teaching hospitals of Peshawar from time to time, but for children the facilities were very limited and could not meet the needs of the growing number of patients.
At present, the province’s hospitals have only 1,000 beds for a population of 11 million children, which means that there is one bed per 10,000 children. The government, being signatory to about 20 international conventions related to child rights, is yet to cater to the needs of children, paediatricians said.
The government recently shelved the establishment of another children ward in the Khyber Teaching Hospital due to lack of space. According to a source in the health secretariat, there has been no extension of beds and other facilities for children from the past 15 years, though children are 45 per cent of the population.
Sources said that the province had a limited number of paediatricians, but children with chronic ailments suffered the most for lack of specialists. The previous government had started the Khyber Institute of Child Health (KICH) and Children Hospital in Hayatabad for the specialised services and paediatric sub-specialties with the help of the federal government, but the present government could not take forward the project at a good pace.
According to paediatricians, about 78 of every 1,000 children under age five died whereas 67 of 1,000 below one year of age children didn’t celebrate their first anniversary in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They said that KICH had suffered after its founder-director, who had planned and designed the project, was replaced by the previous government due to which the institute supposed to serve as an umbrella for the child health services in the province couldn’t be built at a desired pace.
There are about 100 beds for child patients in the Khyber Teaching Hospital, 70 in Hayatabad Medical Complex and 150 in Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, where doctors have to admit three children on one bed. This practice has been causing infections to the minor patients, but doctors couldn’t refuse admission to the seriously ill patients.
Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1241108/kp-hospitals-lack-specialised-services-for-child-patients


 
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Syed Haider Imam

Syed Haider Imam

Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

Pervez Khattak an absentee lawmaker



PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak seems to have lost the way to the provincial assembly as he has attended its few sittings during the ongoing parliamentary year.
The information gathered from different sources suggests that the chief minister has attended not more than five sittings during the current parliamentary year so far that included presentation of the annual budget and election of the deputy speaker.
“I don’t think Mr. Khattak has attended more than five sittings,” an official in the assembly secretariat said, adding that the secretariat did not maintain the attendance of the chief minister.
CM attended not more than five of 34 PA sessions in current parliamentary year

The assembly has so far 34 sittings in the current parliamentary year, which started on May 28.
An official of the Free and Fair Election Network told Dawn that his organisation had monitored 19 sittings of the KP Assembly from Oct 19, 2015 to Jan 11, 2016.
He said during that period, CM Khattak attended two sittings only.
The official said CM Khattak regularly took part in the house’s proceedings in the first parliamentary year of the assembly. He said a total of 63 sittings were held in the first year and the chief minister attended 27 of them, which was good compared to the current year.
The network monitors parliamentary business in the National and four provincial assemblies and compiles its annual report.
The official said Fafen was not allowed to cover complete proceedings of the KP Assembly during the ongoing parliamentary year due to security reasons.
Several serious incidents took place in the province including attacks on the Army Public School and College Peshawar, Bacha Khan University Charsadda, controversy with the centre over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, and monetary disputes.
However, CM Khattak never bothered to give policy statement to take the house in confidence.
Like the chief minister, his ministers, advisors, special assistants and administrative secretaries also do not show interest in the house’s proceedings. In the absence of the ministers and advisers, Speaker Asad Qaisar, who belongs to the ruling PTI, either has to keep the business pending or adjourn the sittings. However, the treasury benches do not take the speaker’s notices and rulings seriously.
PML-N parliamentary leader Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha said the assembly had become ineffective due to the disinterest of the chief minister and his cabinet members.
“The administrative secretaries and officers of the relevant departments will not take the assembly’s proceedings seriously when the chief minister and his colleagues do not show interest in the business,” he said.
Special assistant to the chief minister on information and public relations Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani said Pervez Khattak had to chair important meetings and dispose of file work in his secretariat and therefore, he could not spare time to participate in the assembly’s business.
“Yes, he (Khattak) is not going regularly to the assembly, but I don’t agree that he attended only five sittings,” he said. He was of the view that chief minister’s schedule was very tight and he worked till late night. “We have little time and the agenda is too big. We have to work hard to show results. The chief minister’s schedule is very hectic. Similarly, secretaries are also busy with the chief minister,” said Mr. Ghani.
Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1240911/pervez-khattak-an-absentee-lawmaker


ASI among three policemen terminated



KARAK: Karak District Police Officer Mian Naseeb Jan has terminated three police personnel for prolonged and willful absence from duty. Meanwhile, a head constable was forced retired over poor performance.
The terminated officials included Assistant Sub-Inspector Umer Zahid and constables Umer Farooq and Qasim Mehmood. Constable Qasim Mehmood was also charged with taking away an official gun, said an official statement issued here on Saturday. It stated that head constable Abidullah was forced retired for not performing duty.
The statement said annual increments of five personnel, including ASI Shamsur Rehman, head constables Salim Noor and Zameer Gul and constables Qaiser Mahmood and Rasheed Nawaz were stopped, while salaries of 22 personnel were stopped for poor performance.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1240910/asi-among-three-policemen-terminated


Court rejects plea bargain of former KP CM’s special assistant

PESHAWAR: An accountability court on Thursday turned down the plea bargain of an imprisoned former special assistant to a former chief minister, Syed Masoom Shah, who had agreed to return Rs258.7 million of his ill-gotten wealth to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Judge Mohammad Ibrahim Khan rejected an application of the NAB, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, seeking approval of the court for plea bargain of the accused, who is an ANP leader and remained special assistant to former chief minister Ameer Haider Kan Hoti.
The judge pronounced a short order after hearing arguments of NAB deputy prosecutor general Mohammad Jamil.
The accountability court very rarely rejects plea bargain applications after approval is given by the NAB chairman.
Masoom Shah had agreed to give NAB ill-gotten Rs258.7m

The NAB chairman had approved the plea bargain of the accused, who was arrested on Aug 11 on charges of possessing illegal assets, and an application was referred to the accountability court for giving final approval to the plea under section 25-B of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.
Under the said section, the NAB chairman in his discretion accepts the offer of plea bargain on such terms and conditions as he considers necessary and if the accused agrees to give to the NAB the amount determined by the chairman, the NAB shall refer the case for the approval of the court and for the release of the accused.
Under the agreement with the NAB, the accused had deposited Rs91.7 million with the bureau in shape of a bank draft. Also, he had submitted bank guarantees to the tune of Rs150 million, whereas gold recovered from the accused by the bureau was to the tune of Rs14 million.
The application was referred to the court last month, but the judge had initially returned the application on some technical grounds.
Later, the NAB re-submitted the application but certain queries were made by the court regarding the amount deposited by the accused as well as the estimates made by the NAB of the properties possessed by the accused.
Deputy prosecutor general Mohammad Jamil and prosecutor Imtiaz Shinwari, tried to convince the court that the bureau had made accurate calculations of the properties possessed by the accused. The DPG stated that the plea bargain was approved by the chairman keeping in view the properties of the accused so far traced by them.
However, his arguments could not satisfy the court and the application was turned down.
The accused had recently also filed a writ petition before the Peshawar High Court against the delay in giving final approval to his plea bargain by the accountability court despite the approval given by the NAB chairman. However, on Feb 2 the high court had dismissed that petition.
The accused had earlier given application of voluntary return and had expressed his willingness to pay Rs200 million at that time. However, few months ago NAB chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry had turned down that application and converted the inquiry against him into investigation.
The accused had remained nazim of tehsil Shabqadar in Charssada from 2001 to 2004 and subsequently served as special assistant to the chief minister during 2010 to 2013 when coalition government of ANP and PPP was ruling the province.
Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1240560/court-rejects-plea-bargain-of-former-kp-cms-special-assistant



Shangla high school without building since 2005 earthquake

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SHANGLA: Students of the government high school for boys, Amnavi, here will again sit under the open sky when schools reopen in Shangla district on Feb 24 after the winter vacations.
“When it rains, water seeps through the tattered tents erected at the demolished high school,” Sahibul Haq, principal of the school, told Dawn. He asked how the students and teachers could conduct education activities in such a miserable situation.
“I have written several times to the education department and district administration to initiate work on the school, but got no response,” he regretted. Built in 1996 the high school had developed big cracks as a result of 2005 earthquake and it was demolished in 2010 after the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) declared it unsafe for students.
The students and their parents have staged protest demonstrations against the delay in reconstruction of the school. They have also been demanding appointment of teachers as 11 of 14 posts of the teaching staff are vacant.
They said that strength of the students in the GHS Amnavi had shrunk from 400 to 200 due to unavailability of proper school building and shortage of teachers.
Aurang Zeb, an official of the planning and development department, told this correspondent that about 204 schools were demolished when Erra declared them unsafe for students after the 2005 earthquake. He said that 29 schools were damaged due to floods in 2010 and nine others were destroyed during militancy in Shangla district. He said that of them 103 schools had been rebuilt so far and work on the remaining was not yet started.
He said that now the Provincial Disaster Management Authority had handed over contract of reconstruction of schools to PARSA and work would start on the remaining buildings soon. He claimed that work on GHS Amnavi would start in March.
The school principal said that the number of students decreased to 200 as they had either quit education and went to labour in coalmines or migrated to other schools in the district. He said that Amnavi received four feet snow this season and the schools here would reopen from next week.
Azad Khan, a grade 9th student, said that he come to GHS Amnavi from a remote area in routine. However, he said that the students could not manage to reach school and continue study during rain and snowfall under the old tents.
Saeed Fareeen, a local elder, said that they had raised the school issue in meetings with the commissioner Malakand, deputy commissioner Shangla and Erra officials, but work could not be started as yet. He regretted that the elected representatives had also failed to raise voice in this regard.
Published in Dawn, February 18th, 201

http://www.dawn.com/news/1240262/shangla-high-school-without-building-since-2005-earthquake



 
Syed Haider Imam

Syed Haider Imam

Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

Nine plazas sealed in Peshawar for violating bylaws


PESHAWAR: The district administration has sealed nine more plazas in different areas of Peshawar for violating bylaws of the local government.
According to a statement issued here on Thursday, the plazas include Jan Arcade, Madina Trade Centre, Yasir Arzo Plaza, Zebullah Khattak Building, Shafi Market and an under-construction plaza near Gul Bahar. Similarly, Abdul Lateef Plaza, Ghulam Rasool Plaza and Abdur Rahim Plaza located at Customs Chowk were also sealed.
It was stated that owners of these buildings were misusing the space meant for parking lots in violation of the bylaws.
The district administration, it said, had already sealed 18 plazas in various areas of the provincial metropolis and asked the owners to follow the laws or face legal action.
It stated that the raiding parties were led by additional assistant commissioner Abdul Nabi, executive engineer Town-I Rasheed Khan and additional assistant commissioner Anwarul Haq.
It said that the government was determined to ensure implementation of the relevant laws. Heavy contingents of police were also deployed in the areas to avoid any untoward incident.
The statement noted that such violations were the main cause of traffic mess in the city and removal of the illegal structures was need of the hour. The officials urged owners of the buildings to ensure proper use of the parking lots to avoid parking of vehicles on roads and in the streets.
Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1242027/nine-plazas-sealed-in-peshawar-for-violating-bylaws


PHC seeks footage of Imran’s news conference in contempt case


PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday directed the lawyer for PTI chairman Imran Khan to produce the footage of his client’s news conference in a contempt of court case.
In the news conference, the PTI chief had allegedly criticised staff members of public sector hospitals for moving the high court against a new health-related law introduced by the provincial government.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Mohammad Younas Taheem observed that after going through the said footage, it would decide whether the statement of Mr. Imran Khan amounted to the contempt of the court or not.
On Nov 5, 2015, another bench of the high court had taken notice of the issue while hearing several writ petitions filed against enactment of the Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act, 2015, and had issued contempt of court notice to Mr Khan asking him to submit written explanation.
PTI chief allegedly flayed staff of govt hospitals for moving court against a new health law

Mian Muhibullah Kakakhel, lawyer for several petitioners, including Pakistan Medical Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, had pointed out that Mr. Imran Khan had hurled threats at the hospital staff members and petitioners, who were against the MTIRA and had threatened to ‘stage dharna (sit-in) against and gherao (besieging) of few unhappy doctors and management of the main teaching hospitals, who were in the way of its implementation of health reforms agenda.’
Barrister Waqar Ahmad, appearing for Mr. Imran, submitted his written explanation stating that his client had the highest respect for the courts and could not even think of committing its contempt.
In the statement, he added, Mr. Imran had stated that he was not aware that any petition was pending in the court against the MTIR Act.
He pointed out that health reforms were part of the manifesto of the provincial government and Mr. Imran had criticized those staffers who were creating hurdles in way of implementation of the reforms. He added that the high court had also declared the MTIR Act a valid piece of legislation.
The bench observed that it would examine Mr. Imran’s explanation but the lawyer should produce the footage of the said news conference.
CONTEMPT NOTICE ISSUED: The bench issued a contempt of court notice to the provincial health secretary in a petition filed against the secretary for de-notifying the post of the dean at the Post Graduate Medical Institute despite issuance of order by the court to maintain status quo on the PGMI dissolution.
It directed the secretary to file a written explanation on the matter, and fixed Mar 16 for the next hearing.
The petition, filed through PMA provincial president Dr Hussain Ahmad Haroon, states that the alleged contemnor/ secretary health, Yousaf Jamal, had issued a controversial notification in back dates so as to frustrate the earlier order issued by a division bench of the high court on Jan 28.
In a writ petition filed by the petitioner challenging the dissolution of PGMI by the provincial government, a bench of the high court had sought comments from the provincial chief secretary and health secretary and had fixed Feb 17 for next hearing. The bench had also directed that in the meantime status quo shall be maintained.
The petitioner in the contempt of court petition said the contemnor had fraudulently issued a notification and dated it as Jan 27, 2016. He claimed that the order signed by the secretary had in fact been signed on Feb 1 and had immediately been faxed to the PGMI instead of its communication through the routine official mail.
STAY ORDER EXTENDED: Also, the bench extended the stay order issued against dissolution of the PGMI and ordered the maintaining of status quo on the issue of de-notification of the post of PGMI’s Dean.
Mian Muhibullah Kakakhel, lawyer for the petitioner, contended that dean Dr Riaz Anwer was a senior cardiologist and despite the court order, his post was de-notified.
Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1242021/phc-seeks-footage-of-imrans-news-conference-in-contempt-case


Gas royalty funds fail to bring change in Kohat

KOHAT: Kohat district has been receiving a big amount of oil and gas royalty every year, but no corresponding development could be seen in any sector.


District executive officer (finance) Wahidur Rehman Khattak told Dawn that Kohat district had been getting royalty since 2011 according to the ratio of production from the local oil and gas wells.
He said that in 2014-15 Kohat received over Rs61 million in royalty of which 50 per cent was given to the oil and gas producing constituency. Similarly, in 2013-14 the companies gave Rs41 million and so on.
Answering a question, he said that for unknown reasons no mega project could be started.
He admitted that condition of hospitals, roads and water and electricity supply schemes in Kohat had worsened over the years.
Though 50 per cent of the royalty goes to Shakardarra, condition of its hospital could not be improved.
The town has no water and voltage of electricity remains so low that the scheme for bringing water to the area from Indus River was abandoned several years ago.
An official said on condition of anonymity that the funds were being misused otherwise the royalty funds in addition to the annual share of Kohat from the provincial government could solve all major problems of the district.
Mr Khattak said that the royalty funds were released to contractors for the approved schemes, but unfortunately no development could be seen in the district.
Sources said that the companies had promised to reconstruct the hospital and road, but the lawmakers from the area were employing people of their constituencies and keeping mum about the development projects.
It may be recalled that the oil and gas companies had announced a mobile hospital for Shakardarra to reach the scattered population and establishment of a burns centre in Kohat. Residents said that the lawmakers never bothered to pressurise the companies to help resolve problems of their constituencies.
Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2016
http://www.dawn.com/news/1242020/gas-royalty-funds-fail-to-bring-change-in-kohat


New timings at LRH benefitting patients



PESHAWAR: The patients have been benefiting from the services of consultants following the new timings of outpatient department (OPD) started last month at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, according to officials.
LRH, the largest health facility of the province, is the first among the four medical institutions where government has enforced Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act, 2015.
“The number of patients is increasing, though slowly, because people, who are used to previous timings, don’t know about it,” said officials.
The consultants complained that they received few patients in the evening due to lack of publicity by administration to let people know about the prolonged schedule at OPD.
Under the new duty hours, consultants sit in OPD from 8am to 4pm. Every ward has about four consultants, including professor, associate professor, assistant professor and senior registrar, who perform duty at the OPD on rotational basis.
The hospital got about 50 patients in evening shift at the beginning that reached 300, according to the record.
The people have been visiting the hospital in morning from 8am to 2pm. But they can now get examined by consultants on Rs10 chit in outpatients’ clinic till 4pm.
The hospital receives 3,500 to 5,000 patients in the morning every day. The administration is scaling up public awareness regarding starting specialist OPD in the evening to divert patients from morning.
The patients, however, say that they are seen by specialist in OPD and investigations are carried out in the hospital laboratory owing to which they don’t visit private clinics of the doctors. “As a matter of routine we used to go to Dabgari Gardens, where private health facilities are located, but now LRH is a better choice,” said a patient from Nowshera.
Under the previous system, doctors used to sit in OPD till 2am at the teaching hospitals, but now they remain present at the OPD till 4pm.
The doctors say that the new system has proved effective in dealing with chronically-ill patients, who are advised tests by the consultants. The patients don’t find the consultants missing when they come back with results of the tests as the new mechanism has enabled people to get treatment the same day.
The move has also benefited the hospitalised patients, who require expert opinion of other consultants. If a patient admitted to the surgery ward requires services of a physician, he can get the same in the morning.
Now the services of consultants are available till evening. The admitted patients, who were formerly dependent on the trainee medical officers in the evening, now have the services of consultants.
Prof Nausherwan Burki, chairman Board of Governors at LRH, told Dawn that the outpatient clinics were run from 8am to 4pm form Monday to Friday and from 8am to 12 noon on Saturday. “The consultants, who cover Saturday morning, take Friday afternoon off from 12pm to 4pm. The clinics are pretty busy at the hospital and number of patients is increasing day by day,” he added.
The specialists of skin, medical, surgical, eye, dentistry, pulmonology, gynea and children are available five days a week till evening while people with diseases relating to neurology, orthopaedic and psychiatry can be seen four days a week. According to schedule, neuro surgery, cardio vascular, cardio thoracic, urology, nephrology, paeds and plastic surgery will take place two days per week. Specialists will sit in medical, surgical, children, orthopedic, gynea and neuro surgery OPD till 12:30 on every Saturday.
Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2016





http://www.dawn.com/news/1241780/new-timings-at-lrh-benefitting-patients

None of KP universities among the top 10 of the country


PESHAWAR: The universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa may be on top of the hit-list of terrorists but none of these could make it to the top ten list of Higher Education Commission’s newly released ranking of 129 universities of country for the year 2015.
Not only in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but universities in Balochistan also failed to make it to the top of ranking in either general or any specific category including business, engineering , science and technology, agriculture, medical and arts.
There are around 19 public sector universities in the province, some more than sixty years old and some as young as five years but they could not find place in the list of top ten universities of the country, according to the ranking of HEC.
Teachers say educational institutions in the province neglected by govt

The HEC finalised the ranking on the basis of quality assurance, teaching quality, research, finance and facilities, social integration and community development, according to the chairman of HEC, who recently announced the ranking.
Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad (QAU) has topped the ranking whereas Balcohistan higher education institutions could not get any decent rank in any of the categories.
The professors based in Peshawar say that it is not surprising that universities of Islamabad and Punjab got good place in the ranking. “The universities in Islamabad and Punjab are in focus and get enough funding for research and other facilities from HEC. These are the important factors to get a good position in the ranking too,” said a university teacher.
Dr Mohamamd Shakoor, a teacher at University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, which was ranked seventh in the list of seven universities under the ‘engineering category’ of higher education institutions, said that universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were neglected by both federal and provincial governments. He alleged whether it was availability of funds for research and facilities or creating conducive environment for learning, none of the governments cared about it. The security situation was also discouraging scholars and donors from getting engaged with the universities in research projects, said Dr Shakoor, who is also president of Engineering University Teachers’ Association.
“Those universities, which are in Islamabad or are in Punjab, where government is investing in higher education, are facilitated by HEC more as compared to those in far-flung areas of Pakistan,” he said.
Dr Shakoor said that they had raised those problems and concerns with HEC during their meetings from time to time. Yet all is not that gloomy as some higher education institutions are trying to compete. Institute of Management Sciences (IMS) Peshawar, a business school of repute, has been ranked fourth in the list of 10 ‘business category’ of higher education institutions. It has improved its rank from fifth to fourth.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1241791/none-of-kp-universities-among-the-top-10-of-the-country



“Unfortunately due to lack of financial and human resources in the province, higher education institutions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are not on top of the HEC list,” said director of IMS Dr Mohammad Mohsin.
He said that research, facilities and quality of education were bases for the ranking but unluckily the province was looked upon as an insecure place where international conferences could not be held. The process of getting funds is very competitive. Good teachers also leave the province due to security concerns if they find a better option.
“Situation in Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Balochistan is really challenging for higher education institutions to fulfil the requisites to improve their ranking with HEC,” he said.
Agricultural University Peshawar was ranked third among the five best ‘agriculture category’ of Higher Education Institutions. Khyber Medical University ranked fourth among the eight ‘medical category’ of higher education institutions of the country.
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Science Engineering and Technology in Topi relatively ranked better than other universities of the province as it stood third in the ranking of seven higher education institutions in the category of ‘engineering’.
From University of Peshawar, being the oldest and mother institution of higher learning in the province, to the new universities facing terror threats like that of Bacha Khan University, public sector universities in the province have to go a long way to go to reach to the top.
Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2016



 
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Syed Haider Imam

Syed Haider Imam

Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

[h=1]Federal, KP govts sign MoU to resolve outstanding issues

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[/h] ISLAMABAD: The Federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) governments today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to resolve all outstanding issues between the centre and the province, including the net hydel profit.

Federal Minister for Finance, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar and KPK Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak signed MoU after final round of talks between the two sides.


Speaking on the occasion, Ishaq Dar said as per agreement, the net hydel profit for KPK has been uncapped and the province would receive arrears worth 70 billion rupees in four years.


Water and Power Ministry and KPK governments also agreed to hold negotiations to finalize an accord on hydro power issues by 31st of next month. The Federation would also pay arrears worthy 956 million rupees to the province.


The KPK Government has been authorized to be allocated 100 mmcf gas per day for electricity generation projects owned by the provincial government or based on public-private partnership.


The two sides also agreed to carry out fresh feasibility study of Chashma Right Bank Lift Irrigation Canal. The issue was pending since 1991. Federal Government would fund sixty-five percent of the cost of the project and the KPK Government remaining thirty-five percent. On completion, the project would irrigate three hundred thousand acres of land.


Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who was also present on the occasion, said resolution of these decade long issues augurs well for smooth and harmonious relationship between the Federation and the Province.


He noted that these issues could not be resolved despite the fact that there were either governments of the same parties or coalition partners at the Centre and in KPK during the last fifteen years. He said resolution of these issues when two different political parties are in power at the Centre and the province is reflective of the fact that politicians are capable of resolving problems provided there is will to do so.


KPK Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak thanked the Federal Government for its positive attitude. He said the agreement would help resolve problems of people of the province and developmental funding.


[h=1]http://nation.com.pk/national/25-Feb-2016/federal-kp-govts-sign-mou-to-resolve-outstanding-issues

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Syed Haider Imam

Syed Haider Imam

Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

Illegal LPG filling points mushrooming in Swabi



SWABI: Despite a ban illegal LPG filling points are mushrooming in the local markets, posing serious threat to people’s lives.
It has been witnessed that LPG filling outlets have mushroomed during last few years.
“Any leakage during filling of cylinders might cause an explosion as the LPG is highly inflammable,” Arif Khan, a shopkeeper in the main Topi market, said.
“Go around the markets across the district and you will notice several LPG filling points in congested areas. This is very dangerous because a single blast could lead to a series of explosions taking precious lives and damaging property,” said a trader in the district headquarters, Swabi.
The traders said the officials concerned should close down illegal LPG filling points and allow only those who have proper training and equipment to run the business.
Despite repeated attempts, the concerned officials in district administration didn’t reply to phone calls.
LG MEMBERS SEEK POWERS: Local government members on Tuesday demanded delegation of powers to the grassroots level and provision of development funds.
Speaking at a meeting here, they said it was astonishing that despite lapse of about nine months since the LG elections were held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the local bodies were ‘without funds and powers’.
They said they should not be forced to stage protest demonstrations.
Taj Nawab, Swabi councillors’ association president, said the elected representatives would continue to struggle for their genuine rights.
He said the government should fulfill its obligations so that the councillors could deliver according to the promises they made with the people at the time of seeking votes.
Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1241541/illegal-lpg-filling-points-mushrooming-in-swabi


Proposed amendments to RTI law approved



PESHAWAR: A meeting on Tuesday approved proposed amendments to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2013, to make it more comprehensive and accessible to people.
Special assistant to chief minister on information and higher education Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani chaired the meeting, according to a statement issued here. The meeting discussed the proposed amendments one by one and decided to send the same to the law department for vetting.
The proposed bill, a copy of which is available with Dawn, proposes to include registered organisations and the high court into the ambit of the RTI law for provision of any sort of requested information.
It also criminalises the provision of false information and those responsible will be fined and sentenced for two years.
The proposed amendments also bind the commission to initiate a case for filling the expected vacancies happening due to retirement of an information commissioner or chief commissioner within 120 days before the due date, and the government shall fill the vacancy within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy.
The proposed amendments suggest that the penalised person or body may file appeal before the high court within 60 days and the same shall also be disposed of within 60 days.
Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1241549/proposed-amendments-to-rti-law-approved

Home for street children run by volunteers



PESHAWAR: The journey to rehabilitate a thousand starts with admitting 15 five-year-old children and a few volunteers to take care of them at Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government’s home for street children.
A huge compound of 11 blocks having 216 residential flats, once abandoned, still gives an empty look as only 15 children, under five years of age, and few volunteers are present here.
Inaugurated on November 20 last year on Universal Children’s Day with a lot of fanfare, Zmong Kor (Our Home) at Nasapa could not start to function for some time owing to lack of preparation and delay in release of funds by the departments concerned.
Earlier, Khyber Pakhunkhwa government had announced that the Rs447 million Zmong Kor project would accommodate 1,000 children, who would be provided with facilities such as education, health, recreation, sports, boarding, food, career and psychological counselling.
“All expenditures will be borne by KP government, which will also acquire an additional piece of land measuring 100-kanal to construct a sports ground, an auditorium and a cricket academy,” stated a handout issued after the inauguration of Our Home.
However, since start of the Home with 15 children on February 8, other organisations working for welfare of children in Swat and Nowshera, have been helping to run it.
Khpal Kor Foundation of Swat has sent two staffers while Ummah Welfare Trust offered to provide food, clothes and shoes to the children for the first few months. Some young men and women also volunteered to manage the affairs of the Home and teach the children.
Fazl-i-Subhan, having experience of working with children at Swat’s orphanage, had taken the responsibility of teaching discipline, cleanliness and sports to the children while his colleague Shabnam was focusing on their mannerism in after-school hours.
“Mostly children, who were on streets or orphans, have been admitted here. They were rowdy and ill-mannered but within one week I saw great improvement in their behavior,” said Shabnam, who was helping a child to button up his shirt as he got in the queue to head to a hall for lunch.
Mohammad Irshad from Umma Welfare Trust, which is running an orphanage successfully in Nowshera, was busy in arranging lunch for the children. He said that children were happy with the weekly menu, which included vegetables, chicken and fruit.
Children, all boys under five and dressed in brown Shalwar-Qameez, were enjoying chicken and potatoes curry for lunch. They seemed to have adjusted well to their new-found home and staff. The staff, mostly volunteers, had also become familiar with personality of each and every boy.
“This is Shoaib. He draws so well. He is a natural artist. I think he would have a good impact on other children too,” said Mehboob Ali, pointing to a child who had been enrolled in a seminary earlier as his mother could not keep him due to poverty at home.
Mehboob Ali, a young man, who had volunteered to run the management of the Home and teach the children, felt it an honour to be part of a noble cause the government had initiated.
Quratul Ain, a young woman, who had volunteered to teach the kindergarten class, said that she spent two hours daily commuting. The children’s interest in learning was so satisfying that she was ready to go through the hassle of commuting, she added.
Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2016


http://www.dawn.com/news/1241545/home-for-street-children-run-by-volunteers


Hostel built for paramedics to accommodate doctors, technicians



PESHAWAR: The administration of Lady Reading Hospital has decided to allot a hostel, originally built for its paramecia staff, to female doctors and technicians, according to sources.
In November last year, a doctor and six technicians had sustained injuries when trainee medical officers and paramedics clashed over the ownership of the three-storey hostel at LRH.
It was taken over by the administration and a committee was tasked to look into the matter.
However, now the LRH administration has invited applications from the female employees for accommodation in the hostel, which was constructed on the demand of paramedics at a cost of Rs70 million on the hospital premises to provide rooms to those employees, who perform emergency duty.
Sources said the administration had taken the arbitrary decision after the transfer of 19 employees, including paramedics and nurses due to which they not only called off strike a week earlier but were hesitant to hold further protest to escape action under Essential Service (Maintenance) Act, 1958, enforced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government recently.
LRH officials say the facility has been allotted to women staffers including doctors, paramedics

After implementation of Medical Teaching Institutions Reform Act, 2015, there are two types of employees at the teaching hospitals.
About 50 per cent are civil servants, who could be transferred to directorate by the administration on simple recommendation letter due to which the paramedics have kept silence over the issue.
The hostel was about to be handed over to paramedics when the clash occurred.
Sources said that the government banked on weak paramedics, who were not in a position to hold protest and go on strike. All the employees, transferred from the hospital, have obtained stay orders from the court but they have to ultimately report at the district general office, therefore, the rest of their colleagues prefer to stay focused on their duty instead of taking part in political activities.
Interestingly, paramedics, nurses and Class-IV employees have been transferred for violating law while doctors, who were part of All Employees Coordination Council, which spearheaded the protest at the teaching hospitals, had not been transferred except an associate professor. The number of other employees, who were posted out of teaching hospitals, stands at 65.
The second main factor is the fissure among the doctors and other employees during the strike. The doctor remained indifferent to protest calls.
Sources said that the relation between paramedics and doctors turned sour over the issue of hostel in LRH during which they pelted stones each.
Sources said that the administration also pleased the doctors by giving them share in hostel while paramedics despite being deprived of their right stayed calm and quite to escape more transfers.
Officials in LRH said the hostel had been allotted to women staffers including doctors and paramedics. The hostel was located near gynaecology department and accessibly to female doctors, they said.
Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1241543/hostel-built-for-paramedics-to-accommodate-doctors-technicians









 
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Syed Haider Imam

Syed Haider Imam

Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements

EU fund for displaced persons’ return likely to lapse



PESHAWAR: The $22 million fund, donated by the European Union to facilitate return of internally displaced persons to parts of Federally Administered Tribal Areas from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is likely to remain unspent owing to delay in issuance of No Objection Certificates by the authorities to non-governmental organisations, according to sources.
They said that about 29 NGOs applied to get NoCs for working in Fata to facilitate the returning displaced people but there was no reply from National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). Both the NDMA and PDMA are authorised to allow NGOs to work in Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa respectively. The fund, supposed to provide relief to people, was likely to get lapsed, they added.
Last year, the EU had pledged the amount to help the displaced population after the end of military campaigns in parts of Fata. The EU had asked the NGOs to send their proposals for conducting relief and rehabilitation activities in areas of health, nutrition, livelihoods, education, water and sanitation etc but they have been waiting for the NOC for the past three months.
Sources said the NGOs had got local infrastructure and were ready to start work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata.
NGOs await no objection certificate to start work in Fata, KP

PDMA Director Administration Mohammad Khalid told Dawn that they had received applications from different organisations which were being processed as per law.
“We have a review committee which technically evaluates the applications before allowing them to work. We have forwarded the same to the security agencies to seek clearance prior to giving go-ahead to the NGOs,” he said.
Mr Khalid said that a proper procedure was being followed. “We are specially looking at the security-related matters,” he added.
Sources said the amount would be spent through Central Emergency Relief Fund of the United Nations within six months but there was a long delay which could result in termination of the fund. “The NGOs, which are awaiting clearance, have conveyed to the authorities that the displaced people desperately need assistance at the time of their departure from the host districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for their native areas in Fata,” they added.
Sources said that the programme, covering five clusters of the United Nation, was planned to be implemented through local communities under the supervision of the authorities concerned.
“As a rule, the organisations should apply a month before the execution of any project in Fata or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but three months have been passed since they have applied with no prospects of getting green signal from the authorities concerned in the near future,” sources said.
The districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which are hosting the displaced persons, have been under tremendous pressure because of their inability to cater to their needs. “For example, Bannu district, which has been home to 300,000 displaced persons from the adjacent North Waziristan Agency, cannot offer health and other facilities to them for too long,” sources said.
Sources said that recently the government stopped activities of Merlin UK, an INGO, in Dera Ismail Khan which created health problems not only for displaced people but also for the local population.
“Local health authorities are unable to cope with the patients’ load at the local health facilities and have requested the provincial government for help,” they said.
Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1241339/eu-fund-for-displaced-persons-return-likely-to-lapse


40 shopkeepers fined in Timergara



TIMERGARA: The district administration fined 40 shopkeepers for overcharging consumers and unhygienic condition of their outlets here on Monday.
Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Ayaz Mohmand along with other officials raided different markets in Timergara and checked cleanliness condition and weight of bread being sold at the bakeries.
The team also removed encroachments from the roadside. A total of 40 shopkeepers were fined for overcharging consumers and unhygienic condition of their outlets. Six of them were sent to district jail.
However, PPP local leader and district councillor Alamzeb alleged that administration always harassed poor people in the name of law.
He told journalists that assistant commissioner was harassing his voters.
JAMAAT: The local chapter of Jamaat-i-Islami on Monday announced to launch a month-long campaign to register 15,000 youth as party members from March 1.
JI district emir Izazul Mulk Afkari told a news conference that it was responsibility of state to flourish the talent of youth. Unfortunately the state was doing nothing for the youth, he alleged.
He said that JI had declared 2016 as ‘year of youth’ during and each union council in the province was tasked to register 500 more youth as party members.
He said that the youth membership drive in Lower Dir would start from March 1 and would continue for the whole month.
Mr Afkari said that JI youth wing would replace Shabab-i-Milli, a sister organisation of the party. He said that several projects were approved by provincial government for the district and people would witness a real change in the coming days.


No high school for girls in entire Alai tehsil

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BATTAGRAM: Even in this modern era of science and technology, the girls of tehsil Alai have been deprived of higher education as there is no state-run girls’ high school for over 300,000 population of the area.
The only high school for girls that was built by a non-governmental organisation in 2015 is yet to be made functional. Constructed by Save the Children at a cost of Rs20 million, the high school for girls in Rabat area of Alai tehsil was handed over to education department in January 2015.
However, the education department has not opened the school even after lapse of one year. The first-ever school for girls, having all modern facilities for students and teachers, was inaugurated by Hazara Commissioner Arbab Mohammad Arif after its completion.

The local people said that delay in opening of the much-wanted girls’ school was caused owing to red-tape and lethargy of officials concerned. The girl students and their parents had been waiting eagerly for opening of the school for the last one year, they added.

The local people criticised government for what they called its apathy towards the people of this backward area. “If the government itself can’t spend a meagre amount to construct a school for girls in this backward tehsil then why the education authorities are using delaying tactics to make this NGO-made school functional,” they questioned.
The residents of the area said that their children particularly girls couldn’t continue their studies after passing the 8th grade examinations. They said that female literacy was vital for progress of any nation but the government officials were not ready to listen to their request.
Shah Abdul Qadir, the head teacher of middle school in Cheeran, who had donated land for the girls’ school, said that he donated his precious land to the NGO for the school to provide opportunity of education to the girls of the backward area. However, he regretted that the school was yet to be made functional after its completion one year ago.
Naimatullah, a local resident, alleged that through a pre-planned conspiracy the poor people of Alai were deprived of education. He accused the elected representatives and political leadership for not raising voice for the right of the people of Alai.
Abida Shaheen, the district education officer (female), when contacted, said that a team headed by assistant director planning and development (P&D) Attaullah Shah had come from Peshawar last week and visited the school. She hoped they the team would submit a report to finance division for approval.
Mr Shah, when contacted, said that 15 to 20 schools were built by NGOs and handed over to education department. He said that teams were formed to check the schools and submit their recommendations for further action. He said that the reports would be sent to finance division for final approval.

The official said that after approval of finance department, staff would be recruited for those schools and educational activities would be started there.
Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2016





http://www.dawn.com/news/1241539/no-high-school-for-girls-in-entire-alai-tehsil


 
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