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PESHAWAR, Oct 20: Zakakhel and Nikikhel tribes of the Khyber Agency have asked the government to provide them free of cost seed for growing wheat in lieu of abandoning poppy cultivation.
The demand was made at a jirga held at the residence of Haji Ayub Afridi at Landi Kotal on Monday, sources said.
The elders of the two sub-tribes of the Afridi clan attended the jirga.
The elders submitted an affidavit, assuring the agency’ political administration that both the tribes voluntarily gave up cultivation of poppy in Tapa, Berg, Kermana and Dargai areas of the agency.
The jirga also banned poppy cultivation and vowed to impose a fine of Rs1 million and demolish the house of a person if violated the decision.
The tribesmen urged the governor to announce an uplift package for the area to promote income generating activities and eradicate poverty.
The government had decided to stop work on development schemes in those areas of
the tribal belt where local people cultivated poppy apart from taking administrative action.
CEREMONY: PTV Peshawar centre’s regional awards’ ceremony will take place on Oct 22, said a press release on Monday.
A total of 25 awards will be given to the producers, engineers, artistes and technical staff for which 85 people have already been nominated on the basis of their performances in programmes aired in 2002.
The press release said that 13 awards would be conferred on producers of different programmes whereas 12 awards would be given to people belonging to performing arts.
