6, April 2005	Wednesday	26 Safar 1426

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PESHAWAR, April 5: NWFP Senior Minister Sirajul Haq has said that transporters through their successful strike have made the centre realise that its policies about revising petroleum prices and price hike in the country are flawed. Talking to a delegation of transporters, which have called on him at the Markaz-i-Mashawarat, the minister said the federal government had to take bold decisions to help people benefit from the foreign reserves of over $12 billion.

According to a press release, the delegation congratulated the provincial minister and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on observing a successful strike.

However, members of the delegation made it clear that transporters had observed the strike to lodge their protest against the anti-people policies of the centre and not because of any pressure.

The minister said the federal government should take bold initiatives in national interest and provide relief to people rather than acting as a puppet of the US.

He said the centre should revising petroleum prices annually and project those in the budget.

He said increase in petroleum prices affected all segments of the society, including transporters.

SKIN DISEASE: A skin disease has affected more than 100 people in Kohat district.

Health Management Information System (HMIS) has sought help from the World Health Organization, said officials.

They said that about 101 cases had been reported from the rural health centre in Chorlaki (Kohat), quoting a doctor as saying the disease was spreading in the district.

The disease produces skin lesions mainly in the face, arms and legs, and can create serious disabilities and leave permanent scars on the body.

Children between one and five are more vulnerable.

According to a skin specialist, there was a shortage of medicines in the market presumably due to an increased demand for them in the district.

The WHO has been requested for support to tackle the disease.

The organization had also been asked for guidelines to stem the tide of the disease in the district and for providing medicines to the affected people immediately.