Students seek fee waiver

PESHAWAR, June 3: Students from Chitral studying in different educational institutions in Peshawar have demanded of the government to waive off their tuition fee as they had suffered a lot due to the floods and militancy.

A group of students led by Chitral Students Welfare Association (CSWA) leaders told reporters at Peshawar press club on Friday while the students of rest of the districts had been exempted from the fee but those of Chitral were yet to get the relief.They said elected representatives from Chitral had failed to perform their due role for welfare of the students. —Bureau Report

Water supply scheme

ABBOTTABAD, June 3: Work on a gravity-flow water supply scheme in Abbottabad has started, says MPA Inayatullah Khan Jadoon.

Speaking at a press conference at the Abbottabad press club on Friday, he said the gravity-flow water supply scheme, which was one of the mega projects, had been shelved for decades. He said scheme was initiated by former chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Iqbal Khan Jadoon in 1977. The project would be completed at a cost of Rs4.5 billion with Japan providing 70 per cent funds and the federal government remaining 30 per cent. —Correspondent

Protest against PCB chief

PESHAWAR, June 3: Cricket players and lovers on Friday staged a protest demonstration at Sher Shah Suri Road near Peshawar press club against the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Ijaz Butt for allegedly forcing Shahid Afridi to announce retirement from the international cricket.The protesters were carrying placards inscribed with slogans in favour of Shahid Afridi and against Ijaz Butt.

They demanded removal of Mr Butt from the post of PCB chairman and reinstatement of Shahid Afridi. They said the PCB chairman had made all the decisions on his own free will causing unrest among the people, particularly among the cricket lovers. They said the people loved Afridi as he was ‘honest and hardworking’. —Bureau Report

Narcotics seized

LAKKI MARWAT, June 3: Police claimed on Friday to have seized narcotics from the house of an outlaw in Tajazai.

Acting on a tip-off, a police party headed by SHO Ghaznikhel Ghulam Mohammad Khan, raided the house of a proclaimed absconder, Amanullah, in Tajazai area”, said an official. He said during the search police recovered two kilograms hashish from a room of the house. “However the outlaw was not present at the time of raid”, he said. —Correspondent

Agricultural kits

PESHAWAR, June 3: Society for Human and Institutional Development (SHID) on Friday distributed agricultural tool kits and seed among 600 flood-affected farmers in the worst affected Agra, Mirza Dher and Tarnab union councils of Charsadda. The organisation’s executive director, Anwar Shah, distributed the kits and vegetable seed and other daily-use items among a large number of locals, including women, according to press release.

Mr Anwar said, for the welfare of flood affected people, the NGO had allocated Rs21 million and the distribution of agricultural tool kits among 600 families was part of the package. —Bureau Report

Official arrested

MARDAN, June 3: The anti-corruption officials on Friday arrested red-handed a government employee taking a bribe of Rs800.

The inspector of anti-corruption department, Shah Hussain Khan, said a person, Hameed-ur-Rehman, resident of Mayar area, had filed a complaint with the Additional Magistrate, Amanuullah Khan, against the Bari Cham area union council secretary, Sher Zaman, for allegedly demanding Rs800 for making a birth-certificate instead of its actual fee Rs50.

He said under a plan to arrest the employee red-handed they asked Hameed-ur-Rehman to pay signed notes to the man. The accused was caught red-handed by the anti-corruption officials. —Correspondent

Anti-polio drive

KOHAT, June 3: The three-day polio vaccination campaign in Jawaki village of the tribal frontier region of Kohat was completed on Friday after suspension of three years due to ban imposed on it by clerics and the defunct TTP.

Officials told this correspondent on Friday the office of the political agent was calculating data of the children who had been vaccinated. Roughly, their number was between 3,000 and 4,000. He attributed the success of the campaign to the cooperation of the alders and security forces who had removed rumours about the polio drops. He said several jirgas had been held to change the mindset of the tribesmen. —Correspondent

PhD scholars

KOHAT, June 3: Three scholars of the Kohat University of Science and Technology have successfully completed their PhDs in network security and multimedia from Middlesex University, UK.

Dr Shafi Ullah, Dr Nida Aslam and Dr Irfan belonged to computer science faculty, a press release said. These scholars were sent abroad under the human resource development programme of the university three years ago.

Dr Shafullah had published 20 international publications, Dr Irfan Ullah had 12 international publications whereas Dr Nida Aslam had 12 international publications to her credit during the course of their studies. —Correspondent

FDA role hailed

PESHAWAR, June 3: Lawmakers from Fata have expressed satisfaction over the performance of Fata Development Authority in carrying out speedy developmental work in the region, said an official statement issued on Friday.

They were briefed about the Fata uplift projects by chief executive and general managers of the respective departments of FDA here. During the last five years since its inception, the FDA has achieved great progress in building small dams, exploration of minerals and imparting of vocational training to youth. The parliamentarians assured FDA of solving all political and social issues which were causing delays in certain projects. —Bureau Report

Easy access to education

KARAK, June 3: Minister for Higher Education Qazi Asad has said ANP-led government has established 35 degree colleges in the province to ensure easy access to education.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of girls’ degree college Sabirabad here on Friday, he said the college would be completed at a cost of Rs120 million. He announced more funds for the construction of hostel for staff and students. He said another college for girls has been approved in Banda Daud Shah. —Correspondent