LAKKI MARWAT: Deputy commissioner Syed Zafar Ali Shah has warned that the government employees refusing to work with polio teams would lose their jobs and be sent behind bars.

Chairing a joint meeting of district and frontier region’s polio eradication committees here on Friday, he asked the health authorities to formulate a plan with the collaboration of other stakeholders for covering all refusal cases during the upcoming anti-polio drive likely to start from March 24. “Health officials should launch a campaign involving prayer leaders and religious scholars to make people aware about usefulness of oral polio vaccine,” he said.

Mr Shah said performance of polio teams especially those deployed at bus stands and public places would be monitored and those found guilty of negligence would face stern action.

Health officials briefed the meeting about the preparations for the upcoming anti-polio drive and said out of 466 teams 397 would launch door to door campaign, while 46 would vaccinate children at health facilities.

The health officials said 23 transit teams would be deployed at bus stands, public places and on the borders with other districts and tribal areas.

They informed the meeting that special arrangements had been made to vaccinate children in Afghan refugee camp at Serai Gambila and children of nomad and internally displaced families.

Assistant commissioner Qayyum Nawaz, DDHO Dr Abdul Rehman, WHO representative Dr Illauddin, PPHI district support manager Ihsanullah Khan and others were in attendance.

VOLUNTEER CAMPAIGN: Lucky Cement Limited (LCL) in collaboration with the WWF Pakistan on Friday launched an awareness campaign regarding energy conservation under the banner of Earth Hour Pakistan.

In this regard, a school outreach programme and an awareness drive were organised at the factory’s plant at Darra Pezu town. Cricketer Shoaib Akhtar led the activities. He visited Lucky City School and met students and teachers there.

This is the third consecutive year that LCL has extended support to the campaign.

At a session with LCL employees, Mr Akhtar highlighted the importance of celebrating Earth Hour and called upon them to play role in energy conservation. He said all individuals should ensure giving something to the nature and eliminating environmental hazards.

He appreciated local residents for taking interest in environmental issues and thanked Lucky Cement for taking initiative to celebrate Earth Hour in Pakistan.

On the occasion, the employees vowed to switch off all the unnecessary lights at 8.30pm on March 29, when the Earth Hour falls this year.

WITHDRAWAL OF NOTIFICATION DEMANDED: Local Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders have threatened to launch a protest campaign if notification regarding appointment of administrators for local zakat committees was not withdrawn immediately.

Talking to journalists here on Friday, PTI district general secretary Ahmad Nawaz, Lakki tehsil president Farman Zangikhel, vice president Mohammad Ismail, Insaf Students Federation leader Inamullah Begukhel and others said district zakat chairman didn’t consult them before nominating administrators for zakat committees.

They alleged that as the district zakat chairman was affiliated with Jamaat-i-Islami, he nominated zakat administrators of his choice. “We will not allow our allies to corner us and impose their decisions on us,” they maintained.