LAKKI MARWAT: Turkish ambassador Sadeq Babar Girgin has expressed interest in establishing solar energy plants in the backward district to rid the local people of loadshedding and run tube-wells for both irrigation and drinking purposes.

Speaking at a meeting at the DC office here on Wednesday, the envoy said his country would provide all kind of assistance in that regard.

Turkish honourary counsel general and former federal minister Salim Saifullah Khan also accompanied Mr Girgin.

Former MNA Ghulam Mohiuddin, DPO Ismail Kharak, additional deputy commissioner Ihsanullah Khan, assistant commissioner Qayyum Nawaz and heads of government departments were also in attendance.

Speaking on the occasion, deputy commissioner Syed Zafar Ali Shah said the government was taking steps to resolve water shortage problem and provide people with adequate education and health facilities. He called for setting up a Pak-Turkey school to provide quality education to students.

The Turkish envoy is on a three day visit to the district on the invitation of Salim Saifullah Khan.

Mr Girgin also attended inauguration of a girls’ school at Ghaznikhel, which has been running in a rented building. He met teachers and students. Girl students presented him flowers, and also performed tableaus on the occasion.

Earlier, a contingent of Levies personnel presented a salute to the ambassador.

The ambassador also met elders at the residence of Saifullah brothers in Ghaznikhel town and watched traditional dance (Atanr).

On the occasion, he said the people of Pakistan and Turkey enjoyed brotherly relations and helped each other at critical times. He said the historic ties would also help to strengthen cooperation in different sectors.

ZAKAT FUNDS: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf district general secretary Ahmad Nawaz has asked the government to ensure transparent disbursement of zakat funds among poor and destitute people.

Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, the PTI leader said poor residents of Baghban, Sayyedan, Sher Khankhel, Haqdadabad and other localities of urban area as well as deserving people of many rural localities didn’t get financial assistance from local and district zakat committees during last several years.

“Only those who had political affiliations and backing of MPs and political elite benefited from zakat funds,” he alleged. The government, he said, should order probe into disbursement of zakat funds in previous regimes.

Mr Nawaz asked the government to collect data of poor people through special branch of police and display their names in mosques of the respective localities after providing them zakat funds to ensure transparency.

ARRESTED: Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested an alleged kidnapper during a surprise raid in Kurrum Par area here.

An official said the raid was carried out on information about the presence of kidnapper, Arifullah, in the locality. He said the arrested man was wanted by Karak police in kidnapping of a five-year-old boy, Saad.

He said Arifullah along with other accomplices had kidnapped Saad from Ahmadi Banda area of Banda Daudshah tehsil of Karak district on Sept 17, last year.

“The boy was later recovered by Lakki police from the forests near Zeran village on Sept 27, while Arifullah had gone into hiding since then,” he said.