TIMERGARA: The Gadani ship-breaking yard owners and representatives of the Balochistan government on Saturday handed over Rs18 million compensation cheques to the legal heirs of nine victims of the Nov 1 tragedy.

A function in this regard was held at Khall here with MPA Sahibzada Sanaullah in the chair. Heirs of victims, their relatives, local government representatives and area elders attended the function. Nine out of the 29 victims belonged to Khall, Toormang and Bebiawar areas of Lower and Upper Dir.

MPA Sanaullah, Gadani ship breaking yard corporation’s representatives Seth Abdul Ghani, Babu Karim Jan, Gul Badshah and district councillor Malik Mohammad Zeb distributed cheques among heirs of the victims.

Each family was provided with Rs2 million (Rs1.5 million by the ship-breakers while Rs500,000 by the Baluchistan government) as per decision made earlier by the trade union, ship breaking yard owners and Balochistan government.

On the occasion, the speakers appreciated the ship breaking yard owners and the Balochistan government for compensating the poor families. They demanded of the federal government to play its due role and announce compensation for the victims’ families.

TEACHERS’ ROLE LAUDED: Additional Director Education, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Hamid Mahmood on Saturday said teachers had always been at the centre stage of bringing change and reforms in the education system.

He expressed these views while addressing a function held under the aegis of Wahdat-i-Asatiza, a JUI-F-affiliated teachers’ organisation, at Government Higher Secondary School, Mayar. The function was arranged on retirement of religious scholar and Arabic teacher Maulana Fazal Azeem Asad, who has also authored 30 books on religion.

On the occasion, director administration, University of Malakand (UoM), Dr Gul Zaman said successful teachers would definitely help their pupils become useful citizens of the society.

He stressed on teachers to pay special heed towards education of students instead of running after personal interests.

Published in Dawn January 22nd, 2017