Arms smuggling bid foiled

SWABI, March 7: The Swabi police on Monday foiled a bid to smuggle ammunition to Punjab, said police officials.

Police erected blockade near the Adina-Ismalia bridge on Swabi-Mardan road and intercepted a Suzuki pick-up (No PK-507). However, the driver, Malik Zaman, sped up the vehicle but was arrested while fleeing.

Police searched the vehicle and recovered 346 pistols, one Kalashnikov, two rifles of different bores and 3,000 cartridges. The driver belongs to Ismaila area. — Correspondent

Road remains closed

UPPER DIR, March 7: Dir-Chitral road remained closed due to heavy snowfall for five straight days on Monday, stranding passengers and loaded vehicles on both sides of this main artery. The road is covered with two to four feet of snow at some places.

Chitralis who are stranded in Dir due to road closure on Monday staged a protest against the National Highway Authority for not clearing the road of snow. They also criticised the government for not opening the Lowari tunnel to ease their sufferings.

The protesters said they had been staying at hotels for quite some time. — Correspondent

Cellphone users remain offair

PESHAWAR, March 7: The subscribers of a private cellular company faced great difficulties due to collapse of its system on Sunday, which remained off till on Monday across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Several consumers of Mobilink including businessmen, media persons, workers of government and private organisations complained that they could not contact their houses and offices from their phones and faced hardships. The worst affected were the journalists, who failed to contact their sources and offices.

An official of the company said the system had collapsed due to a short circuit in Islamabad and was restored at 4.30pm on Monday. — Bureau Report

Hospital’s ground-breaking

PESHAWAR, March 7: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust is organising the ground breaking ceremony of its second cancer hospital in Peshawar on Wednesday.

The construction of a comprehensive cancer diagnosis and treatment facility in Peshawar will not only provide state-of-the-art cancer treatment services to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but will also help raise healthcare standards and provide training and employment opportunities in the area.

Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti will be the chief guest. The event will start at 11am. — Bureau Report Work on road launched

LAKKI MARWAT, March 7: Chairman District Development Advisory Committee MPA Anwar Saifullah Khan on Monday launched construction work on a road in Kotka Mehmood locality.

Executive engineer of communication and works department Hameedullah Khan, SDO Haji Sanaullah Khan and others were present. The C&W officials said one kilometer road would be completed up to June this year at Rs6.8 million.

Mr Saifullah said funds would be allocated for electrification, drinking water and pavement of streets in Kotka Mehmood area. He announced setting up a girls middle school in the locality. — Correspondent Traders flay TMA staff

PESHAWAR, March 7: Wholesale Vegetable Commission Agents have criticised the Town-4 administration for sealing several shops on the Inqilab Road vegetable market and warned of observing strike if the TMA staff did not stop action.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Monday the association president Malik Sohni alleged the TMA staff was forcing the shopkeepers to pay thousands of rupees per shop. He said the TMA had no right to demolish or seal shops as they fell under the provincial government.—Bureau Report

Students hold demo

PESHAWAR, March 7: Students of Agriculture University on Monday held a demonstration at Sher Shah Road against the delay in start of their classes and demanded of the governor to intervene and save their precious time.

The protesters holding placards inscribed with their demands also shouted against the university administration.

They demanded provision of medical facilities, fee waiver for flood affected students, upgradation of IBMS to faculty level, withdrawal of increase in hostel fee and opening of classes for new session.—Bureau Report