Passport office opens in Dir

UPPER DIR, Jan 7: MNA Najmuddin Khan claims to have provided jobs to 5,000 people and Benazir Income Support Programme cards to 63,000 needy women in Upper Dir district during five years of the PPP-led government.

He was speaking after inaugurating a passport office in Dir on Monday. He said establishment of the passport office was a longstanding demand of the people. “Previously, people had to go to other districts for getting passports at the cost of their time and money.”

Mr Najmuddin said the PPP government established Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University in Sheringal town which was proof that his party was committed to providing education facilities to people of far-off and underdeveloped districts.

The former federal minister claimed he had carried out development projects worth billions of rupees in the district.

The director of the passport office said his staff would provide all facilities to people.—Correspondent

Condolences

SWABI, Jan 7: Mohsin Shahbaz Sharif, son of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, on Monday visited the families of the seven aid workers who were killed on January 1 here.

According to PML-N district general secretary Dildar Khan, Mohsin Shahbaz Sharif went to Marghuz, Jalsai, Chota Lahor, Yar Hussain and Manki villages, where he met with members of the bereaved families and expressed sympathies with them. He also offered Fateha for the departed souls.

Dildar Khan said Mohsin Shahbaz expressed sorrow over the killing of the seven aid workers and demanded immediate arrest of the killers. He also demanded compensation to the families.

Unidentified motorcyclists had killed five teachers, a lady health visitor and a medical technician working in the community centre of local NGO, Support with Working Solutions.—Correspondent

Scholarship for girls

TIMERGARA, Jan 7: The elementary and secondary education department has released over Rs33 million scholarship funds to be distributed among 27,932 girl students from grade 6 to 10 in government-run schools of the district.

A senior official Abbad ur Rahman told Dawn on Monday that the amount had been released to the Batkhela post office from where it would be sent to all branch post offices in Lower Dir district.

The official said a total of 27,932 girl students were enrolled in 8 girls higher secondary, 38 girls high and 67 girls middle schools in the district. Each student, he said would get Rs1,200 for six months.

An official of the Timergara post office Bakht Biland said distribution of the amount had been started in the area as they had received the money.—Correspondent

Saifullah woos Zakori family

LAKKI MARWAT, Jan 7: PPP provincial president Anwar Saifullah Khan has intensified efforts to get the support of Zakori family to strengthen his and his brothers’ position in the coming elections.

During a recent visit to D.I. Khan to address a party convention Mr Saifullah met with Pir Mohammad Fawad Raza Zakori, the son of former provincial minister late Pir Mohammad Khalid Raza Zakori and discussed with him matters pertaining to area politics. They also discussed coming elections and the vital role of supporters of Zakori family.

The Zakori family has a large following in the district especially in the home constituency of influential Saifullahs, playing a pivotal role in the victory and defeat of contesting candidates.

“The meeting between PPP provincial chief and Fawad Raza was fruitful and would prove helpful for Saifullah brothers to give a tough time to their rivals”, said a source privy to the meeting.—Correspondent

Rs170m for schools

MANSEHRA, Jan 7: The provincial education department has released Rs170 million to be spent through parents teachers associations on provision of various services to the students in 926 schools in the district.

Umer Khan Kundi, the executive district officer (education), while speaking at a press conference here on Monday, said 250 male and female schools of Balakot tehsil would also benefit from the money issued under the education action plan of the provincial government.

He said the boundary walls of 231 schools and lavatories of 152 schools would be constructed in the district. Besides, he said 250 schools would be provided with potable water and 293 with electricity facilities.

The EDO said education department was also in contact with the Erra for early reconstruction of the schools destroyed in the October 2005 earthquake.—Correspondent