KOHAT: Chairman of the sub-committee of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Oil and Gas, Senator Nabi Bangash, on Monday claimed that complete normalcy had returned to Hangu district and asked the oil exploration companies to resume their work without delay.

The senator was on a visit to the district accompanied by the MDs of the Oil and Gas Development Company, Hungarian MOL and PSO, Hangu deputy commissioner Naeem Sadozai and officials of the ministry of petroleum and natural resources.

Mr Bangash eulogised the district administration and the armed forces for bringing normalcy to Hangu although it had to pay a big cost during decades of sectarian violence that had forced the people to leave and crippled its economy. He was of the opinion that development in any region was not possible without peace. He said that the visit of federal officials to Hangu was ample proof of return of peace in the district.

The senator said that work on oil and gas exploration was also badly affected due to security reasons but now companies had promised to restart work and also carry out welfare projects for local people.

He asked the concerned companies to make all possible efforts for providing gas facility to Hangu district which was its constitutional right.

He also asked OGDCL to construct road from Ahmedi Banda in Kohat to Maun Banda in Thall tehsil of Hangu, and the Hungarian oil company to release promised Rs20 million for establishment of burns centre at the Kohat divisional headquarters hospital.

LAWMAKER VISITS SCHOOL: MPA Ziaullah Bangash along with DPO Saleem Marwat and members of the inspection team visited two private sector schools in Kohat, which had received threats from terrorists, and declared the security arrangements there as satisfactory.

According to a statement, Ziaullah Bangash assured the students and staff of Iqra School and College and FEF College for Women that the government was committed to ensuring strict security arrangements at the educational institutions.

The MPA urged the parents to send their children to the schools without any fear.

On the occasion, a mock exercise to tell students and teachers how to tackle a situation arising out of any terrorist attack or emergency. Commandos of elite force demonstrated methods of how to rescue the children in case of emergencies.

Speaking on the occasion, the DPO said that the police commandos would provide training to watchmen and schools staff on how to act during an attack by the terrorists.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2015

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