MINGORA, Sept 17: The newly-elected District Nazim and Deputy Nazim of Swat, Asfandyar Amirzeb and Saleemur Rehman, took oath of their offices here on Wednesday.

District and Sessions Judge Alamzeb Khan administered the oath to the Nazim and his deputy.

In his speech on this occasion, Nazim Asfandyar Amirzeb said that he would take the initiative to launch development schemes in consultation with elected representatives of the local government.

He said that councillors were playing a vital role in the local government system, but they were not being given honoraria. He said he would take up this matter and try to get it resolved.

The new Nazim said that the development funds, if provided by the provincial government, would be distributed purely on merit basis among all union councils of the district.

He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the working of the Malakand Rural Development Project (MRDP).

The ceremony was attended by former Senator Kamran Khan, MNA Maulana Fazal Subhan, former MNA Adnan Aurangzeb, former ministers Dost Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha, MPA Muhammad Ameen, local government representatives and heads of different government departments.