KOHAT: The provincial government and a UN agency have approved Rs189 million funds for the construction of new building of the Women and Children Hospital in the city centre to fulfil the longstanding demand of the people of Kohat.

Chairing a meeting in this regard at his office the other day, the commissioner, Kohat division, Nusrat Hussain was briefed by the project consultant that the hospital would have four wards of 20-bed each, including that for labour room/nursery and gynae.

The general emergency/trauma centre would be constructed from the funds of MNA Shehryar Afridi.

Project likely to be completed in two years, meeting told

An operation theatre and recovery ward would also be built.

The meeting was told Rs100 million of the total funds would be provided by a UN agency, while Rs89 million would be contributed by the provincial government, according to a promise made by the chief minister.

The consultant said that work on the project would be started after a month and completed within two years. Mr Hussain said that Hungarian MOL oil company and SNGPL would also be contacted for provision of machinery to the hospital.

Besides others, the meeting was attended by MNA Shehryar Afridi, MPA Ziaullah Bangash and deputy commissioner Zahir Shah.

BIRDS SEIZED: The wildlife department, Kohat, arrested 16 people and seized a large number of birds being kept for sale without licences in Thall tehsil of Hangu district the other day.

The department has also geared up its activities against illegal hunting of birds and divisional forest officer wildlife, Kohat, has formed raiding parties for the purpose.

During raids at bazaars and dams and other hunting areas, the wildlife officers caught several people for violation of the Wildlife Act 2015 and fined them on the spot. Mostly black partridge, chakor and parrots were seized from them.

ARRESTED: The Kohat police arrested 114 proclaimed offenders and recovered weapons, including eight Kalashnikovs, during a 20-day operation starting in the district from Jan 10.

DIG, Kohat, Ishtiaq Marwat said in a press statement that these proclaimed offenders were wanted in cases like murder, attempted murder, kidnapping for ransom, robbery, extortion and terrorism. It said that the Kohat police conducted 264 search operations in different areas across the district and also seized 24 rifles, 32 shotguns and 44 pistols besides 27kgs of hashish.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2016