SHANGLA: Pakistan Baitul Mal managing director Abid Waheed inaugurated a Sweet Homes centre for orphans here on Thursday.

He also distributed Rs50,000 cheques each to the families of five miners, who lost life in coalmine incident in Doli area of Orakzai Agency of late.

A total of 100 minor orphans from across Shangla district are enrolled in the 22-room centre.

Eight women have been appointed to the centre as staff members.

The function was held at the Government Degree College Alpuri Hall, where a large number of people and elected representatives showed up despite heavy rains and snowfall.

The Pakistan Baitul Mal chief said currently, 35 Sweet Home centres were functioning across the country and the one opened in Shangla had taken the number to 36. He said 4,000 orphans lived in those centres.

Mr. Waheed announced the establishment of the children support programme, child labour schools and vocational training centers for widows in Shangla.

He later distributed Rs50,000 compensation cheques each to families of five miners, who died in a recent blast in a Orakzai Agency coal mine.

TRANSPORTERS’ STRIKE: The strike by transporters against the district administration’s crackdown entered third day in Shangla on Thursday.

The transporters said the revised fare list was uncatchable to them as it was causing them losses.

However, the district administration rejected the contention and warned it would act against those overcharging commuters.

The fresh fare list was issued by the Regional Transport Authority few days ago in light of the recent decline in the petroleum prices.

All through the day, the transporters of Besham city, Alpuri, Puran, Karora, Shapoor, Dehari and Bely Baba parked their vehicles at the main bus stations to the inconvenience of commuters.

All Shangla Transporters Association president Sultan Khan told Dawn that the crackdown on public transport vehicles was unjustified.

He said the new fare list was unacceptable to transporters as it was causing them losses. “According to the new list, fare from Besham to Mingora has been decreased from Rs500 to Rs400 for motor car and from Rs380 to Rs240 the coach. It is not fair,” he said.

Mr. Sultan said the fares were revised by the administration unduly.

GUTTED: A fire gutted 14 rooms of a house in Gandaw area of Alpuri tehsil on Thursday morning. However, no damage to public life was reported.

The Alpuri police said the fire was caused by electrical short circuit.

They said the fire destroyed the house, household items and furniture.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2016