TIMERGARA: Hundreds of principals and headmasters awaiting upgradation of rank have expressed concern over the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s failure to process their pending cases.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, schools officers association’s Lower Dir office bearers said over 600 principals and headmasters were awaiting upgradation to 19 and 18 grades, respectively.

Despite passage of two months, promotion cases of schools officers are lying unaddressed on the table of KP chief secretary, they lamented.

Hundreds of schools, they said were being run without principals and headmasters, which had adverse effect on children’s education.

The school officers warned that the provincial government should avoid unnecessary delay in taking up their cases, otherwise, they would be forced to come on roads.

SHOPKEEPERS FINED: The district food controller Ijaz Mehsud along with assistant food controller Syed Nawaz, police and Dir Levies officials on Tuesday raided markets in Timergara city and Balambat, imposing heavy fines on 15 shopkeepers for overcharging and not observing hygiene.

The raiding team checked official price lists, cleanliness, health and hygienic situation at shops and bakeries. Also, samples of edible items from 12 other shops were sent to food laboratory for test. The food controller warned bakers and hoteliers of stern action if they were found negligent of health and hygiene principles. He also warned shopkeepers to follow official price list and avoid profiteering and hoarding, especially in Ramazan.

PRAYER TIMINGS: The Lower Dir district council at its meeting on Tuesday decided that all markets would remain closed during prayer timings. PPP councillor from Timergara urban ward Alam Zeb presented a resolution demanding closure of markets during prayer times, which was unanimously adopted.

The council demanded of the Lower Dir administration to issue directives in that regard. The council members also expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of Pesco, public health and sanitation departments and directed the district heads to improve service delivery.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2016