KOHAT: Students of Kohat campus of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Peshawar, ended a weeklong strike on Wednesday following assurance by MPA Ziaullah Bangash to refer their case of recognition of degree by the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) to the standing committee on education of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

The engineering students had been demanding issuance of accreditation cards by the PEC and recognition of their degrees by the Higher Education Commission.

The issue has put the future of thousands of passed out engineers into jeopardy as they could not apply for government jobs or go abroad for further education.

Union president Mohammad Uzair told this scribe that PEC had been raising the issue of lack of proper education facilities at the Kohat campus such as laboratory and certified staff.

He demanded of the chief minister to allow appointments for the Kohat campus so that the future of students could be secured.

SEIZED: Police seized explosives from the house of an alleged terrorist, identified as Irshad Khan, in Malangabad.

Junglekhel police conducted a raid on his house and recovered three hand-grenades and detonators. However, the accused managed to escape.

HOSPITAL ISSUES: District council member from Chor Lakki, Mohammad Khalid, has demanded immediate repair of transformer of the local hospital and installation of machinery lying unused for four years.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, he said that the transformer of the Chor Lakki hospital was dysfunctional for the last two years.

The unused equipment included X-ray, ultra sound and ECG machines. He said that people had to travel to Kohat city for basic and minor treatment due to lack of facilities in the local hospital.

Meanwhile, nazims and councillors distributed sewing machines among destitute women in Bilitang.

The machines were given at a ceremony on Wednesday by nazim Asmatukllah and district councillor Mohammad Faheem to women belonging to Koteri, Marchungi and Bilitang villages.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2017