KHAR: A scheme of road rehabilitation was finally launched in Bajaur Agency’s Kamangra area here on Monday. The 10km long Nawagi-Kamangra road was damaged during counter-militancy drive in 2009.

Senator Hidayatullah Khan inaugurated the scheme at a ceremony attended by tribal elders and officials of road and highway department.

On the occasion, the senator said rehabilitation of damaged public welfare scheme was his top priority. He said reconstruction of the road had been the longstanding demand of the people as they were facing numerous problems since the road was damaged in 2009.

The lawmaker asked the officials of the road and highway department to ensure transparency and quality of work on the ongoing schemes in the region,The relevant officials said the road project would be complete by Dec 2017.

DELAY IN COLLEGE PROJECT RESENTED: Tribal elders of Barang tehsil on Monday expressed dismay over the inordinate delay in launch of construction work on a college and asked the administration to play its due role in early execution of the project.

They showed their concern at a meeting with political agent Abdul Amir Khattak.

The elders informed the political agent that Barang was the most backward area of Bajaur as it was deprived of basic facilities. They said poppy crop had been the main source of local people’s income, but its cultivation had been banned by the local administration, without offering any alternative to them.

The elders criticised the political agent for not fulfilling his commitment of launching work on several development schemes in the region made during his visit to the area months ago.

The elders said college was approved by former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmed during his to the region in Dec 2014, but construction on it was yet to be initiated.

They requested the political agent to play his due role in removing obstacles in early launch of the work.

The political agent assured the elders that construction of the college would start soon. However, he admitted that the scheme had been delayed owing to some technical reasons.

BLOOD DONATION CAMP: Pakistan Red Crescent’s Bajaur branch arranged a one-day blood donation camp at the agency headquarters hospital on Monday.

According to a press release, the blood camp was arranged in collaboration with management of the hospital.

Medical superintendent Dr Khan Saeed along with other officials visited the camp and appreciated the efforts of PRC in this regard.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2017