TIMERGARA: The district and tehsil nazims of Lower Dir have threatened to lead protests if authorities fail to resolve the problems of low voltage and frequent power outage in different areas of the district.

They were addressing a meeting of local government representatives, Pesco and district administration here on Thursday. Deputy Commissioner Attaur Rehman chaired the meeting.

The meeting was attended by district nazim Mohammad Rasool Khan, MPA Sahibzada Sanaullah, Pesco executive engineer Nazir Ahmad and nazims of seven tehsils including Riaz Mohammad of Timergara, Imranud Din of Balambat, Bakhtiar Khan of Maidan, Akhunzada Yousaf Adil of Khall, Saeed Ahmad Bacha of Samar Bagh, Humayun Khan of Munda.

Assistant commissioners of Timergara and Adenzai Ubaidullah Khatak and Shah Jamil Khan, opposition leader in district council Malik Mohammad Zeb and district councillors were also present on the occasion.

Set three-day deadline for authorities to resolve the issue

The nazims said that residents of all areas in the district were faced with shortage of drinking water owing to power outages. They said that people would take to streets if the issues of power outages and low voltage were not resolved.

The deputy commissioner ordered closure of marble factories and crusher machines from 5pm to 8am daily to ensure smooth power supply to domestic consumers.

Nazir Ahmad promised to increase Pesco staff in Jandol and Maidan.

The meeting agreed to form committees at sub-divisional level comprising local Pesco SDO, tehsil nazim and DSP to work out a strategy to cope with the problems.

However; the local government representatives set a three day deadline for the authorities and threatened to lead public protests if the problems were not resolved.

PACKAGE: Col Khalid Mehmood Shafi, the commandant of Dir Task Force, on Thursday visited a family having 10 visually impaired members at Watangi and handed over food package to it.

The package consisted of wheat flour, ghee, rice, tea, sugar and blankets. Ten members of the family of Nisar Khan including his four sons, two daughters, three sisters and one brother are visually impaired.

Nisar Khan had appealed to philanthropists to help the family. Taking notice of the appeal, the commandant reached the village and handed over ration and cash to the family. He said that army would help the family in future too.

Also in the day, the operational commander Chakdara Lt Col Kamran Aslam led an awareness walk against drugs abuse at Chakdara Bazaar. Traders, teachers, students, local government representatives, civil administration and police officers took part in the walk.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2017