KOHAT: Owners of the filling stations here have denounced continued rationing of petrol by the companies, creating severe shortage of the commodity and problems for the consumers in Kohat division for the past fortnight.

Petrol Pumps Association president Shehzad Khan, who also owns several fuel stations in Punjab, told this correspondent on phone on Sunday that there was no shortage of petrol in Peshawar, but the companies were providing only 5,000 litres against consumption of 15,000 litres daily to every pump in the Kohat division.

He said that Kohat, Hangu and Karak districts and Kurram Agency had been affected. He alleged that the companies were diverting the quota of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Punjab.

About the cause of shortage, Mr Khan claimed that the government and companies had stopped importing petrol due to fluctuating prices in the international market and did not buy and bring required quantity fearing losses.

Answering a question, he said that the companies had informed them that the petrol shortage could continue for a month.

UPLIFT SCHEMES: District nazim Naseem Afridi has directed the heads of all relevant departments to complete the development schemes pending since fiscal year 2015-16 by Oct 30, 2017.

He was presiding over a meeting of the government departments at the District Council Hall here.

Speaking to the executive engineers, Mr Afridi said that he wanted work on the schemes of fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17 accomplished and in this regard no excuse would be accepted.

He asked them if they were facing funds shortage they should provide him the details so that he could take up the issue with the provincial government and finance department.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Akmal Khan has said that it is the joint responsibility of people from every walk of life to ensure peace during Muharram.

Chairing separate jirgas of elders from Sunni and Shia sides at his office, he said that 2,500 policemen would be deployed at more than 50 imambargahs and mosques.

The meeting was also attended by Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat divisional chairman Javed Ibraheem Paracha and former chief justice of Peshawar High Court, Syed Ibne Ali.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2017