TIMERGARA: The government contractors on Friday warned they would stop work on all development projects next week if the government didn’t release funds for the projects carried out by them.

The warning was issued during a meeting, which was held here with All Government Contractors Association, Lower Dir, president Riaz Ali Khan in the chair.

Contractors Riaz Ali, Dilawar Khan and Bahadar Zeb complained that the relevant government departments had been delaying release of funds for the projects they had successfully executed.

Insist departments long denying them payments

They said they had been distressed by the non-payment of dues during the last four years.

The contractors said work on the Rs250 million projects of the local government and rural development department was completed two years ago but they had been paid Rs90 million only.

They complained that the rural development, communication and works, public health engineering and other departments had long been denying them payments forcing them to take loans to carry out their activities.

The contractors warned that they would stop work on the ongoing projects and boycott the bidding for new ones.

PTI RIFT: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Lower Dir leader Mashooq Jan has demanded of his party’s chief to take notice of differences in the party’s district chapter and announce national and provincial assembly candidates for the next elections.

Mr Jan told reporters at the Timergara Press Club that the PTI had been divided into several groups in Lower Dir to the disappointment of its activists and supporters.

He said other political parties had named election candidates in the district but ironically, the PTI had yet to do so though the elections were less than one year away.

The PTI leader said more and more party workers were joining other parties due to infighting.

NEW TRAFFIC PLAN: The district administration and transporters of Lower Dir on Friday agreed on the new traffic plan for the district, especially Timergara city.

The agreement came during a meeting held at Balambat Jirga Hall with deputy commissioner Attaur Rehman in the chair.

District nazim Rasool Khan, Timergara tehsil nazim Riaz Mohammad, assistant commissioner Ubaidullah Khattak, DSP (headquarters) Fakhr-i-Alam, Timergara Anjuman-i-Tajaran president Haji Anwaruddin and representatives of transporters attended the meeting.

The participants discussed the new traffic plan jointly prepared by citizen, transporters, police and traders.

The deputy commissioner asked participants to ensure the implementation of traffic plan.

Meanwhile, the Timergara tehsil council welcomed the new traffic plan during a session held in the day.

The session was held at Timergara Rest House with council convener Asfandyar Khan in the chair.

Nazim Riaz Mohammad and councillors Mohammad Raziq, Kashif Kamal, Mohammad Ibrahim and others suggested ways for better traffic management in the tehsil.

The nazim said the administration would soon crack down on encroachments.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2017