LAKKI MARWAT: Residents of Darra Pezu town of Lakki Marwat district on Wednesday complained about lack of basic amenities of life and called for provision of the same at the earliest.

They aired their grievances at a khuli kachehry (open forum) here convened by deputy commissioner Mohammad Bakhtiar Khan to listen to the problems faced by people and address them. Heads and officials of line departments were present on the occasion, however, officials of the federal government organisations, including Nadra, Pesco, SNGPL, passport and immigration and National Highway Authority did not turn up.

Residents said lawmakers and local government representatives had failed to bring any visible change in their lives. They said heavy vehicles avoided using bypass road of the Indus Highway and passed through Pezu city thus, causing problems for local residents.

The local administration and police should ban the entry of heavy vehicles in Pezu city to avoid traffic mess and accidents, they demanded. They also demanded setting up a veterinary hospital in the area.

They said area’s basic health unit lacked a lady doctor and other facilities, adding the authorities should ensure that unscrupulous elements did not steal water from a water supply line for Pezu town. They also demanded establishment of a park in the town. The residents pointed out that a local cement factory had promised to build a square on the highway to avert fatal accidents, but to no avail. They also demanded that the factory set up a hospital in the region.

The residents demanded establishment of a Nadra centre, a girls primary school in Wanda Gul Meer and provision of funds for extending basic facilities to educational institutions. They called for establishing a boys degree college in the town.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2017