GHALANAI: Assistant political agent of Upper Mohmand, Hameedullah Khattak, has said that disciplinary action will be taken against teachers and employees of hospitals found absent from duty.

During his visit to various government schools and basic health unit in Haleemzai tehsil, he found at least 30 teachers, doctors and paramedical staff absent from their duties. He visited five primary schools, two high schools for boys and one middle school, and the basic health unit and found the staff absent. He asked the quarters concerned to initiate disciplinary action against the absent employees.

Mr Khattak told this scribe that the administration had formed volunteer committees on village level to check staff attendance in schools and hospitals on daily basis. He said that these committees included social workers, tribal elders and Levies and Khasadar officials.

Meanwhile, assistant political agent Naveed Akbar asked the tribal elders here the other day to monitor prices of essential items as the administration had waived taxes on food items transported from other parts of the country.

He was speaking at a jirga of Tarakzai elders and shopkeepers of Ekkaghund Bazaar at Lower Mohmand sub-division.

Mr Akbar said that officials manning the checkposts at the entry points had been asked not to collect any tax on food items being brought to the agency. He directed the Ekkaghund Bazaar price committee to keep close watch on prices of food commodities.

He also said that the administration had launched a campaign in the tribal region to create awareness among people of traffic rules to avoid accidents and loss of precious lives.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2017