MANSEHRA: The people of Battakundai have demanded the execution of a micro-hydropower project on the Kunhar River to supply electricity to their remote and backward village in Kaghan valley.

“Recently, a nongovernmental organisation supplied electricity to over 140 houses through solar energy. We want the government to follow suit by installing a small hydropower unit in our village to ensure supply of electricity to all the people,” villager Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Rashid told a ceremony held here in connection with the wrapping of the USAID Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Programme on Tuesday.

The villagers attended the ceremony organised by the Rabt Development Organisation in large numbers.

Villager Mohammad Saeed praised nongovernmental organisations for addressing the people’s problems.

“The Rabt Development Organisation has supplied electricity to 140 houses. We want the same for the other 300 houses, too,” he said. RDO chief executive officer Raja Alamzeb said his organisation would cover more houses under the solar energy programme. RDO programme manager Abdul Qudus said the organisation sponsored diploma course for six local youths and gave them toolkits and cash grant.

SHOPKEEPER SHOT: Three robbers shot and seriously injured a shopkeeper in Dhodial area here on Tuesday. Mohammad Arif was attacked after he offered resistance to robbers as they fled on motorcycles after robbing many shopkeepers at gunpoint. With leg injuries, he was rushed to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, where his condition was stated to be critical. The police registered an FIR and began raids to arrest suspects.

However, no arrests were made by night.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2017