MARDAN: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has awarded ticket to party leader Abdus Salam Afridi to contest by-elections in PK-53, which was vacated by Awami National Party provincial president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti who had retained his National Assembly seat.

Party sources said here that a total of 27 candidates had submitted their nomination papers and applied for the party ticket to contest by-elections in PK-53 constituency of the district.

They said that it had become a real issue for the party leadership to pick one of the total 27 applicants as each candidate was using his influence to get the ticket.

However, Abdus Salam succeeded in his efforts and got the party ticket for by-polls in PK-53, which were scheduled to be held on October 14.

27 members of the party had filed nomination papers

ANP had won the PK-53 seat thrice; in general elections of 2013, then in by-election held the same year and now in 2018 general elections.

The ANP defeated the PTI candidate in all the three elections. However, this time a tough contest was expected between ANP and PTI candidates.

BUDGET FEARS: Economic experts fear that the federal government’s plan to make changes in the current budget for fiscal year 2018-19 will resultant in price-hike and inflation which would affect the common man.

Talking to this scribe, Mehtab Haider, an economic expert, said that the federal government was facing financial crisis and challenges for which it was considering different options to overcome the issue.

He claimed that the government was planning to cut Rs400 billion from the said budget as well as to further get Rs400 billion by increasing taxes on people.

Riaz Khan, another expert, suggested that the government should expand the tax net in the country instead of increasing taxes or cutting any fund in the current budget.

CLEANLINESS DRIVE: Walk and other activities were carried out here the other day to create awareness among residents of importance of cleanliness and hygiene and to keep the society waste-free on sustainable basis.

These activities were held in connection with the World Cleanup Day (Sept 15). In this regard, awareness walk, flag march and cleanliness activities were carried out on the main roads, bazaars and populated areas of the city.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2018