HARIPUR: The wildlife department on Sunday organised an awareness session for the councillors on wildlife protection.

The session was held in Khalabat, where sub-divisional wildlife officers, Mohammad Siraj and Mohammad Awais, briefed the participants about the population of birds and animals and threats to them in the forests of Khalabat and surrounding areas.

They also briefed the participants about the importance of wildlife and its impact on the ecosystem. They also shared the measures that the wildlife department has taken for conservation of wildlife, but added that all steps would prove futile unless the public developed a sense of ownership and joined hands with the officials in providing protection to the life of animals and birds.

On the occasion, the councilors adopted a unanimous resolution showing commitment towards protecting and conserving wildlife in their areas.

A wildlife committee was also formed that would liaise with the wildlife department and educate the people about the benefits of protecting wildlife.

RIDERS SQUAD LAUNCHED: The Haripur police launched Riders’ Squad on Sunday for providing help to general public in emergency situations.

Federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan inaugurated the squad’s operations.

Briefing the minister, district police officer Mansoor Aman said Haripur police had taken the initiative on their own and formed the squad of 10 constables who were NTS qualified and were trained about dealing with emergency situations like road accidents, fire and other emergencies.

He said the bike riding squad members would deal with emergency within the urban limits and would be expanded to rural parts of the district later.

He said one of the riders would be trained on providing first aid to the injured. He said the squad would also help the police in crime control through regular patrolling.

On the occasion, Omar Ayub expressed the hope that the newly-formed squad would help the police in providing security to the life, honour and property of people in a more effective way.

He said the initiative taken by the district police officer was commendable.

He assured the district police of every support from both provincial and federal governments in providing relief to people.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2018