TIMERGARA: The traders’ community on Sunday demanded of the government to lift ban on trade with Afghanistan.

The demand was made at a meeting chaired by president of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries Ghazanfar Bilour.

United Business Group leader Senator Ilyas Bilour, president Lower Dir Chamber of Commerce Jehan Alam, president Timergara traders’ body Haji Anwaruddin and others also spoke on the occasion.

Ilyas Bilour said it was high time the government revived industries and businesses in the region after the merger of hitherto Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said the businessmen in Lower and Upper Dir wanted to invest their capital but they preferred to shift their wealth to down districts due to lack of incentives.

The participants complained that ban on trade with Afghanistan had paralysed local industry.

They said Malakand division was a tax-free zone and investors could be easily attracted to establish industries there.

JOURNALISTS PROTEST: The journalists of Chakdara on Sunday held a protest rally against the killing of their colleague, Suhail Ahmad, in Haripur. The protesting journalists were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against lack of security for mediapersons.

Local traders and social activists also joined the protesting journalists.

HONOUR FOR CARDIOLOGIST: A cardiologist on Saturday implanted a pacemaker in the body of a 50-year-old woman without the fluoroscope machine.

The woman with low heart beat was brought to the emergency of district headquarters hospital, Timergara. She was at risk and could not be referred to Peshawar, sources in the hospital said, adding the doctor took the risk and implanted a pacemaker, a small battery-operated device for regularising heartbeat in the patient’s body.

Talking to journalists, Dr Ikramullah said the pacemaker was implanted under the skin and the procedure took an hour. He said a generator contained the battery that controlled the heartbeats.

AWARENESS WALK: The Khall tehsil council on Sunday arranged an awareness walk in connection with the Clean and Green Pakistan campaign. Tehsil nazim Yousaf Adil led the walk.

The tehsil council members, government officials and local elders participated in the walk.

Mr Adil asked people to cooperate with the government and forest department to preserve forests, especially in the scenic Kumrat valley.

WATER SUPPLY SCHEME: A water supply scheme was inaugurated in the under-construction building of government girls’ higher secondary school, Ziarat Talash, the other day.

Speaking on the occasion, Commandant Chakdara Battalion Lt-Col Mohammad Amir said the project was completed with Rs3 million.

He also lauded the cooperation of locals in tooting out militancy from the district.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2018