MANSEHRA: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has released Rs500 million for the reconstruction of the Balakot tehsil hospital, which has been functioning in a rented building since destruction in the 2005 earthquake.

“The residents of Balakot tehsil, including Kaghan valley, have no access to proper healthcare since 2005 but the time is not far when this hospital after reconstruction will provide quality health services to them,” MPA Ahmad Hussain Shah told reporters in Balakot on Saturday.

Work on the hospital was suspended many months ago after the government released only Rs50 million for it last year.

The MPA thanked Chief Minister Mehmood Khan for ordering the release of the remaining amount of Rs500 million for the hospital’s reconstruction.

He said after reconstruction, the hospital would have 300 beds and modern surgical equipment and machines.

Mr Shah said the first-ever degree college for girls in Balakot would begin classes in the 2019-20 academic session.

He said the director (education), Mohammad Zaman Marat, recently visited the new college building.

“We expect that the college will get faculty and other staff in a couple of months paving the way for the start of regular classes,” he said.

MAN KILLED: A motorcyclist was run over and killed by a speeding car in Socah area of Kaghan valley on Saturday.

The accident occurred as Mohammad Niaz, 26, was on the way to Naran area from Socah.

The police arrested the car driver, Israel Hashmi, a tourist from Karachi, after the registration of a case.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2019