HARIPUR: The Haripur district council unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday demanding the provincial government release Rs23 million approved by the chief minister to the tehsil municipal administration to solarise mosques.

The council met for its last session of the four years stint with convener Agha Shabir Ahmad in the chair.

Deputy commissioner Arifullah Awan, additional DC Baidullah Shah, assistant commissioners, district heads of health and other devolved departments were in attendance.

Asif Ali Jah tabled the resolution demanding the provincial government execute the Rs23 million mosque solarisation project through the TMA instead of the assistant director (local government).

He claimed that CM Mahmood Khan had approved the mosque solarisation project through an administrative order promising funds from the saving pools of the district’s annual budget.

The council unanimously approved the resolution.

Passing another resolution, the council condemned the illegal annexation of held Kashmir by India and urged the United Nations Security Council to play itrole in holding plebiscite in the occupied Kashmir.

It condemned curfew in the occupied Kashmir and killing of Kashmiris.

Nazim Akhtar Nawaz Khan criticised the wrapping of the district tier in the new local government system.

He said devolution of power to the grassroots level would remain elusive unless district councils were functional as majority of devolved departments would return to the provincial government troubling common man.

The nazim said in the absence of district councils, the future of LB system would remain uncertain and the government would have to revive it sooner or later.

SEALED: The food authority’s officials sealed a factory in the Hattar Industrial Estate here on Tuesday over the manufacturing of biscuits and toffees in unhygienic conditions and unlawfully packaging biscuits and toffees of some major brands.

An official statement said 4500kg biscuits and toffees were seized on the Young Foods Industry premises before they’re destroyed.

The officials also raided the Mofi Foods Industry’s premises in the area and fined the management Rs25,000 for manufacturing biscuits and toffees in violation of the approved standards.

They visited the Tops Food and Lateef Oil Mills and warned the management of strict action for violating rules during the manufacturing, packaging and marketing of their goods.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2019