KOHAT: The journalist community of Hangu district took out a rally on Wednesday to express solidarity with their Kashmiri brethren and condemn the atrocities on innocent people by Indian forces.

Through various resolutions, they demanded immediate end to prolonged curfew and solution to the decades-old issue under the UN resolutions. They urged the international community to take notice of ‘genocide’ in India-held Kashmir.

Besides journalists, deputy commissioner Mohammad Tayyab Abdullah, district police officer Ehsanullah Khan, district nazim Ibraheem Bangash, minorities and business community members also participated in the rally.

The rally after passing through the main square turned into a public gathering at Railways Square where leaders addressed the participants.

The deputy commissioner said the Indian forces could not gag the voice of the people demanding independence. The situation in Kashmir is a big question mark over the role of the international community which is playing the role of a silent spectator, he lamented.

POWER CUTS DECRIED: At an open kutchery held by deputy commissioner on Wednesday, power consumers of Kharmatu area of Kohat poured out their anger against Pesco for carrying out 14-hour unscheduled power outage daily.

Responding to the complaints, deputy commissioner Matiullah Khan constituted a committee under additional deputy commissioner Shah Nawaz to resolve the issue within a week.

The deputy commissioner also welcomed land donation by the community for establishment of a school and installation of solarised water pump in Kharmatu.

Regarding the construction of an overhead bridge between Kahrmato and Dhodha squares, the deputy commissioner directed the NHA and communication and works department to prepare feasibility reports of the proposed schemes within a month.

BUSINESS VENTURES DISCUSSED: The Kohat Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Kohat University of Science and Technology have agreed to work on research-based projects to provide business opportunities to local investors and boost mutual cooperation for region’s development.

A KCCI delegation comprising senior vice president Mohammad Shahid, former president Engr Syed Faiq Shah and others visited the varsity and met with vice chancellor Dr Jameel Ahmed and director research innovation and communication Tariq Jan and discussed with them signing of an MoU which would benefit both the businessmen and students.

They said efforts would be made to generate opportunities for businessmen and open new corridors of development for them. They said Kohat was full of natural resources and a large number of local investors were also available who could work in the fields of minerals, IT, agriculture and livestock

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2019