KOHAT: Senator Shibli Faraz and state minister Sheharyar Afridi have claimed that projects worth Rs40 billion will be launched in health, power and education sectors in Kohat.

Talking to journalists here on Sunday, Mr Faraz accompanied by MNA Mr Afridi, former provincial law minister Imtiaz Sahid Qureshi, adviser to the chief minister on education, MPA Ziaullah Bangash and PTI district president Aftab Alam, said they had put forward various projects before the chief minister and the prime minister who had approved them.

Mr Afridi said they had formed a team and were working in coordination to serve their district and address the issues facing its inhabitants. He said Mr Bangash would be the focal person of the team. He said two grid stations would be established at Shakardarra and Kohat. The latter would cost Rs7 billion, he said, adding a road would be constructed from River Indus to Shakardarra as a shortcut alternative to the Rawalpindi Highway.

He said gas facility would be provided to the deprived nine union councils of the district.

MPA Ziaullah Bangash said he had invited the chief minister to the convocation ceremony of the Kohat University of Science and Technology where he would announce and approve various projects.

POS ARRESTED, ARMS SEIZED: The police arrested 40 proclaimed offenders and 33 facilitators and seized weapons during a crackdown on Sunday.

District police officer Mansoor Aman had directed launching of the operation as part of the National Action Plan. All the circle DSPs and SHOs took part in the operation.

Over 20 persons were also held for firing in the air.

The seizure included 16 Kalashnikovs, four kalakovs, nine rifles, 18 shotguns, 120 pistols and 12,000 cartridges.

As part of the operation, the traffic wardens ticketed 670 vehicles, including cars, pickups and passenger coasters, for using tinted glasses, non-registration, using substandard CNG kits and side-wheeling. Over 170 drivers were booked.

Also, during checking of houses, over 30 non-local residents living in rented houses were held. Besides, 15 drug peddlers and 13 inter-district smugglers were arrested.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2019