TIMERGARA: The district health officer, Dr Shaukat Ali, on Monday confirmed that a new case of polio type II was detected in Khall Koz Kally area of Lower Dir.

The district had been polio-free since 2006.

Talking to local journalists, the DHO said that 19-month-old Muljam, daughter of Habibullah, was affected by polio type II in Khall Koz Kally. He said that a special campaign against the disease was run across the province including Lower Dir last week.

He said that the affected child had been vaccinated several times. According to the parents, the girl had received several doses of anti-polio vaccine. The detection of new polio case set alarm bell ringing among the locals as they were questioning the efficiency of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Masud Jan distributed masks and led an awareness campaign in Kumbar Bazaar.

Also in the day, the food department carried out an operation against adulteration at Timergara and Khall bazaars. A team of the food department conducted tests, checked stamps of veterinary officer on meat and expiry dates of food items.

A total of 10 samples of different food items were taken and sent to laboratory for analysis.

STRIKE: The auditors continued pen-down strike for seventh consecutive day here on Monday. The auditors and officials of district accounts office boycotted their duty and held a demonstration for acceptance of their demands.

Speaking on the occasion, district accounts officer Asad Khan, district president of Auditors Association Jehanzeb, general secretary Jamil Shah and executive council member Akhunzada Fazal Amin said that employees of various departments were getting utility allowance but auditors were deprived of it. They demanded upgradation of their posts, audit and utility allowances and departmental promotion.

FUND: The chairman of district Zakat committee, Farmanullah Khan, has said that Rs1.3 million was being spent on treatment of eight patients of cancer, renal failure, heart and hepatitis.

He told journalists that the amount would be paid by the district Zakat committee and the funds would be sent to different hospitals where the patients were being treated.

He said that documents of the funds had been issued to relatives of the patients.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2020