HARIPUR: The reconstruction and widening of Beer-Kalinjar Road will begin next week linking the remote villages to Haripur city via Chappar Road, said education minister Akbar Ayub Khan here on Monday.

The minister told reporters that the union councils of Beer, Kalinjar, Ladarmang and adjoining areas had been neglected for a long time during development plans but following their annexation with PK-40, Haripur, he had got development project worth billions of rupees approved for them.

He added that the schemes were for water and power supply, school buildings, and roads.

The minister said the government recently approved 20km Beer-Kalinjar Road.

He said the Rs1.17 billion project meant to re-carpet and widen the road would benefit the residents of over 30 remote villages located on both sides of Beer-Kalinjar Road.

The minister tender for the project had been issued, while work on it would begin next week.

He said the Rs70 million construction of Kalinar-Kheri and Kalinjar-Jamm link roads was near completion.

Meanwhile, the Hazara police have launched the ‘no mask, no shopping’ campaign as a preventive measure against Covid-19.

In a statement issued here on Monday, Regional Police Officer Qazi Jamilur Rehman asked all DPOs of Hazara division to ensure that following the resumption of business activities,the business community and customers should adopt precautionary measures against Covid-19 to stem its spread.

He said DPOs should take traders, service providers like barbers and CNG and petrol pump owners on board for the enforcement of the government’s instructions.

The RPO said traders should ensure that customers wear face masks and use hand sanitisers and observe social distancing.

He said crowding in markets and bazaars won’t be allowed, while filling stations would ensure the staff members use face mask and sell oil and CNG to only those with masks.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2020