LOWER DIR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MPA Dr Sumaira Shams has asked the office-bearers of the party’s women wing for Malakand region to come forward and play active role in resolving problems faced by their gender.

Addressing a meeting of the Insaf Women Wing, Malakand region, in Chakdara on Saturday, she asked the participants to play a role in identifying and addressing the issues facing women.

PTI women wing central deputy general secretary Hameeda Shahid, Malakand region president Farzana Javed, vice president Naeema Naz, general secretary Falak Naz, Saira Shams, Anbia Bibi, Sabeeha Gul Sher, Taqdeera Begum and Sania Khan attended the meeting.

Dr Sumaira Shams, who also acts as central joint secretary of the PTI women wing, asked the newly-elected regional cabinet of the women wing to work for creating political awareness among women of Malakand division, who had long been deprived of their basic rights to education and enfranchisement.

“Empowerment of women was an important part of the PTI manifesto, and that was why, for the first time in history the party had formed a women political organisation in Malakand,” she claimed.

She asked the participants to help her identify issues faced by women in their respective districts so she could be able to better work for their wellbeing as a parliamentarian.

“We plan to arrange an open kutcheri for women to address their issues on the spot, besides arranging a briefing by officials of the PM’s Ihsaas Programme for the women wing in Malakand division,” Ms Sumaira said.

On the occasion, Hameeda Shahid, a former candidate for provincial assembly seat, asked the members to contest elections on both the general and reserved seats.

The women wing regional president Farzana Javed said membership drive at the district level would be launched next week.

HOSPITAL IN-CHARGE REPLACED: District health officer Dr Mohammad Nazir paid a surprise visit to the Category-D Hospital in Mayar on Saturday, and replaced its in-charge over violation of the uniform policy, and not adhering to Covid-19 precautions by the staff.

Mr Nazir also expressed anger over the unhygienic conditions at the hospital.

He directed the new in-charge to improve administration and ensure observance of SOPs at the hospital.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2020