LOWER DIR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s overseas south region president Rahim Shah Akhunkhel has claimed that the communication and works department has been tasked with preparing the feasibility report of the Chakdara-Chitral road project within 90 days, after which the chief minister will inaugurate it.

Talking to journalists at Khall on Sunday, he said he had met with the chief minister in Peshawar a few days ago during which the latter told him that formal approval of the road project had been given.

He said Chakdara, Osakai and a five-kilometre tunnel from Laram Dara hill to Rabat had been included in the phase-I of the Chakdara-Chitral Expressway. He said Dir, Chitral, Maidan, Jandol and Bajaur would be included in the phase-II of the project.

He said the CM had also promised to announce establishment of a cadet college, inclusion of Shahi in Lower Dir and Jaz Banda in Upper Dir in the government’s tourism development plan. The PTI activist asked the opposition parties and the civil society to avoid politicising the project.

FM RADIO APPROVED: Vice-chancellor University of Malakand Dr Gul Zaman has approved a plan of the journalism and mass communications department to establish an educational FM radio and TV studio as part of the Higher Education Commission’s projects. He announced this while speaking at meeting the other day.

Fida Khan, in-charge of journalism and mass communications department, briefed the VC on the plan and said it would make the department more market-oriented by helping students attain practical skills in electronic and print media.

OFFICE-BEARERS NAMED: Riaz Ahmad Advocate was elected divisional president and Ikram Khan general secretary, respectively, of the People Lawyers’ Forum, Malakand division.

The election was supervised by Mohammad Salim Yousafzai Advocate.

District and tehsils’ presidents and general secretaries from Lower and Upper Dir, Wari, Swat, Buner and Dargai bars took part in the election.

The gathering also constituted an election committee for provincial bar council elections.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2020