LOWER DIR: Special assistant to the chief minister on prisons MPA Malik Shafiullah on Wednesday inaugurated a road project at Sarai Payeen in Talash, which would be completed at a cost of Rs10 million.

Addressing a function on this occasion, the lawmaker said the government would ensure timely completion of the ongoing projects. He claimed that work on Kalpani-Talash bypass road was in the final stage.

He said that classes in the Timergara Medical College would start next year.

CONTRACTORS’ PROTEST: The Government Contractors Association, Malakand division, here on Wednesday protested the lack of funds for ongoing development schemes in Dir and asked the contractors to remove their machinery from the project sites in protest against the government’s failure to release adequate funds.

Carrying banners and placards, scores of the contractors gathered near the offices of executive engineer of Communication and Works Department, Timergara, and then staged a protest rally in front of the DC office at Balambat.

Speaking on the occasion, the association’s divisional president Ikramullah, general secretary Imran Takur and others complained that the government was not heeding to resolve their problems.

Criticising the PTI lawmakers, the contractors said they were inaugurating projects in their constituencies, but they had failed to secure the release of development funds by the government. The speakers said the contractors had been facing funds shortage for the last three years and they were unable to continue work on the government projects.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2021