LOWER DIR: The Lower Dir administration arranged separate open kutcheris for persons with disabilities and minorities at the Timergara Rest House the other day.

Deputy commissioner Aun Haidar Gondal had arranged the events.

Speaking on the occasion, persons with disabilities said they faced problems while visiting government offices and hospitals. They demanded construction of ramps to government offices and hospitals to facilitate their easy access.

They also sought separate washrooms in government offices and exemption from OPD and other fees for availing medical care at hospitals.

DC Haidar Gondal promised speaking to the authorities concerned to include the special persons in the government’s special packages.

He said ramps would be built to facilitate special persons’ easy access to government offices.

Meanwhile, speaking at a separate kutcheri, Christian community members demanded that they should be included in the Ehsaas cash programme.

They also demanded provision of special grant for local church, construction of a separate school for their children, a graveyard and a residential colony.

They said members of the community serving in government departments should be given three days leave each month.

The DC assured them of taking steps for resolving their issues.

PML-N MANIFESTO: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate for Adenzai tehsil chairman’s slot Barrister Attaullah Khan unveiled his election manifesto, and asked the residents to vote for him for the area’s development.

Speaking at a news conference at the Chakdara Press Club the other day, he said unemployment, property disputes, lack of health and educational facilities and shortage of clean drinking water were some of the issues facing the residents in Adenzai.

He said he would work to promote tourism and create direct and indirect jobs for youth if elected as tehsil chairman in the upcoming local body elections being held on March 27.

The PML-N nominee said property disputes had claimed several lives and that he would try to solve these issues with the consent of the warring parties. He said talks were ongoing for forging electoral alliance with JUI-F in Lower Dir.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2022