SWABI: Speakers at a function here on Wednesday demanded employment of locals in the Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate here.

The function was held to pay tribute to the eight growers, who were killed during a poppy eradication campaign on March 8, 1986, during the military regime of late Gen Ziaul Haq.

The killings had sparked protests and the poppy growers had demanded that alternative sources of livelihood should be provided to them. The then Pakistan Peoples Party government had inked an agreement with them to establish Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate and provide jobs to the growers there.

However, the participants regretted that a majority of poppy growers were denied the promised jobs in the industrial estate, and most of the employees were from other districts.

On the occasion, Salim Khan, former provincial general secretary of Awami National Party, said the federal government should fulfill its pledges by giving employment to the locals in the Gadoon Industrial Estate.

PTI MPA Rangaiz Khan said the government would meet the demands of the local people.

Former MPA Shiraz Khan said the incumbent government was expected to resolve the issues confronted by former poppy growers.

TWO ARRESTED: The police have arrested a man and recovered two stolen rickshaws from him.

SHO Parmuli police station identified the arrested men as Imdadullah and Qasim Khan of Asota village.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2022