BAJAUR: Residents of Muala Kallay locality of Khar tehsil here on Tuesday staged a protest demonstration against the slow pace of work on an under-construction road.

They kept the Khar-Munda Road blocked for about two hours. Scores of people from different walks of life participated in the demonstration.

The protesters pointed out that work on the road in Muala Kallay started about one and a half year ago and was to be completed by end of 2021. However, they said work on the road was nowhere near completion.

They said plying of vehicles caused clouds of dust, troubling people as the contractor failed to sprinkle water on the road. They said work on some portions of the road remained suspended for several weeks.

They demanded sprinkling of water on the under-construction road at least four times a day to settle dust and immediate launch of asphalt work on it.

The demonstrators dispersed after the district administration officials gave them assurance that they would ensure early completion of work on the road.

TRANSPORTERS FINED: The local authorities on Tuesday arrested several drivers of public transport vehicles for overcharging commuters, and later released them after imposing fines on them.

According to a statement issued from the deputy commissioner’s office, the action was carried out by a team of district administration officials led by assistant commissioner, Khar, Hamza Zahoor, who is also the price control magistrate.

The statement said deputy commissioner Iftikhar Alam had directed action against the overcharging transporters over public complaints.

However, the statement said the drivers were released after being fined.

It said the district administration had formed teams to thwart transporters’ bid to increase fares unilaterally.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2022