MANSEHRA: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police and security forces have planned joint operations to ensure the safety of foreign workers and engineers working on the energy projects being executed in upper parts of Hazara division.

“We are going to launch weekly search and strike operations for the safety and protection of the foreigners working on the energy projects in Kohistan districts,” deputy inspector general of police, Hazara range, Mirvais Niaz told a security meeting held at the Dasu hydropower project in Upper Kohistan on Saturday.

The meeting was also attended by the foreigners, security agencies officers, district police officers of upper and lower Kohistan and officials of the 4,300-megawatt Dasu hydropower project.

Lower Kohistan and Upper Kohistan DPOs Zulfiqar Khan Jadoon and Tahir Iqbal, respectively, and security chief of the Dasu hydropower project briefed the meeting about the precautionary measures being taken jointly by the police, security agencies and dam’s management for the security of foreign nationals and locals working at the dam.

Weekly ‘search and strike’ operations planned in Kohistan

“We will not tolerate any negligence in the security of foreigners,” Mr Niaz said.

He said that under the joint security programme the search and strike operations would be conducted regularly besides tightening the safety measures put in place at the foreigners’ residential camps and working sites.

AGRARIAN RESEARCH: Irrigation Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, director general Javed Iqbal Khattak has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government wants to revive economy through agrarian research and production.

He was speaking at a gathering held here in Baffa Mera area after inaugurating an irrigation channel on Saturday. He said that the government wanted to make the province self-sufficient in agricultural production.

“We have been focusing much on the agrarian research to ensure maximum yield from cash crops,” Mr Khattak said.

He said that the irrigation channel inaugurated in Baffa Mera, which is known for its high quality tobacco, would irrigate 750 kanals and enhance livelihood resources of the farmers.

Speaking on the occasion, PTI’s divisional coordinator in Hazara division Salah Mohammad Khan said the government would also establish three cold storages in the district.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2022