HARIPUR: A reference was held here in Ghazi tehsil the other day to pay tribute to the services of senior journalist Mohammad Shahbaz, 66, who died of coronavirus on August 18, last year.

Local journalists and Fatima Ameen Welfare Foundation organised the event.

The speakers threw light on the journalistic career of late Shahbaz and termed him an upright, honest and a true professional, who never compromised on ethics of journalism.

They said despite the fact he hailed from an area where journalists hardly found opportunity to sharpen their professional skills, his reporting style, analysis of local politics and the Tarbela Dam project, had always been of high standards.

The speakers, however, lamented that no government help was extended to family of Mr Shahbaz during his lifetime and after his death despite the fact that he was a cardiac patient and his wife a cancer patient.

They speakers urged the government to extend financial support to Shahbaz’s family.

Quran Khwani was also held for the departed soul.

Mr Shahbaz remained president of Tarbela Press Club and served Hazara Union of Journalists and Haripur Press Club in different capacities.

DENGUE CASES: Seventy cases of dengue have been reported in Haripur district during the last one month with all but 10 patients having recovered, health officials said here the other day.

They said no death was occurred due to the fever.

However, sources said despite claims of the health department and the district administration about conducting fumigation, the onset of monsoon season had left a number of residents of Afghan refugee camps, the neighbouring villages and the city, complaining of high fever and symptoms of dengue fever.

Deputy district health officer Dr Sher Bahadur said the government health facilities received 70 cases, including 30 women, from July 15 till August 17. He said health facilities were fully equipped to treat the dengue cases. He said fog spray in targeted areas was underway.

He advised the people to adopt precautionary measures, avoid self-medication in case of fever and approach the nearest government health facility for treatment.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2022