LOWER DIR: Local government and rural development department’s assistant directorAmir Nizam Durrani said here on Thursday that he would work for resolution of the issues of village and neighbourhood council secretaries in the district.

He was speaking at the first secretaries’ conference that was held at the district council hall in Balambat. Village and neighbourhood council secretaries from all 198 councils of the district were in attendance.

All Secretaries Village Councils Association, Lower Dir, president Salahuddin Khan welcomed holding of the conference called to discuss relevant matters for better execution of government policies at the grassroots level.

Vice-president village councils association Mohammad Zeb and general secretary Nizamul Haq said that often the secretaries were assigned multiple tasks at the same time as the line departments required their coordination to achieve the targets.

They said the government should announce a proper job description for the village council secretaries. They said despite performing multiple tasks they were still deprived of upgradation and service structure.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Durrani said offices of local councils would soon be solarised so that the people could be provided with uninterrupted services. He assured the secretaries that he would work for resolution of their issues. He distributed certificates among the village secretariesfor providing services during the Covid-19 pandemic and other emergencies.

WORKSHOP: The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Malakand (UoM), on Thursday organised a workshop on “media ethics for local journalists”.

Safiullah Gul, a freelance journalist, delivered a lecture on ethics. Local journalists from Chakdara and Batkhela press clubs and teachers and students of journalism department attended the event.

VC Prof Dr Rashid Ahmad was also present on the occasion.

Safiullah Gul emphasised that it was essential to develop and follow the code of journalism ethics to promote truth, transparency and accuracy.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2022