LAKKI MARWAT: Elders of North Waziristan district have threatened to move court if the authorities don’t take back the decision to shift a hospital project from its proposed site in Pepali Kabalkhel to Miami Kabalkhel area.

Speaking at a news conference at the Bannu Press Club on Saturday, Malik Haji Saleem Khan Wazir, Sherin Zaman, Almar Khan and others said the government had approved setting up a mother and child hospital in North Waziristan.

The relevant authorities prepared a feasibility report after selection of a site in Pepali Kabakhel Shawa area and the department concerned had floated tenders of the project, the elders claimed. They said the tribesmen were happy over the award of contract to a local contractor.

Now the authorities have shifted the project to Miami Kabalkhel area in connivance with MNA Mohsin Dawar, they claimed.

The elders feared that shifting of the project could cause enmity and hatred between local clans, thus creating a law and order situation in the tribal district. They alleged that by shifting the project the lawmaker wanted to appease his near and dear ones in Miami Kabalkhel.

They asked the government to launch the project on an already selected site in Pepali Kabalkhel.

DECLAMATION CONTEST: The education department and the boy scouts association organised declamation, essay writing and painting competitions on anti-corruption on Saturday.

A large number of students from various schools participants in the competitions held on the premises of Government Shaheed Mohammad Ghassan Khan Centennial Model High School No-1 in Lakki city.

District education officer Mohammad Ilyas Khattak was the chief guest.

FARE LIST: Residents of Bannu city have asked the district administration to take action against drivers of three-wheelers for fleecing commuters.

Talking to journalists on Saturday, Malik Mir Dar Ali Khan and others said many people used rickshaws to travel between Bannu city and Domel town, where offices of several public sector organisations were located.

They claimed the rickshaw drivers were charging Rs80 to Rs100 per passenger for a one-side trip.

They asked the local administration, the regional transport authority and traffic police to release a fare list for the local routes and ensure its implementation in letter and spirit.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2022