LOWER DIR: The local chapter of Jamaat-i-Islami here on Wednesday demanded of the government to start relief and rehabilitation activities in the flood-affected villages of Paito Dara and Yar Khan Banda.

Addressing a news conference in Ahyaul Uloom Balambat, JI district general secretary Engineer Yaqubur Rehman, Shad Nawaz Khan, Shuiab Ahmad, Riaz Mohammad and Amir Azam Khan demanded of the government to declare the 16 affected villages as calamity-hit areas and announce a special package for the villagers.

They said that torrential rains coupled with hailstorm and lightning destroyed standing crops and damaged 35 wells and link roads in the areas. They said that dozens of cattle heads were killed while walls of several houses collapsed by floodwater on Monday.

The JI leaders criticised the district administration for its failure to assess the damage properly and start relief and rehabilitation activities in the affected areas.

They demanded of the government to announce special package for the affected people of Paito Dara and Yar Khan Banda.

TEACHERS: Social and political activists on Wednesday demanded of the government to regularise the services of Pakistanis teaching at Afghan refugees’ schools and adjust them in the education department.

Addressing a meeting of the teachers, Timergara tehsil chairman Mufti Irfanud Din, JUI-F district chief Sirajud Din, former chairman of All Teachers Association Syed Mohammad Shah, Farhana Gul, Maulana Nabi Shah and others said that a total of 291 teachers across the province had been performing duty in the Afghan refugees’ schools for the last 38 years.

They said that the administration staff, security officials and village administration working for Afghan refugees had been regularised and adjusted in their relevant departments but the teachers were ignored.

DAY: Timergara Press Club arranged a function on Wednesday to mark World Press Freedom Day.

The function, attended by social activists, political workers and journalists, was addressed by president of press club Ismail Anjum, general secretary Rehmatullah Swati, senior journalist Abdullah Madani, social activist Akbar Khan and others.

They said that unfortunately Pakistan had become a dangerous place for journalists. They demanded of the government to provide protection to journalists. They also sought financial package for killed and injured journalists.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2023