LOWER DIR: Timergara tehsil council chairman Mufti Irfanuddin has demanded of the provincial government to provide funds for building additional classrooms in government girls’ centennial model high school here to accomodate growing number of students.

He made the demand while talking to reporters during a visit to the school on Tuesday. He visited the school on complaints of parents about missing facilities there.

Mr Irfanuddin was informed that a total of 1,700 students were enrolled in the school, but due to shortage of classrooms, 75 to 85 students were cramped in each classroom.

He was informed that only seven out of 21 washrooms were functional. Besides, the school had no solar power, as a result, students suffered during power outages.

The tehsil chairman was informed that nine kanals of the school land had been grabbed by the land mafia.

TAXES TO BE RESISTED: President of Lower Dir Chamber of Commerce and Industries Syed Noor Alam Badshah said here the other day that the traders’ community would not accept the imposition of taxes in the Malakand division as it had been ‘declared’ a tax-free zone.

Addressing a meeting of the chamber members, and later talking to reporters, he said the incumbent government wanted to impose taxes in the region in ‘violation’ of the Constitution. He said the region had been affected by floods, militancy and earthquake, so the government should instead announce special package for its residents. He said the business community would not accept the ‘unconstitutional act’ of imposing taxes on the people.

ROAD PROJECT: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) provincial leader Qazi Ayazuddin has demanded of the caretaker government and authorities of the communication and works department to start construction work on the incomplete Kalpani Talash bypass road project.

Talking to local journalists in Timergara on Thursday, the JUI-F leader said that he had met the Lower Dir deputy commissioner, Iftikhar Ahmad, and executive engineer C&W department and informed them about the misery faced by motorists and residents.

He said the project was yet to be completed despite the passage of seven years. Qazi Ayaz said that work on the project was started in 2016 during the PTI-led government but it was not completed in the stipulated time. He pointed out that the 10-kilometre bypass road would also benefit the people of Upper Dir, Chitral and Bajaur.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2023