MARDAN: The chairmen of village and neighbourhood councils here on Tuesday held a protest followed by a press conference to seek release of funds.

The protesting council chairmen including Rahim Shah, Suhrab Afridi, Qari Junaid, Walidmir, Yousaf Khan, Waris Khan, Haji Noor Gul, Pir Salman, Mansoor Khan, Shah Khalid, Zahirullah, Mohammad Ali, Sherizad Bibi and others said that Mardan district should not be deprived of its due share in funds.

They said that the funds released by the provincial financial commission for their office expenses were insufficient. They said that Mardan was the second largest district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but it was deprived of its due share in funds.

They said that Nowshera comprised of 153 neighbourhood and village councils and Rs108,000 was provided to each chairman for monthly office expenses. They said that Rs70,000 was provided to each chairman for monthly expenses in Haripur, which consisted of 23 councils.

Protesters threaten to stage sit-in outside Supreme Court

The protesters said that Mardan comprised 231 councils and only Rs31,000 was released to each chairman for monthly expenses. They said that it was sheer injustice with district Mardan that was why they declared the said fund as insufficient and announced to reject it.

They said that local government elections were held two years ago but they were not provided with development funds and powers. They said that their voters wanted solution to their problems.

They threatened to stage a sit-in outside Supreme Court of Pakistan and resign en bloc if their demands were not fulfilled.

MAYOR: Mardan city mayor Hamayatullah Khan Mayar said on Tuesday that children with special abilities would be included in the “Stori Da Mardan Programme” to boost their morale.

Addressing an event at Special Education Complex Mardan, he said that the children, who got positions, would be given awards, certificates and other incentives under the programme.

On the occasion, cash rewards and certificates were distributed among special children, who got good marks in matriculation examinations.

Mr Mayar said that city government would take initiatives to provide modern machinery, audio therapy machines and new kits to children. He lauded the organisation for providing education and training to physically challenged children.

He directed relevant officials to prepare a report on the issues of the organisation for their early solution.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2023