LAKKI MARWAT: Former federal minister Salim Saifullah Khan has offered to provide 1,000 kanals of land free of cost for the establishment of an industrial zone in Lakki Marwat district.

Talking to Dawn here on Monday, he said Lakki was one of the most backward districts, where residents were faced with numerous problems.

He said lack of economic activities was the root cause of backwardness and unemployment.

“The backwardness can be turned into development by initiating economic projects in the region,” he maintained.

Mr Saifullah said the discovery of oil and gas reserves would attract investors to the district. He said during a recent meeting with the caretaker prime minister, he had offered 1,000 kanals of land for setting up an industrial zone in Lakki. “The geographical location of the district also provides the shortest route for exporting commodities to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar Electric Supply Company removed several power transformers during an anti-power pilferage operation in Naurang town here on Monday.

The operation was launched on the directives of Bannu division commissioner Parweiz Sabatkhel, who also heads the divisional task force on power theft.

Led by additional assistant commissioner Gohar Ali, Pesco staffers conducted raids in rural areas on information about use of electricity illegally, removed direct links and transformers over unpaid dues.

An official said the operation would continue to eliminate electricity theft and improve recoveries.

He asked the power defaulters to clear dues at the earliest or face legal action.

The official said names of power thieves would be forwarded to police for registration of cases.

Also on Monday, additional assistant commission Gohar Ali sealed an outlet selling petroleum products for overpricing.

He inspected oil outlets/agencies to check implementation of official rate list after transporters complained about sale of diesel and petrol at exorbitant prices during a virtual open kutchery.

Separately, the Lakki wildlife subdivision booked two birds’ smugglers after foiling a bid to smuggle Siberian cranes from Sindh to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday.

Wildlife sub-divisional officer Mir Aslam Khan told Dawn that the staffers deployed at Wanda Banochi checkpost near Darra Pezu town seized 16 Siberian cranes from vehicles and booked two carriers under Wildlife and Biodiversity Act.

“The birds’ smugglers are residents of Lakki,” he claimed.

The official said they also registered cases against two falcon poachers and imposed heavy fines on them.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2023