LOWER DIR: Awami National Party spokesman Zahid Khan said here on Monday that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan wanted to destroy economy and default the country while Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government also failed to deliver.

Addressing different functions in Khall and Khadang as chief guest, he said that all political parties should join hands to stabilise economy of the country.

Jamaat-i-Islami former councillor Malik Ziaur Rehman of Khall and several political workers and elders of Gujjar tribe in Khadang announced to join ANP on the occasion.

The functions were also addressed by ANP candidate for PK-15 Malik Mohammad Zeb Khan, candidate for PK-7 Malik Sajjad Yousafzai, Mian Javed Shah and others.

Zahid Khan, who is also candidate of ANP for NA-7, condemned Israeli forces for killing of innocent Palestinians in Gaza and said that silence of world powers on the issue was a big question mark.

Zahid Khan says Imran wanted to destroy economy and PDM govt also failed to deliver

He said that wars in Gaza and Ukraine would have drastic effects on the economy of Pakistan. He said that no single party could better rule the country owing to economic crisis.

The ANP leader welcomed the new entrants. He said that ANP worked for the welfare of people of the province.

He said that he provided the facility of natural gas to several areas when he was a senator.

He said that Khall town would soon be provided with a gas pipeline. He said that people of Lower Dir had not voted him during the last general elections.

The ANP leader criticised federal government for repatriating Afghan refugees without proper planning. He said that government should have taken the Afghan refugees into confidence before finalising their repatriation.

CONTRACTORS: The members of Government Contractors Association on Monday demanded of the authorities to immediately release funds for development projects so that they could resume work on the incomplete schemes.

The demand was made during a meeting of the association held in Timergara with its provincial vice president Bahadarzeb in the chair. Naik Mohammad, Sher Mohammad, Jehangir Khan, Kiramat Shah, Wajid Ali and others also spoke on the occasion.

They said that they were facing severe financial difficulty owing to lack of funds. They said that ban on release of funds adversely affected the contractors.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2023