LOWER DIR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali on Wednesday expressed anger at the delay in selection of land for constructing the office of Dir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which had been announced by then chief minister Mahmood Khan. He directed the district administration to specify the land without delay.

He was addressing a function organised by the Dir chamber as chief guest here. Chamber’s president Syed Noor Alam, senior vice-president Khalid Iqbal, coordinator Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Sartaj Ahmad and others also spoke.

Timergara traders’ body leaders, presidents of Swabi, Haripur, Bajaur and Chitral chambers, elders and political workers were also in attendance.

Ghulam Ali said the ongoing century was of knowledge, skill and trade. He said the youth should be equipped with modern technology and skills for the country’s development.

He said backward areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be developed in the next five years by linking local trade with the Central Asian Republics.

The governor said there was no possibility of postponing the elections and asked people not to pay heed to negative propaganda of the ‘anti-state elements’.

He said he was trying his best to resolve issues faced by the business community. The governor said he was trying to win the confidence of national and international investors to invest in the region.

He said industry in the province lagged behind because KP was far away from seaports and industrialists were charged very high prices of electricity. He said industrialists got per unit electricity from Rs55 to Rs 60, while their counterparts in other countries got it at Rs7 to 9.

He said both Pakistan and Afghanistan should work for establishing lasting peace and enhancing trade relations.

The governor thanked the Khan of Jandol, Shahabuddin Khan, the son of late Nawab of Dir Shah Jehan Khan, for donating 120 kanals of land for the establishment of Dir University. He suggested the university should be named after him.

Meanwhile, an inmate of Timergara district jail, identified as Suhail Khan, a resident of Tazagram Ouch, died on Wednesday. He was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in an unconscious condition, where the doctors declared him dead. The body was later handed over to relatives.

The deceased was in jail for drug trafficking.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2023