KOHAT: The members of the Kohat tehsil council on Wednesday demanded increase in rent of shops leased out by the tehsil municipal administration to help the TMA come out of financial crunch.

They made the demand during a meeting of the council.

Hafiz Saeed presided over the session. City mayor Qari Sher Zaman was also present.

The participants pointed out there were 600 shops at prime locations whose lease had expired, and the owners were paying only a few thousand rupees in comparison to similar shops, which had been drawing Rs25,000 to Rs40,000 rent.

They said financial health of the municipal body was so bad that it could not even pay salary to its employees. They said it was necessary to re-auction the shops to generate the much-needed revenues.

The members also passed resolutions against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and Peshawar Electric Supply Company for subjecting consumers to excessive outages.

Meanwhile, people of Lachi tehsil on Wednesday offered special prayers (Namaz-i-Istaqa) for rain as a long dry spell is affecting crops.

A large number of people attended the prayers held at the parade ground.

The dry spell is also causing throat and chest infections, particularly affecting children and elderly.

SECTION 144: Deputy commissioner Dr Azmatullah Wazir on Wednesday imposed Section 144, banning sale of mobile SIM cards for two months keeping in view the prevailing security situation and for maintaining peace.

A statement issued here said penalties would be imposed on people or firms found involved in sale of SIMs to irrelevant and unauthorised persons.

The violators would be proceeded against under Section 188 of CrPC.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2023