LOWER DIR: Political and social activists on Monday demanded of the government to declare Talash as a separate tehsil and release adequate funds to ensure completion of the ongoing projects.

The demand was made during a multiparty conference arranged by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl.

Prominent among those in attendance were JUI-F district chief Mufti Bakht Sardar, party’s provincial coordinator Qazi Ayazuddin, former finance minister Muzaffar Said Advocate, dispute resolution council chairman Syed Hassan Advocate, former tehsil nazim Riaz Mohammad Advocate of Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf district vice-president Haji Mohammad Ali, President Talash Qaumi Islahi Jirga Malik Mohammad Ibrahim, Pakistan Peoples Party tehsil president Malik Barkat Khan, Anjuman Tajiran Talash president Dr Noor Mohammad, Talash Youth Jirga president Mohammad Raziq, social activist Fazl Wahab Swati and Awami National Party tehsil president Nadir Khan.

The participants expressed concern about the suspension of work on ongoing projects, and shifting of some approved projects to other areas.

MPC also demands funds to complete ongoing projects

It was decided that a 22-member jirga would soon meet the chief minister and members of national and provincial assemblies to inform them about the issues faced by Talash residents.

The participants also expressed concerns about the long delay in construction of the Kalpani-Talash Bypass and establishment of postgraduate colleges for boys and girls. They said work on the bypass could not be completed even after nine years of its inauguration.

The speakers demanded of the federal government to establish a National Database and Registration Authority’s office in the area. They also demanded construction of the long-awaited Gopalum irrigation channel.

The speakers also complained about lack of facilities at hospitals, poor sanitation, price hike, traffic jams, encroachments and lack of a slaughterhouse in Talash.

DELAY IN LICENCES RESENTED: The transporters on Monday complained the transport department and the district administration failed to issue them driving licences despite the passage of 10 months.

Talking to reporters here, they pointed out that 4,500 applicants had applied for licences some 10 months ago while depositing Rs10,800 for heavy traffic vehicle and Rs8,300 for light traffic vehicle licences. They said they were being fined in other cities for having no driving licence. They demanded of the authorities concerned to take notice of the matter.

Meanwhile, an official at the driving licence section of the traffic police here told Dawn that the delay was caused by a fault in the database and shortage of printing material. He said licences would be issued once the issue was fixed.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2025