MANSEHRA: The police department has stopped truckers from transporting large granite rocks from Oghi and Darband to other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as Punjab via the Karakoram Highway and other roads.

The move comes on the complaints of Oghi and Darband residents to ensure the safety of road users, according to district police officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur.

He told reporters on Wednesday that several deadly accidents had occurred due to the unsafe transportation of giant rocks in open trucks without adopting safety measures.

The DPO said traffic wardens would not allow the transportation of mega rocks on open trucks and lorries on the Karakoram Highway, Darband-Oghi-Mansehra Road and other local roads.

He said Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Shahnawaz Khan had been directed to ensure strict enforcement of the measures across the district, especially in Oghi and Darband.

“We have also warned mining companies extracting granite and other minerals in Oghi and Darband that they must adhere to safety regulations and refrain from transporting giant rocks to markets in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab in an unsafe manner,” he said.

Mr Gandapur said the police were committed to protecting public life and property, and he won’t tolerate negligence in that respect.

PUBLIC ISSUES HIGHLIGHTED: Residents and local body members in Oghi tehsil on Wednesday highlighted health, education and other civic issues.

“I, along with all relevant department representatives, are here to ensure timely action on your complaints,” assistant commissioner Waqas Masood Chaudhry told participants of an open forum held at Government High School Oghi.

Chairman of the Danda Kholian village council Mohammad Irfan complained that the girls’ higher secondary school building was put up over five years ago but academic sessions had yet to begin.

“Most of local schoolgirls discontinue their education after passing the matriculation examas their families cannot afford the additional financial burden of sending them to Oghi or other cities,” he said.

Mr Irfan complained about the use of substandard materials in a primary school’s construction and criticised the education department over failure to act against the builder.

Resident Saeed Anwar Khan complained that the health department had failed to appoint a woman doctor to the basic health unit in Habora, forcing patients, especially women and children, to seek medical care in Oghi and other parts of the district.

Another participant claimed that unhygienic meat was transported from Punjab to Oghi, spreading diseases. He called for an immediate ban on such meat.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2025