PESHAWAR, Aug 31: NWFP Governor Lieutenant General (retd) Ali Mohammed Jan Aurakzai inaugurated the newly-established Eye Department in Civil Hospital, Hangu on Thursday.

Completed at a cost of Rs15 million, the project is a part of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Blindness 2005-10.

Addressing a ceremony on the occasion, the governor welcomed the setting up of the department and said it would enable the people of Hangu and adjoining tribal agencies to avail themselves of latest laser treatment facilities and save them from travelling long distances.

“In fact, the area is known for eye diseases and the lack of treatment facilities has compounded people’s problems,” he said.

He thanked the federal government for launching the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Blindness 2005-10 aimed at developing modern eye healthcare facilities at the district level across the country at a cost of Rs2.77 billion. Under the programme, healthcare units had already been set up in Mardan, Kohat, Shangla and Lower Dir, he said.

He stressed the need to launch a campaign to promote awareness among the masses for taking precautionary measures and seeking timely treatment. He disclosed that the upgradation of Civil Hospital Hangu to level ‘C’ had been included in the ongoing Annual Development Programme and work on the project, estimated to cost Rs115 million, would start shortly.

Replying to various issues raised by District Nazim Ghani-ur-Rehman, the governor said every effort would be made to remove staff shortage in the hospital. He said special incentives would be offered to attract specialists to work in Hangu.

He assured steps to make 50 per cent increase in the seats of local degree colleges for girls and boys and upgrade maximum number of schools.

“Efforts are also under way to establish a new quality degree college through Overseas Pakistanis Foundation. Work on the project for which a plot over 40 kanals has been allocated will start within next couple of months,” he said.

He said the government had decided to upgrade the main highway from Hangu’s Police Training School to Kurram Agency on a par with international standards. A portion of the highway, passing through the Hangu Bazar, would also be upgraded under a separate project, he added.

Lt. Gen. (retd) Aurakzai said the government was conscious about the electricity shortage and low voltage problems. A huge plan of action, to materialise in phases by 2015, had been chalked out at the national level, he said.—Online