MANSEHRA, Oct 24: The first session of Tehsil Council Mansehra here on Monday saw councillors singing a litany of complaints and listing the problems besetting the tehsil, upon which the Nazim reiterated his resolve to tackle them with their help.

The session was held with the council’s convener Ejaz Akhtar Swati in the chair.

Tehsil Nazim Farooq Khan informed the council that “we are running short of offices and staff.

The UC Nazims are also running the affairs of their jurisdiction without offices. But I assure you that we will get to grips with these problems pretty soon.”

The government has introduced a local government system through which the country’s masses can have a sense of participation in the running of local affairs. Now it is the responsibility of their representatives to serve them without discrimination, he said.

The district has been a victim of public representatives’ corruption in the past, who, in league with the government officials, looted its wealth, he said, adding that the money so embezzled will be recovered and those found responsible will be taken to task.

Drinking water’s availability is the main problem which is being addressed immediately, with paperwork likely to be completed in a couple of weeks and work started soon, he said.

A plan has been mapped out to provide health and education facilities at the gross roots level. A health centre, equipped with basic facilities, will be opened in 35 union councils of the tehsil, the Nazim told the council, adding that doctors and paramedic staff would be posted in these centres in sufficient numbers.

The dearth of teachers in primary schools has marred their performance, he noted, and went on to add that “it is on my agenda to solve this problem immediately.”