LAKKI MARWAT, Aug 2: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah on Thursday approved Rs5 million to help the inhabitants of the district’s drought-hit areas and Rs4 million for repair of non-functional tubewells.

Speaking at a function at Betani Frontier Region’s headquarter Tajori, following inauguration of government degree college, Tajori, the governor said staff would be provided for dozens of schools this year and next year  the remaining schools would be given teaching staff.

He promised to discuss the low voltage problem with the federal electricity supply authorities and to try to arrange staff for Ghazni Khel women’s and children’s hospital.

He said that to bring a green revolution in Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Karak, the government would begin work on Kurram Tangi Dam from next year. He said the dam would make thousands of acres of barren land cultivable.

Lakki Marwat District Nazim Humayun Saifullah Khan had in his welcome address sought funds for the calamity-hit areas, potable water supply schemes, teaching staff for 58 new schools and staff for the women’s and children’s hospital.

He also demanded immediate construction of Kheru Khel road up to Jani Khel in Bannu FR, materializing the project of natural gas supply to southern areas, which was sanctioned in 1996, upgradation of grid stations of Lakki Marwat, Serai Naurang and Darra Pezu to 132KV and supply of high voltage.

Provincial Education Minister Syed Imtiaz Gilani said most of the government schools were being provided computers.

The governor also visited the city and  prayed for the departed soul of the widow of former chief justice of Peshawar High Court, Shah Nawaz Khan Minakhel.

Sources revealed that members of Dharaka Suleman Khel union council, including Nazim Shaukat Khan, were barred by the security  staff allegedly on orders of the district government from meeting the governor.

The Tajori police allegedly detained Tehrik-i-Mussawat Joint Secretary Sakhi Marjan and his father, Mohammad Jan, for four hours till the end of the function. Sakhi Marjan, when contacted, said he wanted to apprise the governor about increasing cases of kidnapping.  

The Tajori government degree college started functioning more than a year ago and the area people had contributed to purchase the furniture.