MANSEHRA, Feb 10: A meeting of All Teachers Association of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday demanded of the government to implement timescale formula for promotion of teachers.Provincial president of the association Muzamil Khan chaired the meeting, which was attended by representatives of five districts of Hazara division.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Muzamil, Khalid Zaman, Izram Khan and others said that the timescale formula was already implemented in the Sindh and Balochistan provinces and Azad Kashmir for the last many years, but in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the teachers were deprived of promotion.

They also demanded restoration of increments on higher education, which were suspended in 2001. They warned of protest if the government did not implement the recommendations of the Pay and Pension Commission.

Mr Muzamil said that teachers were united for their rights and the government should fulfill its commitment with them.

IODINE DEFICIENCY: The majority of women and children below five years, particularly in mountainous areas, are suffering from iodine and mineral deficiency owing to which stillbirths, abortions and deformities among newborns were common in the country.

“Though the fresh nutrition survey is expected this year, according to the previous survey iodine and mineral deficiency was the major cause of the stillbirths and abortions,” said one of the speakers at the training workshop, arranged for lady health supervisors here on Thursday.

The workshop was attended by health supervisors and other medical staff from across the district. Speaking on the occasion, executive district office (health) Dr Mohammad Javed and provincial coordinator of micro-nutrition initiative Khalid Iqbal said that people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, particularly Hazara, were vulnerable to diseases caused by deficiency of iron, iodine and minerals.

They said that these trained supervisors would impart training to other lady health workers in the district to create awareness among women of use of iodised salt to keep healthy and avoid health conditions caused by minerals’ deficiency.