NEWS IN BRIEF

Published November 15, 2011

CM asked to honour promises

LAKKI MARWAT, Nov 14: JUI-F MPA Naseer Mohammad Khan Maidadkhel has called upon the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti to release funds for the projects he had announced during his visit to the district last year.

Talking to this scribe on phone on Monday, the lawmaker welcomed the chief minister on his scheduled visit to the district and his constituency PK-75 (Lakki Marwat-II) on Nov 16.

“In previous visit last year the chief minister had announced in public meeting projects of constructing a bridge on Chunnai Nullah and funds for completion and repair of water supply schemes in PK-75,” he maintained.—Correspondent

Sugarcane price

MARDAN, Nov 14: The provincial office-bearers of Kisan Board Pakistan on Monday rejected the price of sugarcane fixed by the sugar mills owners as Rs150 per 50kg in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and demanded of the authorities concerned to fix the price at Rs350 per 40kg.

Speaking at a press conference in Mardan Press Club, the Kisan Board, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, president Rizwan Ullah along with other office-bearers criticised the government and owners of sugar mills for fixing low price of sugarcane. He said last year the purchase price of 50kg sugarcane was Rs337.

He pointed out that the price of fertiliser per sack had jumped from Rs900 to Rs2,000 and that of DAP from Rs2,000 to Rs4,500.—Correspondent

House gutted

TIMERGARA, Nov 14:  A house was gutted in a fire caused due to electric short circuit at Shigrai village on Sunday night, residents said.

They said the fire turned house of Mubarak Zeb into ashes as the locals failed to overcome the fire.

Talking to journalists Mubarak Zeb said he was in his medicines shop at Timergara when he was informed about the incident. He said by the time locals put out the fire the flames had destroyed all household items. He demanded compensation.

Meanwhile, provincial Minister for Technical Education and Mineral Development Mahmood Zeb Khan, talking to delegations, said federal government had approved Rs10 billion for Dir-Tajikistan Highway, which would bring economic revolution in Dir and Chitral districts.—Correspondent

Ban on excavation

PESHAWAR, Nov 14: The Mardan district administration on Monday enforced section 144 banning excavation of sand/gravel from Shaker Mori-Gujar Garhi Khawar for a period of two months. A statement issued in Peshawar said any one found violating this order will be punished under section 188 of the PPC.—Bureau Report

Funds for Bannu TMA

PESHAWAR, Nov 14: The government has approved a special grant of Rs10 million for Bannu-II TMA for clearance of salaries and pension of staff and other pending liabilities.

A statement issued here on Monday said keeping in view the weak financial position of the TMA Bannu-II, the local government and rural development department had recommended the proposal in the best interest of public.

The final approval was given by the chief minister, who also approved Rs1 million as one time grant-in-aid for Batkhela press club for the purchase of furniture.—Bureau Report

Awareness walk

CHITRAL, Nov 14: A walk was organised by the lady health workers programme to mark the start of the ‘Mother and Child Week’ on Monday. The walk started from Petako Gaz and terminated at secretariat road.EDO Health Dr Sher Qayyum and district coordinator of LHW programme Dr Ibrahim Khan and representatives of civil society led the walk.

The organisers vowed to give anti-polio drops to the left out children and tetanus injections to the pregnant women. They asked the people to lend their support to the health workers.

Meanwhile, the upper parts of Chitral received the first snowfall of the season following rain for last two days.—Correspondent

Man acquitted

NOWSHERA, Nov 14: A court on Monday acquitted a person allegedly implicated in a case of drug pushing when he was already in police custody in another case.

The Additional District and Sessions Judge Syed Kamal Hussain Shah pronounced the prosecution could not prove its case against the accused, Sher Rehman, and the evidence on record could not connect him with the commission of the offence. The prosecution claimed the accused was arrested while driving a car containing 80kg of charas on the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway. The counsel for the accused argued that the present case was registered on Feb 12, 2011, whereas the accused was already in the custody since Feb 9 in connection with a theft case.—Correspondent

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