MANSEHRA, May 31: The district administration has imposed ban on boating in Lake Saiful Muluk and setting up camps and parking vehicles within 200 metres radius of the lake to save it from pollution.

District Coordination Officer Dr Amber Ali Khan issued a notification here on Thursday regarding the ban. The copies of the notification were circulated among different departments in Balakot.

Mr Khan took the action after a group of environmentalists raised the issue with him. The environment of Saiful Muluk Lake, known for its natural beauty, is being polluted rapidly because of boating in it and setting up tents and parking vehicles around it.

“The ban is proclaimed with immediate effect and violators would be taken to task in accordance with the relevant laws,” said the notification.

Meanwhile, five students and a driver were injured when a school van skidded off the road and fell into a ravine in Battagram on Thursday.

The students were going in the van to a playground to take part in a tournament. The injured were taken to the district headquarters hospital in Battagram.

WORKSHOP: Hazara University Vice-chancellor Dr Syed Sakhawat Shah has urged journalists to portray a positive image of the country to encourage dedicated people.

“Nobody can deny importance of media but sometime people have reservations on its role as unconstructive material is given more coverage as compared to positive matter, which can highlight true image of the country,” he told the concluding ceremony of a three-day media workshop on Thursday.Chairman of journalism and communication department Syed Shaukat Shah, Shujaat Ali Khan, Zubair Faisal and Nabeela also spoke on the occasion.

Mr Shah said that because of the dedication and handwork of faculty members and staff, Hazara University got eighth position among 100 universities of the country. “In the past there was only University of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but now there are two or more universities in every division,” he added.