SWABI, June 15: Residents of Sheikh Jana and its surrounding villages on Friday blocked the Swabi-Mardan road for nearly four hours while protesting against the prolonged loadshedding.

The residents of Sheikh Jana marched from their village to Rushanpura bus stop. People joined the procession, which passed through many localities, chanting slogans against Wapda and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

Holding sticks and rods the protesters declared that they would not hold talks with the ‘ordinary’ officials of the district administration and that those who met their demand of ensuring scheduled loadshedding were welcomed. The protesters also forced the traders to close their shops and join the protest.

The demonstrators erected blockade at Rushanpura bus stop, blocking the Swabi-Mardan Road from 8am to 12pm. Leaders belonging to opposition parties alleged the government remained silent over the continued misery of the people. They maintained that poor planning and lack of interest had resulted in energy crisis. Later, the protesters dispersed after the Peshawar Electric Supply Company officials assured them of no excessive or unscheduled loadshedding.

HIGHER EDUCATION: The academia of Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology and members of the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Sciences and Technology in Pakistan (Soprest) on Friday lauded the role of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for promoting higher education in the province and tribal region.

Speaking at a meeting here, former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and president of Soprest Eng Shamsul Mulk and Jehangir Bashar, Rector of the GIK Institute, said four days back Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kausar had announced Rs100 million grant for the GIK Institute, which was really commendable.

Dr Shaukat Hameed Khan, Soprest executive director, Samiullah Marwat, secretary and Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid, Pro-Rector (academic) also lauded the role of the governor.

They said it was the governor who doubled the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa scholarships from 10 to 20. The governor also accorded 10 scholarships for the Fata students. They emphasised the role of higher education in the economic uplift.