KOHAT, June 25: The government has approved Rs6 million for protection of natural springs in Kohat city.

MNA Khursheed Begum and president Awami National Party Kohat Saeed Shah advocate, in a statement issued here on Monday, said that the practical work on the expansion of the natural springs would start very soon.

It said that due to the delay in issuance of NoC for the project by the cantonment board, Kohat, the funds already released by the government had lapsed which delayed the work.

They assured that the work on the springs would start very soon according to the approved map and the place would become a popular picnic spot.

CASH PRIZES: The Higher Education Commission awarded cash prizes worth Rs1.8 million to top ten position holders of 12th class on Monday.

The cash prizes were awarded to the students by the director colleges of HEC, Qasim Marwat, at a ceremony held at the Kohat BISE.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Qasim Marwat said the provincial government had included students of colleges in the Story da Pakhtunkhwa programme this year. He also praised the provincial government for allocating four per cent to the education sector in the budget.

The successful students who received Rs180,000 each are Maria Riaz, Aalia, Samina, Mohammad Ishtiaq, Faryal, Fauzia, Aneela, Fazal Kareem, Sajid ur Rehman and Mohammad Ali.

ARRESTED: The police claimed to have arrested 45 suspects, including 21 outlaws, in a search operation here on Monday.

The operation was carried out by the elite force in Bilitang and Gumbat areas on Rawalpindi Road. The police arrested 21 outlaws and 24 suspects during the operation and recovered four Kalashnikovs, six rifles, 21 shotguns, 11 pistols, four chargers and 1,051 cartridges from their possession. The accused were handed over to Gumbat and Bilitang police stations.