MANSEHRA, Oct 23: The transporters of Hazara said here on Tuesday that they would resist National Highway Authority if it tried to restart collecting toll tax on Karakoram Highway.

Hazara Transport Union president Jan Alam and former nazim Amjad Salar told a press conference that Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, Hazara Commissioner Khalid Khan Umerzai and Mansehra DCO Dr Amber Ali Khan should maintain the status quo regarding toll tax collection on KKH.

They said that people and transporters would resist it with full might if NHA restarted collection of toll tax in the district.

“The NHA should avoid disturbing peaceful environment of Hazara as people will not allow it to restart collection of toll tax here,” said Mr Alam.

The NHA suspended toll tax in Mansehra after a local committee comprising ulema, transporters, lawyers and traders threatened to storm the toll plaza in early 2010.

However, a two-member bench of Supreme Court allowed NHA mid-2011 to restart collection of the toll tax.

“The toll tax will not only affect transporters but people of entire Hazara,” said Mr Alam.

HOSPITAL: The Charity Australia (CA) will establish a charity hospital in Mansehra and would provide Rs10 million to upgrade its existing diagnostic centre in the district.

“Besides enhancing the diagnostic services at the existing laboratory, we are going to establish a charity hospital in Mansehra to provide better health services to people particularly those, who can’t afford expensive treatment,” Wajahat Ali Rana, chairman Charity Australia (CA), told a ceremony organised by Al-Khidmat Foundation here on Tuesday.

The CA in collaboration with Al-Khidmat Foundation set up a modern diagnostic centre in the district last year which according to Mr Rana would be upgraded this year.

The medical superintendent of King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, Dr Niaz Mohammad, AKF provincial vice president Mehboob Ellahi, Dr Tariq Sherazi, Mohammad Ismail and Mohammad Sufian were also present on the occasion.

Mr Rana said that CA had provided emergency relief to people in Mansehra during the October 8, 2005 devastating earthquake.

He said that CA and AKF reconstructed 100 houses for the survivor families in Balakot and also extended financial assistance to a large number of people for revival of their businesses under the livelihood programme.