TIMERGARA, Nov 5: Voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees, residing at different camps in Dir Lower, was in progress and so far 1,002 families had returned to Afghanistan, said District Coordination Officer Mahmood Aslam Wazir.

He was talking to local journalists after distributing non-food packages among Afghan families at the office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at Khaima Balambat on Monday.

UNHCR representative Taimur Khan, Timergara SDM Ziaur Rahman and Baradar Jan were also present on the occasion.

The DCO examined different sections of the office and inquired about the living condition at Afghan refugee camps. He distributed warm clothes, blankets, tents, sheets and other essential among the Afghan families.

Mr Wazir said that Afghan refugees, living in Chakdara, Timer and Toor camps, were returning to their country. He said that so far 1,002 families had returned to Afghanistan.

The DCO said that each returning family was being provided with $150 besides transport facility to take them to Afghanistan.

VACCINATION: The anti-polio campaign was postponed by health authorities in Dir Lower owing to non-availability of vaccine, sources said. They said that the campaign was scheduled to begin from Nov 5 on Monday for which all arrangements had been finalised but the drive was postponed at the eleventh hour because of non-availability of vaccine.

A total of 263,552 children below five years would be vaccinated in the district, sources said, adding that special drives had been planned to be carried out on Nov 5, 12 and 19 as there had been the risk of polio virus in the adjacent Dir Upper district.

ABSENTEEISM: The acting executive district officer education on Monday paid surprise visits to different schools in Dir Lower and issued directives to deduct one-day salary from 28 teachers, who were found absent.

Sources said the acting EDO visited different primary, middle and high schools in Talash, Samar Bagh, Ouch, Pingal and Osakai and found several teachers absent.

The official ordered deduction of one-day salary from 28 teachers, transferred three others for negligence and issued show cause notices to seven other teachers.