Businessmen’s tribute to Bilour

PESHAWAR, Dec 27: Businessmen at a condolence reference paid rich tributes to slain senior minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour and described his killing a huge loss to the province and the community as well.

The reference was organised at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Thursday. A large number of businessmen attended, who held Quran Khwani and offered fateha for the departed soul.

Several businessmen including, Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, KPCCI president Dr Mohammad Yousuf, former presidents Ghulam Sarwar Mohmand, Usman Bilour, Col (retd) Syed Khizar Hayat, Sharafat Ali Mubarak, Riaz Arshad, Adeel Rauf, Haji Mohammad Asif, Malik Niaz Ahmed, Amanullah Khan Mohmand, Malik Iftikhar Ahmed Awan, and Shaukat Ali Khan spoke on the occasion.They recalled the services rendered by the former minister for welfare of the business community and said that he had played vital role in compensation of Rs165 million to the terrorism affected people. — Bureau Report

Labourer dies in Mohmand

GHALANAI, Dec 27: A labourer was killed while working at a marble mine in Safi tehsil of Mohmand tribal region here on Thursday.

Officials said that the victim, Rahim, resident of Burhan Khel of Pandiali tehsil, was working on Cheenari marble mountain when he fell down and died instantly.Meanwhile, residents of various areas of Mohmand Agency complained of water shortage due to prolonged power outages.

They said that the duration of loadshedding had reached 23 hours, making it difficult for the people to perform their daily affairs. Mohmand Welfare Organisation (MWO) president Haji Mir Afzal Mohmand alleged that the Ghalanai Wadpa SDO and senior lineman were hand in glove with the factory owners to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the industrial units. He demanded of the governor, political agent and Tesco chief to resolve the power problem, otherwise they would be compelled to protest against Wapda. —Correspondent

Seminar on saving mothers

TIMERGARA, Dec 27: A local NGO, Khwaendo Kor (KK), under the health project title ‘Saving mothers in communities’ organised a one day seminar at Shamshi Khan Talash on Thursday.

A total of 69 participants comprising doctors, LHVs, nurses, lady health supervisors, LHWs and community representatives attended the seminar. Dr Khaista Rehman was the chief guest. District advocacy coordinator of KK Amin Jan briefly introduced the project held in collaboration with Mercy Corps, an international aid agency.

He said that 75 per cent deliveries in rural areas were still conducted at homes by unskilled hands, which was alarming. He said the main cause of high maternal mortality rate was postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), which was preventable only through skilled hands. Dr Khaista while speaking on the occasion appreciated the efforts of Khwendo Kor for working on this important issue in Lower Dir. — Correspondent

Health vigilance committee

LAKKI MARWAT, Dec 27: The health vigilance committee constituted on the orders of Peshawar High Court held a meeting in the district secretariat at Tajazai on Thursday to discuss the terms of reference and chalk out a strategy to ensure attendance of doctors and paramedics in the state-run health facilities.

The participants discussed matters pertaining to working and poor state of affairs of government-run hospital and health centres. “People, especially patients, avoid visiting government health facilities as they have lost confidence in them,” said a participant.

He said most of doctors remained absent from duty forcing the ailing community to approach private hospitals and clinics.

Some other members of the committee were of the view that availability of healthcare facilities for the patients in government hospitals could be improved by ensuring presence of physicians, paramedics and medicines there. — Correspondent

Cut in wheat quota assailed

KARAK, Dec 27: Flour mill owners have expressed concern over reduction in wheat quota, saying it would lead to artificial flour crisis in the district.

This was stated by All Pakistan Flour Mills Association vice-president Usman Ghani Khattak while addressing a press conference here on Thursday.

He said the food department supplied only 115 bags of wheat on daily basis to the flour mills which was below the demand of the local people. He claimed that the official depots of the food department had more wheat than the capacity but it was not being supplied to the flour mills. He said the policy would provide an opportunity to the hoarders to start hoarding the commodity to fleece the poor people. — Correspondent

Malakand varsity results

TIMERGARA, Dec 27: The University of Malakand (UoM) on Thursday announced results of MA, M.Sc and LLB annual examinations.

According to a notification issued here, Asad Iqbal stood first by securing 794 marks in MA economics. The result remained 24.23 per cent. A total of 45 students appeared in MA economics previous, out of which 19 were declared successful and the result remained 29.23 per cent.

In LLB, Asal Zada got 1,388 marks and stood first. In MSc computer science previous, a total of 39 students appeared in the examination out of which 14 were declared pass and the result remained 35.9 per cent, the notification said.

In BS information technology examination, 23 students appeared out of which 11 were declared pass and the result remained 33.33 per cent. — Correspondent

Bara IDPs ‘being harassed’

LANDI KOTAL, Dec 27: The Khyber Agency chapter of Pakistan Muslim League-N has threatened to stage a protest demonstration at the chief minister house in Peshawar if the provincial government failed to check the excesses of Peshawar police against the internally displaced people of Bara.

Suhail Ahmad Afridi, the party’s Bara president, alleged in a statement that Peshawar police was harassing IDPs from Bara at various police check points due to which they either left the area or returned to Bara. “The IDPs are unlawfully stopped and detained at checkposts in Peshtakhara, Sarband and Hayatabad when they are going to Peshawar or Jalozai camp in Nowshera and later released only after payment of bribes,” Mr. Afridi alleged. — Correspondent