DERA GHAZI KHAN, Feb 14: The Multan Telecommunication Region authorities are said to have ignored Tehsil Taunsa Sharif of district Dera Ghazi Khan while approving new telephone exchanges for the district.

On the direction of the federal minister for information technology and telecommunication, Tumandarzada Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, 45 new telephone exchanges were approved for NA-172 and NA-174, which had been won by the Legharis of National Alliance, and none for NA-171, PP-240, PP-241, from where Khwaja Sheraz Mehmood, Tumandarzada Mir Badshah Khan Qaisrani and Tumandarzada Fateh Mohammed Buzdar had returned to the assemblies.

The MPA from PP-240, Tumandarzada Mir Badshah Khan Qaisrani, told Dawn that the remote tribal belt of Tuman Qaisrani and Tuman Buzdar was being ignored. He alleged that the Legharis of Millat Party had got all the exchanges approved for their own areas. As many as six would be set up in Tuman Leghari alone, he claimed, adding that the Millat Party workers and even the defeated candidates belonging to that party were being openly favoured and the schemes sent by the elected members of PML-Q not being considered at all.

However, when the divisional telegraph engineer was contacted in this regard, he claimed that all the areas were being given equal importance. He said the list of 45 approved exchanges had been sent to the highups a few months ago while more recent proposals were being forwarded now.