TIMERGARA: Workers of the Pesco Hydro Union on Thursday demonstrated against their company’s proposed privatisation and threatened closure of power stations if the proposal was not withdrawn.

Carrying banners and placards and shouting slogans against the federal government, the protesters marched on Balambat Road from the Pesco Timergara sub-divisional offices to the Timergara Press Club.

The Pesco leaders, including Yousaf Khan, Hazrat Faqir, Khan Shahzada and Fazal Akbar, insisted the government’s decision to privatise power companies had upset Pesco workers and their families, who feared very hard times ahead.

They said Pesco workers were ready to go to any extent to protect their livelihood.

The Pesco leaders demanded withdrawal of the decision to privatise power companies.

They also called for 33 per cent quota in jobs for the sons of the company’s employees as well as upgradation of the posts of Pesco clerical staff and meter readers.

THEFT INCIDENCE RISING: The traders of Talash on Thursday complained about the growing theft incidence in their area and demanded a clampdown on thieves by the police without delay.

Shopkeeper of Talash Bazaar Asif Iqbal told reporters here that more than a dozen robbery cases had been reported in the market since the start of the current month but neither the police had arrested robbers nor had they done nothing to check robberies.

He said burglars had taken away Rs200,000 appliances from his mobile phone shop last night but the police had yet to arrest them.

He and other Talash Bazaar shopkeepers demanded the immediate crackdown on robberies.

EXHIBITION DRAWS CROWDS: An exhibition of chrysanthemum (gul-i-daudi) at the University of Malakand attracted large crowds of the people, especially teachers, students and tourists, on Wednesday.

Higher Education Commission chairman Dr Mukhtar Ali along with the University of Malakand vice chancellor inaugurated the exhibition. Different kinds and colours of chrysanthemum flowers were exhibited at the UoM garden. The HEC chairman said the exhibition had a message for the people that if they were united and organised like different flowers in a bunch, then they would be more attractive and charming.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2014