KARAK: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Karak chapter has expressed concern over the failure of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to release oil and gas production bonus funds to the tune of over Rs180 million to the district.

Talking to mediapersons here on Tuesday, JUI-F leader Qari Ameerullah said the funds had already been released by the federal government to the province for its further disbursement to the district, but the provincial government was dragging its feet on the matter.

He said funds under the Annual Developmental Programme were also not being released to the district on the pretext that the region was already getting royalty funds.

CHANGES SOUGHT TO LOCAL GOVT LAWS: Former representatives of the district government have demanded changes to the existing laws governing the system before the holding of the next elections to the local bodies.

The demand was made by former president of councillors Ittehad Aziz Khan while speaking at a meeting on Tuesday.

The participants said the village, tehsil and district councils should be empowered instead of the nazims.

They said the village, tehsil and district nazims misused their offices during their tenures as they bypassed their respective councils when making important decisions and distribution of uplift funds.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2020