KOHAT: The tehsil municipal administration has failed to stop construction of a commercial plaza on the land leased out only for residential purposes around the old bus stand area.

When contacted, tehsil municipal officer Mohammad Shoeb told Dawn that the land was leased out to a party only for residential purposes. He said the commercial building was being constructed without getting NOC and approval of the map from the TMA.

Mr Shoeb said he had stopped work several months ago, but the people had started it again secretly. “I have clearly told the people that since the lease period was expiring in a few months they could not carry out any construction on the site,” he stated.

He said he had sent the case to the provincial local government and local council board for a final decision. He said whatever was decided by the provincial authorities it would be implemented.

GRANT FOR PRESS CLUB: Adviser to the chief minister, MPA Ziaullah Bangash has approved Rs8.3 million grant for renovation of the Kohat Press Club.

He made the announcement at the concluding ceremony of a snooker championship here the other day. He distributed prizes among the participants. Press club president Noor Mohammad Bangash and secretary general Faisal Nadeem thanked the adviser for the support.

Meanwhile, the police arrested a man and seized fine quality hashish from him at Marai checkpost the other day.

Ustarzai SHO Hamayun Khan told journalists that the police stopped a car coming from Orakzai district, and during search two bundles of hashish were recovered from it.

He said the trafficker, Jabir Hussain of Parachinar, was shifted to the police station, where a case was registered against him.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2021