KOHAT: Minister for local government and rural development Arshad Ayub Khan has said that work on projects worth over Rs12 billion is under way in Kohat.

The minister expressed these views while speaking at a meeting of his department during a visit here the other day.

Provincial law minister Aftab Alam Advocate, MNA Shehryar Afridi, MPAs Shafi Jan and Daud Afridi, Kohat deputy commissioner, the chief executive officer of Water Supply and Sanitation Company, tehsil municipal officers of the three tehsils, and other officials were also in attendance.

Minister Arshad Ayub said every penny of the government treasury was the trust of the public, and not anyone’s personal asset, so its fair use would be ensured at all costs.

Arshad Ayub inspects various uplift schemes

He also announced the formation of a committee to look into complaints regarding funds embezzlement in execution of development schemes.

He said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government had zero-tolerance for corruption and there could be no question of any concession to anyone in that regard.

He said according to the vision of former prime minister Imran Khan, the local government system was being made more effective despite financial crisis.

Arshad Ayub said revitalisation of the lease policy was in the final stages to mobilise the local government institutions and put them on their own feet.

The minister accused the previous caretaker government of exceeding its mandate, and making 16,000 unlawful recruitments, adding these posts would now be filled purely on merit.

Later, the minister also inspected the work progress on a sewerage treatment plant, a women business centre and the Kohat Sports Complex. These schemes are being executed under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project.

BLOOD DONATION: The ratio of blood donation has come down to a negligible level despite increase in demand.

This was stated by Mohammad Ismail, a representative of Frontier Blood Foundation, while speaking at a blood donation camp organised at the Kohat University of Science and Technology here the other day.

He said during three days of camp only 112 bags of blood were collected. He said that the number of children suffering from thalassaemia was on the rise.

TWO HELD WITH ILLEGAL CURRENCY: The police seized local currency worth Rs700 millions being smuggled from Kohat to Hangu in a car in the border town of Juzara the other day.

SHO Hangu city Fayyaz Khan told Dawn that regional police officer Abbas Majeed had provided a tip-off to Hangu district police officer Khalid Khan about the currency smuggling attempt.

He said a car coming from Kohat side was stopped, and upon search, Rs700 millions were found in it. He added that two alleged smugglers were arrested.

They were identified as Mohammad Rafiuque from Sadda tehsil of Kurram district, and Naseel from Orakzai district.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2025