PESHAWAR/MARDAN: The district administration on Tuesday launched an anti-encroachment drive along nullahs in the provincial capital.
It demolished several structures, which encroached on the Budhni Nullahin Shaghai Hindkian and Mahal Gabari areas and recovered eight kanals and six marlas of land, according to a statement.
Officials of the district administration, irrigation department and a police team were present on the occasion.
Deputy commissioner Sarmad Saleem Akram said the provincial government had ordered a crackdown on illegal structures along nullahs and waterways.
Officials vacate land from illegal occupants
He said that the Budhni Nullah was an important part of Peshawar’s drainage system and encroachers had set up illegal structures on it.
Mr Akram said those illegal structures not only impeded the flow of water but could also cause flooding during rains.
“The district administration has mapped illegal structures along waterways in other parts of the provincial capital, so a crackdown on them will be carried out,” he said.
The DC urged people to cooperate with the district administration during the anti-encroachment drive and inform it about illegal structures.
Meanwhile, the administration on Tuesday carried out a crackdown on the illegal occupants of the Auqaf department’s land in Mahal Kalu Shah area of Takht Bhai tehsil here.
The action was taken on the special instructions of deputy commissioner Dr Azmatullah Wazir.
The anti-encroachment campaign was led by Takht Bhai assistant commissioner Junaid Khalid, who was accompanied by administrator (Auqaf) Mohammad Yousuf, SP Saddar Inam Jan, additional AC Fazlur Rehman, additional AC Alam Zeb, AC UT Noman Khan, DSP Shergarh Noor Daraz Khan, Takht Bhai tehsildar Roohul Amin, revenue officials and SHO Zakir Khan.
During the campaign, the administration recovered 3,012 kanals and 18 marlas of land from illegal occupants and handed it over to the Auqaf department.
The deputy commissioner appreciated officials over the successful operation and said the district administration would continue to take indiscriminate action to protect government land.
Meanwhile, the HIV and Hepatitis Control Team visited hotels, restaurants and bakeries across Mardan district.
The initiative was led by public health coordinator Dr Rubina along with food inspector Asghar Ali and HIV programme coordinator Dr Afzal.
The team screened 101 hotel and bakery workers as well as food handlers for HIV and hepatitis B and C.
In addition to testing, the team also examined food’s quality and health standards.
It said all testing and screening records had been stored at the HIV Centre and the district health office for future use.
The deputy commissioner and DHO appreciated the action and said it would contribute to the cause of public health.
They noted that such initiatives not only helped in the early detection of diseases but also played a vital role in building a healthy society.
Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2025