TIMERGARA, Sept 30: Provincial minister Haji Hidayatullah has said that serving humanity is equal to worship and the Awami National Party-led government believes in providing services to vulnerable communities.

He was speaking at a function to inaugurate a physiotherapy centre for handicapped persons here at Chakdara on Sunday. The ceremony was arranged by a local NGO, Dir Sustainable Development Organization.

The minister also announced Rs1 million and 20 wheel chairs for the centre. Lower Dir ANP president Hussain Shah and notables of the area also spoke on the occasion.

The centre’s head, Dr Mohammad Sadiq, said that it would provide free medical care to persons with disabilities. He said Pakistani nationals working in Gulf states had donated generously for its establishment.

He said that majority of persons with disabilities (PWDs) remained handicapped for life as they had not been able to get proper and timely treatment due to poverty or ignorance. He said that the centre had six beds for emergency patients, a medical store and therapeutic machines.

PTI RIFT: A group of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf, Lower Dir, activists has claimed that it is representing the party in the district and would support Pervez Khattak for the slot of provincial president.

Speaking at a news conference here the other day, Mohammad Rashid and some other party workers said that they had elected Malik Rashid as Lower Dir district president, Ali Shah general secretary and Shah Nawaz senior vice-president of the party.

They said that they would support Mr Khattak’s panel in party elections. Others present on the occasion included Salim Khan from Adenzai, Haji Mohammad from Maidan and Rahmnullah from Timergara. The group said it would nominate its own candidates during the next general election.

Mr Rahmanullah said that the PTI was the only political party that could steer the country out of crisis.