Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Labour, Shoukat Yousafzai on Friday chaired a meeting to review the pace of work on the regularization of employees of Workers Welfare Board (WWB).
The meeting among others was attended by Secretary Labour, Roohullah, Director Education, Dr Amjad Khan, Secretary WWF and other concerned officials.
The meeting was informed that scrutiny of 2,400 candidates among 2,916 has been completed and remaining 500 employees are under observation and verification of their documents is well underway.
It was revealed that affected employees would be given a chance to personally appear before the concerned committee to express their point of view.
Addressing the meeting, the minister ordered holding a meeting with industries department to discuss matters relating to around 317 technical staff and 18 technical institutes.
He said that provincial government desired to regularize all the employees and added that no one would be removed from his job as per the policy of the provincial government.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2022.
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Meeting reviews regularization of WWB employees
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Action ordered against riverbank encroachments
Commissioner Mardan Division, Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah has directed action against all encroachments on the bank of rivers and nullah with immediate effect, which have caused losses during the recent rains.
He issued these directives while presiding over a meeting regarding the removal of encroachments erected on irrigation channels, nullahs and canals in Mardan and Takhtbai tehsils of district Mardan.
Those who attended the meeting included Additional Commissioner, Mardan Division Naeem Akhtar, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Peshawar, Habibullah Arif, Assistant Commissioner Takhtbai, Gul Nawaz Khan Afridi, AC Mardan Mohammad Shujain, Executive Engineer, C&W Highway Division, Inamul-Haq, TMAs and the representatives of other departments concerned.
The Divisional Commissioner directed dispatching of machinery to all vulnerable localities and monitoring by the relevant officers.
He directed the AC Takhtbai for the cleaning of all the drains in Mazdoorabad and Meraj Colony and removal of all encroachments and opening of all closed nullahs with immediate effect.
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Five killed in Nowshera property dispute
Five people were killed in the exchange of firing over a property dispute between uncles and nephews in Tangi Khattak area of Nowshera Kalan police station.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Tangi Khattak leader Wajid Ali, his brother Nawab Ali Khan and Adil Khan and his brother Sohail Khan lost their lives in the firing while Israr Khan, 30, from the other side, also could not survive and lost his life.
The rescue team took the bodies to Qazi Complex and District Headquarters Hospital. The Kalan police registered cases on the reports of the parties in the hospitals.
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PHC orders university to pay stalled pensions
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday issued orders to pay pensions to the retired employees of Islamia College immediately and approved a writ petition filed in this regard.
The hearing was conducted by a two-member bench comprising Justice Lal Jan Khattak and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah.
The counsel for 262 ex-employees, including their widows, Advocate Nazir Ahmad, told the court that the petitioners were employees of Islamia College and had retired before the establishment of Islamia College University.
However, in August 2022, Peshawar University stopped the pensions of these employees.
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CM invites tourists to Swat’s winter charm
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has reiterated his commitment not to compromise on law and order and made it clear that writ of the government will be established in Swat and across province.
He said that Swat was completely safe and under the control of the government and tourists should come here freely.
Addressing local residents and media-persons at Gabin Jabba during his visit to his hometown Swat on Friday, Khan said that peace has been hard earned after a long struggle and countless sacrifices by security personnel and local population.
He made it clear that no one will be allowed to sabotage this peace or to politicize the law and order issue under any circumstances.
The chief minister observed that his government was being criticized on the issue of Swat without any reason, but neither he, nor the provincial government will compromise on the peace and security in the region.
The chief minister said that maintaining peace and harmony across the province has been the top most priority of his government since day one and there is no compromise on it. Touching upon the self-centered policies of the federal government,
the chief minister said that multiple issues had surfaced ever since the Shehbaz govt came into power which has been involved in ‘immoral politics’ at the cost of national interests.
“These people don’t have any concern for the country and the nation, they have come into power through conspiracies with the only aim to protect their wealth obtained by loot and plunder in the past,” he said.
The chief minister said that the ‘imported government’ has also withheld the due share of K-P in the budget, which is proof of the step-motherly treatment meted out to the province and gruesome politics of the federal government.
However, the chief minister said that despite this, PTI and the provincial government will not compromise on peace and development in the province.
Highlighting the development initiatives taken by his government during the last four years, the chief minister said that the provincial government has completed several development schemes across the province, strengthened communication networks, established education institutions and brought in huge investment by boosting tourism and industrial activities in the province.
He clarified that as long as Imran Khan was in power, everything was going well, but when PDM came into government, problems started to arise and the law and order situation deteriorated rapidly.
The chief minister said that PTI government in the center was deposed after Imran’s unequivocal ‘absolutely not’ remark, adding that the regime changers only wanted politicians with ‘absolutely yes’ attitude who now rule at the centre in the form of an imported cabinet and are not working for national interest. The chief minister also announced the holding of winter tourism in the Swat Valley and invited tourists from all over Pakistan to come here and enjoy the scenic sites of K-P.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2022.
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Floods raise education fears for millions in Pakistan
When flooding devastated northwest Pakistan in late August, 8-year-old Sinain Bibi lost out on about two months of education after half of her school building was swept away, along with the wooden bridge that connected her village with the school.
Bibi must now embark on a treacherous trek each day to attend a makeshift school, held in a tent on a riverbank in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. She is worried about the class time she has missed and said it would take her a while to catch up.
“The calamity has seriously disturbed my studies as I couldn’t learn a single lesson since my school was closed,” Bibi said outside the temporary school in the village of Lagan Khar village, in Swat district.
“I’ve even forgotten those lessons which I had learned before my school was shut down,” she said.
The catastrophic deluge - brought on by record monsoon rains and melting glaciers, both exacerbated by climate change, scientists say - killed more than 1,700 people and has caused over $30 billion in damage.
Pakistan is now facing not only humanitarian and health emergencies - with 33 million people, about a seventh of the population, impacted by flooding - but also an education crisis, communities and officials warn.
Also read: Treacherous winter may kill ‘thousands’ more in Pakistan’s flood-hit areas
The UN children’s agency (Unicef) said last month that the flooding has damaged or destroyed more than 26,600 schools nationwide, while at least 7,060 others are being used as temporary relief camps and shelters for the displaced.
More than 3.5 million children have had their education disrupted, Unicef said, in a country that even before the floods had the world’s second highest number of out-of-school children - 22.8 million of those aged 5-16, or 44% of that age group.
“Having already endured some of the world’s longest school closures due to the (Covid-19) pandemic, (Pakistan’s children) are experiencing yet another threat to their future,” Unicef’s global education director, Robert Jenkins, said in a statement.
The ministry of planning says Rs197 billion ($918 million) is needed to meet its education recovery costs - an amount higher than the United Nations’ total $816 million humanitarian funding appeal for the country.
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, fears are growing over the availability of funds and other help to repair or rebuild schools following the flooding, with education advocates and teachers concerned about the prospect of more school dropouts.
“The disaster has seriously disturbed the reading, writing and learning skills of the children while they remained away from their books,” said Adnan Khan, a teacher at the Government Primary School Bair, which Bibi attended before the inundation.
Also read: IMF seeks flood recovery plan to unlock loan
While the K-P government has managed to establish makeshift tent schools to educate children whose classrooms were destroyed by the flooding, local activists and teachers say there is a lack of space and basic facilities.
The tent in Lagan Khar village - set up by Sarhad Rural Support Programme, an NGO - is too small to accommodate all of the pupils, and lacks electricity, water, bathrooms and heating.
Khan, the teacher, said the latter in particular was a concern with temperatures falling in winter. He worried that a lack of heat would make it impossible for children to continue to learn in the tent throughout December.
About 20 of the damaged school’s 60 pupils have not returned since the tent was erected in late October, said fellow teacher Sher Ali, amid concerns in the community that many children in the poverty-hit area would ultimately drop out of education.
Gulab Khan, a 50-year-old labourer, said most of the children who had left school were helping their families to eke out a living in the aftermath of the floods - from grazing livestock to collecting firewood for cooking and heating homes.
Also read: ‘Relief disbursed transparently’
“School is the only hope for both parents and children of the village,” said Gulab Khan, whose three children attend the Government Primary School Bair. He urged the local education authority to organise funding for a new building.
Zubair Torwali, head of local NGO Idara Baraye Taleem-o-Taraqi (IBT), said it was “unfortunate” that only the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) had so far helped to repair schools, roads and bridges in the area.
The provincial government has done nothing to-date, he said.
“The situation is worrisome for us because the agency (SDC) plans to pack up at the end of November after completing its work and no other organisation so far has extended a hand for the rehabilitation of schools,” Torwali said.
The main problem in the area, he said, is that many of the 70-odd local schools damaged by the floods have been cut off from nearby communities due to collapsed bridges and destroyed roads.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s education secretary Motasim Billah Shah said the local government would “bring all dropouts back to school” as it had done following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government plans to repair or reconstruct all of the 2,000 flood-hit schools in the province within eight months, with initial estimates showing a cost of at least 10 billion rupees ($45 million), according to Shah.
The official said the government would pay from its own pockets but also rely on financial support from institutions such as the World Bank and UNICEF.
In the meantime, the province is renting some buildings to use as makeshift school facilities, he said.
Also read: 125,000 houses damaged in Balochistan floods
Amid the funding and logistics considerations, prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, environment minister Sherry Rehman and other officials called for support at the U.N. COP27 summit in Egypt this month.
Pakistan’s leaders told the conference that the nation needed not only debt relief but “loss and damage” funding - from a new funding facility agreed at the meeting - to recover from the floods.
Pakistan may also be one of the first recipients of help from a new G7-backed “Global Shield” initiative announced at the UN climate talks.
“We are now in the frontline of vulnerability”, despite producing few of the fossil fuel emissions that are driving climate change disasters, Sherry Rehman said.
Back in Lagan Khar, 8-year-old Bibi said she was impatient for her school to be rebuilt so she could more easily finish her education and inspire others.
“I want to become a teacher to ensure no girl in my village remains illiterate anymore,” she said.
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K-P Food Safety Expo kicks off
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety Authority in collaboration with Agriculture University Peshawar, University of Haripur, Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), ARID University Rawalpindi, Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial Research and Nutritional International arranged two-day Food Safety and Nutrition Expo 2022.
The event was held at PCSIR Laboratories Peshawar. Secretary Food Mushtaq Ahmad and Director General K-P Food Safety Authority Shahrukh Ali Khan inaugurated the expo.
While addressing the event Mushtaq appreciated the expo and commended the joint venture. He said the expo's purpose is to spread awareness related to safe and nutritious food among the general public.
The event was also addressed by vice-chancellors of various public and private sector universities, who actively participated in the event. Director General K-P FS&HFA Shahrukh Ali Khan said the event will strengthen ties among government, academia, researchers, and industries.
He said this combined effort would help the government ensure safe and nutritious food provision to the people, while ending the menace of adulteration.
He said the expo is first of its kind held in the province, adding that the activity will be held on a regular basis. He also appreciated the active participation of students in the event.
While addressing the event, the VCs commended the expo and said the process should be kept going.
Secretary food said the food safety authority is regularly inspecting marketplaces, and ensuring that safe and nutritious food reaches people.
He said seven mobile food testing laboratories have been established while work on further such laboratories is in process.
Professor Dr Faqeer Ahmad said there is a need for coordination among food authorities across the country.
He said there is a need of an institute which should dedicate its research and innovation towards food safety.
He said that in light of the expo, recommendation should be forwarded to the government for further action.
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Vintage car rally reaches Michni, Khyber Rifles Mess
The 13th Vintage and Classic Car Rally 2022, reached Michni Post and Khyber Rifles Mess in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Landi Kotal town after passing through historic Khyber Pass.
The car rally is being held in collaboration with K-P’s Sports and Youth Affairs department, Land Rover and security forces from December 2 to 4 in Swabi, Peshawar and Khyber district.
The vintage car rally had reached Peshawar on December 2 via Swabi.
On Saturday, the rally arrived at Fort Bala Hisar Peshawar, where vintage and classic cars were exhibited.
The car rally after passing through Bab-e-Khyber reached the historic Khyber Pass and Michni Post, where the participants were briefed about the historical significance of Khyber Pass and Torkham Border.
After the display of cars at Michni Post, the rally reached the Khyber Rifles Officers' Mess Landi Kotal where they witnessed traditional Khattak, Mehsud, Chitrali and other local dances.
On this occasion, the organisers and participants said that vintage and classic car rally is organised every year in Peshawar and Khyber where car lovers from all over Pakistan participate with great enthusiasm, which is a reflection of the fact that the tribal districts are peaceful and the people here are hospitable.
The grand car display show will be held at the Peshawar Services Club on the last day, December 4, to mark the culmination of the rally.
Vintage and Classic Car Rally is organised every year where vintage and classic car owners get a unique opportunity to drive their vehicles on the roads of Peshawar and Khyber district. These cars include Mercedes, Ford, Chevrolet, Buick, Mini and Volkswagen from the 1930s to 1970s.
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Bleak times ahead: K-P terror woes to worsen in upcoming year
As talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) collapsed earlier during the year, the ceasefire in place was called off by the militant group and a fresh wave of terrorist incidents was witnessed across the country - which might continue into the next year as well.
Glimpses of the TTP’s resurgence were witnessed in Swat and then more recently in Bannu. This fresh wave of terrorism has put Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and its recently merged tribal districts in the spotlight as its populace will be amongst the worst affectees next year if the TTP and other militant groups, like the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), are not dealt with.
“2023 will be a terrifying year as far as terrorism is concerned,” predicted Dr Syed Hussain Shaheed Soherwardi, Head of the Department of International Relations at the University of Peshawar. Dr Soherwardi was of the view that terrorism would increase near the areas bordering Afghanistan like North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Mohmand, and Bajaur.
“This new wave of militant attacks will also significantly affect areas like Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, and the province’s capital, Peshawar.”
Read PTI ‘notices’ perceptible change in army’s approach
When asked what had led to the increase in terrorist attacks in the country this year, Dr Soherwardi opined that it was our failure to realise that negotiations with any militant organisation never yield successful results.
“For instance, the negotiations with Maulana Sami-ul-Haq in Waziristan and Sufi Muhammad commander of the Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi in Swat, only led to an upsurge in terrorism,” said the department head.
According to Dr Soherwardi, the current delay in large-scale operations against terrorists will only see terror-related incidents expand to other cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.
“This will also have a drastic impact on the already fragile economy,” he regretted.
Dr Soherwardi’s fears are not misplaced as the federal capital has already witnessed a suicide blast recently in which one policeman was martyred and at least six others were injured.
However, the Islamabad blast pales in comparison to the atrocities that were witnessed in K-P during the year as more than 300 terrorist attacks were reported, as per data obtained by The Express Tribune.
More than half of these incidents were either suicide bombings, IED attacks, hand grenade attacks, or target killings - the most significant out of all of these attacks was the Kucha Risaldar Mosque explosion back in March, which left about 62 dead and roughly 194 injured.
Counter-terrorism expert, Dr Khurram Iqbal, commenting on this year’s terror incidents, said that K-P’s border areas and tribal territories were, unfortunately, reverting to a pre-2013 situation.
“There are two primary causes for this. One, the Taliban being back in power in Afghanistan; two, the political unrest in Pakistan which has given terror outfits the space to regroup,” explained Dr Iqbal, who is also the Head of the Department of International Relations at the National Defense University (NDU).
He further said that Pakistan had great expectations from the Afghan Taliban with regards to dealing with TTP but those hopes were dashed when the Afghan government did not take any action against them.
“So now we have to have a zero-tolerance policy against the TTP and other terrorist outfits because if we do not then the violence will only spread. It is time for the military and political parties to work together to develop a successful counter-terrorism strategy,” Dr Iqbal suggested.
The Express Tribune also spoke with Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif, who was part of the team negotiating with the TTP, regarding the way forward in dealing with the rise in terror incidents. “The negotiation process breaking down and attacks increasing is surely disappointing,” said Dr Saif, who is also the Spokesperson of the incumbent K-P government.
“We tried to resolve issues through dialogue but since that did not work out I want to reassure that if the writ of the State is challenged, the law enforcement agencies will give a strong response,” the Barrister remarked.
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LEAs take control of mountains
Police on Sunday took control of the mountain top positions of Turi and Para Chamkani clans in the Kurram tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) as both the sides agreed to evacuation and negotiations through a Jirga.
On Friday, five people were killed when a mortar shell hit a bunker of the Chamkani clan. It was not clear whether the mortar was fired by the rival Turi group or it exploded during firing inside the bunker.
Both the sides have a dispute over minerals. Over four days ago, five members of the Turi clan were made hostage by the Para Chamkani tribesmen who accused the rival group of collecting extortion from the trucks transporting their minerals. Later, all the five men were released after the district administration intervened.
Clashes between the two factions, however, continued and heavy weapons were used by both the sides, causing widespread panic among the local residents. On Saturday, both the sides agreed to a ceasefire for 15 days.
Clashes between different factions is a common occurrence in the tribal areas after its merger with K-P as deputy commissioners don’t have the judicial, financial and policing powers of political agents.
“In the past, political agents and assistant political agents had the power to send anyone to prison for creating a law and order situation. Khasadar and Levies were directly under their command and tribal maliks were also available to assist them. They were in a much better position to deal with such armed factions despite limited resources,” a local resident told to The Express Tribune.
“Now, the judiciary is a separate branch, police is not answerable to the DC or AC and there are limited funds too. More importantly, local maliks have legal standing and as a result, dozens of people are killed in these districts each year and large scale clashes are common place,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2022.
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CM moves to improve sanitation
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has handed over the newly purchased solid waste handling machinery to the Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP) in a bid to provide proper sanitation facilities to the people of Peshawar district.
Mahmood handed over the equipment procured at a cost of Rs413.5 million to the WSSP for 11 new semi-urban union councils during a ceremony held at the CM House.
The new semi-urban union councils had recently been included in the WSSP domain.
The machinery includes 33 mini dumpers, 55 containers, 16 tractors and trolleys, 11 arm rolls, four FE loaders, and four excavators.
Moreover, the 11 new semi-urban union councils of Peshawar district added to the WSSP domain include Achini Bala, Chamkani, Larama, Pajjagi, Pakha Ghulam, Pushtakhara Payan, Regi, Sarband, Sufaid Dheri, Wadpaga and Mera Kachori.
The chief minister said that the provincial government is committed to improving the sanitation facilities throughout the province and concrete steps are being taken for the purpose.
He maintained that the incumbent provincial government launched Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement project worth Rs97 billion for provision of clean drinking water, construction of parks and recreational facilities, establishment of sewerage treatment plants and provision of other civic facilities to the people in five divisional headquarters of the province.
“The said project on completion will prove to be an important milestone in providing the best civic services and recreational facilities for citizens.”
The provincial government is spending huge resources on improving service delivery across the province and to ensure easy and equal access of all citizens to services, he concluded.
Minister inaugurates water supply scheme
Irrigation Minister Arshad Ayub Khan on Sunday inaugurated two mega projects, including water supply scheme in Rajdehani village at a cost of Rs8.6 million and construction of main Karwali link road with an estimated cost of Rs13 million, in Khanpur tehsil.
Accompanied by Minister for Communication and Works Yousaf Ayub Khan, the irrigation minister visited the sites of both the projects and met with the people of the area, said a statement.
Addressing the public gatherings, Arshad said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government was working on mega projects with an aim to upgrade living standards of the people in all the districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
The PTI government in K-P has introduced digital reforms in all the administrative departments and achieved record development progress in the province.
Local people expressed gratitude to provincial ministers for initiating development projects in Khanpur and assured them of all kinds of cooperation.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2022.
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Kohat gets its own CTD police station
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Moazzam Jah Ansari on Sunday inaugurated the newly constructed Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station in Kohat.
Kohat Regional Police Officer Tahir Ayub, District Police Officer Abdul Rauf Babar Qaisrani, SP Operations Bilal Ahmad and CTD SP Fazal Wahid were also present.
The IG expressed satisfaction over the functioning of the CTD police station in Kohat and visited different sections of the station.
He reviewed the internal and external security and inspected the CCTV monitoring system.
He said that policemen were responsible for protecting the lives and properties of the people and dealing with different challenges, including terrorism.
He said that several measures were being taken for the development of infrastructure and providing honorarium to police employees.
He said that the objective of the CTD police station in Kohat region was to eradicate terrorism and militancy from the area and to cope with other natures of crime.
He said no leniency would be given to those found guilty of taking law into their own hands and stern action would be taken against criminals.
Later, he chaired a performance review meeting in the Kohat Police Club. He was briefed about the law and order situation in the region, police performance and actions taken by the CTD in various cities of the Kohat region.
He said, “We can achieve the goal of a crime-free society by imparting information about the main reasons behind the happening of crime.”
He said a man who was subjected to harassment, child abuse or other psychological misdeeds often found an escape root by indulging in criminal activities, adding that proper steps for eradication of these social evils could help reduce crime ratio and decrease burden on prisons.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2022.
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Lacklustre police performance puts question mark on priorities
Despite having spent copious amounts of money on improving police stations and to better handle crimes like sexual violence, Khyber Pakhtunkwa’s (K-P) law enforcement agencies have so far failed in ensuring the protection of the province’s transgender and female population.
The Asaan Insaf Marakiz were launched, back in 2021, to provide swift resolution for complaints and improve policing in the province; however, these key objectives are yet to be fulfilled. For instance, this year in February, 16-year-old, Sana, a dancer by profession was murdered in her house on Dalzaaq Road in K-P’s capital and nearly 10 months later her mother Meena Gul is still waiting for the accused to be arrested. “I am tired of visiting the police station every other day.
There is CCTV footage from which the killers of my daughter can be easily identified. However, since they are powerful people the police have failed to arrest them,” informed a visibly distraught Meena. The 16-year-old’s mother also complained to the Inspector General (IG) K-P Police at the Peshawar Press Club a few months back, after which the IG Moazzam Jah Ansari directed CCPO Peshawar, Ijaz Khan, to take action but to no avail. Like Meena, the family of 22-year-old Dina Bibi has also been waiting for the police to fulfil its duty for the past few months.
Back in August, Dina’s dead body, was found within the limits of Rehman Baba Police Station in Hazar Khawani, a suburb of Peshawar; initially the death was ruled as a suicide but after an investigation it transpired that Dina had been murdered. Dina’s family, which hails from Chitral, have been coming to Peshawar regularly in search of justice but return empty-handed every time. Similarly, last month, in November, the police found the body of a woman wrapped in a sack within the limits of Peshawar Police Station, Michni Gate - even though a preliminary report was registered, the police are yet to find any major clues in the case. More recently, on 9th December, Nazia, a teacher, was shot dead in Daudzai, a suburb of Peshawar and the accused managed to escape from the scene. Just like in the cases of Sana and Dina, the police have been unable to arrest the killers.
Investigation department sources told The Express Tribune that dozens of such cases have been confined to the files in the past several months and sooner or later the families will stop pursuing them due to their frustration with the system. SSP Operations, Peshawar, Kashif Abbasi, was asked about the lacklustre performance of the police in closing the murder cases. “We have recently started the 15 service. If there is a problem with FIR registration or if the victim’s family is not getting justice, they should report it through this service,” replied Kashif, adding that they try to address all complaints within 24 hours.
Lack of resources and manpower
Part of the reason why the police do not follow through on cases is the lack of manpower and finances. Data gathered from K-P police by The Express Tribune reveals that for a city with a population of more than 2 million people, only 440 officials are in the police’s investigation department to deal with an annual caseload of roughly 40,000 — which translates into more than 3,000 FIRs registered per month in the 33 police stations across the city. Furthermore, the cost of investigation of an FIR has been set at Rs 7,000.
The meagre amount is supposed to cover transport, raids, arrest of accused, appearance in court, photocopies of case records, medical, and forensic evidence. In contrast, Punjab Police’s cost for the investigation of an FIR has been set at Rs40,000. Shehzad Kokab Farooq, SSP Investigation of Peshawar Police's Investigation Department, when asked about the lack of manpower and resources, conceded that investigations in the city were challenging. “However, we try to make do with whatever we have. Recently, we have traced 3 rape cases,” Shehzad told The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2022.
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Peshawar development authority assets to have longer lease
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Monday approved the proposed amendments in Peshawar Development Authority Auction Regulation 2021 with the purpose of enhancing the existing lease period of various PDA properties.
The properties include shops, open spaces, halls, commercial units, flats, parking space, restaurants, cafes, sasta bazars, wedding halls and petrol/CNG pumps, etc.
The 10th PDA board meeting was held at the Chief Minister House with Mahmood in the chair.
Provincial ministers Taimoor Salim Jhagra and Faisal Amin Gandapoor, MPA Peer Fida, Principal Secretary to CM Amjad Ali Khan, Local Government Secretary Zaheerul Islam, PDA DG Fayaz Ali Shah and other board members were in attendance.
In order to create a conducive environment for private investment and to implement the development initiatives in an efficient and sustainable manner, the board formally approved the proposals regarding dedevelopment of various PDA properties on a public-private partnership basis.
Read Unfazed by terror, Balochistan to press ahead with Reko Diq
The forum approved in principle the revised budget estimates for fiscal year 2021-22 and budget estimates for FY 2022-23 for the PDA.
The forum also approved the revised logo of New Peshawar Valley which is in coherence with public sector housing schemes.
Moreover, the board accorded approval regarding adoption of the revised pay scale 2022 and allowances already notified by the provincial government for the PDA employees.
Chief Minister Mahmood directed the PDA to chalk out an annual calendar for the auction of its properties.
He further directed the authority to streamline its affairs in accordance with contemporary needs, adding that the provincial government was working for the empowerment of autonomous institutions so as to minimise their fiscal dependence on the provincial government.
PDA also handed over a cheque of Rs7.5 million, contributed by the PDA employees to the Chief Minister's Flood Relief Fund.
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Jaffar Khan Mandokhel appointed PML-N Balochsitan president
Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday appointed Jaffar Khan Mandokhel as president of PML-N Balochistan.
PML-N Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif approved the nomination of Mandokhel as president of PML-N Balochistan in consultation with the party and it was formally announced by PM Shehbaz Sharif.
The prime minister congratulated Mandokhel, who called on him, on getting the new responsibility and expressed good wishes for him.
He hoped that Jaffar Khan will organize the PML-N well in Balochistan and run the party affairs in a better way.
Former prime minister and Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Minister for Education Rana Tanvir Hussain were also present in the meeting.
Meanwhile in K-P, Adnan Jalil has been allotted the portfolio of Industries, Technical Education and Revenue in the caretaker cabinet, said an official notification issued here on Thursday.
Adnan Jalil is the son of late veteran politician Haji Mohammad Adeel. After completing his education, he joined the banking sector and worked for five years on the commercial and consumer side and also remained associated with PC Peshawar.
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Rare leopard cat rescued, released into the wild
A rare leopard cat which was trapped by the locals at Barghozi village in Upper Chitral was rescued by wildlife officials and later released in its natural habitat after treatment of minor wounds in the paw.
Divisional Forest Officer Wildlife Chitral Rizwanullah received reports about the trapping of the leopard cat which strayed into the populated area in search of food and locals caught it into a cage to protect their poultry.
Soon after receiving the information, Rizwanullah rushed to the site along with the relevant staff of the Wildlife Division.
The members of the Village Council Committee (VCC) Barghozi fully cooperated with the wildlife staff in saving the trapped wild cat. The leopard, scientifically known as Prionailurus bengalensis, was shifted from the cage to a veterinary hospital.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2023.
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Govt to take up cash crunch with Centre
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has decided to take up the non-release of provincial funds under various heads with the federal government in order to solve the issue of fiscal deficit. In this regard an important meeting to discuss and review the current economic situation of the province was held here on Tuesday with the Caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan in the chair.
The forum was briefed on the financial issues related to federation including share of the province under National Finance Commission Award, arrears of the province under net hydel profit, food security of the province, oil and gas royalty, issues regarding water resources and other related matters.
Advisor to Chief Minister on Finance Himayatullah Khan, Chief Secretary Imdadullah Bosal, Additional Chief Secretary Ikramullah Khan, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Amjad Ali Khan, administrative secretaries of departments concerned and other relevant officials attended the meeting.
The forum held a detailed discussion on the prevailing economic situation and took a detailed review of the proposed strategy to take up the issues with the federal government effectively.
To put an end to the financial crunch faced by the province, the finance department presented various recommendations to be taken up with the federal government which include, but not limited to; an immediate revision of the share of K-P province in the 7th NFC Award, in the context of the merger of the erstwhile FATA with the province by adding the population of 2017 census to the 7th NFC formula, strict implementation of Article 151 of the constitution by all the federating units so that no unit should take any arbitrary legislative or executive action restricting trade and interprovincial movement of goods especially wheat, immediate rehabilitation of CRBC and Gomal Zam Dam command area and construction, completion of Tank Zam Pezo Dam, Baran Dam and Kurram Tangi Dam.
It was decided on the occasion that all the financial issues of the province related to federation would be taken up with the incumbent federal government in writing. The chief minister directed the finance department to prepare proper cases of aforementioned issues for Council of Common Interests and other relevant forums. Khan made it clear that he has already taken up these issues with the prime minister, adding that caretaker set up will go all out to steer the province out of current difficult situation.
“There would be no compromise on the legitimate rights of the province and every effort would be made to take up the issue with the federal government in order to solve these issues on permanent basis,” he observed.
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Women’s Day poster competition held
To celebrate International Women’s Day, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Directorate of Youth Affairs in collaboration with a local NGO organized a poster competition on ‘Peace and Women’ which encouraged women to take action and challenge the status quo.
The event was a call to action to challenge gender stereotypes, bias, and discrimination and create a more inclusive and peaceful world where everyone has equal opportunities and rights.
On this occasion, Advisor to CM on Youth and Sports Dr Riaz Anwar said that international Women’s Day is a reminder of the progress we have made, the work that still needs to be done, and the importance of supporting women’s rights and equality every day.
District Youth Officer Sajid Afridi said that in addition to affecting moods and attention, art also promotes better social knowledge and self-understanding. Art can help develop empathy and allow viewers to take a new perspective and understand others better. These qualities are crucial pillars of peace, which begins when we understand the effects that our own actions have on others”.
Non-Governmental Organisation Grow Up and Directorate of Youth Affairs celebrate the achievements of women in all fields, from science to politics, education to business, and beyond.
Women are breaking barriers and making significant contributions to society, and their achievements should be celebrated and recognized. However, we must also acknowledge that gender inequality still exists, and women continue to face discrimination, harassment, and violence, he shared.
Women are underrepresented in leadership positions, earn less than men for the same work, and face numerous barriers in accessing healthcare, education, and other basic rights, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, peace ambassador for South Asia, Mohammad Khalid said that a peaceful society is characterized by stability and security, which means people can go about their daily lives without fear of violence or harm. This promotes economic growth, social cohesion, and individual freedoms.
Huma Ulfat of Rangeet Art said that in a peaceful society, individuals are free to exercise their human rights, such as freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom of religion. This creates a culture of respect for diversity and equality.
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Food fortification to tackle malnutrition
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister for Food and Irrigation, Fazal Elahi, has emphasized that the elimination of malnutrition through food systems is a top priority for the government. Efforts are being made to sustain this priority using all available resources.
During a provincial workshop organized by Nutrition International on institutionalizing mandatory edible oil fortification in Pakistan, in collaboration with K-P Food Safety and Halal Food Authority, Health Department, and Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association, Elahi expressed his views.
He mentioned that the provincial government has made it mandatory to fortify edible oil and wheat flour with essential nutrients, and the government has passed the Food Fortification Bill to support this initiative.
Elahi extended that the bill would contribute directly to the improvement of the nutritional status of people.
Elahi further urged the flour and oil industry to come forward and find ways to overcome malnutrition, and the provincial government would extend its support for further legislation in the best public interest.
At the end of the workshop, Elahi thanked the participants for their time and interest in the workshop and appreciated the efforts of Nutrition International and its contribution towards edible oil fortification.
The Secretary Food, Abid Wazir, stressed the need to address malnutrition and mentioned food fortification as one of the most effective interventions, including oil and wheat flour fortification, as these commodities are widely used.
Dr Fazal Majeed, Director Nutrition, also shared his thoughts about malnutrition and requested stakeholders to play their role in addressing this situation across the country, particularly in the province.
Dr Abdul Sattar Shah, Director Technical, Food Authority, appreciated the role of Nutrition International in implementing edible oil fortification.
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K-P reactivates dengue action plan
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Caretaker Chief Minister, Muhammad Azam Khan, has directed the health department to strictly implement the proposed dengue action plan to prevent a possible outbreak of the dengue virus during the current season.
He emphasized that all relevant departments and entities must fulfill their responsibilities effectively.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister urged authorities to take concrete measures to contain leishmaniasis and other infectious diseases. He also emphasized the need to improve service delivery in the health sector in the newly merged areas, ensuring healthcare facilities are available to local residents.
During a meeting of the health department held on Wednesday, the Chief Minister was briefed in detail about institutional reforms, administrative affairs, development projects, available funds, and other related matters. Attendees included the Advisor to Chief Minister for Health,
Dr. Abid Jameel, Chief Secretary Imdadullah Bosal, Principal Secretary to CM Amjad Ali Khan, administrative secretaries of health, and other relevant departments.
The caretaker Chief Minister stated that health is a priority sector for his government and directed the finance department to ensure the timely provision of required funds for the purchase of emergency medicines and other essential procurements in hospitals. He also emphasized timely completion of health sector projects and providing funds on a priority basis.
The Chief Minister further directed the concerned authorities to complete the ongoing inquiry regarding payments to hospitals working under public-private partnerships, ensuring that the process does not affect service delivery or inconvenience patients.
The meeting also discussed matters related to the Sehat Card program and Medical Teaching Institutions (MTIs). It was decided that a separate meeting would be convened to streamline matters further. The Chief Minister called the Sehat Card program a good initiative for public welfare and emphasized making the entire process transparent and more effective so that maximum benefits of this program could reach the people.
Azam Khan made it clear that all the decisions would be taken to this effect purely on merit and in the best public interest, adding that there is no room for any political consideration in this regard. He remarked that the caretaker government is totally impartial.
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