Elders warned against sheltering terrorists

Statesman Report

DIR: The district administration of Upper Dir Wednesday warned elders of several villages that suspected militants were hiding in their areas with some of the residents harbouring them.

Convening a jirga of Qulandi, Jarjoray, Qashqaray, Dobando and Panakot at Police Lines, the District Police Officer Abdur Rauf Khan said they had information that some militants were hiding in these areas and planning to launch activities after the melting of snow the mountains.

He said the militants had contacted some people during a recent incident of avalanche fall in Nihargah Darra near Lowari tunnel and told them that they could help the people in retrieving the bodies if police were not there.

“If police are not present, we can come to the help of people in retrieving the bodies from the snow,” he quoted the suspected caller telling someone at the site of the mishap.

He said that authorities looking after security had taken serious notice of the presence of militants. The DPO said the people of Dir had defeated the militants and saved the area from becoming volatile.

Rauf said such defeated and runaway elements were non trying to stage their comeback as snow was melting in the mountain.

He said some residents had provided them shelter and abetting them in hiding in the area. “I warn everyone in your area to stop doing it and if police found someone hiding the militants, they will be dealt with sternly.”

The district police chief said they would launch an operation as a last resort if the elders failed to identify and expel such elements from their area. He said the government was not going to show leniency towards such elements and had firm resolve to eliminate them.

“The government has defeated militants in Swat, Lower Dir and South Waziristan and will rout them again if found hiding somewhere else,” he said.

The police officer said was warning the militants through the jirga and media to lay down arms and surrender to police or face the action. Led by Muhammad Baz Khan, Haji Yar Mula Khan and Taj Malik, the elders said they would not tolerate such action by anyone in their area.

They said militants were not present in their area but if someone had given them shelter, they would be handed over to police. They assured the officer of full cooperation and support.

PMDC asked to make re-evaluation of doctors

KARACHI: Dr. Nadeem Rizvi, Head of Chest Medicine Department, JPMC here on Wednesday strongly recommended mandatory re- evaluation of every registered medical practitioner of the country in the larger interest of public health.

Responding to queries raised about poor TB treatment, relapse and surge in the instances of drug resistance, at a symposium organized by Pakistan Chest Society and Chest Medicine Department of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center, he urged Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to evolve a mechanism and address the situation.

“Participation of all General Physicians (GPs) in Continuing Medication Education (CME) be made compulsory,” said Dr. Rizvi.

Participants of the event also suggested provision for quality assessment of the CMEs too.

Senior medical experts, representing different hospitals of the city, in their respective presentations had registered their serious concern about poor and inadequate management of TB by general physicians (GPs) aggravating incidence of the disease besides causing serious risks to the patients themselves and those around them.

Prof. Javaid A Khan of Aga Khan University said TB must not be treated by GPs or even chest physicians as it is a dangerous and needs to be treated by doctor with extensive experience of treating TB.

ANP to fully participate in LB polls: Hoti

MARDAN: Former federal minister Azam Khan Hoti has said that the party would fully participate in the local bodies' polls in the province.

Addressing a meeting of the district office bearers of ANP district Mardan at the residence of former District Nazim, Himayatullah Mayar, he said that due to people-friendly policies and philosophy with get triumphant in the polls.

District president ANP Haji Rehmat Gul presided the meeting while senior vice president, Engineer Abbass, Roz Mohammad Khan, Mian Tahir advocate, Jehar Hoti, Latif-ur-Rehman, Shah Nawaz, Haji Attaullah and other attended.

The meeting beside local bodies' polls discussed different matters and took some special decisions.

Addressing the meeting, Azam Hoti said that the politics of the religious political parties had vanished and their position had become cleared on the people. He said that future belongs to ANP and that was reason behind huge number of joining the party by the people. - APP

‘Woes of paramedics, LHVs to be addressed on priority basis’

SWABI: MPA Javed Khan Tarakai, who is also member of the Provincial Health Committee, has said that woes of paramedics, technicians and LHVs would be highlighted in the committee and at every available forum to resolve grievances of the community.

He was talking to a delegation led by senior vice-president of paramedical association district Swabi chapter here on Wednesday.

Javed Khan Tarakai said that paramedics play the role of backbone in the health sector and unless their grievances were not addressed they con not perform their duties with dedication and commitment.

He said that district Swabi has a big population of poor and to serve these inhabitants of the area was prime focus of the government.

Earlier, the delegation apprised the parliamentarian about service structure, up-gradation and other problems of paramedical staff, technicians and LHVs. - APP

APCA demands 200pc hike in salaries

QUETTA: All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) Unit Health Department Government of Balochistan has demanded that keeping in view the rising inflation; the government should enhance salaries of the government employees by 200 percent.

According to a statement issued here on Wednesday, the APCA leaders including Yousuf Kakar, Hafiz Amanullah Zehri, Shair Muhammad Mengal, Murad Bukhsh Marri, Abdul Aziz, Abdul Ghaffoor Zehri, Noor Muhammad Kakar, Khairullah Bareech, Buland Khan Raisani and Imdad Hussain contended that families of the government employees are forced to suffer a lot due to rising price hike.

They maintained that over 2.2 million clerks and other government employees had pinned hope on the government which came in power with slogan of Roti, Kapra aur Makan that it would take the demand for enhancement in salaries seriously.

They also demanded house requisition and utility allowances for the employees. - APP

Former Indian Punjab CM to visit Pakistan

LAHORE: A 20-member Indian delegation headed by Former Chief Minister Indian Punjab capt (R) Amrinder Singh will arrive here on March 25 on a 10-day visit of Pakistan.

According to a press release here on Wednesday, Jahangir Badr, Secretary General Pakistan People’s Party, Mian Muhammad Ayub, Advisor to Prime Minister, and officials of Punjab government will welcome the delegation at Wagah border.

Delegation will also visit some high officials in Islamabad while Governor Punjab Salman Taseer and Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif will hold receptions for them.

Amrinder Singh will also participate in a launching ceremony of his book “The Last Sun Sight” to be held here. - APP

Five women feared drowned in Nara Canal

SUKKUR: Bodies of five women, who drowned as their boat capsized in Nara Canal near Kathore area of Khairpur district on Wednesday have been recovered.

The bodies of drowned women in the Nara Canal near Khairpur, were recovered by fishermen, told Khairpur police.

The deceased were identified as Amina, w/o of Ghulam Asghar Shar, Porhi w/o Ghulam Muhiddin Shar,  Sughar w/o Ghulam Abass Shar, Mai Bhagi Shar, Hooka w/o Sikandar Ali Shar all of residents of village Doag of Khairpur district. While the four men namely Ameen Shunbani, Naseer Ahmed son of Bahadur Shar, Ghulam Muhiddin s/o Ghulam Abass Shar, Ms Aasta w/o Ali Quttub were rescued.

According to local police, there were 14 persons in the boat who were crossing the canal and due to overloading the boat capsized. - APP

Restructuring of statistical system in the offing

Statesman Report

Abbottabad: The government has approved the restructuring/reorganisation of Federal Statistics System so as to make it more responsive to the national requirements with increase in autonomy and credibility through merger of Federal Bureau of Statistics, Population Census Organisation, Agricultural Census Organisation and the Technical Wing of Statistics Division into a new autonomous entity the Pakistan Burea of Statistics(PBS).

It was informed by the Deputy Director General Statistics Division, Islamabad, Muhammad Uris Jumani while presiding over a meeting held here the other day regarding restructuring reorganisation of Federal Statistics of Pakistan.

Besides officers of various sections of the statistics division and district office of NWFP and Muzaffarabad.

The meeting was also attended by the DFID/ASI Team Leader Mathryn Ennis.

The meeting discussed in detail matters pertaining to the restructuring of statistical system and capacity building, career planning of professional staff, upgradation of their skills and economy in resources through pooling of human and material resources.

It was informed that the restructuring process inter alia involves the merger and enactment of unified law.

While speaking on the occasion Muhammad Uris Jumani added that the draft law prepared by the Statistics Division has been approved by the cabinet and now the draft will have been tabled in the National Assembly and currently it is being examined by the concerned Standing Committee.

He was of the view that the proposed Pakistan Bureau of Statistics will be statutory body and FBS and ACO are to be merged immediately while PCO shall be merged after the completion of current national census schedule.

He said the Statistics Division will continue to work till completion of restructuring process.

The Bureau will have an Apex body namely “Governing Council”.

It was informed in the meeting that provision has also been made in the draft law for release and dissemination of data by the statistics, while protecting the secrecy of individual firms and institution.

Signing of 7th

NFC Award landmark in Pak history: Kaira

LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Finance Tanvir Ashraf Kaira has said that the signing of 7th NFC Award ceremony is a landmark in the political history of Pakistan and it’s a great achievement towards national harmony and solidarity with regard to financial reconciliation between provinces and federation.

In an interview to a TV Channel, Tanvir Ashraf Kaira said 7th NFC Award is the gift of democracy and has paved the way to give financial autonomy to provinces specially the grievance of the Balochistan Province has been re-addressed in this historic award.

The minister said that federation showed remarkable flexibility to provide additional resources to the provinces and now the share of provinces would be increased from 47.5 percent to 56 percent in Federal Divisible Pool during next fiscal year and the share of provinces in FDP would be increased up to 57.5 percent in next four years which is major shift in vertical revenue sharing and long standing demand of the provinces has been met amicably.

He said that Punjab played historic role to accommodate other provinces specially Balochistan in 7th NFC Award.

Punjab has sacrificed its 1.1 percent its share for Balochistan and according to new NFC formula Balochistan would get 9.1 percent from horizontal distribution and its shares would be enhanced upto Rs.83 billion whereas it is expected that share of Punjab would be Rs.464 billion in next fiscal year in FDP. - PPI