Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from March, 2019

Alarming increase in sexual assaults, murder of children

PESHAWAR: An alarming increase in sexual assaults on young girls and boys, their murder and in many cases filming these incidents to blackmail them hasbecome a challenge for the law-enforcement agencies as well as the society as a whole.A series of incidents were reported during the last few weeks in which young boys and girls were sexually assaulted.In some cases, the victims died of torture as the assailants wanted to get rid of any evidence of the crime. The latest incident was the brutal murder of a seven-year-old boy from Haripur who was strangled after being sexually abused by a close relative.“We have arrested the accused who is also in his late teens. He is a close relative and also lives nearby. He told police that he killed the child to keep his crime secret,” District Police Officer (DPO) Zahidullah Jan told The News.According to the official, five such incidents were reported in Haripur in the last five months.“All the accused have been arrested. All of them are either clos

35 contesting intra-PTI polls in Mansehra

MANSEHRA: As many as 35 aspirants of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have moved applications to the intra-party election committee for top offices of the district president and general secretary.“Our leadership has started restructuring the party to secure maximum seats in upcoming local government elections at the district level and intra-party elections are essential to it,” Member Provincial Assembly Babar Saleem Swati told reporters here on Sunday.The PTI MPA said that as many as 15 party workers and office-bearers have submitted their online applications to the committee for the office of district president and around 20 for the general secretary slot.In response to a query, he said that the advisory committees were being established in each district and division.“Each member of the provincial assembly would be part of the district committee, wherefrom he was elected and each member of the National Assembly would be part of the divisional committee,” he explained.Swati said that Saif

16 TB treatment centres working in Mansehra

MANSEHRA: The district health department has been providing tuberculosis treatment services to patients at its 16 centres across the district.“The department medically examined around 600,000 patients at its 16 centres during the last 15 years,” Dr Shahzad Ali Khan, the DHO, told a ceremony held in Chatterplain.He said the healthdepartment was working to eliminate TB, that is why free of cost treatment services and medicines were being provided at the centres.“I would suggest people contact doctors if their cough doesn’t come under control.Other domestic medicines and remedies should be avoided as these aggravate the health issues,” said Shahzad. from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2OCbeJY

Explosion at godown injures two

PESHAWAR: Two people were wounded when explosives went off in a scrap godown in the Landay Sarak on Sunday.Locals said a live projectile went off in a scrap store that wounded two persons Sifatullah and Asad. The wounded were taken to hospital. The police started investigation. from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2FPrCnH

Residents demand road construction

DIR: The residents on Sunday urged the authorities to reconstruct the dilapidated main road in Gawaldi Dara, an area of the remote Kohistan valley.“The bumpy road has multiplied the miseries of local people as it has been in the worst condition for more than a decade and the elected representatives from the constituency have turned a blind eye to the issue,” said Shahwazir Khan, a resident of Kissankhail. He said the road was the only source of travel for more than 30,000 population of the Gawaldi.The resident said that safety walls at several points of the road were broken that posed a serious threat to the lives of the people in case of accident. Ibrahim Khan, a resident of Sundrai, said that the elected representatives from Kohistan constituency had ignored their demand to repair the road.He said the 17-kilometre long Gawaldi road was in a shambles, but the lawmakers from the area failed to honour the pledges to have it repaired. Gawaldi Awami Tehrik head Shah Nawaz Khan said that t

11 booked for festive firing in Mansehra

MANSEHRA: The Mansehra police on Sunday booked 11 people for festive firing and seized arms and ammunition.A press release issued by the police said that District Police Officer Zaibullah Khan had warned of a strict action against the station house officers (SHO) if festive firing in their respective jurisdiction was not stopped.It said that 11 cases were lodged under firing Act and five another cases under section 15AA and seized three rifles, five pistols and scores of rounds and cartridges. The DPO appealed to people to inform police in case of festive firing. from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2FN1FVL

Sherpao warns against bid to roll back 18th Amend

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Sunday rejected Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks that the 18th Amendment had bankrupted the federation, saying it had got nothing to do with the distribution of resources among the provinces.In a statement, he said, “The resources are distributed among the provinces under the National Finance Commission Award. It seems the prime minister lacks knowledge about government affairs.”Warning against any bid to undo the 18th Amendment, he said the economic managers of the government had miserably failed to improve the economic condition of the country.“The prime minister is issuing such controversial statements to distract the attention of the nation from real issues,” he alleged, adding the QWP would strongly resist the bid to roll back the 18th Amendment.Aftab Sherpao said the government had burdened the people by increasing the electricity and gas tariffs.He said the government was now considering raising the prices

Alleged robbers arrested

The police arrested an alleged robber who was planning a major robbery in the busy currency market at Chowk Yadgar on Sunday.Deputy Superintendent of Police City Atiq Shah told reporters that robbers opened fire on police but that was retaliated. He added that the ringleader Tariq had been arrested while raids were being conducted to arrest his accomplices who escaped amid firing.Meanwhile, the Paharipura Police Station worked out a robbery case in which Rs12 million were looted from a trader from Mardan after he took the cash from the currency market in Chowk Yadgar.ASP Faqirabad Mohammad Shoaib said the accused Naeem was arrested and the looted cash was recovered from him.A number of gangs of robbers are operating in the city who target traders and other people after they collect cash from the currency market in Chowk Yadgar.Despite several actions taken by the police, many groups are still active after which traders carry weapons or accompany gunman while taking cash from the market

Suspension of funds: Deaf children, parents to protest outside PM House

Islamabad : Parents of around 400 poor minor children highly vulnerable to lifelong hearing loss have announced that they will protest outside Parliament House and Prime Minister’s House next week along with their children against the suspension of government funding to the country’s only public sector cochlear implant centre functioning in the federal capital.They told ‘The News’ on Sunday that the last grant for cochlear implant cases was released by June 30, 2018, and the centre got no funds thereafter despite repeated requests by them and medical board to the Prime Minister’s Office, which insisted that the government could no more fund the treatment of such children under the age of five years due to the financial crunch.“No case has been approved by the government in the current fiscal,” claimed Attaullah Khan, father of a hearing impaired children.According to him, the centre put up at the ENT Department of the Capital Hospital in G-6/2 in March 2016 with the collaboration of th

Plant a tree instead!

Today, the first day of the fourth month of the Gregorian calendar, is popularly known as ‘April Fools Day,’ or ‘All Fools Day’ in countries around the world. Although not a holiday in its’ own right, it is a day celebrated or rather marked by those who like to play practical jokes. There are a number of versions about how this date was chosen as a ‘Fools Day’ and while a few persons have tried to make its origin controversial, an origin which is widely accepted is that April 1 was counted the first day of the year in France and when King Charles IX changed it to January 1, some people stayed with April and those who did were called ‘April Fools’ and were taunted by their neighbours. Also in another version in some countries, the jokes are supposed to last only until noon, so someone who plays a trick after noon is called an ‘April Fool.’The day is marked by the hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying kinds on friends, family members and even enemies and neighbours, or sending them

Pollen patients advised to use dust masks

Islamabad : Medical experts Sunday advised Pollen patients to use allergy mask as it provides allergy protection inside, outside, and a variety of different environments.Senior ENT specialist Dr Umair Raza said pollen allergy patients should take preventive measures to avoid medical complication in this high-risk season.People with low immunity like patients, children and aged should avoid going into parks and lawns, he added.He further advised, balanced diet is the best prevention for the pollen allergy contraction as it boosts one’s immune system.He said the pollen allergy patients to avoid the spicy food and few pulses, potatoes, cauliflower and banana adding that they must avoid soft drinks.He forbade use of perfumes, frequently going out in the evenings and suggested to wear face mask, use wet cloth for dusting, avoid the use of floor carpets, not to open the window of car, use vacuum cleaner instead of broom, use sun glasses in outdoor and apply fresh water in eyes and nose and a

Teachers threaten agitation to claim rights

Islamabad: The federal government colleges' teachers have expressed concern about the indifferent attitude of the authorities of Punjab towards the local college teachers’ issues, inclusion promotion, and revision of service structure.They warned that they, too, could agitate if the federal authorities did not give them due rights."We stand with Punjab college teachers protesting in Lahore to claim the rights like promotion and revision of service structure. Their demands are genuine and therefore, the authorities should meet them without delay," Professor Tahir Mahmood, a representative of the Federal Government College Teachers Association, told 'The News' on Sunday.Professor Tahir said teachers loved the classroom and always wanted to be there to educate students but unfortunately they'd to take to the streets when the authorities refused to address their genuine issues.He said the FGCTA supported the on-going protest of Punjab colleges' teachers under

Girls outdo boys in FDE scholarship exams

Islamabad: The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) announced the results of the fifth and eighth-grade scholarship examinations 2019 with the girls clinching top three positions.According to FDE director (exams) Sadia Adnan, the percentage of the fifth and eighth-grade exam results was 94.65 and 90.86, respectively.In the eighth grade exam, the first position was jointly claimed by Darosham Khan and Amna Ghaffar of the Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-6/2, by securing 670 marks, while the second and third positions went to Dure Shehwar and Yamna Sajjal of Islamabad Model College for Girls, G-9/3, with 665 and 664 marks, respectively.As for the fifth-grade exam, the Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-8-1, bagged all top three positions.Zara Zulfiqar stood first with 580 marks, Yashfa Arshad second with 579 marks and Arisha Shahid third with 578 marks.Overall, over 25,000 students sat the scholarship exams.Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training W

Understanding angina: Angina is the medical term for chest pain that occurs when your heart doesn’t get enough oxygenated blood.

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute says triggers may include:* Being under emotional stress.* Being exposed to extreme hot or cold temperatures.* Eating a heavy meal.* Smoking tobacco or using cocaine.* Taking medication that narrows blood vessels.HealthDay News from The News International - Islamabad https://ift.tt/2Ukkh7L

175 illegal structures demolished

Islamabad : The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Capital Administration (ICT) jointly carried out a grand operation against the illegal encroachments/constructions on the right of way of GT Road and demolished several buildings, shops, boundary walls and illegal constructions from the vicinity and retrieved state land from the illegal encroachers and occupants.The operations was participated by Director Enforcement, CDA Faheem Badshah, Assistant Commissioner, ICT, Saad Bin Asad and relevant officers and staff of Islamabad administration, National Highways Authority, officers of Land and Rehabilitation Directorate, Revenue staff. Heavy contingent of police was deployed and in order to, cater any unpleasant situation with the backup of Rangers were also deployed during the operation. Furthermore, heavy machinery of MPO Directorate was utilized during the operation.During the operation, illegal encroachments and constructions on the right of way of GT Road, from Tarnol ph

Tobacco control training scheduled on April 4

Islamabad : A one-day Training of Trainers (TOT) aimed at building the capacity of designated focal persons nominated by federal ministries for enforcement of tobacco control measures will be held at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on April 4.In a letter issued to all federal ministries and Divisions, the Ministry of National Health Services has conveyed that the global tobacco epidemic kills nearly 7 million people each year, of which more than 600,000 are non-smokers dying from breathing secondhand smoke. More than 80% of these preventable deaths are among people living in low- and middle-income countries. In Pakistan, tobacco causes around 160,000 deaths every year.To protect lives, the government is implementing ‘Tobacco-Smoke Free Islamabad’ initiative through awareness, signage and enforcement of tobacco control laws. District Implementation & Monitoring Committee (DI&MC) on tobacco control work under the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad for implementing tobacco c

FBISE chief likely to get another term extension

Islamabad : Instead of filling the top Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education post by one of the country’s top educationists or its senior officers, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has planned another extension in the term of the incumbent FBISE chairman, Dr Ikram Ali Malik.Dr Ikram’s term in office was extended for two years in March 2017 when his three years contract expired.Then an associate professor at the Economics Department of the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, he had landed the job in March 2014 after the prime minister rejected the two other nominees of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, including the current joint education advisor of the education ministry, Muhammad Rafique Tahir, and acting director general of Federal Directorate of Education Prof Ali Ahmad Kharal.An insider told ‘The News’ that the education ministry with the approval of its minister, Shafqat Mehmood, had plan

Installation of sewage treatment plants to take another year: MCI

Islamabad : The much-trumpeted plan of installing four Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in the federal capital may take another year as the authorities concerned are yet to acquire land for the facility.The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in its recent meeting had given green signal to materialize the project of establishing four treatment plants of Rs3.51 billion in two phases (two in each phase), the official source in Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) told this agency.“The process of installing two STPs will be taking more than eight months,” the official asserted.The idea of setting up four STPs in the outskirts of Islamabad was floated by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to filter the water falling into the Korang River and Rawal Dam and already been stalled for the last ten years for one or another reason , exposing residents of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to serious health hazards.The Planning Commission of Pakistan had asked MCI to complete the

Marble factories causing lung related ailments among citizens

Islamabad : Citizens residing near industry areas or marble factories were concerned over the hazardous and high-risk working environment at the factory that is allegedly putting their lives at risk on a daily basis, a health Physician warned on Sunday.Dr Qaiser Sajjad said that the steel and marble industry was a big source of pollution as it uses low-quality scrap as raw materials and release harmful particles into the air.“The workers and residents inhaling dust particles of the marbles, which exposes them to Tuberculosis and Silicosis, the lung diseases caused by a dust particle called crystalline silica,” he explained.He said marble dust contains particles of calcium carbonate and silica.The exposure to the latter causes silicosis a lung disease also known as grinder’s asthma.Possible symptoms of this disease are intense coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, night sweats and respiratory failure, Dr says and added that people suffering from silicosis were at an increase

Earliest development of Sector E-12 sought

Islamabad : Terming it quite unfortunate that after 3 decades of desperation and sufferings of allottees, when the development of Sector E-12 seems possible, some people wish to sabotage the pace and success of possession and development of the sector, the Action Committee of Development of Sector E-12 has demanded early and simultaneous development of the sector, says a press release.Capital Development Authority (CDA) acquired sector E-12 in the year 1985 and allotted 4,430 plots in 1989. CDA received cost, development and additional development charges of plots from the allottees. Due to inordinate delay of 3 decades in giving possession of plots more than 1300 allottees amongst Federal Government and Retired Employees passed away, because of age factor, amid dreams of their own houses in the sector.The surviving allottees and families of deceased allottees have been living in hired houses and have spent millions of rupees on rent. Those who sold their plots under precarious circums

499,040 applications for Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme digitised

Islamabad : National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has processed digitisation of 499,040 applications for Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, launched to provide affordable housing facility to Pakistani citizens.There is a shortfall of over 10 million houses in the country and every year the backlog is increasing.The present government, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan intends to promote access to housing to people of Pakistan and jumpstart the housing sector, has launched the Scheme and NADRA was assigned the task of digitising the forms. The Authority has successfully completed first phase of pilot project. from The News International - Islamabad https://ift.tt/2JVVfaZ

Alarming increase in sexual assaults, murder of children

PESHAWAR: An alarming increase in sexual assaults on young girls and boys, their murder and in many cases filming these incidents to blackmail them hasbecome a challenge for the law-enforcement agencies as well as the society as a whole.A series of incidents were reported during the last few weeks in which young boys and girls were sexually assaulted.In some cases, the victims died of torture as the assailants wanted to get rid of any evidence of the crime. The latest incident was the brutal murder of a seven-year-old boy from Haripur who was strangled after being sexually abused by a close relative.“We have arrested the accused who is also in his late teens. He is a close relative and also lives nearby. He told police that he killed the child to keep his crime secret,” District Police Officer (DPO) Zahidullah Jan told The News.According to the official, five such incidents were reported in Haripur in the last five months.“All the accused have been arrested. All of them are either clos

35 contesting intra-PTI polls in Mansehra

MANSEHRA: As many as 35 aspirants of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have moved applications to the intra-party election committee for top offices of the district president and general secretary.“Our leadership has started restructuring the party to secure maximum seats in upcoming local government elections at the district level and intra-party elections are essential to it,” Member Provincial Assembly Babar Saleem Swati told reporters here on Sunday.The PTI MPA said that as many as 15 party workers and office-bearers have submitted their online applications to the committee for the office of district president and around 20 for the general secretary slot.In response to a query, he said that the advisory committees were being established in each district and division.“Each member of the provincial assembly would be part of the district committee, wherefrom he was elected and each member of the National Assembly would be part of the divisional committee,” he explained.Swati said that Saif

16 TB treatment centres working in Mansehra

MANSEHRA: The district health department has been providing tuberculosis treatment services to patients at its 16 centres across the district.“The department medically examined around 600,000 patients at its 16 centres during the last 15 years,” Dr Shahzad Ali Khan, the DHO, told a ceremony held in Chatterplain.He said the healthdepartment was working to eliminate TB, that is why free of cost treatment services and medicines were being provided at the centres.“I would suggest people contact doctors if their cough doesn’t come under control.Other domestic medicines and remedies should be avoided as these aggravate the health issues,” said Shahzad. from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2WyUkP9

Explosion at godown injures two

PESHAWAR: Two people were wounded when explosives went off in a scrap godown in the Landay Sarak on Sunday.Locals said a live projectile went off in a scrap store that wounded two persons Sifatullah and Asad. The wounded were taken to hospital. The police started investigation. from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2HPx3VW

Residents demand road construction

DIR: The residents on Sunday urged the authorities to reconstruct the dilapidated main road in Gawaldi Dara, an area of the remote Kohistan valley.“The bumpy road has multiplied the miseries of local people as it has been in the worst condition for more than a decade and the elected representatives from the constituency have turned a blind eye to the issue,” said Shahwazir Khan, a resident of Kissankhail. He said the road was the only source of travel for more than 30,000 population of the Gawaldi.The resident said that safety walls at several points of the road were broken that posed a serious threat to the lives of the people in case of accident. Ibrahim Khan, a resident of Sundrai, said that the elected representatives from Kohistan constituency had ignored their demand to repair the road.He said the 17-kilometre long Gawaldi road was in a shambles, but the lawmakers from the area failed to honour the pledges to have it repaired. Gawaldi Awami Tehrik head Shah Nawaz Khan said that t

11 booked for festive firing in Mansehra

MANSEHRA: The Mansehra police on Sunday booked 11 people for festive firing and seized arms and ammunition.A press release issued by the police said that District Police Officer Zaibullah Khan had warned of a strict action against the station house officers (SHO) if festive firing in their respective jurisdiction was not stopped.It said that 11 cases were lodged under firing Act and five another cases under section 15AA and seized three rifles, five pistols and scores of rounds and cartridges. The DPO appealed to people to inform police in case of festive firing. from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2HRusdW

Sherpao warns against bid to roll back 18th Amend

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Sunday rejected Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks that the 18th Amendment had bankrupted the federation, saying it had got nothing to do with the distribution of resources among the provinces.In a statement, he said, “The resources are distributed among the provinces under the National Finance Commission Award. It seems the prime minister lacks knowledge about government affairs.”Warning against any bid to undo the 18th Amendment, he said the economic managers of the government had miserably failed to improve the economic condition of the country.“The prime minister is issuing such controversial statements to distract the attention of the nation from real issues,” he alleged, adding the QWP would strongly resist the bid to roll back the 18th Amendment.Aftab Sherpao said the government had burdened the people by increasing the electricity and gas tariffs.He said the government was now considering raising the prices

Alleged robbers arrested

The police arrested an alleged robber who was planning a major robbery in the busy currency market at Chowk Yadgar on Sunday.Deputy Superintendent of Police City Atiq Shah told reporters that robbers opened fire on police but that was retaliated. He added that the ringleader Tariq had been arrested while raids were being conducted to arrest his accomplices who escaped amid firing.Meanwhile, the Paharipura Police Station worked out a robbery case in which Rs12 million were looted from a trader from Mardan after he took the cash from the currency market in Chowk Yadgar.ASP Faqirabad Mohammad Shoaib said the accused Naeem was arrested and the looted cash was recovered from him.A number of gangs of robbers are operating in the city who target traders and other people after they collect cash from the currency market in Chowk Yadgar.Despite several actions taken by the police, many groups are still active after which traders carry weapons or accompany gunman while taking cash from the market

Possible protest by students over site

PESHAWAR: After the refusal by the campus police to use force against students to quell a possible protest, the University of Peshawar (UoP) postponed the groundbreaking of the country’s first ever full-fledged Institute for Criminology and Forensic Centre in the university.On the other hand, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has approved the parliamentary committee’s report into the use of force against students by police on the directives of the university administration in October, last year and asked the university administration to implement the recommendations made by the committee.However, Registrar University of Peshawar Dr Zahid Gul said: “I have not yet received any such report. It would be implemented through my office once it is received.”The inauguration of the establishment of the Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences was scheduled to be held today. But due to the fear of students’ protest the event was put off. The institute is planned to be set up at the Pearl Lawn n

Call to ensure NAP implementation

LAHORE: A joint sitting of the representatives of different schools of thought demanded the government ensure implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) by initiating consultative process for formal legislation of 'Paigham-e-Pakistan Draft'.The meeting held here Sunday by Muttahida Ulema Board Punjab under the aegis of Pakistan Ulema Council condemned recent terrorist incident in New Zealand and pointed out that Islam is a religion of peace, harmony and stability and teachings of Islam have categorically defined rights for non-Muslim communities residing in Muslim country.The meeting demanded the government constitute a judicial commission on the killing of professor in Bahawalpur to avert such extremist incidents in future. from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2HQZ6Ei

Two killed in festive firing in Hangu

HANGU: Two persons were killed in festive firing in Ibrahimzai area in the district on Sunday, official sources said.They said that several people were busy in marriage ceremony when a person allegedly opened festive firing but the rifle was uncontrolled. As a result, two persons identified as Muhammad Naqi and Muzammil were killed on the spot. The bodies were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Hangu for autopsy. The accused managed to escape the scene. from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2WA5JhK

KP Food Authority releases report

Canteens on varsities campuses declared unhygienicBy Bureau reportPESHAWAR: The Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority on Sunday released a report, declaring canteens in different universities’ campuses unhygienic and unsafe.Besides stressing the need for the provision of hygienic and safe edibles, the report suggested that more filtration plants should be installed inside the educational institutes and the existing ones be repaired to ensure supply of clean drinking water to the students and other visitors.The report revealed that the Peshawar Division teams with a mandate to ensure food safety, food hygiene and food standards, responded to online public complaints.They raided almost all canteens in both the government and private sector universities in Peshawar.“Fifteen universities and several other educational institutes were visited where more than 78 canteens on campuses were checked for food quality, premises and perso

ANP leader asks govt to launch schemes in tribal districts

BARA: Awami National Party (ANP) Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Sardar Hussain Babak has said the government should launch development schemes in the tribal districts.He was speaking at a press conference in Bara Press Club after ANP intra-party elections in Khyber tribal district on Sunday.ANP provincial vice-president Imran Afridi, joint secretary Khurshid Khattak, ANP Khyber president Shah Hussain Shinwari, general secretary Sadeeq Chiragh Afridi and other office-bearers were also present.“The erstwhile Fata was merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but the facilities have not been provided to the areas during the last several months,” Sardar Hussain Babak said.He said the government should announce provincial assembly elections to give the representation to the tribal people.The ANP leader said the delimitation of constituencies was unfavourable to tribal people and believed that the government had tried to show tribal districts’ to be smaller in population.“The government should not

Lack of Funds

Child Protection Units in 12 districts to become dysfunctional todayBy Akhtar AminPESHAWAR: Despite the claim of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to establish Child Protection Units (CPUs) in all districts of the province, the already established units in 12 districts of the province would become dysfunctional today.Sources confirmed to The News that the 12 CPUs across the province would stop working as the provincial government did not provide funds and extended the services of the employees of these units till March 31, 2019, which have been run on the financial support from the Unicef since 2011.Interestingly, on January 28, this year, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ghani had claimed that the government would establish child protection units in all districts of the province.Presiding over a meeting about child protection and welfare, the speaker vowed that the provincial assembly would enact necessary laws for the protection and welfare of

Communication skills stressed for doctors

CHITRAL: Experts on Sunday underlined the need for good communication skills for doctors to create a relationship of trust with their patents.They were speaking at a two-day workshop to underscore the importance of better communication skills for doctors to treat patients in a better way.Dr Israrullah, Deputy Superintendent of the District Headquarters Hospital in Chitral, also spoke at the workshop which was organised by the District Health Development Centre (DHDC) in collaboration with the Provincial Health Services Academy Peshawar. Dr Noorul Islam, Dr Sara Bukhari, Deputy Director DHDC Shakiruddin and others spoke at the workshop. from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2WA5EdW

Khyber wins Fata Super League

KHAR: The Khyber Green Zmari defeated Kurram Guloona in the final match of the Fata Super League Cricket Tournament by 57 runs.The final was played at the Bajaur Sports Complex. Thousands of spectators watched the match. The Khyber had scored 168 runs in the allotted 20 overs by losing five wickets. The Kurram team could not chase the target and were all out for 111 in the sixteenth over. Pakistan Cricket Team’s fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, former governor Shaukatullah Khan, former members of National Assembly Shahabuddin Khan, Shahjee Gul Afridi, Additional Home Secretary Khalid Mahmood and others were also present to witness the final match. About 24 teams from the tribal districts participated in the tournament. Speaking on the occasion, former governor Shaukatullah Khan congratulated the organisers of the Fata Super League Cricket Tournament for successfully holding the event. He said that peace had been restored to the former tribal areas after witnessing destruction. Shaukatu

Nowshera hospital staff urged to serve patients

NOWSHERA: The newly appointed chairman of the Board of Governors, Qazi Medical Complex, Malik Riaz Awan, on Sunday said that he would not spare the corrupt elements in the hospital.Addressing the staff of Qazi Medical Complex, he said that he would discourage nepotism and favouritism to improve the working of the hospital. He said that those who had any complaint about the hospital should inform him about their grievances.He urged the doctors to serve the ailing humanity and provide services treatment to the patients. from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2WA5yD6

Khassadars, Levies men set up protest camp

GHALLANAI: The members of the Khassadar and Levies force on Sunday set up a protest camp at Bab-e-Mohmand to press the government for acceptance of demands.Talking to reporters, Subedar Major Pasham Gul said that the Khassadar and Levies personnel had rendered sacrifices for the restoration of peace therefore they should be compensated. He said that the Khassadars and Levies men would continue their protest till acceptance of demands. from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2HQqOkQ

Model Criminal Court to start functioning today

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The Model Criminal Court are going to formally start functioning today (Monday) in the district.Additional District and Sessions Judge Usman Wali Khan would start hearing the cases.The Model Criminal Court was established on the orders of the Peshawar High Court. District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Younas Khan has sent 33 murder and 30 drug smuggling cases to the court. from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2WDiwjh

Urs of Kaka Sahib concludes

NOWSHERA: The 377th Urs of Kaka Sahib concluded at Ziarat Kaka Sahib on Sunday.A large number of devotees attended the Urs. Earthen lamps were lighted in and around the shrine to pay homage to the saint. Patron-in-Chief of the Kakakhel tribe Mian Feroz Jamal Shah Kakakhel hosted the flag and changed the traditional shawl on the shrine of the saint. Mian Feroz Shah also shed light on the role of the saint who spread the message of love and tolerance. He said that hundreds of people embraced Islam at the hands of the saint. from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2HOM7Dl

Oath-taking ceremony

WANA: A non-governmental organisation, Burki Welfare Association, is working to help the people have access to health and education facilities. Speaking as chief guest at the oath-taking ceremony of the association, its chairman Brigadier (r) Ameer Mohammad Burki said that the Mahsud tribespeople had rendered unprecedented sacrifices for the restoration of peace. He said that his association was working to help provide health and education facilities to the people in South Waziristan. from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2WA5vao

Corruption major hurdle to progress: Buzdar

LAHORE: Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said the government is working by day and night with the determination of absolute elimination of corruption under the vibrant leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.The PTI government has promoted the trend of transparency in public affairs. He said that zero-tolerance against corruption is yielding positive results as we are taking effective measures at every step to eradicate corruption by promoting transparency, he added. The chief minister said that the credit of containing corruption and increasing transparency went to the PTI government.In his statement, the chief minister said that menace of corruption was a major obstacle to progress of our country. In the past, Pakistan was undeniably harmed by plundering national resources and corruption.He said the corrupt elements filled their pockets and left our national exchequer empty. Furthermore, he said the PTI government wanted across the board accountability of corrupt elements and t

Suspension of funds: Deaf children, parents to protest outside PM House

Islamabad : Parents of around 400 poor minor children highly vulnerable to lifelong hearing loss have announced that they will protest outside Parliament House and Prime Minister’s House next week along with their children against the suspension of government funding to the country’s only public sector cochlear implant centre functioning in the federal capital.They told ‘The News’ on Sunday that the last grant for cochlear implant cases was released by June 30, 2018, and the centre got no funds thereafter despite repeated requests by them and medical board to the Prime Minister’s Office, which insisted that the government could no more fund the treatment of such children under the age of five years due to the financial crunch.“No case has been approved by the government in the current fiscal,” claimed Attaullah Khan, father of a hearing impaired children.According to him, the centre put up at the ENT Department of the Capital Hospital in G-6/2 in March 2016 with the collaboration of th

Plant a tree instead!

Today, the first day of the fourth month of the Gregorian calendar, is popularly known as ‘April Fools Day,’ or ‘All Fools Day’ in countries around the world. Although not a holiday in its’ own right, it is a day celebrated or rather marked by those who like to play practical jokes. There are a number of versions about how this date was chosen as a ‘Fools Day’ and while a few persons have tried to make its origin controversial, an origin which is widely accepted is that April 1 was counted the first day of the year in France and when King Charles IX changed it to January 1, some people stayed with April and those who did were called ‘April Fools’ and were taunted by their neighbours. Also in another version in some countries, the jokes are supposed to last only until noon, so someone who plays a trick after noon is called an ‘April Fool.’The day is marked by the hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying kinds on friends, family members and even enemies and neighbours, or sending them

Pollen patients advised to use dust masks

Islamabad : Medical experts Sunday advised Pollen patients to use allergy mask as it provides allergy protection inside, outside, and a variety of different environments.Senior ENT specialist Dr Umair Raza said pollen allergy patients should take preventive measures to avoid medical complication in this high-risk season.People with low immunity like patients, children and aged should avoid going into parks and lawns, he added.He further advised, balanced diet is the best prevention for the pollen allergy contraction as it boosts one’s immune system.He said the pollen allergy patients to avoid the spicy food and few pulses, potatoes, cauliflower and banana adding that they must avoid soft drinks.He forbade use of perfumes, frequently going out in the evenings and suggested to wear face mask, use wet cloth for dusting, avoid the use of floor carpets, not to open the window of car, use vacuum cleaner instead of broom, use sun glasses in outdoor and apply fresh water in eyes and nose and a

Teachers threaten agitation to claim rights

Islamabad: The federal government colleges' teachers have expressed concern about the indifferent attitude of the authorities of Punjab towards the local college teachers’ issues, inclusion promotion, and revision of service structure.They warned that they, too, could agitate if the federal authorities did not give them due rights."We stand with Punjab college teachers protesting in Lahore to claim the rights like promotion and revision of service structure. Their demands are genuine and therefore, the authorities should meet them without delay," Professor Tahir Mahmood, a representative of the Federal Government College Teachers Association, told 'The News' on Sunday.Professor Tahir said teachers loved the classroom and always wanted to be there to educate students but unfortunately they'd to take to the streets when the authorities refused to address their genuine issues.He said the FGCTA supported the on-going protest of Punjab colleges' teachers under

Girls outdo boys in FDE scholarship exams

Islamabad: The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) announced the results of the fifth and eighth-grade scholarship examinations 2019 with the girls clinching top three positions.According to FDE director (exams) Sadia Adnan, the percentage of the fifth and eighth-grade exam results was 94.65 and 90.86, respectively.In the eighth grade exam, the first position was jointly claimed by Darosham Khan and Amna Ghaffar of the Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-6/2, by securing 670 marks, while the second and third positions went to Dure Shehwar and Yamna Sajjal of Islamabad Model College for Girls, G-9/3, with 665 and 664 marks, respectively.As for the fifth-grade exam, the Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-8-1, bagged all top three positions.Zara Zulfiqar stood first with 580 marks, Yashfa Arshad second with 579 marks and Arisha Shahid third with 578 marks.Overall, over 25,000 students sat the scholarship exams.Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training W

Understanding angina

Angina is the medical term for chest pain that occurs when your heart doesn’t get enough oxygenated blood.The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute says triggers may include:* Being under emotional stress.* Being exposed to extreme hot or cold temperatures.* Eating a heavy meal.* Smoking tobacco or using cocaine.* Taking medication that narrows blood vessels.HealthDay News from The News International - Islamabad https://ift.tt/2UkvNA4

175 illegal structures demolished

Islamabad : The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Capital Administration (ICT) jointly carried out a grand operation against the illegal encroachments/constructions on the right of way of GT Road and demolished several buildings, shops, boundary walls and illegal constructions from the vicinity and retrieved state land from the illegal encroachers and occupants.The operations was participated by Director Enforcement, CDA Faheem Badshah, Assistant Commissioner, ICT, Saad Bin Asad and relevant officers and staff of Islamabad administration, National Highways Authority, officers of Land and Rehabilitation Directorate, Revenue staff. Heavy contingent of police was deployed and in order to, cater any unpleasant situation with the backup of Rangers were also deployed during the operation. Furthermore, heavy machinery of MPO Directorate was utilized during the operation.During the operation, illegal encroachments and constructions on the right of way of GT Road, from Tarnol ph

Tobacco control training scheduled on April 4

Islamabad : A one-day Training of Trainers (TOT) aimed at building the capacity of designated focal persons nominated by federal ministries for enforcement of tobacco control measures will be held at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on April 4.In a letter issued to all federal ministries and Divisions, the Ministry of National Health Services has conveyed that the global tobacco epidemic kills nearly 7 million people each year, of which more than 600,000 are non-smokers dying from breathing secondhand smoke. More than 80% of these preventable deaths are among people living in low- and middle-income countries. In Pakistan, tobacco causes around 160,000 deaths every year.To protect lives, the government is implementing ‘Tobacco-Smoke Free Islamabad’ initiative through awareness, signage and enforcement of tobacco control laws. District Implementation & Monitoring Committee (DI&MC) on tobacco control work under the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad for implementing tobacco c

FBISE chief likely to get another term extension

Islamabad : Instead of filling the top Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education post by one of the country’s top educationists or its senior officers, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has planned another extension in the term of the incumbent FBISE chairman, Dr Ikram Ali Malik.Dr Ikram’s term in office was extended for two years in March 2017 when his three years contract expired.Then an associate professor at the Economics Department of the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, he had landed the job in March 2014 after the prime minister rejected the two other nominees of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, including the current joint education advisor of the education ministry, Muhammad Rafique Tahir, and acting director general of Federal Directorate of Education Prof Ali Ahmad Kharal.An insider told ‘The News’ that the education ministry with the approval of its minister, Shafqat Mehmood, had plan

Installation of sewage treatment plants to take another year: MCI

Islamabad : The much-trumpeted plan of installing four Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in the federal capital may take another year as the authorities concerned are yet to acquire land for the facility.The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in its recent meeting had given green signal to materialize the project of establishing four treatment plants of Rs3.51 billion in two phases (two in each phase), the official source in Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) told this agency.“The process of installing two STPs will be taking more than eight months,” the official asserted.The idea of setting up four STPs in the outskirts of Islamabad was floated by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to filter the water falling into the Korang River and Rawal Dam and already been stalled for the last ten years for one or another reason , exposing residents of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to serious health hazards.The Planning Commission of Pakistan had asked MCI to complete the

Marble factories causing lung related ailments among citizens

Islamabad : Citizens residing near industry areas or marble factories were concerned over the hazardous and high-risk working environment at the factory that is allegedly putting their lives at risk on a daily basis, a health Physician warned on Sunday.Dr Qaiser Sajjad said that the steel and marble industry was a big source of pollution as it uses low-quality scrap as raw materials and release harmful particles into the air.“The workers and residents inhaling dust particles of the marbles, which exposes them to Tuberculosis and Silicosis, the lung diseases caused by a dust particle called crystalline silica,” he explained.He said marble dust contains particles of calcium carbonate and silica.The exposure to the latter causes silicosis a lung disease also known as grinder’s asthma.Possible symptoms of this disease are intense coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, night sweats and respiratory failure, Dr says and added that people suffering from silicosis were at an increase

Earliest development of Sector E-12 sought

Islamabad : Terming it quite unfortunate that after 3 decades of desperation and sufferings of allottees, when the development of Sector E-12 seems possible, some people wish to sabotage the pace and success of possession and development of the sector, the Action Committee of Development of Sector E-12 has demanded early and simultaneous development of the sector, says a press release.Capital Development Authority (CDA) acquired sector E-12 in the year 1985 and allotted 4,430 plots in 1989. CDA received cost, development and additional development charges of plots from the allottees. Due to inordinate delay of 3 decades in giving possession of plots more than 1300 allottees amongst Federal Government and Retired Employees passed away, because of age factor, amid dreams of their own houses in the sector.The surviving allottees and families of deceased allottees have been living in hired houses and have spent millions of rupees on rent. Those who sold their plots under precarious circums

499,040 applications for Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme digitised

Islamabad : National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has processed digitisation of 499,040 applications for Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, launched to provide affordable housing facility to Pakistani citizens.There is a shortfall of over 10 million houses in the country and every year the backlog is increasing.The present government, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan intends to promote access to housing to people of Pakistan and jumpstart the housing sector, has launched the Scheme and NADRA was assigned the task of digitising the forms. The Authority has successfully completed first phase of pilot project. from The News International - Islamabad https://ift.tt/2JX6bFh

Degrees given away to over 700 CUI graduates

Islamabad : A total of 742 graduating students were awarded degrees belonging to the departments of Management Sciences, Electrical engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics during the 122nd convocation of the COMSATS University Islamabad, Attock campus.Rector of CUI Dr Raheel Qamar (Sitara-e-Imtiaz), directors of other CUI campuses, Academic Council members, ex-directors of CUI, Attock campus, officers from the district administration and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra, heads of educational institutions, parents and students were also present on the occasion.Addressing the convocation, the chief guest, Member National Assembly Major (r) Tahir Sadiq said the way CUI, Attock campus, had contributed to educational uplift in the area since its establishment. "The spirit and the untiring efforts of the institution are praiseworthy," he said.He recalled the days when the region was deprived of any worthwhile higher educational institute."With the inception of CUI, A