| Local govt record sealed in Attock |  |  |  |
| Written by admin | | Wednesday, 30 April 2008 | ATTOCK: On the directives of the Punjab government, the district administration has sealed the record of all district and tehsil governments for scrutiny, it has been learnt.
The entire record of district government and tehsil municipal administrations of Attock, Jand, Hazro, Hasanabdal, Pindigheb and Fatehjang have been sealed to investigate alleged corruption, particularly in the affairs of development projects and recruitments, sources said.
The move has upset the district and tehsil nazims, as they cannot now interfere in the record of their respective offices, besides paralysing their activity.
Besides sealing of the record, the district and tehsil nazims are also facing a cool response from the functionaries of district administration as most of their decisions are not been entertained.
The executive district officer revenue has revised his decision regarding promotions of officials, while the newly-appointed district coordination officer has also declared some development projects of the district government substandard and proposed the concerned quarters of Punjab government for detail inquiry.
The nazims and their blue-eyed people would defiantly face tough situation from the district administration in the coming days, sources added. |
| Written by admin | | Wednesday, 30 April 2008 | ATTOCK: District nazim, Tahir Sadiq Khan expressed concern over the sealing of official record of the district government departments and termed it a violation of local bodies ordinance.
Speaking at a press conference here, the nazim said he welcomed the audit of the departments but sealing of record was totally unjustified.
He said the district government would approach the court of law against the sealing of record and other ‘illegal’ steps of the government.
He said under the LB system, he had no financial powers and all affairs were in the hands of the respective EDOs and departmental heads. He claimed that the audit of district and tehsil governments had already been carried out till June 2007 by the internal and provincial audit teams, which showed all financial matter in order.
To a question about reversal of some promotions and other steps by the office of executive district officer revenue (EDOR), he said the action was illegal.
To another query that the anti-corruption establishment was probing the alleged massive financial irregularities in the office of EDO finance and planning during the last seven years, the nazim expressed his ignorance about it.
About the suspension of free treatment for hepatitis patients at the district headquarters hospital, he said he would inquire about the matter. |
| Rally held for recovery of missing girl | | | |
| Written by admin | | Wednesday, 30 April 2008 | ATTOCK: The relatives of a nine-year-old girl allegedly abducted by a gang of prostitutes a few days ago staged a protest rally here on Tuesday. The protesters asked the district administration to recover the girl and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The father of the girl, Mansoor Khan along with some relatives and local people held the rally at Fowara Chowk holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans for recovery of the girl and against prostitution den operators.
The aggrieved father told media persons on the occasion that he lived near Pirwadhai in Rawalpindi, where a woman allegedly ran a brothel. He said a few days ago his daughter suddenly went missing and later someone told him that the woman had abducted the girl and taken her to Attock, where she also operated a prostitution den. A case was registered with the Pirwadhai police who arrested two persons - Tariq alias Kuba and a PCO owner - but the main culprit and the gang leader was still at large.
He alleged that it was an organised gang of prostitutes who abducted minor girls and engage them in immoral activities later in life.
The protesters demanded that the district police officer Attock and other government functionaries should take immediate steps for the recovery of the girl. |
| Written by admin | | Wednesday, 30 April 2008 | ATTOCK: The DPO transferred SHO Fatehjang police station inspector Abdul Hafiz Aulakh and appointed as SHO Basal PS in place of inspector Mohammad Khan, who has been appointed SHO Attock Saddar Police station. |
| Written by admin | | Wednesday, 30 April 2008 | ATTOCK: A cyclist was killed after he was hit by a speeding coach near Dulian Chowk in the jurisdiction of Pindigheb police station.
In another incident Shezad Ahmad resident of Kamra kalan village reported to Attock Saddar Police station that he was attacked/injured by his neighbor Sardar over petty dispute. |
| Written by admin | | Wednesday, 30 April 2008 | ATTOCK: The district police officer (DPO) Attock Tariq Hanif Joiya dismissed 24 newly recruited constables who remained absent from their duties despite repeated reminders/show cause notices while services of three police officials including a sub-inspector were also suspended on public complaints.
As per district Police headquarters, the departmental reminders were issued with regular interval on the postal addresses of all 24 absent police recruits but they did not turn up on their job.
As a last attempt, absentees had also been warned through a final notice that they should report at the district police headquarters on April 21, otherwise they would be dismissed from their services under police service rules 12/21 but they were remained absent till the deadline. Ultimately, such misconduct led to dismissal from their services.
So far 49 recruits have been dismissed in the period of two months. Earlier, on March 19, 25 police recruits were expelled from their services by the DPO for remaining absent from their duties despite reminders. |
| 260 WHEAT, 131 ATTA BAGS SEIZED | | | |
| Written by admin | | Wednesday, 30 April 2008 | ATTOCK: During the checking led by the DCO and DPO Tariq Hanif Joyia, 260 wheat bags of 100kg each were seized in two trucks on the Bahttar Link Road. According to the DCO, the wheat was being smuggled from Hafizabad district to the NWFP. Later, the truck drivers, Saleem Akhter and Zaheer, along with the trucks were handed over to the city police station, where a case against them was registered. Meanwhile, 131 bags of atta of 20kg each were also seized by the staff at the Burhan Food Checkpost during the checking of a vehicle, which was on the way to NWFP. Police registered a case against the driver. |
| Supply eases flour shortage in Attock | | | |
| Written by admin | | Wednesday, 30 April 2008 | ATTOCK: On the directions of the district administration, residents of the district are being provided wheat flour (atta) at rate of Rs300 per 20kg bag through mobile sale points at the different areas to avoid any shortage of the commodity. The measure has been taken after the flour shortage again hit the people few days ago when the mill owners and dealers squeezed the supply in the markets to earn more profit, despite the fact that they were being provided wheat quota by the food department, spokesman for the administration said. Government has fixed ex-mill rate of atta at Rs290 per 20kg bag and its rate at the sale points is Rs300, whereas it was being sold at Rs300 at ex-mill rate and Rs310 to Rs320 per bag at the sale points, resulting in blackmarketing of the commodity and causing problem to the citizens. Taking notice of the situation, the district administration took an immediate action and directed the all 36 flourmills owners on April 7 to ensure 80 percent supply out of their total official wheat quota in the local market. The wheat flour supply had also been issued by the district administration to the flourmills owners to ensure daily basis supply of the commodity at the official price at their respective sale points in all the six tehsils - Attock, Fatehjang, Hasanabdal, Pindigheb, Jand and Hazro - of the district. |
| 11 booked for creating hurdles: Cellphone tower | | | |
| Written by admin | | Wednesday, 30 April 2008 | ATTOCK: Eleven persons including a UC nazim were booked for allegedly creating hurdles in installation of a mobile phone tower.
The Attock Saddar Police have registered a case against 11 persons including Nazim Union Council (UC) Bahadar Khan on creating illegal hurdles/interference for a person on installing mobile phone tower on his land.
Police said that Manzoor Ahmed resident of Sanjwal village reported to Attock Saddar police station that he had made a contract with a mobile phone company to install its tower on his land.
But his rival Nazim UC Bahadar Khan, who belongs to PML-Q, along with accomplices had allegedly started unnecessary hurdles in installation of the tower.
They had obtained stay order over the installation from a local court but, later on, the court withdrew it by refusing his point of view letting mobile company concerned resume its construction work for the installation of tower.
But the accused again started hurling threats at him and also attacked the company’s labourers, he alleged. |
| Contract teachers seek regularisation | | | |
| Written by admin | | Wednesday, 30 April 2008 | ATTOCK: Contract lecturers of the district government on Tuesday sought regularisation of their services and payment of the last four months salary.
President Honorary Lecturers Association Shehzad Niaz while talking to local newsmen said that about 90 lecturers had been appointed in 15 collages of the district by district government Attock in 2003 to fill shortage of teaching staff at the collages.
But after three years, the affairs of lecturers were taken over by the Punjab education department from the district government, he said. Since then they are facing problems in performing their duties, he said.
Mr Niaz, who is son of a local renowned educationist Mrs Prof Shamim Niaz, said they even had not been paid their monthly salaries for the last four months, which had caused great financial problem to them. But despite financial hardships, they continued their duties in the interest of students, he said.
He said there were speculations that the new Punjab government would terminate the services of all contractual lecturers of Attock. “This has disturbed us and our families, and created sense of job insecurity among them besides affecting academic activities of students and collages,” he said. |
| Attock stands exposed to security threats: Indus River’s course diversion | | | |
| Written by admin | | Wednesday, 30 April 2008 | ATTOCK: Dried-up portion of the river bed of the Indus is increasingly posing a security threat,{mosimage} especially to some sensitive facilities in Kamra, because of unobstructed movement of delinquent elements from NWFP into Attock, it has been learnt. Around 30km portion of the Indus River course from the Ghourghusti village to Attock bridge had dried up after the government authorities built a channel some four years ago to divert the water to the Ghazi Barotha Hydro Power (GBHP) project to generate electricity. Officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said in the past, criminal activities in the area remained confined to drug trafficking and crime against property. But with the countrywide surge in terrorist activities since last year, the unchecked area along the river banks has been used to launch attacks on defence facilities like the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra and the military’s training and organisational centres across the district. Attock is the remotest district of the Punjab and it also marks the provincial boundary with the North West Frontier Province. The cantonment zone of Kamra had |
| Cop suspended ‘for plundering people’ | | | |
| Written by admin | | Tuesday, 29 April 2008 | Hassanabdal: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nasir Khan Durrani (Regional Police Officer) has suspended a police official involved in plundering people by holding illegal checking at Hassanabdal.
He also issued a show-cause notice to him, a spokesman of the RPO’s office said on Monday. Upon receiving complaints about illegal checking and misbehaving with public at Haripur Road, Hassanabdal, the RPO referred the case to the ADIG, Rawalpindi, for inquiry.
The matter was probed by the ADIG, Rawalpindi, which revealed that Constable Afzal Ahmed of City Police Station (Hassanabdal), along with three police volunteers, indulged in illegal checking by posing as an ASI. Following the inquiry report, DIG Nasir Khan Durrani placed the constable under suspension and issued a show-cause notice. |
| Delegation of PPP from Attock calls on PM | | | |
| Written by admin | | Tuesday, 22 April 2008 | ATTOCK: A delegation of PPP from Attock called on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani at the PM House this afternoon and congratulated him on assuming the responsibilities of his office. The delegation, led by MNA Sardar Saleem Haider Khan and comprising among others local PPP leader, Dr. Sikandar Hayat Khan, remained with the Prime Minister for sometime and apprised him of the problems of their area. The socio-economic conditions and the need to enhance the development efforts in the district also came under discussion during the meeting. The delegation also invited the Prime Minister to visit Attock at his convenience. |
| Bird-hits rising due to garbage dumps near airports | | | |
| Written by admin | | Tuesday, 22 April 2008 | KAMRA: The Civil Aviation Authority has sought the cooperation of the citizens living near the airports, requesting them not to throw foodstuffs and garbage in the open as a large number of birds hovering around the garbage dumps near the airports in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and others cities are posing an increasing threat to the arriving and departing planes.
It cost airlines all over the world nearly $3.5billion annually due to the bird-hits. The bird-hits have now become an economic and social issue; those affected by this hazard include airlines, aircraft, engine manufacturers, airport managements, flight crews and governments.
The bird-hit hazard not only threatens passengers on board but also delays flight departures and increases operational costs arising due to repairs and maintenance. During the last one week, there has been an increase in the birds hitting aircraft near Karachi and Lahore airports. |
| Pakistan to set up Panja Sahib Int'l University | | | |
| Written by admin | | Tuesday, 15 April 2008 | Hasanabdal: The Pakistan government plans to set up the "Gurdwara Panja Sahib International University" at Hasanabdal to promote inter-faith peace and harmony, Education Minister Ahsan Iqbal said today.
Addressing a gathering of Sikh pilgrims at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasanabdal town, Ahsan, who has additional charge of minorities affairs, said the new government will ensure the preservation and renovation of places revered by the Sikh community.
Minorities enjoy equal rights in Pakistan and have full freedom to visit their religious sites, he said.
Thousands of Sikh yatris or pilgrims, including about 3,000 from India, are currently in Hasanabdal to participate in Baisakhi celebrations.
Ahsan also underlined the need for peace and brotherhood among people of different faiths.
Sikh representatives appreciated the facilities provided to the yatris for visiting their religious sites. They strongly condemned the publication of anti-Islamic caricatures by the media in some foreign countries.
A delegation of Sikh yatris from Britain and the US led by Sardar Avtar Singh Sanghra also called on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani in Islamabad this afternoon.
Gillani said Pakistan believes in complete religious freedom of minorities and will continue to protect and safeguard their rights.
"We consider it our religious obligation to maintain and protect the religious sites and places of the Sikhs and other minorities in Pakistan," he said.
He assured the delegation that the government of Pakistan will continue to provide the best possible facilities to Sikh pilgrims visiting their religious sites in the country. |
| Sikhs received warmly for ‘Besakhi’ | | | |
| Written by admin | | Monday, 14 April 2008 | The Sikh festival ‘Besakhi,’ the day when the ‘Khalsa Panth’ was founded by Guru Gobind Singh, is{mosimage} being celebrated by hundreds of Sikh pilgrims, who have come from many parts of the world to take part in the celebrations.
The festival, being held in Hassanabdal with religious fervour and traditional rituals, is an important event for Sikhs and they are warmly welcomed by the town people who show their hospitality by showering love and affection on the visitors. The town is decorated with festive buntings and banners and the road to the shrine is lit up at night.
According to the religious tenets, ‘Besakhi’ can only be celebrated in the city of Hassanabdal, (just beyond Taxila) where the Gurdwara Punja Sahib is located. In 1921, it was decided by the elders of the Sikh religion to celebrate ‘Besakhi’ on the first day of Sanskrit month of ‘Besakh’ in memory of the day of the first ‘Besakh’ in the year 1699 when the 10th Guru of the Sikh religion awarded the ‘Punj Kaaf’ symbol to Guru Goband in the city of Anandpur Sahib (India).
‘Gurdwara’ means ‘a door to Guru’ and refers to Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion. A story about the Gurdwara Panja Sahib, which is told by one of the caretakers of the shrine to those who care to hear it, makes for an interesting insight into the religious rites and why this shrine is so revered by the Sikh community.
The shrine houses a rock with the imprint of a hand believed to have belonged to the revered saint. It is believed that a few thirsty men wanted a drink of water and were told by the saint to go and get it from a spring located on top of a nearby hill. The person in charge refused them three times, so the saint told them to pick up a rock in the barren field below the hill and lo and behold, a spring gushed from beneath the stone and they assuaged their thirst. This made the man on the hill so angry that he hurled a rock at the group of travellers but the saint managed to stop it with his hand, hence the imprint. This rock is placed inside an enclosure from where the spring flows, pilgrims take a drink of the pure water and it also fills a pool in which pilgrims purify themselves.
The shrine is very well looked after and was given a bright new look for the festival. Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Evacuee Trust Property Board have made special arrangements for the boarding and lodging of the pilgrims, known as ‘yatrees’ in local parlance. The pilgrims will leave happy and satisfied with their visit and the welcome they received in Pakistan after the festival concludes. |
| Sikh Yatrees arrive Pakistan for Besakhi festival | | | |
| Written by admin | | Monday, 14 April 2008 | ATTOCK: More than 11000 Sikh Yatrees arrived at Gurdwara Sahib Hasanabdal to{mosimage} participate in three days of Besakhi festival starting on Saturday.
8000 of Yatrees are Pakistani Sikhs, 3000 are Indian and over 500 belong to other countries.
Evacuee Trust made elaborate arrangements to facilitate these yatrees during their stay at their holy site. Protocol officer of the Trust Fraz Abbas accompanied Indian Sikhs to oversee their needs.
Leaders of Indian delegation Sardar Baldev Singh, Sardar Jagir Singh, Jagjeet Singh Bhullar and Sardar Sawarn Singh expressed their complete satisfaction over the arrangements and thanked the Pakistani government for taking care of their religious sites.
During their three days stay at Hasanabdal, yatrees will perform their religious rituals which will come to a close on April 14 with the ceremony of “Bhoog”.
Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Ch. Ahsan Iqbal will be the chief guest at the concluding ceremony after which all yatrees will travel to Lahore on special trains.
District and tehsil administration have made stringent security arrangements to facilitate the yatrees. |
| Ahsan Iqbal to address Sikh Yatrees at Gurdwara Sahib on Monday | | | |
| Written by admin | | Monday, 14 April 2008 | ATTOCK: Minister for Education and Minorities Ahsan Iqbal would address Sikh Yatrees at Gurdwara Sahib Hasanabdal who arrived to attend annual Besakhi Festival, on Monday. During the address, the minister would brief the yatrees about the steps being taken by the new government for the preservation and renovation of the revered places of Sikh community in the country. It was learnt that over 11000 Sikh Yatrees arrived at Gurdwara Sahib Hasanabdal to participate in three days of Besakhi festival started on Saturday and will conclude on Monday. Around 8000 Yatrees are Pakistani Sikhs, 3000 are Indian and over 500 belong to other countries. During their three days stay at Hasanabdal, yatrees will perform their religious rituals which will come to a close on April 14 with the ceremony of “Bhoog”. |
| Govt asked to procure flour from Punjab as stocks exhaust in NWFP | | | |
| Written by admin | | Thursday, 10 April 2008 | ATTOCK: The flour crisis deepened only a day after the NWFP cabinet decision to contact the Punjab government to allow smooth supply of the daily-use item. The NWFP is hugely dependent on the Punjab as it meets 40 per cent of its flour requirement from across the Attock.
It is to be noted here that the Rangers deployed at the Attock and other places in Punjab have put in place tougher checking and they don’t allow a single bag of flour even for domestic use.However, the flour dealers say the crisis are temporary and it will end with the harvesting fresh wheat crop in Sindh and Punjab.
They say wheat harvesting in Sindh will begin by 15th of this month while in Punjab it may begin from 30th of this month. However, to save the consumers of further pain the government should take immediate measures to ensure continued supply of flour to the Frontier where the harvesting of wheat will positively take another one and half month, Haji Rambail was quoted as telling the Food secretary.
Our correspondent from Hangu adds: Millers in Hangu blamed the food department and flour dealers for the deepening flour crisis and warned the situation could worsen further if the mills were not provided wheat as per quota. |
| Attock police arrested Maulvi Mohammad Imtiaz and Mohammad Usma | | | |
| Written by admin | | Thursday, 10 April 2008 | ATTOCK: Attock police arrested Maulvi Mohammad Imtiaz and Mohammad Usman from Jand Basal, Attock. They had been declared proclaimed offenders after law enforcement agencies failed to arrest them. The former prime minister escaped the attack on July 30, 2004, in Attock during his election campaign for a National Assembly seat.
Earlier eight people - Abdul Manan, Nisar Ahmed, Abdul Basit, Qari Ahmed Khan, Noor Badshah, Maulvi Sadiq, Mohammad Usman Zohair and Qari Salman - were arrested in connection with the attack.
The judge acquitted one of the suspects on May 22, 2006, but sentenced four people to death and three to life. They told the police about Maulvi Mohammad Imtiaz and Mohammad Usman's involvement in the suicide attack. |
| Two car-lifters held, 3 vehicles recovered | | | |
| Written by admin | | Monday, 07 April 2008 | Hassanabdal: National Highways & Motorway Police (NH&MP) have arrested two car-lifters and recovered three stolen vehicles from their possession, a spokesman of AH&MP said.
Motorway Police was informed by the Attock Police that a Suzki High Roof No. LZQ. 6024 has been stolen from the jurisdiction of Hassanabdal Police Station. On receiving this information, all the patrolling vehicles of NH&MP were alerted who stooped the said vehicle near Rakashi. Three culprits were traveling in the said vehicle. The NH&MP officers managed to arrest one car-lifter identified as Imran Khan, son of Hakeem Khan, resident of Charsadda, while two others managed to escape from the scene.
During the preliminary interrogation, the culprit told the NH&MP that his other companions are traveling in a red Corolla Car No. LOE. 5611. Therefore, without wasting time NH&MP officers signaled to stop the said car, but the driver instead of stopping the vehicle tried to sped away. However, on chasing the two persons left the car at a distance and escaped from there. The NH&MP took the said car in its custody.
In another incident, Motorway Police received information from Sialkot Police that a stolen Corolla Saloon Car. No. STS-101 is heading toward Islamabad through Motorway (M-1). On this information, all the patrolling cars of NH&MP were got alerted and after some minutes the NH&MP officers succeeded in stopping the said car. The NH&MP officers managed to arrest one culprit, namely Bismillah, s/o Qeela Khan, r/o Nowshera. The local police was informed and later recovered vehicles along with two arrested car-lifters were handed over to them.
The IG of NH&MP, Muhammad Raffat Pasha, appreciated the performance of the officers and announced cash rewards for them. |
| Malik Allahyar laid to rest | | | |
| Written by admin | | Monday, 07 April 2008 | JAND: Former Chairman Public Accounts Committee Malik Allahyar Khan, who died Friday night at the age of 71, was laid to rest here at his native village Khunda.
His funeral prayers were attended by former federal ministers Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Umar Ayub Khan, former MPAs Raja Basharat and Muhammad Ali, MPA Shuja Khanzada, District Nazim Attock Tahir Sadiq, Naib District Nazim Malik Sameen Khan, MPA Malik Aetbar Khan, Additional Secretary Science and Technology Shehryar Khan and notables of the area.
Late Malik Allahyar Khan who was a gentle natured politician was born in 1927. He studied in Gordon College Rawalpindi and obtained his LLB degree.
Afterwards he took active part in politics and was elected District President Muslim League in 1952 and member of District Board Attock in 1954.
In 1956 he was elected member of West Pakistan Assembly. He was again elected MNA in 1962 and 1965 and in 1966 was given portfolio of the ministry of labour and prisons. Malik Allahyar was elected MPA in 1985. He was given the award of best parliamentarian by the then prime minister.
Many a times he led Pakistani delegations to different countries including Italy and Philippines. During the 2002 general election, he was elected MNA and worked as chairman public accounts committee. |
| Power crisis paralyses life in Attock | | | |
| Written by admin | | Thursday, 03 April 2008 | ATTOCK: The ongoing power crisis has paralysed civic life and business activities in the city and other parts of the Attock district.
During the last few days, the frequency of loadshedding has increased considerably and now citizens are being provided electricity only for a few hours and that too in short spells.
Villages are the worst hit as they are being provided power in 15 minutes’ spells only.
The situation has affected and in some cases even halted production work in small industrial units and other business sectors, rendering hundreds of workers and daily wagers jobless. The owners of other small enterprises particularly tobacco and shoe factories at Hazro, tailors and other mechanical and automobile units are facing heavy losses as they have regular employees on their fixed payroll.
Besides loadshedding, frequent breakdowns and power fluctuations have become a regular feature, causing damages to domestic appliances.
Indoor and outdoor patients at the district headquarters hospital and other health institutions are also facing a lot of problems, as majority of them have not generator facility. Similarly, prisoners at Attock jail are experiencing undesirable hardship particularly at night, when they are crammed into the congested cells.
Likewise, students particularly those appearing in summer courses are facing problems due to lack of cooling arrangements in the educational institutions.
Besides public offices, local educational institutes, computer colleges and internet cafes are also facing problems due to frequent disconnection of electricity. The situation has also affected wedding ceremonies and other civic activities.
Moreover, many citizens are also facing financial hardship as their home appliances like refrigerators, irons, water pumps and computers have developed faults due to power fluctuations.
The residents are also facing shortage of LPG cylinders while their prices have already skyrocketed. The use of kerosene has also increased as it is used in lanterns and stoves. Some vendors purchase the fuel in black market and sell it on inflated rates.
More and more people are buying generators to meet their requirements during power outages, causing smoke and noise pollution.
The purchase of LPG, kerosene, petrol and diesel to run the lighting equipment and generators has put an extra burden on people’s budgets. |
| Power crisis paralyses life in Attock | | | |
| Written by admin | | Thursday, 03 April 2008 | ATTOCK: The ongoing power crisis has paralysed civic life and business activities in the city and other parts of the Attock district.
During the last few days, the frequency of loadshedding has increased considerably and now citizens are being provided electricity only for a few hours and that too in short spells.
Villages are the worst hit as they are being provided power in 15 minutes’ spells only.
The situation has affected and in some cases even halted production work in small industrial units and other business sectors, rendering hundreds of workers and daily wagers jobless. The owners of other small enterprises particularly tobacco and shoe factories at Hazro, tailors and other mechanical and automobile units are facing heavy losses as they have regular employees on their fixed payroll.
Besides loadshedding, frequent breakdowns and power fluctuations have become a regular feature, causing damages to domestic appliances.
Indoor and outdoor patients at the district headquarters hospital and other health institutions are also facing a lot of problems, as majority of them have not generator facility. Similarly, prisoners at Attock jail are experiencing undesirable hardship particularly at night, when they are crammed into the congested cells.
Likewise, students particularly those appearing in summer courses are facing problems due to lack of cooling arrangements in the educational institutions.
Besides public offices, local educational institutes, computer colleges and internet cafes are also facing problems due to frequent disconnection of electricity. The situation has also affected wedding ceremonies and other civic activities.
Moreover, many citizens are also facing financial hardship as their home appliances like refrigerators, irons, water pumps and computers have developed faults due to power fluctuations.
The residents are also facing shortage of LPG cylinders while their prices have already skyrocketed. The use of kerosene has also increased as it is used in lanterns and stoves. Some vendors purchase the fuel in black market and sell it on inflated rates.
More and more people are buying generators to meet their requirements during power outages, causing smoke and noise pollution.
The purchase of LPG, kerosene, petrol and diesel to run the lighting equipment and generators has put an extra burden on people’s budgets. |
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