NOWSHERA, July 3: Speakers at a training course here the other day advised the women of flood-hit areas to equip themselves with vocational skills to help their families.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the fifth batch of vocational training course, director of support unit project of Prime Foundation Dr Saeed Anwar asked the women to appear in the Trade Testing Board (TTB) examinations as they were eligible for it.

He said that the certificates issued by TTB would provide them with better opportunities of employment. He added that students of previous courses x appeared in the examinations president and got certified from the board. Vocational tool kits and accessories were also distributed among the participants of the course to encourage them to set up their own businesses. Dr Anwar said that Prime Foundation was imparting training to the women of flood-affected districts to enable them to earn their livelihood and support their families.

He said that purpose of those vocational courses was to build the capacity of women belonging to flood-hit areas. “This is only possible if, after getting vocational training, they apply their skills and try to pursue what they have learnt during the course for the betterment of community,” he added.

The project director said that it would not only help the women to earn for themselves but would also benefit the community.

TOLL PLAZA: The local transporters have demanded of the government to remove the toll plaza on Nowshera-Mardan Road immediately as it has become a bone of contention between the residents of the area and the contractor.

“The government has earned billions of rupees through the tool plaza and now its existence has no legal ground,” Awami Truck Drivers Union president Haji Khyber Khan, general secretary Zakir Hayat and passenger coaches union president Iftikhar Khan told a press conference here the other day.

They alleged that employees of National Logistic Cell were collecting toll tax at gunpoint. They demanded of the government to cancel contract of NLC forthwith otherwise it would lead to unpleasant situation in the area.

They said that residents and transporters of the area were exempted from toll tax but NLC employees were collecting tax from them at gunpoint.