SWABI: The unavailability of stamp papers for the last few weeks has created problems for the residents here in the district.

Those who need to make the papers for fulfilling different legal requirements have been running from pillar to post, as only the stamp paper of Rs500 is available in the district headquarters.

The authorised paper sellers in the district and four tehsils said that they didn’t know when the papers would be made available.

“We have been facing acute shortage of revenue stamp papers for the last few months,” said Mohammad Ali, former president of Swabi Bar Association, while talking to this correspondent. He said that they did not know why the government was showing indifference on the matter.

Other lawyers said that the treasury office worked under the provincial ministry of finance who issued stamp papers.

The people said that it was responsibility of the district administration to ensure availability of the stamp papers.

Fazal Khaliq, president of Topi Jirga, alleged that the officials did not allow provision of the papers because they wanted the people to pay property tax to the government on purchase of land.

Meanwhile, students who want to make domicile for further admission have also been facing problems. The students seeking domicile have to state on the stamp paper that they do not any before.

TWO DROWN: Two workers of a textile mills in Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate drowned while bathing in Pehur High Level Canal (PHLC) here on Wednesday, police said.

The two identified as Osama, a resident of Jhelum, and Amjid Khan of Mardan had gone to PHLC to beat the heat.

Eyewitness said that as Osama slipped into deep water of the canal his friend Amjid plunged to save him and both drowned. Local divers later recovered bodies of the two.

Meanwhile, a woman identified as wife of Shakoor Gul was hit to death by a speedy coach on Adina-Chota Lahor road on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2019