DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan division Zaheerul Islam Khattak on Tuesday distributed laptops to the students of Gomal University during a special ceremony here.

Around 2,080 students of the university’s all departments were selected by the High Education Commission for the Prime Minister Laptop Scheme on the basis of “merit.”

The commissioner was the chief guest during the ceremony, where HEC Islamabad project director Mohsin Ali Raziq was in the chair.

The participants included the university’s registrar and departmental deans and administrative officers.

HEC selected around 2,080 students fo PM Laptop Scheme

The commissioner asked students to use laptops and internet to seek knowledge and do research for the country’s development.

Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university Prof Shakibullah thanked the federal government and HEC over laptop distribution and said laptops would help students with their studies.

Head of the university’s Financial Aid and Scholarship Section Dr Hamid Khan said the section collected the names of students for laptops from all departments and forwarded them to the HEC. He said the laptop distribution to around 2,080 students would be completed in a short time.

VEHICLES CHECKED: Regional Transport Authority secretary Khalid Qayyum and traffic police head Izzat Khan Gandapur led the inspection of rickshaws and passenger vehicles here on Tuesday.

The inspection team removed illegally installed liquefied petroleum gas cylinders from rickshaws, checked route permits and fitness certificates of inter-district transport vehicles, and imposed Rs6,000 fine on vehicles overloaded with and overcharging passengers. The extra fares collected by conductors were returned to commuters.

The RTA secretary said the inspection of passenger vehicles would be enhanced to check violation of traffic rules.

Meanwhile, investigation officer of the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat in Dera Ismail Khan regional office Arif Khan Kundi on Tuesday visited Bhakkar district and heard the cases of the Outreach Complaint Resolution Programme against different departments in the provincial ombudsperson’s office.

The visit comes on the orders of federal ombudsman Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, according to an official news release.

Mr Kundi heard cases against Pesco, Postal Life Insurance Company, State Life Insurance Corporation, and other departments and issued orders to officers of the relevant institutions.

He told reporters that besides holding open courts in remote areas, officials of the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat were also conducting inspections of the offices of government departments to address people’s complaints.

Mr Kundi warned any negligence and laziness on part of government officials regarding their duties won’t be tolerated.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2023