LOWER DIR: Representatives of different trade bodies on Saturday announced a complete shutter down strike on May 14 against the government’s plan to impose taxes in the Malakand division from July 1.

The announcement was made during a joint meeting held at the Timergara Rest House with president Anjuman-i-Tajiran Timergara Haji Anwaruddin in the chair.

Representatives of the associations of petroleum dealers, vehicle bargain dealers, hairdressers, chemists and druggists and hotel owners attended the meeting.

On the occasion, Mr Anwaruddin, Liaq Zada, Dost Rehman, Mian Ali Jan, Ibrahim Khan, Aminullah and others said the region had been declared tax-free zone for 100 years after the merger of former Dir, Swat and Chitral states into Pakistan.

Say the region has been affected by militancy, flash floods, earthquakes and military operations

They said the region was affected by militancy, flash floods, earthquakes and military operations, but even then the government planned to impose different taxes, which they said would be strongly resisted.

HOSPITAL: Special assistant to chief minister on population welfare Malik Liaqat Ali has said the government is paying special attention to provision of basic health facilities in the backward areas to bring them on a par with developed ones.

He was addressing a function after inaugurating construction work at the Category C Hospital, Lal Qila, here the other day. The lawmaker said the project would cost Rs450 million.

District health officer Dr Irshad Ali Rughani said work on the construction of a modern medical complex was in progress in the district. He said the project was being executed at a cost of Rs600 million with the support of the Saudi government.

He said all available resources were being utilised to provide the patients with free medicines at all the 72 small and big health units in the district.

MPA Liaqat Ali and MNA Mohammad Bashir Khan said the provincial government had prioritised the sectors of health and education according to the vision of party’s founding chairman Imran Khan.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2024