LOWER DIR: A group of women teachers from basic community schools in Lower Dir on Wednesday staged a protest outside the Elementary Education Foundation office in Balambat against the non-payment of their salary for the past three years.

The teachers, some accompanied by their children, held placards demanding immediate salary disbursement. They threatened to stage a sit-in outside the Chief Minister’s House if their dues were not cleared within a week.

The teachers revealed that 42 educators served across 36 community schools in Lower Dir, but they had been without salary for long, forcing them into extreme financial distress. They lamented that they lacked even basic necessities in Ramazan. They noted that their counterparts in other districts had received salary.

The protesters urged Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to intervene.

WAPDA BUILDING LEAKING: A three-storey Wapda building near Sadu grid station, Timergara, constructed two years ago at a cost of Rs50 million, has begun leaking after recent rains, severely disrupting office operations.

The 30-room structure, housing the Wapda executive engineer’s office, revenue offices, and sub-divisional offices, has developed cracks due to alleged use of substandard material. The leaks have caused difficulties for both staff and consumers, who visit the facility for electricity-related matters.

The deteriorating condition of the building has raised serious concerns among citizens, with furniture, including tables and chairs becoming unusable. Residents have urged authorities to investigate those responsible for substandard construction, and demanded immediate replacement of office furniture.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2025