SKARDU, Feb 10: Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement general secretary Ghulam Shehzad Agha has demanded the reopening of the Skardu IT centre.
In a statement issued here on Saturday, Mr Agha expressed concern over the government policies in education and health departments. He said: “The heads of these departments are hell bent upon pushing Baltistan towards darkness and backwardness.”
He criticised the decision of closing down the Skardu information technology centre and sacking of its 26 employees.
He said that the recently nominated MBBS students from Baltistan had been deprived of the chance to submit application forms with the directorate office in Gilgit owing to the late announcement of the final date. He claimed that the notification delivered on behalf of the director colleges for announcement on Skardu radio station was received on Dec 31, 2006, whereas the last date was Nov 25.
Mr Agha said that the government was constructing school buildings in villages and towns but was reluctant to depute teachers and staff. He also demanded a proper service structure for doctors serving in the Northern Areas.
He said that district hospitals of Skardu and Ghanche were facing shortage of specialist doctors and only one lady medical officer was serving in the two districts.
LINE RENT: Internet users have criticised Comsats for charging unfair line rent from their customers in the Northern Areas.
They said there was no line rent for the internet users in other cities of the country. Comsats is charging Rs150 per month as line rent from the customers in Gilgit, Skardu and Hunza.They said that the services provided by the company were already slow and added that Rs50 per hour charge was too high. In addition, they said, the line rent of Rs150 per month was unjust.
They requested Comsats to withdraw this unnecessary line rent.
Peaceful district: Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sharif has said that Ghanche is the only district in the Northern Areas where the administration and people ensured peace in recent months, especially Muharram.
Talking to reporters in Khaplu on Saturday, he said that during Muharram the district did not seek extra help from other security forces and Youm-i-Ashur passed peacefully.
He appreciated the efforts of Deputy Commissioner Fida Hussain and ulema for their cooperation in maintaining law and order in the district. He also appreciated the services of police officers and jawans for foolproof security arrangements.
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