KOHAT: The district council here on Wednesday unanimously passed the annual budget for fiscal year 2018-19 with a total outlay of over Rs4.64 billion after a weeklong debate.

The concluding budget session was also attended by opposition leader Al-Hamid, Iqbal Khan of Shahpur, Dilbar Khan, Momin Shah, Gulzar Khan, Mohammad Iqbal, Sajid Iqbal and Raza Shah. The heads of line departments were also present on the occasion.

The session was presided over by convener Abdur Rasheed. District nazim Naseem Afridi told the house that Rs30.4 million had been set aside for development projects. The supplementary budget was also okayed. Mr Afridi thanked the opposition for taking active part in the budget debate and giving workable suggestions.

The presiding officer asked the councillors to also pay attention to completing the remaining work on the 2015-16 schemes.

Nazim thanks opposition for cooperation

CLEANLINESS: The tussle between the Water Supply and Sanitation Company (WSSC) and cantonment board has intensified over the cleanliness of some areas here in the city.

The main drain bringing dirty water from the main bazaar and in front of shops in Ayub Chowk is choked at Shah Faisal Gate in front of Jinnah Plaza and sewage could be seen spilling over on the road and creating problems for the motorists and pedestrians.

The drain at Committee Chowk is also blocked and the road has eroded and turned into a pool of dirty water.

The residents said that if only a few thousand rupees from the huge funds of beautification project were spent on cleanliness issues the problems could be resolved. Similarly, complaints about the improper drainage system have been conveyed to the deputy commissioner.

When contacted, WSSC chief executive officer Arif Khan said that the main city points fell in the jurisdiction of cantonment board. A medical store owner, Tahir, said that they paid annual tax and rent of shops to the cantonment board, but got no facilities in return.

He appealed to the board chief executive to construct a wide drain in front of the shops and repair the nullah at the Committee Chowk.

POLICE MEETING: Deputy inspector general of police Mohammad Ijaz on Wednesday asked the officials of Kohat division at a meeting to use all available resources for the protection of lives and property of the people and strengthen community policing.

He emphasised use of modern technology in tracing proclaimed offenders and investigating criminal cases to bring down crime ratio in their respective jurisdictions. The meeting was attended by the district police officers of Kohat, Hangu and Karak besides SPs investigation.

Mr Ijaz said that the officials should work hard on the cases so that the criminals were punished by the courts.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2018