KOHAT: An agreement has been signed between the district council and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the renovation and provision of latest equipment in 11 basic health units (BHUs) across the Kohat district.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, district nazim Naseem Afridi said that UNHCR would renovate 11 BHUs in the first phase and the rest in the second phase. He termed it a great gift for the people of Kohat.

However, he regretted that the UNHCR had backed out of the commitment to reconstruct the dilapidated Liaquat Memorial Hospital which was falling apart. He said it was constructed in 1952 and had completed its lifespan.

The UNHCR had agreed to provide funds for its construction after negotiations with a polish bank, he added.

The district nazim requested the UN agency to start afresh the case which would cost Rs500 million. He said the oil companies and the provincial government had approved their share in the pool.

SECURITY FOR CHINESE EXPERTS: The security forces and police on Wednesday finalised security arrangements for the coming visit of Chinese experts to inspect the drilling site of OGDCL in Gumbat tehsil.

An official statement said the army and police officers approved the standard operating procedure on the instructions of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief.

The Chinese ambassador is also expected in Kohat next week to inaugurate a technical training centre to produce expertise for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects. He along with the federal interior minister would inaugurate the centre in the Kohat University of Science and Technology.

Additional assistant commissioner-2, Sahibazada Samiullah, when contacted, told Dawn that the IGP had ordered to make foolproof security for Chinese under the SOP issued by him.

He said the army and police teams visited the Sayyab area on Rawalpindi Road where new discovery had been made by OGDCL and drilling was under progress.

He said the Chinese were not involved in the drilling process in the region, but specific experts were invited by the OGDCL to suggest improvement of their work.

SHOPS LOOTED: Unidentified dacoits looted two spare parts shops in Zarghunkhel area of Darra Adamkhel tribal subdivision on Tuesday night.

The tribesmen alleged that the robbery occurred at stone’s throw from the Levies checkpost. They said the robbers broke the locks of the shops and opened the shutters but nobody noticed.

An official told Dawn that they had registered FIR against the dacoits and started investigations.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2019