SWABI: Cheques were given to the deserving people under the government’s poverty alleviation programme here on Tuesday.

A function to this effect was held at Topi tehsil town hall, where National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar was the chief guest.

Topi tehsil nazim Sohail Yousafzai and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders and workers were in attendance.

Those who got the cheques under the interest-free loan scheme appreciated the government’s initiative and demanded that it should continue in future. They said loans should be provided on merit and their proper utilisation must be ensured by the government.

On the occasion, Asad Qaisar said those who received cheques should ensure right use of the loan.

Later, talking to mediapersons, Mr Qaisar said the government took the decision of increasing the oil prices out of compulsion as hike in oil prices in the international market had forced it to do so.

However, he said the initiatives which the government planned to take soon would help boost the economy. He rejected the idea that oil price increase would cause further price hike.

ANP PUBLIC MEETING: The Awami National Party leaders on Tuesday started a campaign to invite people to the public meeting to be addressed by party’s central president Asfanyar Wali Khan near Panjpir Lara on Friday.

Mohammad Islam, ANP’s former district general secretary, said earlier the public meeting was planned to be held on April 9, but later it was rescheduled.

Former general secretary of the party, Saleem Khan Advocate, would announce rejoining of the party at the public meeting, he said.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2019