KOHAT: The government’s promise to set up a second Frontier Foundation College for Women in Kohat in 2004 could not be translated into action till date.

Former director colleges, Prof Mohammad Iqbal Paracha, told Dawn that the college was approved by the then MMA government, but as is the practice in Pakistan, the next ANP government shelved the project.

District councillor Mian Shah Raza and nzim Bilal Hussain regretted that work on the Ustasrzai girls’ college sanctioned by the ANP government in 2013 was still going on at snail’s pace. They said once completed the college would cater to the needs of girls living in far-flung areas on the Hangu Road.

Meanwhile, in a statement the elders said the land for the college building was provided free of cost by local elder Syed Mahtab ul Hassan. They said the contractor had been issued several notices to speed up work but had been ignoring the calls because he had already got huge payment in advance.

PAYMENT OF PENSION DEMANDED: The son of a retired woman teacher has alleged that education department officials are demanding bribe for releasing his mother’s pension and called for action against the officials.

He said his mother’s pension had been delayed by seven months, and for two months after the matter was reported to adviser to the chief minister on education, MPA Ziaullah Bangash.

Addressing a press conference here, Faheem Khan Bangash said her mother employed at Sherkot girls primary school No 2, applied for pension at retirement, but three education officials demanded bribe from her and delayed the pension. She took the case to the adviser to the chief minister, who ordered an inquiry into the matter, but to no effect.

Faheem said the education officials had approached them through jirgas to withdraw the allegations or they would further delay payment of pension.

PEOPLE ASKED TO INVEST IN STOCKS: Members of the regional office of the Pakistan Stock Exchange have requested the Kohat Chamber of Commerce and Industry to create awareness among people to invest their money in the stocks as they offered huge profits.

Speaking at a meeting with KCCI representatives, brokers Azhar Abbas Naqvi and Saqib Khan said they had been directed to visit every district and ask the chambers to encourage people to invest in the stock exchange which had big profit margin as compared to property business. Moreover, the stock business was interest-free and their growth could benefit the country and the people alike, they added.

KCCI president Haji Rasheed Paracha assured them that they would launch an awareness campaign in that regard.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2019