SWABI: The Women University Swabi has approved the associate degree programme for the affiliated colleges.

The approval came at the 17th Academic Council meeting here on Wednesday chaired by Vice-Chancellor Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi. Speaking on the occasion, the vice-chancellor said: “All these programmes are skills-oriented and especially designed to enable the graduates to make an early entry into the job market or to become entrepreneurs.”

The council also approved the establishment of institute of special education and speech therapy, and medical and diagnostic research centre in the varsity.

It also approved establishment of psychological counseling centre and directorate of students affairs.

UNFINISHED ROAD TROUBLES COMMUTERS: The commuters and the transporters are facing problems due to the dug up Swabi-Topi Road.

The people complained that the contractor had dug up the road at three places, and filled the ditches with clay and crushed stones but without carpeting the spots which caused great inconvenience to commuters, public and private transporters. The commuters asked why the district administration and the communication and works department officials did not bind the contractor to finish the reconstruction work on the road in the stipulated timeframe.

When contacted, communication and works department officials said the contractor had been asked to carpet the dug up patches as soon as possible.

JOURNALIST RELEASED: The Swabi Union of Journalists president Ihsanul Haq Bamkhelvi was released on bail on the orders of a court on Wednesday after his arrest on Tuesday night for allegedly misbehaving with the staff of the district education officer (female).

A police official said an FIR was registered against the journalist on the complaint of the female education officer that the reporter along with five persons came to her office on Oct 13, used foul language against the office staff and tried to disturb the office’s environment.

The official said the FIR was registered on Nov 17 in the Swabi city police station.

However, Mr Bamkhelvi said he performed his professional duty, but despite that he was targeted allegedly on the orders of a leader of the ruling PTI. He said he was picked from his house.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2020