LOWER DIR: The Lower Dir Chamber of Commerce and Industries on Sunday demanded of the government to immediately issue a notification regarding the restoration of the tax-free status of Malakand division.

Talking to reporters here, chamber’s president Mian Noor Alam, president of Anjuman-i-Tajiran Timergara Anwaruddin, general secretary Laiq Zada and others expressed satisfaction over the passage of a bill from the Senate regarding the restoration of the tax-free status of Malakand division.

They thanked Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan for tabling the bill, and asked the government to issue a proper notification in that regard.

The traders’ leaders said since 2008 the region had been affected due to militancy, counterinsurgency operations, earthquakes, flash floods and Covid-19 pandemic.

KIDNAPPED: A family from Chamiarano Banda area of Mayar on Sunday demanded of the federal and Sindh governments to help secure release a youth, namely Zakirullah, 26, from dacoits in Kacha area of the province.

Talking to reporters, relatives of Zakirullah said Kacha dacoits had picked him from Hyderabad. They said the kidnapped youth in a video released by his captors had also appealed for his release. They said the dacoits were demanding Rs5 million as ransom.

They said Naseeb Zada, a brother of the kidnapped youth, had got registered a case at the Gulistan-i-Johar police station in Karachi on Jan 20, stating that his brother went missing from Hyderabad, where he had gone to find a job.

He said two days later some unknown persons called him and demanded Rs5 million ransom for release of his brother.

In a video that went viral on social media on Saturday, Zakirullah in chains is heard seeking help for his release. “I will be killed if not released soon,” he says.

The family members said the victim lived with his brother and worked in Karachi as a labourer.

CLOTHES DISTRIBUTED:

A welfare organisation, Rehmatul Lil Alameen Trust distributed warm clothes among the poor people during a function held in Jandol area on Sunday.

The trust’s chief Mufti Izaz Ali Shah said his organisation was helping the poor, orphans and widows in time of need.

Published in Dawn, January 23th, 2023