Tag: KP government

  • ‘We are not rulers and should not act as rulers,’ says PTI’s Noor Alam

    ‘We are not rulers and should not act as rulers,’ says PTI’s Noor Alam

    The government on Tuesday faced an embarrassing situation in the National Assembly when it received harsh criticism from its own members on the issue of load-shedding in various parts of the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP ) province where the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has been ruling for six years, as reported by Dawn.

    Four members of the PTI from KP invited the attention of the Minister of Energy Hammad Azhar to the “shortage of transformers and other electrical equipment resulting in load-shedding in KP, causing grave concern among the public”.

    The notice had been moved by Junaid Akbar Khan from Malakand, Imran Khattak from Nowshera, Sher Akbar Khan from Buner, and Gul Zafar Khan from Bajaur.

    The movers talked about load-shedding in their respective constituencies. Noor Alam Khan, PTI’s MNA from Peshawar, blasted the government not only on the issue of load-shedding but also price hike.

    The Opposition members kept on thumping desks throughout Khan’s speech, making Hammad Azhar angry. The minister, while responding to Noor Alam, alleged that he had delivered the speech for the galleries.

    Noor Alam said the minister did not have the correct information as the officials of his ministry and power companies provided him wrong information. He said on the one hand the government was charging Rs34 per unit from the people and on the other hand, people were not getting electricity.

    Khan said load-shedding and price hike were the two major issues being faced by the people. He said the MNA’s could not go to their constituents as they “abused” the MNA’s when they had no electricity.

    Khan said load-shedding and price hike were the two major issues being faced by the people. He said that parliamentarians could not go to their constituents as people “abused” them due to no electricity.

    “We are here to serve the people of Pakistan. We are not rulers and should not act as rulers,” he said.

    He added there was load-shedding of 22 to 24 hours in some areas.

    In response to Khan’s speech, Azhar blamed the previous two governments for the present situation in the country. He said the PTI government was not responsible for the wrongdoings of the previous regimes.

  • PM ‘worried’ about the Opposition

    PM ‘worried’ about the Opposition

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday, while speaking at a ceremony in Ziarat said, “I am worried, whether they [Opposition] will remain as an alliance or not.”

    Khan took a jibe at the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), which faced a setback after the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Awami National Party (ANP) left it.

    The premier said the country was “getting out of a very difficult time”, adding that the Opposition parties had been “making noise” that his government would fail ever since it came to power.

    “Our opponents have created hue and cry. Even when Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had formed the government in 2018, our opponents said that we were bound to fail,” said Khan.

    The Opposition kept reiterating that the country’s economy would suffer, but now, when the growth rate’s statistics were made public, they rejected them, he said.

    “Our opponents want us to fail,” he said, as he stressed the government was doing everything in its power to uplift the economy.

    The premier, shedding light on how his government achieved growth in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said the PTI-led government promoted tourism, launched health cards for nearly half of the population.

    Moreover, till this year’s end, Punjab’s population will have a health card and soon enough, all of Pakistan will have this facility. “Even in Balochistan, every family will have a health card.”

    Prime Minister said his government “considers Balochistan ours” in a way that previous governments did not. Previous governments had not spent money on the province’s development, he said, adding that his government would “use all of our resources in this difficult time” to ensure progress.

    The premier said there was a gas issue in Ziarat, and a member of the provincial assembly (MPA) had told the premier that a gas line would be installed to overcome this problem.

    Installing an LPG plant is more feasible in Ziarat, he said, adding in the next fiscal year, he would try his best to get an LPG plant installed in the city.

    “Balochistan is a large province, so developing streets here is quite expensive …. Pakistan’s development will actually take place when the entire country develops,” he said.

    The premier said despite reservations from Punjab and KP that he was being “too generous with Balochistan”, it was the government’s “responsibility to make full efforts” because the province had been ignored in the past.

    “Pakistan’s development will only be in real terms when it is inclusive [and] when the whole country develops,” he reiterated.

    “I will keep coming here and checking the progress. We are giving another package for roads. We will give funds wherever there is room,” the premier concluded.

  • Restoration work on Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor’s ancestral homes to start after Eid

    The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has issued final notices to the owners of Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor’s ancestral houses as the government plans to take over the properties after Eid, Geo News has reported.

    As per details, KP Archaeology and Museums Department Director Dr Abdul Samad has said that restoration work on both houses will take place following the take over. 

    Dr Abdul Samad added that the “deputy commissioner has sent the final notices to the landlord”.

    Meanwhile, the owners of the properties will be summoned on May 18, and they can demand the KP government or the court for a higher price and can submit their objections.

    Earlier this year in January, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mahmood Khan approved Rs 23.56 million to purchase the ancestral houses of two Bollywood legends Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor in Peshawar, but the owner of Kapoor Haveli in Peshawar refused to sell the house to the government at the price set by the authorities.

    As per reports, the value of Raj Kapoor house is Rs 15 million, while Kumar’s home is worth Rs 8.56 million. Both houses will be converted into museums after restoration work.

  • Pakistan’s first bicycle-sharing system launched in Peshawar

    Pakistan’s first bicycle-sharing system launched in Peshawar

    TransPeshawar, which manages the bus rapid system in Peshawar, on Thursday launched a public sharing bicycle system, ZU Bicycle to further facilitate citizens traveling through Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

    Read more – KP health coverage: PM announces Rs10 lacs per family every year

    The launch ceremony, held at the University of Peshawar, was attended by Finance Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra, KP Minister for Transport Shah Muhammad Wazir, Advisor to Chief Minister on Science and Technology Ziaullah Bangash, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information Kamran Bangash and other officials of TransPeshawar.

    Sharing pictures from the launch on social media, Jhagra encouraged citizens to use the first public sharing bicycle system.

    “Pakistan’s first bicycle sharing system is now open for public use in Peshawar. If you live in Hayatabad, or work or study in the University Campus area, use any of 360 bikes at 30+ stations to get around, be green, and be healthy. Remember to take care of public assets responsibly,” said the minister, adding: “I tried it out. So should you.”

    All the required arrangements have been made and as many as 360 bicycles have been stationed at the transit centers across the city.

    Interested riders may register for the ZU Bicycles at TransPeshawar’s sharing system as follows:

    • Get their CNICs verified at a NADRA E-Sahulat Center.
    • Sign an agreement of the terms and conditions for the use of the bicycles.
    • Bring their original CNICs with photocopies.
    • Deposit a refundable security fee of Rs. 3000.
    • Deposit a membership fee at a ZU station.
    • Only one registration is permissible under one CNIC.

    The following membership fare breakdown will be applicable on single-day/bi-weekly/monthly passes.

    The membership fee expires in accordance with relevant packages as per the BRT regulations.

    Individuals who are members of the ZU bicycle Sharing System can use the facility as per the following:

    • A single-day pass is valid for 24 hours.
    • A bi-weekly pass is valid for 14 days.
    • A monthly pass is valid for 30 days.

    Fare Deduction Mechanism

    • The amount in the ZU card or in the ZU mobile app can be used for both the bus fare (BRT) and bicycle usage.
    • With the ZU card, a passenger will be able to release a bicycle from the dock by simply tapping on the Validator/Dock (system) at the transit center.
    • For docking, passengers will be required to tap their ZU cards on the Validator/Dock (system).

    The system will measure the time of use and will deduct the fare/usage fee in accordance with the chosen payment plan. If the available balance is less than the deductible amount, passengers are allowed a one-time option to dock the bicycle and pay the remaining amount the next time.

    Travel Condition

    • Passengers must have a minimum balance of Rs 50 in their ZU cards.
    • The ZU card is to be tapped during entry and exit from the service to complete a transaction.

    Meanwhile, TransPeshawar reserves the right to block ZU cards in case of unpaid loans. In this regard, passengers looking to reinstate/reset their cards are required to visit the KIOSK website and pay their pending loans with penalties.

    When using the ZU app, customers must tap the Entry while releasing a bicycle from the dock. If a user loses a bicycle in their possession, they will have to pay Rs. 60 per hour until the full amount is paid in compensation to TransPeshawar.

    Penalty Brief

    As per the company’s guidelines, a bicycle will be considered lost if it is not returned within 72 hours. If the bicycle is lost, the refundable security will be forfeited. For compensation, the customer will be required to pay service charges at the rate of Rs. 60 per hour for up to 200 hours.

    TransPeshawar also reserves the right to block cards if the service charges are not paid in full, or in the event of misuse.

  • Police bar female students from sitting in front passenger seats over harassment

    Police bar female students from sitting in front passenger seats over harassment

    After complaints of harassment, the Mansehra Traffic Police has barred female students from sitting in the front passenger seats of the public transport across the district.

    According to Express Tribune, the ban was imposed by the police in a bid to curb harassment. The women were subjected to harassment by the drivers as the front section of the Suzuki vans and pick-ups is entirely detached from the rear part of the vehicle.

    The windows in the front are also tainted and the driver could get away with harassment. The traffic police warned that cases could be registered against the public transporters if the ban was violated.

    Last month, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had announced the formation of district protection committees (DPC) for swift implementation of harassment law across the province, according to APP. These committees would be headed by a woman Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) to resolve disputes related to domestic violence or harassment at workplaces.

    In January last year, the provincial assembly had passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2020, targeting the incidents of workplace harassment.

    In case, parties did not agree to the proposed solutions, the case would be referred to District Sessions Judge or Additional District Sessions Judge to decide it within two months. And if any party did not agree with the court’s judgment then appeals against such decisions could be filed in the Peshawar High Court (PHC).

    Under the new act, up to five years of prison time and a penalty or both could be handed. The court can also pass an interim order in such cases.  One-year imprisonment and up to Rs0.3 million fine could be handed in case of violation of the court orders.

  • 1st century murals discovered from Buddhist site in Swat

    1st century murals discovered from Buddhist site in Swat

    Intact murals dating back to the 1st century have been discovered from a Buddhist site in Swat, Dawn News has reported.

    Saqib Raza, who was leading the team of archaeologists on the site, while speaking about the murals said: “We have discovered some rare fresco paintings belonging to the first century from the Abbasahib-China Buddhist site in Barikot during our recent exactions. The paintings are in different poses including namaskar pose. Six of them are visible and intact.”

    Director of Archaeology and Museums Dr Abdul Samad while speaking to the publication referred to the discovery of the murals as a landmark achievement, adding “there is no other example here in Gandhara of finding intact paintings”.

    He further shared that rare Kharosthi script inscriptions and coins were also discovered by the archaeologists in the area.

    According to Director of Italian Archaeological Mission Prof Luca M Olivieri, the discovery is really important because it provides evidence of a painting school at Swat and Gandhara “whose traces have unfortunately faded away”.

    Earlier, a Hindu temple, believed to be 1,300 years ago, was discovered at a mountain in Swat district. Researchers from Shah Abdul Latif University’s Department of Archaeology also found traces of a third-century settlement in Brahmanabad, Sindh.

  • Pashto folk singer forced to live in a tent with over 200 family members

    Pashto folk singer Zarsanga Bibi is reportedly living in a tent along with over 200 family members after the culture department took back her official residence in Kohat district.

    Read more – KP govt offers job to Pakistan’s ‘Charlie Chaplin’

    Popularly referred to as the ‘melody queen’, Zarsanga Bibi has requested for help and demanded the culture department to provide her with a residence so that she can live the last years of her life in peace, comfort and dignity.

    Zarsanga Bibi said that the current pandemic has worsened living conditions for her and her family, forcing her to beg.

    According to details, the singer and her sons have rented a shop in Kohat Bazaar where they have kept over 2,500 awards, certificates and medals of the singer.

    “I appeal to President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of my miserable plight. I just want a piece of plot where I could feel proud that my contributions fetched me at least a state given shelter. I at this stage and age have no other wish,” said Zarsanga.

    She said that she had rejected offers from Afghanistan and several other countries, saying that she only worked for Pakistan and that her country has been her identity and she would live and die with it. She added that she would never leave Pakistan despite her current situation and the disappointing attitude of relevant authorities.

    “I have over 200 sons and daughters and grandchildren and they all depend on me,” says Zarsanga Bibi. “The government had allotted me an official residence in Kohat for two years and on termination the specified time, I along with my extended family was forced to live once again in the tents in the open air where we have to pay Rs15, 000 as rent to the owner of the land.”

    Shahzada, the elder son of the living legend, said that his mother was suffering from chest infection and had other multiple health complaints. He said that despite multiple appeals and requests, no official responded to his family sufferings.

  • KP health coverage: PM announces Rs10 lacs per family every year

    KP health coverage: PM announces Rs10 lacs per family every year

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has announced to provide universal health coverage to all its residents.

    With the insurance, people will now be able to avail free treatment up to Rs1 million (Rs10 lakh) at over 400 government and private hospitals across the country.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan in a tweet on Monday also congratulated the provincial government. The PM said that KP has become the first province in Pakistan to provide its citizens with free health care.

    On Sunday, KP CM Mahmood Khan said that the entire population of the province start receiving free healthcare facility with the extension of Sehat Card Plus scheme.

    He had said that a free healthcare facility was a big step towards achieving the dream of a welfare state. Being executed through the Health Department in the province, the Sehat Card Plus scheme would immensely benefit over 6.5 million families and 40 million citizens of KP, reported APP news agency.

    He had said that under his directives kidney and liver transplant facility was also included in the scheme to benefit the deserving families at large.

    On Dec 7 last year, at least six COVID-19 patients had died after “criminal negligence” resulted in a delayed supply of oxygen to a hospital in Peshawar. More than 200 patients — including nearly 100 with coronavirus — were left for hours with limited supplies of oxygen at government-run Khyber Teaching Hospital.

  • Kohat woman accuses KP lawmaker of harassment

    Kohat woman accuses KP lawmaker of harassment

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s aide Ziaullah Bangash has been accused of sexual harassment by a woman hailing from Kohat.

    According to The News, the woman urged the prime minister to take notice of the incident in a video posted on social media.

    On the other hand, Bangash, who is the CM’s aide on information technology, denied the allegations levelled by the woman and also sent a legal notice to Rahatul Ain.

    The newspaper quoted an official report over the episode which revealed that the “Rahat ul Ain, wife of Muhammad Ishfaq…alleged in her video that Ziaullah Bangash was harassing her”.

    The report said that Rahat had worked with Bangash in an NGO [non-government organisation] about 10 years ago and both allegedly had “good relations”. However, Bangash started ghosting the woman after becoming an MPA in 2013.

    Bangash had also promised Rahat a job but failed to fulfill his promise, it claimed. The woman, subsequently, started making these allegations against Bangash, it reported. It says Bangash stayed away from the said woman after the 2013 elections.

    Meanwhile, Bangash has sent a notice to Rahat through his counsel for bringing “disgrace” to his name.

    The notice said that “Ziaullah Bangash does not even know the woman”. It claimed that the woman had hurled similar allegations in 2018, but Bangash was proved innocent after an inquiry by the Kohat DPO.

    “The sole purpose of the video was to damage my client’s reputation,” said the lawmaker’s lawyer, asking the woman to issue an apology.

    “You are informed by this notice that you should pay 50 million as defamation to my client within seven days and deny your allegations by apologizing in writing as well as in a video message from your social media account. Otherwise, a claim will be filed against you in the court of law,” the notice quoted by The News read.

  • Man fined for illegally hunting rare bird in Parachinar

    Man fined for illegally hunting rare bird in Parachinar

    The Environment Ministry of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has fined a man Rs 40,000 for illegally hunting a rare pheasant in Parachinar.

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam, shared the news on social media, saying that “PTI believes in wildlife preservation through strict enforcement of the new Wildlife Protection Act.”

    He lauded authorities for apprehending and penalising the person for his crime within a day of illegally hunting this “rare and beautiful Monal Pheasant”.

    https://twitter.com/IsbZooFriends/status/1324018955330224130?s=20

    According to details, the Himalayan Monal is a pheasant native to Himalayan forests and shrublands. It is native to the KP province and has been recorded in Kaghan, Palas Valley, and Azad Kashmir. The main threat to the species is poaching, as the crest is valuable. It is thought to bring status to its wearer and is a symbol of authority.

    Read more – Rare striped hyena rescued in DI Khan

    Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and senior PML-N leader Khawaja Asif condemned the act of illegal hunting the rare bird.

    “So upsetting,” said Fawad, while Asif called the act “despicable”.