Courses on tourism

MINGORA, June 27: For promotion of tourism and preservation of historical sites in district Swat, the University of Swat has announced short courses in tour guiding, hotel management, tourism management, events management and cultural heritage.

A press release issued here on Thursday stated that the Institute of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Hospitality University of Swat would start short courses from July 15, 2013, under its skill development programme.

The spokesman of the university said the short courses would be helpful for the people working in the field of tourism and added that the last date for submission of admission forms is July 5.

Meanwhile, a married woman committed suicide in Kanju Township here on Thursday.

Wife of Riaz allegedly fired a bullet into her head and died on the spot. Her body was shifted to Saidu Sharif Hospital for postmortem. Police have registered a case and started investigation. —Correspondent

Embroidery exhibition

PESHAWAR, June 27: A day-long exhibition of embroidery samples prepared by female trainees from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) was held here on Thursday.

A press release issued here said the exhibition was jointly organised by AHAN (AiK Hunar Aik Nagar), a company established by government and Fata Development Authority (FDA).

The embroidery samples were prepared by 35 female beneficiaries from Fata who participated in a training programme jointly arranged by AHAN and FDA by conducting Training of the Trainers (TOT) project, said Syed Zahid Ali Shah, Regional AHAN.

The exhibition, he said, was arranged to introduce these Fata trainees and their work to the public in general and organisations working in the field of enterprise development in particular.

The exhibited items include embroidered bed sheets, cushions, sofa throws, kitchen sets and dresses which have been developed by the targeted beneficiaries during the course of the project. —Bureau Report

Technical board declares result

PESHAWAR, June 27: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Technical Education has declared annual results of diploma in commerce and diploma in business administration here on Thursday.

A press release issued by the technical board says: “The board declares result of diploma in commerce and diploma in business administration part-I, part-II annual examination 2013. Total 12,401 candidates appeared in accounts, office secretarial, banking and shorthand groups of diploma in commerce, out of which 7,072 candidates have been declared successful and thus the pass percentage is 57.03 per cent.

A total of 933 candidates appeared in diploma in business administration out of which 459 candidates were declared successful, thus the pass percentage was 49.20 per cent, the press release said. —Bureau Report

Walk against drug abuse

KOHAT, June 27: A walk for creating awareness against drug abuse was held here on Thursday in the main bazaar.

The organiser and participants of the event were carrying placards and banners with slogans against drug use. They said that most of the drug abusers today were sheesha smokers.

They regretted that the number of addicts was increasing with the passage of every passing day and it was the responsibility of all the sections of society to work for weeding it out.

The organiser, Essar Ali, said that the drug abuse did not affect a single person or a family but the whole society. —Correspondent

Police darbar

NOWSHERA, June 27: Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema, inspector general, National Highways & Motorway Police, has asked the patrolling officers to protect and fight for the dignity and nobility of their institution.

He was addressing a police darbar at Khairabad near Nowshera on G.T. Road.

He said that NH&MP was such an institution every police officer in Pakistan felt proud of. He directed the patrolling officers to ensure strict enforcement of law and lane discipline on the motorway and G.T. Road. He also passed directions to provide complete safety and security to the commuters at all times.

He warned that if any officer from top to bottom was found involved in corruption, he would be expelled from service. He said that it was the prime responsibility of NH&MP in providing safe and secure travelling environment to road users. —Correspondent

Awareness against narcotics

KHAR, June 27: Bajaur Agency Political Agent Syed Abdul Jabar Shah has asked the tribal elders, ulema, civil society organisations and students to organise special campaigns to create awareness about drug abuse.

Addressing a function here the other day on the International Day against Drug Abuse at Khar, he said his administration was committed to eliminating drugs business in the agency.

Tribal elders, ulema, social activists, students, representatives of non-governmental organisations and local officials were in attendance.Mr Shah said his administration had banned poppy cultivation in the region.

He said soon a special awareness campaign would be launched to discourage drug abuse in the agency.

Tribal elders, religious scholars and social activists also addressed the function and highlighted the bad effects of drugs. —Correspondent

Filtration plants

KOHAT, June 27: Filtration plants installed in Kohat district with millions of rupees are lying dysfunctional for want of maintenance.

The ministry of initiatives had executed the project in 2007 under the water for all initiative.

Officials said that though ministry of initiatives had been devolved to the provinces, its control still lied with the federal government.

They said water in filtration plants had been contaminated as they had long been abandoned.

They said relevant department had also removed taps from these plants.

They said the main plant was installed in cantonment which had been declared no go area for civilians for the last several years due to security reasons.

They said the maintenance cost of these plants was so huge that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had not included it in the next year’s Annual Development Programme.

They said millions of rupees had been wasted on the project.

They said of the total 1,013 proposed plants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa only 236 had been installed which were also not in working condition. —Correspondent