Education, training prerequisite for developing nation: Governor

Source Frontier Post

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Engineer Shaukatullah has said that being developing nation, education and training of new generation in line with the present day needs is must. 
In this age of competitiveness, he added, our youth must be fully abreast to information technology; having complete command on latest scientific knowledge and expertise in respective professions.
Addressing as the chief guest at the 48th Parents Day ceremony of the Cadet College, Kohat at its premises on Saturday, the Governor who himself is an ex-Kohatians for stressed that it is also the best service to the nation and the best way to secure a respectable berth amongst the comity of nations as well.
The Government, Governor pointed out, is quite conscious of the ground factors in this respect and every possible steps will be taken to ensure better future of the country to fulfill the aspirations of the nation. Cadet Aftab Ahmad clinched both the coveted awards of being Best Student and the Best Cadet of the year while the Iqbal House was honoured with the Governor\'s Champion Trophy Newly established two prizes with Rs.0.1 million each; the Niagra 
Excellence Awards by US based ex-Kohatians were clinched by Cadet Kashif Nadir and Cadet Kashan Shahid. The Governor also witnessed a well prepared and attractive exhibition of the scientific creations of cadets. The ceremony was largely attended by senior military and civil officers, besides parents of the cadets.
Congratulating the parents of the cadets, the Governor said, role of quality institutions is of great importance in materializing of their aspirations possible. The Cadet College, Kohat, he added, is providing capable and determined leadership not only to the armed forces but in every discipline of life too and its role in all respects must be a matter of great pride for all of us. Pointing towards cadets, the Governor said that they are the precious assets and future of the nation and their glorious successes are indeed the result of the hectic efforts and sacrifices of their parents and faculty members and credit goes to this institution. 
He expressed the confidence that the graduates will maintain the level of achievements in their future pursuits too. Appreciating the quality of March past, gymnastic displays, horse riding and tent pigging and the expertise and competence of cadets in making this possible, the Governor remarked, their well acclaimed performance is truly reflection of the quality of both academic and non-academic pursuits which they have been availing at the campus of this esteemed institution. 
The Governor also announced a grant of Rs. one million on his own behalf for the college. He also promised to provide a set of equipments to help the management in strengthening computer laboratories of the institution.
Earlier, the Principal of the College, Brig. (R) Inamul Haq welcoming the Governor and the guests highlighted the salient features of the achievements of the college and said that their institution has maintained it credit of being best institution by clinching all the top positions of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Edication, Kohat.

NHA taking steps to rehabilitate Kohat-Lakki section of N-55

Source Pakistan Observer

Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - Islamabad—Some stretches of Indus Highway (N-55) on Kohat-Lakki Marwat section are in bad condition and National Highway Authority (NHA) was taking all possible measures to maintain the stretches.

An official of the NHA said on Monday that one per cent of Kohat-Lakki Marwat section of N-55 was in good condition, 39 pc in fair condition, 39 pc in poor condition and 17 pc in very poor condition.

He said after G.T. Road (N-5), Indus Highway (N-55) was the second most important north-south artery which reduced distance between Karachi-Peshawar by around 400 km as compared to N-5. He said NHA is now converting this road into a dual carriageway.

Work on Sehwan-Ratodero section which forms an integral part of the National Trade Corridor, commenced in Dec-2010 at a cost of Rs 14 billion, he added. He said that the condition of existing road was unsatisfactory particularly for freight traffic and the volume of traffic necessitatedprovision of a dual carriageway.

The NHA official said that the project envisages an additional 2-lane (7.3 m) carriageway with shoulders (1-3 m) on either side. Project will enhance road safety/efficiency and reduce vehicle operating cost. On completion of this project, the existing road would be rehabilitated.

To a question, he said that various sections of Indus Highway were damaged during flood 2010.The immediate restoration works were carried out to open the road for traffic.

Rehabilitation and reconstruction works are being executed time to time subject to finalization of procurement and availability of funds.

The Indus Highway, also known as N-55, a 1,264 km long four-lane highway that runs along the Indus River in Pakistan connecting Karachi with Peshawar via D.G.Khan. 

In 1980, the Indus Highway was proposed to provide an alternative and shorter route to the heavily used N-5 and to also aid the development of western Sindh province and eastern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Construction of N-55 began in 1981 from Karachi and it was completed in 1985. National Highway Authority is attaching high priority to early completion of its road projects with special emphasis on Gwadar linkages.

According to Radio Pakistan quoting the official sources of NHA that it is maintaining 4,565 kilometres in Balochistan. To a question he said that a total length of new road projects in the province is 3713 kilometres, which will be completed at cost of, US $911 million. The RCD Highway is 813 kilometres long, passing through Karachi, Bela, Khuzdar, Kalat, Quetta and Chaman to Afghanistan.—APP

Normalcy returns to Kohat

Source Business Recorder

The normalcy was returned to district Kohat, after lifting of a curfew, imposed by local administration due to sectarian clashes in the part of the district a two-day ago. As tension de-escalated, curfew was lifted in Kohat town of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The shops, business centres, private and public educational institutes were opened and people are busy in routine activities, the official added. 

However‚ the official said the section 144 would continue to remain in place, prohibiting holding of public meetings and processions in the area. The local administration has also banned pillion-riding on motorbikes. Security has been put on high alert to cope with any untoward situation following Monday's armed clashes and riots in Kohat and Hangu which left four people dead. 

The curfew was imposed in Kohat on November 18, following a clash near Imambargah Said Habib in the Zargaran bazaar area of Kohat district, lifted in the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to District Police Officer, Salim Marwat. He said the situation in Kohat city comes back to normalcy and under control. Hundreds of shops were also set on fire in Kohat's Tera bazaar, prompting the local administration to enforce curfew in Hangu and Kohat. 

According to the Kohat administration, pillion riding and rallies will remain banned until further notice. The personnel of police and law enforcement agencies were seen patrolling in sensitive areas, while the shops, business centres, private and public educational institutes were also opened and people are busy in routine activities, the official added. 

During the clashes near Imambargahs in Kohat, three people, including two policemen and a civilian, had killed. Moreover, several others were also injured in the clash. An angry mob of a religious group had set a number of shops on fire in Tera bazaar. The police officials said that activists of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, a religious group, were carrying out a protest against the recent violence in Rawalpindi when they clashed with a rival group near the Imambargah which led to the trouble and the protesters set ablaze some shops. Following the exchange of fire, protesters also set ablaze a number of shops in Tirah bazaar and tension mounted. 

The official said a Jirga comprising elders of both Sunni and Shia sects that met with Government authorities on Tuesday at DC Office assured full co-operation in maintaining law and order situation in Kohat. He said strict action would be taken against elements involved in clashes. 

Later, the army was called in to take control of the cities of Kohat and Hangu while a curfew was imposed. Earlier on November 19, Commissioner Kohat Syed Jamaluddin had also convened a meeting of clerics and elders belonging to both sects to defuse tension. Participants of the meeting from both sides had agreed to take action against those involved in the clashes, the administration said. Furthermore, the meeting had also decided to constitute a 26-member committee for establishing law and order in the region. The jirga is to be jointly headed by former chief justice of Peshawar High Court Ibne Ali and former MNA Javed Ibraheem Paracha. 

one dead body found in kohat

Source Express Tribune

The body of a teenage girl was found in a gunny bag at Bama graveyard on the outskirts of Kohat city. A Saddar police official said a blood-soaked gunny bag was found in the graveyard by residents. Police reached the site and shifted the body to the station for identification and then to Liaqat Memorial Hospital, Kohat for an autopsy. It was learned that the deceased had been attacked with sharp blades.

A case was filed against unidentified assailants and investigation is underway.

Exams postponed in Hangu, Kohat

Source The News

KOHAT: FA and FSc exams have been postponed in Kohat and Hangu till November 29 due to the law and order situation.

According to the controller examinations Kohat, exams in Parachinar and Karak will be held as per schedule.

The Kohat University has also been closed down by the administration for an indefinite period.

On Monday, three people including policemen were killed in clashes between two groups in Kohat. Several shops were also burnt in the city leading to the imposition of curfew. A curfew imposed in Hangu was lifted as the security situation improved in the city.

Kohat police arrested five suspects

At least five suspects were arrested in Kohat on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in violence a day earlier which claimed three lives, including those of two cops, and caused destruction of public property in Zargaran Bazaar and Tirah Bazaar areas.

According to an official release issued by the office of Inspector General Police Peshawar, seven rifles, a machine gun and three pistols were recovered from the arrested suspects.

Following the violence on Monday, the army was called in to take control of the cities of Kohat and Hangu while a curfew was imposed.

Police also claimed to have arrested two people for hate speech whereas eight others were taken into custody for alleged involvement in anti-state activities.

Earlier today, Commissioner Kohat Syed Jamaluddin convened a meeting of clerics and elders belonging to both sects to defuse tension.

Participants of the meeting from both sides agreed to take action against those involved in the clashes, the administration said.

Furthermore, the meeting also decided to constitute a 26-member committee for establishing law and order in the region.

Speaking to Dawn.com, Jamaluddin said that the grand jirga has agreed to resolve the dispute between the two groups.

The commissioner also said that the curfew would be eased for a 2-hour time window today from 3 pm to 5 pm.

Some officials said it was likely that the curfew may be lifted by 7 am on Wednesday morning.

The IGP also directed authorities to collect the CCTV footage of the incident for further investigations.

Following the jirga, the security forces arrested the accused and started an investigation.

Moreover, the district administration of Hangu announced that the curfew was relaxed in the district and that the law and order situation was under control of authorities.

Markets and shops were open today whereas the ban on pillion riding remained in effect in the district.

Two victims of Kohat incident identified

Source Business Recorder

Two persons who were killed in firing incident in Kohat district have been identified here on Monday.

According to Police, constable Noor Muhammad, resident of Kohat and Khair Rehman resident of Kurram Agency were killed and three others injured when unknown miscreants opened firing on a group of people in Kohat bazaar.

Later, the infuriated people set ablaze few shops at Tirah market and burnt tyres. To maintain law and order, curfew has been imposed in Kohat and people were asked to remain in homes.