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World T.B. day held in Chitral

By Zahiruddin

CHITRAL: The district T.B. control office held a seminar here on Tuesday in connection with world T.B. day to highlight the activities of the department to eradicate the deadly diseases from the backward district of Chitral and the role to be played by the different sections of the society. Addressing on the occasion, the district T.B. control officer Dr. Noorul Islam said that Chitral is the first district in the province to achieve the millennium development goal (MDG) set by the world body of health for controlling the disease. He said that over the last two years, the number of T.B. patients has dropped abysmally due to the efficient and prompt handing of the district control office. He said that that keeping in view the indicators of the disease, the government conferred the first prize on the district in recognition of its services. He stressed on the people of different walks of life to extend helping hand to the department to control and then eradicate the disease. Addressing on the occasion, the district nazim Maghfirat Shah eulogized the district T.B. office for its achievements and assured the full-fledged support of the district government. He also lauded the efforts of Aga Khan Health Service for its support to the health department of the government to fight the diseases of tuberculosis. He said that during the past three-and-half years of the district government, the district government has rendered greatest services in the health sector of development. Enumerating the achievements of the government, he said that the up gradation of the DHQ hospital to B category, the construction of women’s and children hospital, the handing over of the twenty one basic health units of the district to the President Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) for their improvement were the salient achievements. On this occasion, the EDO of health department Dr. Sher Qayum also expressed his view about the importance of the day.
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The elders of Kalash valleys want marking of the forest

By Zahiruddin

CHITRAL: The residents of the Kalash valleys Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur have demanded of the government to go ahead with its of harvesting the old trees of the forest on commercial scale and also transport the wind fallen trees to the timber market. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, the elites of the valleys Kalash member of the zilla council Bahram Shah, Saifullah Jan Kalash, Barat Khan, Unat Bag, Wazir Kalash, Bachhara Khan, Fazle Karim Hamdard, Kachop Khan and others said that the forest adjoining the three valleys of Kalash are full of old trees which need replacement to provide space for the nourishment of the saplings. They said that the old and dried logs of wood in the forest catch fire in the summer season and inflict loss on it. They said that the breaking out of fire in the valleys forests takes place frequently in the summer season and burns to ashes hundreds of precious deodar trees. The elders said that the residents of the valleys are fully aware of the importance of their forests and will not allow any one to over-harvest it. They said that they were united the banner of joint forest management committee (JFMC) in liaison with the forest department to protect the forest and the harvesting and then the transportation of the timber will be supervised by the body. They said that the government has authorized the JFMC members to divide the income accrued from the commercial cutting of the forest among the royalty holders of the forest. They categorically refuted the allegation of a PPP leader from Ayun named Zahir Shah opposing the transportation of the fallen trees from the forests of the Kalash valleys. They alleged that the person is not sincere to the Kalash community but he has his own self-interests in opposing the cutting of the forest. They asked the chief minister not to pay heed to the demands of such outsider elements but order the forest department authoirities to implement its working plan. The Kalash elders warned that further delay in the implementation of the deicison will prove disastrous both for the poor people of the valleys and the government.