PESHAWAR - The paramedic staff of district Peshawar have expressed grave concern over delay in disbursement of honorary to polio campaigners for the last five rounds, demanding release of stipend to volunteers before next round of anti-polio drive.
Addressing a press conference here at the press club on Wednesday, Para Medical Association district Peshawar chapter President Anwar Safi said the authorities concerned were yet to release the honorary to paramedical staffs and volunteers.  He said that the staff and volunteers were punctually took part in the last five rounds of polio immunisation campaign, despite security threats. But, he said the high-ups had turned blind eyes towards this issue, which was totally injustice with them.
Flanked by the Association GS Zakir Yousafzai, Vice President Syed Mubarak Shah, paramedic staffs and volunteers, he informed that more than 350 areas in- supervisors were engaged to carry out polio drive in Peshawar. Besides, he said that a team of 4,500 volunteers also performed duties in this campaign. Safi further said that the authorities of Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) had fixed Rs4.7 million for per round.  He viewed that it was sheer injustice with the campaigners by not disbursing honorary at proper time despite severe security threats and challenges in the polio eradication campaign.
He said that the government was yet to announce compensation amount to deceased families of two workers, including Farzana and Hilal, who had killed during the anti-polio drive in district Peshawar, demanding announcement of compensation money for their relatives.
He also demanded the government that police and security agencies should take appropriate steps for provision of foolproof security to paramedics staff and volunteers during the drive.
Parties urged to include
agri reforms in manifestos
Khyber Pakthunkhwa Agriculture Chamber Vice President Muhammad Zahir Khan Wardaga has demanded from the leadership of all mainstream political parties to include agriculture reforms in its elections manifesto with an objective to increase per acre production and get autarky in food.
“Pakistan is an agriculture country and about 70 percent people of  Khyber Pakthunkhwa are associated with agriculture sector. We demand from the leadership of all mainstream political parties to include agriculture reforms in their election manifesto and inform masses and farmers about their future programs as for as agriculture is concerned,” Wardaga who is also President of Model Farms Services Charsadda told reporters in Charsadda district on Wednesday.
In election manifesto, he said, most of the political parties have promised provision of quality education, better health & communication services, employment opportunities and socio-economic, electricity reforms and improvement of law and order but unfortunately no proper attention was made to agriculture reforms despite Pakistan is being an agriculture country.
“The atmosphere of Khyber Pakthunkhwa is very ideal for cultivation of seasonal crops, fruits, vegetable and our scientists and farmers could take best advantage of it subject to introduction and implementation of reforms for bolstering of agriculture sector,” he maintained.