OUR CORRESPONDENT
KOHAT: Adviser to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information and Public Relations Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Saif has said that restoring peace and eliminating terrorism remain the province’s biggest challenges, urging the federal government to devise a joint strategy with the Afghan government to address cross-border issues on a permanent basis.
Speaking in a special program “Parmakhtag” at Pakhtunkhwa Radio Kohat during his visit to the Regional Information Office, Dr. Saif said the provincial government is taking strict measures to combat internal terrorism, noting that peace is essential for development. He announced that each police station’s Station House Officer (SHO) would be provided with a bulletproof vehicle, starting from districts worst affected by the terrorism, while police training is also being upgraded on modern lines.
On the Afghan refugees issue, Dr. Saif cautioned against forced repatriation, stressing that Afghan nationals have invested billions of rupees in Pakistan and their sudden expulsion could negatively impact the economy.
Regarding flood rehabilitation efforts, he said the Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had ensured timely support for the victims, with Rs.6 billion already released and cash assistance doubled. He added that the chief minister himself is monitoring the process, with commendable support from the federal government, elected representatives and the administration.
Dr. Saif also pointed to climate change as a global issue disproportionately affecting Pakistan, urging the federal government to build more dams to store water and address energy challenges. On social media misuse, he said tackling disinformation and fake news is the federal government’s responsibility, calling for greater empowerment of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Earlier, upon arrival at the Regional Information Office Kohat, Dr. Saif was warmly received by the Regional Information Officer Irshad Afridi and Pakhtunkhwa Radio Station Manager Engineer Dr. Athar Suri along with staff, who presented him with bouquets. He lauded the role of the Regional Office and Radio in raising public awareness, calling media a vital platform for outreach.
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