Taxes in merged regions slammed as unfair

LOWER DIR: Mazloom Awami Tehreek Pakistan chairman Sadiq Khan Achakzai on Saturday called for greater unity among Pakhtuns, saying internal divisions had contributed to a range of difficulties facing the community.

Speaking at a news conference at the Chakdara Press Club during a visit to Lower Dir, Mr Achakzai said his party’s manifesto focused on restoring peace across the country, securing a dignified life for citizens and supporting oppressed communities. He said the unity shown by Pakhtuns during the recent effort to recover a girl in Peshawar was noteworthy.

Mr Achakzai said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Malakand division, was rich in mineral resources, but those resources had not benefited local populations because of what he described as a lack of collective resolve and ownership. He said many young people had been compelled to leave their area in search of work despite the region’s natural wealth.

He also said the area’s extensive mineral resources could change the lives of residents, but lamented that local communities had little control over them. Mr Achakzai criticised the imposition of taxes in the merged districts and Malakand division, calling the measure unjust in view of the socioeconomic hardships residents were already facing.

After the news conference, he left for the Wari area in Upper Dir along with his associates.

Seminar highlights HIV and hepatitis risks

Separately, speakers at an awareness seminar in Timergara said HIV and hepatitis B and C were silent yet preventable diseases, and stressed that timely awareness and precautionary steps could substantially curb their spread. The seminar was organised by a private hospital.

The speakers identified unsafe blood transfusions, contaminated syringes, unsterilised surgical tools and other unsafe medical practices as major sources of transmission. They urged healthcare workers and beauty salon staff to strictly observe hygiene and sterilisation standards.

They also advised the public to ensure blood was screened before transfusions and to get vaccinated against hepatitis B. According to the speakers, the number of registered HIV-positive patients in Lower Dir has crossed 400, while registered HIV cases in Pakistan have exceeded 84,000.

The participants said stronger public awareness and early diagnosis were needed, adding that awareness remained the most effective means of preventing the spread of these diseases.