LANDI KOTAL: The district administration has abolished at least seven checkposts along Peshawar-Torkham Highway with immediate effect to provide relief to the transporters and discourage illegal taxes being sought from the truckers carrying export goods to Afghanistan.
A notification issued from Khyber House on Sunday said that Deputy Commissioner Mehmud Aslam Wazir has ordered a crackdown on the khasadars involved in fleecing transporters at the checkposts.
The abolished checkposts include Naray Khwar, Qambarabad and Jahazono ground checkposts in Bara; Prang Sam and Jamrud Adda in Jamrud; and Charwazgai and Shaheed Mor checkposts in Landi Kotal.
Mr Wazir also issued suspension orders of Jamrud Khasadar line officer after receiving complaints about misuse of his official authority and ordered an inquiry against him.
The notification warned all the Khasadar and Levies personnel posted at the remaining checkposts to desist from taking illegal money from the transporters.
The deputy commissioner announced installation of solar-powered close circuit television cameras at all the checkposts to keep a vigil on the activities of Khasadar and Levies personnel.
He also directed assistant commissioners and political tehsildars of Bara, Jamrud and Landi kotal to pay regular visits to the checkposts in their respective jurisdictions on daily basis and submit to him a daily report about the conduct of the Khasadar and Levies personnel.
The administration also displayed posters at all the checkposts for the convenience of both transporters and local residents to register their complaints on specified telephone numbers.
It also warned of strict action against those transporters and traders, who were found guilty of paying bribes to the Khasadar or Levies officials at any checkpoint.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had in June last year ordered abolition of Agency Development Fund through a circular issued from the office of chief secretary to the deputy commissioners of all the seven tribal districts.
There were, however, complaints about involvement of khasadars in seeking illegal taxes at the checkposts.
Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner also suspended the services of nine lady health workers for negligence during the recently concluded anti-polio vaccination.
An official statement said that an inquiry was also ordered against the suspended lady health workers.
The statement said that the Khyber district administration was taking emergency steps for prevention of polio in the district and no laxity from any quarter would be tolerated.
All the district officials along with polio workers have been advised to fully concentrate on their official responsibilities. They have been warned of strict action in case of negligence.
Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2019
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