Service open forum held at Birir village of Kalash valley for redresses public issues.

Service open forum held at Birir village of Kalash valley for redresses public issues.

By Gul Hamaad Farooqi

CHITRAL: Service Open Forum (Kuli Katchery) held at scenic village of Birir at Kalash valley. Deputy Commissioner Chitral Khurshid Alam Mahsood, Assistant Commissioner Sajid Nawaz, heads of all line departments were present on the occasion who were listening complaints of public and were deserving services on the spot.

Elected Nazimeen and chairman village councils complaints in their welcome address that road to the valley is in very dilapidated condition. There is only one civil dispensary  which should to be up-graded in Basic Health Unit. They complained that there is no sale point of wheat from food department. Non local people using timber from local forest. They demanded for up-gradation of high school to higher secondary one.

Local people complained that due to no lady doctor in the whole valley they are compelled to took their women patients especially during delivery cases to hospital at Chitral who often expire on their way before hospital.

They complained of damaged irrigation channel and demanded for its construction because due to no canal their agriculture land badly affecting. The demanded for increasing and approval of special quota in recruitment for Kalash community in all departments.

Qazi and religious leaders of Kalash community presented traditional gifts to guest by wearing them a cloak of shining cloth. They demanded for establishment of Computer lab at the only High school of Birir.

Addressing on the occasion Deputy Commissioner Chitral  said that on the directive of provincial  government they will held two service open forum  at every part of Chitral. DC announced for immediately arranging of computer lab in the school. He said that lady health visitor and other staff will be posted here immediately in CD. DC also assured for giving preference to Kalash community in recruitment.

District Food controller said that he can provide wheat on cash payment but local complained that in past expire and substandard quality wheat had been sent here.

DC, AC, DEO and other officers distributed free bags, books, stationery and sweet, with dry milk among the students.

At last they also planted sapling in plantation drive by elder women of Kalash community for ownership among them. There were also some stalls of different exhibition like books, wild life, Rescue 1122, veterinary and animal husbandry etc. A free medical camp was also held during the service open forum in which doctors examined 105 patients and given them free medicines. Dr Gulzar children specialist, Dr Farruh, Dr Farooq, Dr Rasheed and Dr Shoukat participated in free medical camp.

Saleema Afzal community development officer of forest department told this scribe that they involving women folk in afforestation campaign to save and protect forest. Women are must in community participation. Later on DC also visited school and civil dispensary  of Birir and given cash prizes to some students. He also strictly directed District health officer Dr Israrullah to arrange a LHV and staff in the only CD of Birir where already labor room existing.

Some Kalash women expressed their pleasure on arranging of this open forum. Dr Farruh Javed told this scribe that she examined 60 patients of pedestrian and there is nutrition deficiency in the area which need focusing of the authority.