Concern over robberies CHARSADDA, Dec 1: The Muttahidda shopkeepers` federation on Sunday expressed concern over the growing incidents of robberies in the district particularly in Charsadda city and Sar Dheri.

Speaking at a meeting here, the office-bearers of the federation warned to stage sit-ins, hunger strike camps and shutdown protests if the alarming situation continued. The traders also decided to hold meeting with the concerned police officials in this respect.

They alleged that rampant increase in incidents of street crimes was a glaring example of absence of government writ in the district.

They regretted that growing attacks on traders had ruined business activities in the district.

They demanded of the authorities to ensure protection of the traders.-Correspondent Young man`s body found MANSEHRA, Dec 1: Body of a young man was found in a forest in Pulrah area here the other day.

Mohammad Khalid, 20, went to Chumba forest to bring firewood, but he didn`t return which worried his family. His relatives started searching for him. However, they found his body in the forest.

The body was handed over to family after autopsy at a local hospital.

The Pulrah police after registering FIR stated investigation to trace cause of his death.-Correspondent Pulmonary diseases PESHAWAR, Dec 1: Chief Executive of Lady Reading Hospital Professor Arshad Javed has said that chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases were very common not only in Pakistan but the world over after the age of 40.

Mr Javed, who is also head of the pulmonology department of LRH, said that such diseases were the fourth leading cause of deaths among people worldwide.

`According to WHO, more than 500,000 deaths were caused every year by chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases,` he added.

He was speaking at a seminar organised jointly by Pakistan Chest Society, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, and International Primary Care Respiratory Group, Pakistan chapter, on Sunday.

Professor Javed stated that chronic illness led to shortness of breath, cough with expectoration, whistling of chest, and inability to walk or exert through life.

He further stated that the leading causes were tobacco use, smoke inside homes, air pollution and use of wood by female inside poorly ventilated houses at hilly and rural areas.-Bureau Report Bakers asked to maintain hygiene TIMERGARA, Dec 1: President of Anjuman-i-Tajaran, Timergara Haji Anwaruddin on Sunday asked bakery owners and their staff to observe cleanliness in their outlets and maintain quality and quantity of products.

Addressing an oath taking ceremony of all bakers and sweets association, Lower Dir, he said that bakeries had an important role in protecting people`s health.

He said the union would help resolve problems of bakers in the district.

The traders` body president said during British era there was no bakery shop in Dir and people had to travel to Mardan and Peshawar for buying sweets and other related items. `Now we have a lot of bakeries in Lower Dir, but they need improvement,` said Mr Anwar.

Later, Anwaruddin administered oath to the newly elected cabinet members of the all bakers association.Correspondent Surgeons seek regularisation TIMERGARA, Dec 1: Provincial leader of the ad hoc dental surgeons action committee Dr Zakiuddin on Sunday demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to regularise services of all the ad hoc dental surgeons in the province as per an apex court decision.

Speaking at a news conference here he said the previous government had terminated 250 ad hoc dental surgeons after which they moved the apex court.

He said the court decided in their favour and ordered the government to restore and regularise them. `But despite the court verdict the present government is taking delaying tactics in this regard, depriving them of their due rights,` said Mr Zakiuddin.

He demanded of the government to implement the court decision and regularise their services.-Correspondent Mutilated body of girl found MANSEHRA, Dec 1: Mutilated body of a minor girl, who had been buried under the rubble during October 8, 2005 devastating earthquake, was found in Balakot on Sunday.

Labourers found the body of the girl while digging a flattened house in Garlat to make way for fresh construction.

The local people told reporters that sex of the victim was established through her clothes.

The family of the victim had left Balakot following the tragedy which claimed more than 30,000 lives alone in Balakot and Garlat union councils of Balakot tehsil. The body was later buried in a local graveyard.-Correspondent Teaching of mother languages PESHAWAR, Dec 1: Gandhara Hindko Board has urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textbook Board to expedite and implement the plan to introduce teaching of mother languages at schools.

The made was made at a meeting attended by the executive committee members of the organisation, according to a press release issued here on Sunday.

The participants recalled that the previous ANP-led coalition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had announced to introduce the teaching of mother languages at school level.

`It was decided that steps will be taken to introduce teaching of Pashto, Hindko, Seraiki, Khowar and Kohistani at school level by making these languages part of the curriculum. Subsequently, some steps were launched by assigning the task to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textbook Board, but unfortunately, the work is going on at a very slow place, said the press release while quoting those who attended the meeting.

The meeting said the textbook board should consult the relevant literary organisations to carry forward the task.Bureau Report Call to reopen Lowari tunnel CHITRAL, Dec 1: MPA from Chitral Salim Khan on Sunday asked the National Highways and Motorways Authority chairman to keep the Lowari tunnel open for public transport after the closure of Lowari top road due to snowfall.

Talking to Dawn over telephone, he said that he had apprised the NHA chairman of the inconvenience faced by the people due to the closure of the tunnel.

Mr Khan said that the official had assured him to open the tunnel for public transport in consultation with the Korean construction company.-Correspondent