TIMERGARA: Qaumi Watan Party senior vice president Balcht Baidar Khan on Saturday urged health department officials posted to his constituency to dedicate themselves to the service of the poor people by doing duty diligently.

He was addressing a public meeting after the inauguration of a thalassemia ward at the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Chakdara.

The Tanzeem Olasi Khair Khegara, a local not-for-profit organisation working for the welfare of thalassemia patients.

District health officer Lower Dir Dr Rehman Shaheen, Medical Superintendent of the THQ Hospital Chakdara Dr Baseer, assistant commissioner Adenzal Zahid Pervez Warraich, DSP Hidayatullah Khan, and social and political workers attended the function.

The QWP leader said health sector in LowerDir had improved due to the intervention of a nongovernmental organisation, Merlin, in the district.

He asked the officials of health department to dedicate themselves to the service of the poor people.

Bakht appreciated the role of Merlin and said the organisation had helped enhance service delivery, including distribution of free medicines to patients.

Olasi Khair Khegara chairman Javed Rehman, patron-in-chief Mohammad Saeed and office-bearer Dr Mohammad Rahim said their organisation had been helping out thalassemia patients in Rawalpindi and Peshawar.

They said the organisation was collecting blood donation from its volunteers for thalassemia patients and that patients admitted to hospitals for the treatment of thalassemia were given free blood bags.

EXAM SCHEDULE: The Board of Intermediate and Secondary EducationMalakand on Saturday announced schedule for the Secondary School Certificate Examination 2015.

According to a BISE Malakand announcement, the SSC annual examination will begin on March 19 instead of March 12 and intermediate examination from March 29.

The last date for submission of admission forms has also been extended to Jan 23.

Meanwhile, the BISE Malakand and the Pakistan Science Foundation will jointly organise 24th intra-board science and poster competition in which high schools will participate.

The board secretary asked heads of all high schools to produce essays and posters by the students by Jan 20.

HOUSE GUTTED: A big fire broke out in a house at Qallagai Darra destroying three rooms.

No damage to human life was reported. Local residents and police said the fire broke out due to the electrical short-circuiting.