TIMERGARA: A walk was held here on Tuesday to create awareness among people about dengue. Lower Dir deputy commissioner Mohammad Ayaz led the walk organised by Relief International, a non-governmental organisation, in collaboration with the local health department.

Government officials, representatives of different NGOs and elders participated in the walk, who marched on the road from the DC office to the press club chowk.

They were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans about cleanliness.

The participants distributed pamphlets among the passers-by and passengers on the road.

Later, briefing journalists deputy commissioner Mr Ayaz and district health officer Dr Mohammad Rahman Shaheen said that the administration would take steps to prevent outbreak of dengue in the district. They said an isolated ward consisting of all necessary arrangements had been set up at the district headquarters hospital, Timergara.

The DHO said that an entomologist would be posted to the DHQ hospital to deal with any emergency situation.

Mr Rahman said the people who got their dengue test positive should consult doctors at the earliest to eliminate the disease at the preliminary stage. He said dengue patients should be given juices.

Acting deputy commissioner Mohammad Ayaz asked representatives of civil society, teachers and media men to join hands with the administration to prevent outbreak of dengue in the district.

The officials said that awareness sessions would also be held in schools.

SPORTS: An inter-departmental sports gala began at the University of Malakand on Tuesday. The vice chancellor inaugurated the competitions during a function.

Speaking on the occasion, he said a healthy society could be created through sports. `We should build more playgrounds to discourage drug addicts and other social evils,` he added.

RALLY: The Jamiat Tulba Islam, JUI`s students` wing, on Tuesday took out `Tahaffuz-i-Dini Madaris` rally. District president Qari Ubaidullah, general secretary Bakht Sardar and Maulana Nabi Shah addressed the rally. They blamed the west for defaming the religious seminaries and said that seminaries were the symbols of peace, harmony, brotherhood and development.