LAKKI MARWAT: Karak deputy commissioner Sahibzada Samiullah has asked the MOL Pakistan Oil and Gas Company to arrange anti-leishmaniasis injections for the health department to enable it to contain the prevalence of the disease caused by the bite of infected sand flies.

Speaking at a meeting held at his office on Monday, he said that the disease was rapidly spreading in severalparts ofthe districtand there was the dire need to launch prompt efforts to contain it.

`The anti-leishmaniasis drugs are out of the reach of people due to its shortage and high prices in the open market,` he said.

The district health officials and representatives of MOL were in attendance.

Mr Samiullah said that the provision of injections would prove helpfulin stopping the spread of leishmaniasis in the district.

He also asked the representatives of the company to provide ambulances so that precious human lives could be saved in emergency situations and accidents.

On March 29, the health authorities had brought into the notice of the district administration the shortage and high prices of antileishmaniasis injections in the market.

The additional deputy commissioner had assured them of taking up the issue with MOL for provision of 5,000 injections in the firstphase so that the treatment of affected people could be launched immediately.

Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner banned the sale of pocket guides and cheating material and operation of photocopier machines within 100 yards limit of the examination centres for a period of 30 days in Karak district.

An official said the presence of outsiders and unauthorised persons and gathering of more than five people within 100 yards of the examination halls had also been restricted during the paper timing till the culmination of the matriculation examination.

He said the restrictions had been imposed to discourage unfair interference and ensure smooth conduct of the secondary school certificate examination commencing from Tuesday (today).

Also, the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Bannu, has postponed the SSC examination in North Waziristan district, said the controller of examinations on Monday.

In a statement available on the official Facebook page of the educational board, he said the SSC examination commencing from today (April 8) had been postponed in North Waziristan for a few days.

He cited the convenience of students and well-being of supervisory staff as the reasons for postponement of the examination.

`The new date will be announced later,` he added.