LANDI KOTAL: MNA from Bara sub-division of Khyber Agency, Mohammad Nasir, has said that Bara bazaar would be reopened next month after gradual replacement of Frontier Corps personnel with local Khasadar force at different checkposts.

He was speaking at a gathering of local elders, students and activists of political organisations at the inauguration of `Afridi Page`, a web page designed by Mohammad Nabi, a Bara resident, but currently living in a Gulf state.

Bara bazaar was closed in Sept 2009 after security forces launched a military operation against outlawed groups operating in Bara.

Over 6,000 shops and business centres could not be reopened due to the prevailing law and order situation.

Mr Nasir said that Dogra hospital would be reopened after completion of its repairwork. He claimed that efforts were underway to pave the way for early return of all internally displaced families of Bara to their homes.

He said that an important link road connecting Bara bazaar with Jamrud would be reopened on March 18 and Khasadars would replace the FC personnel at all the checkpoints on Shah Kas road.

`The reopening of Shah Kas road and deployment of Khasadar force officials would ease travel on the road,` he said.

The MNA regretted that a number of government school teachers were not performing their duties and some of them had even gone abroad for jobs. `It`s illegal and immoral to draw salary while not performing duty, he said.

Other speakers at the gathering lauded the efforts of Mohammad Nabi for launching the web page about tribal areas, which they said would help improve the image of Fata people abroad.