MINGORA: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz central vice president Eng Ameer Muqam on Monday demanded of the provincial government to review its decision about imposition of tax on stone crushing units in Swat.

According to press release, Mr Muqam contacted Chief Minister Parvez Khattak and Minister for Mines Ziaullah Afridi by telephone and asked them to review their decision about imposition of tax on stone crushing units in Swat as it would affect residents of the militancy-hit district.

The chief minister and provincial minister for mines assured the PML-N leader that they would consider his suggestion.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the owners of stone crushing units, led by Rahmat Ali Khan, held a meeting with Mr Muqam at his residence in Sangota, Swat and informed him about their reservations at imposition of tax on them.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Muqam, also adviser to prime minister, said that imposition of new taxes in Swat would be injustice with the people of the district. He said that tax on stone crushing units would not be tolerated as it would affect thousands of people, attached with the business.

Rahmat Ali Khan, when contacted, said that there were 41 stone crushing units in the district. Most of the units were set up near the Swat River, he added.

`Flood in 2010 washed away our agricultural lands near the river and we set up crush units on our lands,` MrKhan said. He added that the government wanted to give their own lands to them on lease.

He said that government should review its decision and provide facilities to the residents of the district instead of imposing new taxes on them.

WALK: The local administration on Monday organised a walk in Khwaza Khela to create awareness among people about dengue fever.

Led by Assistant Commissioner Ghulam Saeed, students of different government and private schools took part in the walk.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Saeed and Dr Mohammad Ali said that dengue fever could be prevented by keeping the surroundings clean. People should remove stagnant water in their houses and working places, they added.

KILLED: A 70-year-old shepherd was killed by unidentified persons in Fatihpur area of district Swat on Monday.

According to police, unidentified persons opened firing on Pashmeen Khan and killed him on spot. The attackers managed to escape, they said, adding police shifted the body to civil hospital for postmortem.

Also, a woman took poisonous medicines in Rahimabad.

Police said that the wife of Abdul Ghaffar attempted to commit suicide by taking poisonous medicine, however, she was saved after timely treatment at Saidu Sharif Hospital.

GUTTED: An auto-workshop and two vehicles were gutted on Monday on bypass road in Mingora.

The mechanics were repairing a coach at the workshop when suddenly a fire broke out. The coach, owned by Hazrat Karam, was gutted completely while the workshop and another car parked there were partially damaged.

Aftab Alam, the owner of the workshop, said that fire inflicted Rs1.6 million losses on him.