KOHAT: The people of Orakzai Agency have denied permission for exploration to the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), terming it a trespass on their land by the government.

OGDCL regional coordinator Mushfiq Paracha, while confirming the issue, told this correspondent on phone on Wednesday that the delay in issuance of security clearance for exploration in the adjoining tribal areas was causing a big loss to the economy.

He said that the matter wasimpeding expansion of potential exploration in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas for the past several years. He said that production in Fata would create jobs for the tribesmen besides yielding funds for welfare programmes. He said that the tribal administration should hold jirgas with the tribesmen to resolve the issue.

Mushfiq Paracha said that there was a great potential in the Waziristan and Orakzai agencies for exploration, but even the students of the Peshawar University were not being allowed there by the tribesmen for research work assigned to them by OGDCL.

`The tribesmen of Orakzai Agency are not allowing construction of road to a site and even expelled the staff terming them aliens,` he said.

LIQUOR SEIZED: Police raided a house in Togh Bala area andseized locally-made liquor here on Wednesday.

During the raid, the Bilitang police found 60 litres of alcohol and other chemicals and arrested the alleged factory owner, Shehzad Masih. They said that a case had been registered against him.

Meanwhile, the Junglekhel police arrested two alleged thieves during a raid and recovered mobiles phones on Wednesday. A statement issued here said that after a tip-off that thieves were hiding in Ghamkol refugee camp No 3 they raided a house there and arrestedJumaKhanandAttaullah and recovered the looted Rs250,000 and seven mobile phones. An FIR has been registered against them.

DENGUE THREAT: The standing rainwater in potholes on the city roads has increased the danger of breeding of dengue mos-quito.

Haji Abid, secretary general of bazaar union, referred to the issue of standing rainwater and said that the roads had not been repaired for eight long years.

These potholes are a permanent nuisance for motorists, he said and added that even after confirmation of two dengue patients no safety measures had been taken by the government.

He said that the Monday`s rainwater had not drained out when rain on Wednesday created pools on almost all roads of the city, including old bus stand, main bazaar, Miankhel Bazaar, Shah Faisal Gate and Jarwanda road.

Mr Abid asked the TMA and the sanitation company to make arrangements for pumping out the standing water besides cleaning the main nullah passing through the city.