TIMERGARA: Relatives of a Pakistani admitted to a hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday complained that the hospital administration was not discharging him on account of non-payment of hospital charges.

Speaking at a news conference at the Chakdara Press Club, Khan Zada, Muslim Khan and Salim said Ikram was rushed to Dr Ahmad Abanamy Hospital by a Saudi driver after he was injured in a road accident on March 14.

`After a week the hospital administration demanded 35,000 Riyals from the patient as hospital charges,` the relatives said, adding that Ikram couldn`t pay the amount as he had been a daily wager in the kingdom.

They said as the patient needed no more medical care and needed to be discharged, the foreign ministry and Pakistan ambassador to Saudi Arabia should extend help to him.

CLEANLINESS DRIVE: Speakers at a function on Friday decided to launch a cleanliness drive in parts of Lower Dir from Monday.

The meeting held at the Chakdara Fort was chaired by Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Nawaz, operational commander of the Pakistan Army. Representatives of traders` body, administration, police, media, private institutions and academics were also in attendance.

The participants discussed matters relating to waterborne diseases and various measures to end pollution.

The participants were informed that fatal diseases like hepatitis-A, dengue, typhold, diarrhea and dysentery could be eliminated if people observed cleanliness. It was decided that all the stakeholders would join hands to clean footpaths, streets, roads, markets and roadside drains.

It was also agreed that awareness sessions will be held in government and private educational institutions to convey the message of cleanliness to families through students.