MINGORA, Nov 26: The Swat administration has set up 205 village and neighbourhood councils in the district for the upcoming local government elections.

The information was shared with the participants of a meeting, which Swat Deputy Commissioner Imtiaz Hussain chaired at his office here on Tuesday.

All assistant commissioners of seven tehsils of the district, and representatives of local revenue and other relevant departments attended the meeting.

The relevant officials told participants that the demarcation of village councils and neighbourhood councils in Swat district had been completed within the seven days deadline.

They said during the demarcation process, unnecessary division of any revenue estate was avoided and only 21 Swat villages with more than 10,000 population each were divided into two village councils making sure that the villagers don`t suffer from such division.

The deputy commissioner said the relevant officials would determine the numberof general seats both in village and neighbourhood councils according to an approved formula.

He said there would be five reserved seats, including two for women and one each for youths, peasants and minorities, in each council.

Mr Shah said appeals against the demarcation process could be filed with the Malakand commissioner.

ACCIDENT CLAIMS LIFE: A woman was killed and 16 people, including six women, were injured in a road accident in the far-flung Asaal area of Khwazakhela tehsil of Swat district on Tuesday.

According to local police, a passenger van was bound for Khwazakhela when it collided with a pickup in Asaala area and plunged into a ravine.

The injured totaling 17 were shifted to Civil Hospital, Khwazakhela, where Taan Bibi succumbed to injuries.

Five of them, including three women and two men, were later referred to Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital over critical condition.

Khwazakhela police station registered a case and began investigation.

TANDOOR OWNERSDEMONSTRATE: Tandoor owners on Tuesday staged a rally in the city to seek higher roti price due to the growing flour rate.

The rally led by Khwazakhela Bazaar president Sher Alam Khan began at Matta Chowk, passed through different areas and ended at Besham Chowk. The protesters warned the administration of agitation over failure to reasonably increase roti price.

Meanwhile, the Law and Shariah Department on Tuesday won the interdepartmental English and Urdu declamation contest at the University of Swat.

Suvastu Literary Society organised the event, where participants delivered speeches on a variety of topics, including democracy, impact of technology on youths,inter-faith harmony, socioeconomic scenario in Pakistan and impact of changing cultural values on students.

Vice Chancellor Professor Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan congratulated the winners and said declamation contests should be held on a regular basis as they helped students groom their personality.

He later distributed shields to winners.