KARAK: The government would construct a canal to provide irrigation water to Karak from the Indus River to boost agricultural and economic activities in the district, said Adviser to Chief Minister on Prisons Malik Qasim Khan Khattak here on Wednesday.

Addressing a public meeting in Ahmadabad, he said that a grid station would be also set up in the district as 250 megawatt electricity would be generated through Gurguri gas field.

Mr Khattak said that the longstanding demand of the people of Karak would be met with the construction of the canal. He said that completion of the project would bring green revolution in the district.

The adviser claimed that the government had approved construction of a grid station in Karak to produce 250MW electricity from the Gurguri gas field.

He said that there would be no power loadshedding in the district after completion of the grid station. He said that an oil and gas exploring company would start work on a well in Latamber area of his constituency soon.

Mr Khattak said that he was aware of the shortage ofdrinking water in the area.

He added that out of 70 drinking water schemes, 22 would be run through solar power system.

He said that huge funds would be earmarked for installation of solar power system in the next financial year to resolve the drinking water problem on priority basis.

The adviser admitted that health services were not satisfactory in the district as 67 posts of medical officers and specialist doctors were lying vacant. He added that all the vacant posts of the doctors would be filled soon as health and education sectors were top priorities of the provincial government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Meanwhile, the employees of Working Folks Grammar Schools and Colleges in the southern districts of the province have decided to hold a protest demonstration in Islamabad against nonpayment of their salaries for the last three months.

They decided in a meeting that they would hold a protest demonstration in Islamabad on Feb 5 if their salaries were not paid. They said that they were not paid salaries for the last three months.

The employees demanded of the government to pay them salaries till February 4.

After the expiry of the deadline, they would stage a protest demonstration at D Chowk, Islamabad on February 5 to press the officials of Workers Welfare Board to release their salaries, they added.