Government ‘keen’ on negotiations with Taliban: Governor

MINGORA: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Shaukatullah Khan on Saturday said the government was keen to initiate talks with the Taliban for durable peace in the country. Talking to journalists at the Commissioner House in Saidu Sharif, Swat, Governor Shaukatullah Khan said terrorism is a global issue and peace talks with the Taliban must be held to curb terrorism in the country. Terrorism had become a global problem after the World Trade Center bombing in New York on September 11, 2001, he added. “The government has a uniform and proper plan to control and eradicate terrorism. Our borders are safe as we have the world’s best army and the best democratic system.” Battling dengue Earlier, Swat Deputy Commissioner Farrukh Ateeq briefed the governor about measures taken by the district government to tackle the dengue epidemic. Praising the efforts of the district government, Shaukatullah said dengue virus had been controlled to a great extent and would be completely eradicated from the valley by next year. “However, awareness regarding the fever and disease management should be spread among women,” he added. The governor said the federal government would extend full cooperation to the district and provincial governments in tackling the problem. “Clinical tests for dengue fever will be conducted free even in private laboratories and the federal government will pay for it.” Later, he visited the dengue cell at Saidu Teaching Hospital (STH) to see the arrangements in place. The governor also met with dengue patients, listened to their problems and directed the hospital administration to take better care and provide free treatment to all dengue victims. Casualties mount The official death toll from dengue fever rose to 27 on Saturday after one more patient died at STH, according to STH spokesperson Dr Wasil Ahmad. The DHO revealed 98 new cases had been registered in the district – raising the total count of the people affected by the virus to 7,706, of which 5,288 are males and 2,418 females. According to the STH record, 56 new dengue patients were admitted to the hospital, after which the total tally of dengue patients treated at the STH reached 4,050. “At present, 189 dengue patients are hospitalised. With 74 newly-discharged patients, the number of patients released from the hospital after treatment totals 3,740,” added Dr Wasil. He said 25 dengue patients, including 20 men and 5 women, were suffering from complications and had been admitted in the ICU. Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2013.