ISLAMABAD, Nov 22 (APP): The government has finalised a plan to carry out the census before March 2017 at present, the troops were involved in extensive engagements and census was not possible without the support of military.

Federal Minister for State and Frontier Regions Lt. General (Retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch assured the House while speaking on a resolution moved by Sheikh Salahuddin in the National Assembly regarding holding of census in the country.

The Minister said that the last census was also conducted by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and this time too it would hold.

A number of legislators on Tuesday said that the national census was important issue and urged the government to announce date for holding population census adopting a resolution in the National Assembly.

Sheikh Salahuddin mover of the resolution taking part in the debate said that the holding of national census was the need of the hour and it should be hel at the earliest.

He said that delimitation and fair distribution of funds among the federating units were based on the population count.

Naeema Kishwar, Ejaz Jakhrani, Phyllis Azeem, Muzammil Quershi and Shazia Marri said that the issue related to census should be discussed in the Parliament.

They said that after the census, all political forces should formulate a joint strategy to control the increasing population, which was one of the biggest challenge for the country.

They said that the government should conduct census as per previous practice, if the army was not available due to its engagements at borders and tackle terrorism.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 22 (APP): Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division Tariq Fazal Chaudhry Tuesday said five new busses would soon be handed over to Director General Special Education (DGSE) till December.

“Two busses would be handed over immediately to the DGSE while other two to three buses with special facilities for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) will be provided according to the requirement after few days”, the minister said.

The buses would be equipped with rams, for wheel chair students and other things helpful for the mobility of physically and mentally challenged students, the minister said.

He was addressing as chief guest at the Pakistan Bright Youth Summit 2016, organized by DGSE in collaboration with Bright Rays Foundation, titled, “Yes we Can”.

These buses would be given under the Prime Minister special initiative to improve the standard of academic institutions working under Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

The minister stated that PWDs needs our attention not sympathies to prove their abilities and our responsibility is to give them support to overcome their challenges.

He informed that 200 FDE schools would be renovated with latest equipment, laboratories and other facilities to facilitate 5000 children of the federal capital.

Tariq Fazal lauded the success stories of PWDs and commented that they are source of information not only for themselves but also for us.

He shared their all out support is with PWDs in all walks of life and they would ensure that all facilities would be provided to their institutes at their earliest.

In the end the minister disseminated awards of appreciation among the students who showed outstanding performance in academic as well as co-curricular activities.

PESHAWAR, Nov 22 (APP): At least three FC personnel embraced
martyrdom and three others injured when a roadside blast occurred near their vehicle here in Bashirabad area on Tuesday.

SSP Operations Ejaz Khan told media persons that FC  personnel were on routine patrol near Bashirabad when their vehicle was targeted with a remote controlled explosive device.

As a result, three FC personnel embraced martyrdom  while three others sustained injuries. He said the bodies and injured were shifted to CMH. The FC men were the target of the blast.