SHANGLA  –  Like other districts of Khyber Pakh­tunkhwa, Shangla has also witnessed a sharp increase in flour prices, with a 20-kilogram bag currently being sold for Rs2,950 to Rs3,000. In most re­mote areas, the price has crossed the Rs3,000 mark.

The continuous increase in fuel pric­es has led to a persistent rise in the prices of food items and other dai­ly-use commodities, further aggravat­ing the difficulties faced by inflation-hit citizens. Low-income earners and em­ployees working in the private sector are particularly under severe finan­cial stress and are finding it increasing­ly difficult to feed their children, meet household expenses and even manage two meals a day under the prevailing circumstances.

According to traders from different areas of Shangla, they are purchasing a 20kg bag of flour for around Rs2,900 and are compelled to sell it for Rs2,950 to Rs3,000. In far-flung areas, the same bag is being sold for more than Rs3,000 due to transportation and other addi­tional costs.

Expressing concern over the price hike, traders said that alleged restric­tions or hurdles imposed by the Pun­jab government on the inter-provin­cial transportation and trade of wheat and flour were having a direct impact on markets in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, making the situation more alarming in terms of both availability and prices.

Traders said that while fuel prices continued to rise, the prices of flour, ghee, sugar, pulses and other essential commodities were also going beyond the purchasing power of the common man. Rising daily expenses have shat­tered the household budgets of mid­dle- and low-income families, while limited business activity and rising un­employment have left people with little or no increase in their incomes.

They said the most affected were em­ployees working for meagre salaries in private institutions, shops, markets and other sectors. Most low-level em­ployees earn around Rs30,000 a month or even less, while in the current in­flationary situation, it has become ex­tremely difficult to meet the basic ex­penses of a family on such an income. Under these circumstances, provid­ing even two meals a day for their chil­dren has become a major challenge for low-income employees.

According to traders and citizens, employees who commute daily on mo­torcycles are also facing severe hard­ship due to rising fuel prices.

For those earning low salaries, even refuelling their motorcycles has be­come difficult. At the same time, they have to bear daily transportation ex­penses to reach their workplaces. Many low-income employees are struggling to balance household expenses with the cost of commuting to work due to their limited resources.

They said that, in addition to the rising prices of flour and other food items, electricity, gas and water bills, children’s school fees, medical treat­ment and other essential expenses had placed the poor and salaried class­es under severe mental and financial pressure. On the one hand, payment of school fees is necessary to ensure that children continue their education; on the other, household rations, utili­ty bills and other basic necessities are equally indispensable. However, due to limited incomes, meeting all these ex­penses has become a daunting task for ordinary employees.

Expressing concern over the Punjab government’s measures, traders said that under Article 151 of the Constitu­tion, any hurdles created in inter-pro­vincial trade and the movement of es­sential commodities could directly affect ordinary citizens.

KOHAT   –   Police have registered an FIR against unknown militants in connection with the deadly attack on the old police lines in Kohat, which left 22 people dead and 103 others injured.

According to the FIR, the attack in­volved a suicide bombing using an ex­plosives-laden vehicle, indiscriminate gunfire and grenade attacks. The as­sault resulted in the deaths of 16 police personnel and six civilians, while 73 police personnel and 30 civilians were injured, hospital officials said.

The FIR was registered at the Count­er-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station on the complaint of the Station House Officer (SHO) of Kohat City po­lice station, police said.

The unknown militants were booked under multiple provisions relating to terrorism, murder and attempted mur­der. According to the FIR, the attack be­gan when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the gate of the old police lines and exploded. The blast damaged the nearby mosque and caused part of its structure and a wall to collapse.

Following the explosion, the attack­ers opened indiscriminate fire and at­tempted to enter the old police lines. Police personnel confronted them, re­sulting in an exchange of fire inside the compound.

The FIR stated that the assault in­volved a suicide bombing, gunfire and grenade attacks, causing casualties among police personnel and civilians as well as damage to government and private property.

Among those killed were Dr Israel Khan Orakzai, Chief District Specialist at Liaquat Memorial Hospital, and SP Traffic Akbar Shinwari.

Another suicide explosion occurred at the Special Branch building during the exchange of fire between security personnel and the militants, according to the account of the incident.

Rescue teams immediately launched an operation to evacuate the wound­ed from the site, while Kohat District Headquarters Hospital declared an emergency to deal with the casualties.

Police and security forces subse­quently launched an overnight clear­ance operation inside the old police lines. Elite Force commandos, CTD per­sonnel and other security officials took part in the operation and cleared key sections of the compound.

Eight militants were killed during the operation, according to the Central Po­lice Office, while security sources said two suicide bombers hiding inside the compound were also killed.

Separately, militants opened fire on a police post at the main gate of Ko­hat district courts, damaging the post. No casualties were reported in the in­cident.