PESHAWAR: The Urdu translation of ‘The Plain Tales of the Afghan Border’ — a book consisting rare and interesting tales related to Pakhtuns’ life has hit the stalls.

As evident from its title, the book, authored by John Charles Edward Bawn, is a collection of 10 tales that have been translated into Urdu by Haroon Shinwari and revised by Rashid Khattak, who has also written the preface.

The author, Edward Bawn, brought into black and white the folk stories told by Muhammad Zareef Khan back in 1943 and published them in the shape of a book after 35 years. By the time of storytelling, Edward was assistant commissioner of Mansehra in the British India while Zareef Khan was serving as political tehsildar at Oghi.

In the introduction, the author writes that he and his subordinate used to exchange pleasantries and discuss social and traditional issues while sitting in Oghi Fort after winding up official work.

Zareef Khan, whom he had given the title ‘prince of storytellers’, would often tell him Pakhtun plain tales.The traditional interesting folk stories impressed Edward to the extent that one day when he visited Oghi and finished his official work, he put pen to paper, sat down before Zareef, asking him to tell him stories, which he wanted to preserve in writing instead of just passing time on listening to.

He also told Zareef about his plan to publish the tales in a book for future generations. However, by the time it was difficult rather impossible to publish the tales, some of which related to government functionaries, as being government servant both of them could not reveal official secrets.

Though Edward and Zareef’s ways got parted after the former’s transfer from Mansehra followed by the end of British rule and division of Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan, the author preserved the stuff and at last published it in the shape of a book after 35 years.

The author also praises Zareef Khan, a tribesman born in the remote Tirah valley of Khyber Agency in 1903 and educated up to graduation at Islamia College Peshawar before joining Indian Civil Service in 1932.

In some of the stories, Zareef himself had a major role like ‘The Death Of A Criminal’ and ‘The Politics Of High Mountains’. The first story is about killing of a proclaimed offender, Jamori of Waziristan, while the second one about expulsion of one Faqir Ameerah, who had launched a jihad in Indus Kohistan against British regime.

Zareef did the job that couldn’t be done by his British assistant commissioner, thus earning praise from the government. Though Zareef died in 1985 and did not see even the English version of the book comprising his stories, one of his sons, Engineer Muzaffar Ali Afridi, succeeded in realising his dream of translating it into Urdu.

Engineer Muzaffar, who is presently serving as secretary for Population Welfare Department in NWFP government, through a common friend Dr Masood Zahid, contacted Haroon Shinwari asking him to translate the book into Urdu, which was done successfully.

It would be no exaggeration to say that by providing the readers with such an interesting stuff, both Muzaffar and Haroon have done a wonderful service, especially to those wanting to know about rare tales related to Pakhtuns’ life.

Moreover after taking the book, one is compelled to go through all its 138 pages in one reading because of its taste and suspense. Edward has also authored another book, titled ‘The Golden Pomegranate’ besides translating two poems, one each of Khushal Khan Khattak and Said Rasool Rasa, from Pashto into English.

Rawalpindi-Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif Wednesday laid the foundation stone of the Rs2.6 billion Institute of Cardiology at Rawalpindi Medical College Staff Colony along Rawal Road.

While laying the foundation stone, he directed the concerned authorities to complete the mega health project within one year. The cardiology institute, comprising 220 beds, would have all modern health facilities.

The institute will be completed under the supervision of Punjab Health Department. The provincial government has initially allocated Rs100 million for work on the institute. The remaining money for the project will be released in phases.

Talking to journalists after laying the foundation stone of the cardiology institute, Mian Shahbaz Sharif said that his government was trying to provide better health and education facilities to people all over Punjab.

“Projects like cardiology institute, Danish School in Takht Pari and different traffic projects are gifts for the people of Rawalpindi from the Punjab government.”

Responding to a query, the chief minister said that the issue of award of NA-55 ticket would be resolved on the return of PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif from abroad.

To another query, he said that the Punjab government will construct underpasses at all intersections of Murree Road instead of the elevated expressway.

He said that the plan has been changed because of the increase in cost of the elevated expressway. According to him, the project was initially estimated to cost around Rs16 billion, but now the project cost has risen to Rs30 billion. Keeping in view the situation, the Punjab government has decided to construct underpasses instead of the elevated expressway.

He said that the government of Punjab has constituted a committee comprising members of the NLC, C&W and Nespak besides multinational companies. The committee has been directed to submit a report in this regard by October 18. After evaluation by consultants, the cost of underpasses would be estimated and allocated after approval.

Later, the Punjab chief minister paid a visit to the Benazir Bhutto Hospital where he laid the foundation stone of the new block of ICU Ward. It would be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

He also inaugurated the new block of the Psychiatric Department at BBH and visited different sections of the hospital and listened to the problems of patients. He directed the medical superintendent and deputy medical superintendent to resolve grievances of patients and report to him.

After inaugurating mega health projects, the chief minister went to Mauza Takht Pari near Rawat where he laid the foundation of the Danish School, which would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs200 million on 2,400-kanal land.

Mian Shahbaz Sharif said that 90 per cent quota of admissions would be allocated for poor children, while the remaining 10 per cent will be left for people who could afford to educate their children in the school.

He constituted a committee of board of governors for looking into the affairs of the institution. The chief minister directed the concerned authorities to complete construction work in the shortest possible time. Strict security measures were adopted during the visit of the chief minister.

LAHORE : Punjab University Examinations Department has declared the results of MSc Geography, Part-I, Annual Examination 2009, MA Fine Arts, Part-I, Annual Examination 2009, MA French, Part-II, Annual Examination 2009, Diploma in Arabic, Session 2008-2009, MPhil Urdu, Session 2002-2004, MPhil Urdu, Session 2003-2005 and BSc Applied Geology, Final Professional, First Annual 2009. Detailed results are also available at PU website www.pu.ed.pk.

ISLAMABAD The Governments of United States and Pakistan today signed agreements worth $899 million in the areas of health, education, governance, and reconstruction from the 2005 earthquake. The agreements bring the total obligations to Pakistan through USAID this year to $920 million. A substantial amount of these funds will be provided to the Government of Pakistan and local non-governmental institutions to implement programs. Included in the agreements is direct budget support of $174 million for the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), the income support program for internally displace persons (IDPs), and assistance to technical and vocational education activities under the Higher Education Commission. “These agreements demonstrate the United States’ enduring commitment to help Pakistan enhance the lives of its citizens through improved delivery of services,” Deputy Chief of Mission Gerald Feierstein said this morning. “Under these agreements, the U.S. will increase resources to sectors that foster economic growth, including the energy sector. Much-needed assistance will also support priorities in the areas of health, education, governance, humanitarian assistance, and reconstruction in areas affected by the 2005 earthquake.