11 October 2004	Monday	25 Shaban 1425

MIRPURKHAS, Oct 10: A committee constituted to check environmental pollution created by cotton ginning factories has confirmed that the number of asthma patients has increased in the localities around the factories.

In a report to the EDO of health department, the committee said that over a dozen factories were functioning in the city and causing pollution because they lacked filters to curb spread of cotton dust in air.

The report recommended a raise in the level of chimneys of the factories and appointment of technical persons or engineers to check the factories and propose measures to reduce pollution.

The committee comprising civil surgeon Dr Saleem Raza Memon, district officer (health) Dr Anwar Ali Bhambhro and others prepared the report after its members visited several factories.

EDO Dr Hadi Bux Leghari had formed the committee to check cotton factories causing environmental pollution in the city and its outskirts. The committee was constituted after complaints by residents of Malhi Colony about increasing number of asthma patients because of pollution by cotton factories.

LABOUR WING: President of the Sindh chapter of labour wing of Pakistan Muslim League Arif Hassan has said that the labour wing is being reorganized to solve problems being faced by workers.

He was speaking at the oath taking ceremony of the newly elected office-bearers of the district and city chapters of the PML labour wing at the Jinnah Hall here on Sunday. The ceremony was attended by the labour wing workers including women.

Mr Hassan said that reorganization of the labour wing at grass-root level was in progress and asked labourers to create unity among their ranks. Ghulam Mustafa Mallah said that labourers of Sindh were divided but after reorganization of the labour wing throughout the province, they would be united on one platform.

Nazim of union council-3 of the city Malik Liaquat, labour wing city president Abdul Hameed Abbasi, district president Sher Khan, provincial vice-president Anwar Shah, additional general secretary Liaquat Ali Shah and Aslam Abbasi also spoke on the occasion. Later, Mr Hassan took oath from the office-bearers of the district and city chapter of the labour wing.

ACCIDENT: A teenage shepherd died after being hit by a speedy taxi car near Akbar Samejo village in Umarkot taluka on Sunday. Santosh, 15, son of Jumo Oad, was hit by the taxi while he was crossing a road.

Taxi driver Lalu Kolhi fled after the accident. Police have registered an FIR under section 279 and 320 of the PPC against the driver on complaint of the father of deceased and impounded the taxi.