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GUJRANWALA, Nov 3: Punjab Baitul Maal Minister Chaudhry Ijaz Shafi distributed compensation cheques of Rs0.5 million among 125 destitutes besides provision of dowry funds to 84 people and scholarships to 31 students here on Wednesday.
Speaking at a ceremony at the district council hall, he saidpoverty elimination and provision of suitable compensation to the destitute were the priorities of the government.
He warned that corrupt and inefficient officials would be taken to task.
Sadar Tehsil Nazim Capt Mubasher Ahmad Cheema (retired) and other Nazims of various union councils and senior officers were also present.
PRISONERS: At least 11 women prisoners of the district jail protested their illegal detention for the last several months.
They have sent a memorandum to the district and sessions judge, requesting him to review their cases so that they could be released before Eid.
These women, involved in criminal cases, were reportedly sent to jail by the police after arresting them from their houses. Some women accused police officials of booking them at the behest of their rivals over children's quarrel. While some women claimed that they were wrongly involved in theft or hudood ordinance cases. However, district and sessions judge Javed Iqbal Siddiqi sought records of these accused women.
SCHEDULE: The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education announced the schedule of secondary school annual examinations, 2005, here on Wednesday.
According to board secretaryMuhammad Anwer, the last date for submitting admission forms with single fee is fixed Dec 9, 2004, and with double and triple fee Jan 8 and Feb 2, respectively.
Controller examination Dr Mumtaz Ahmad Awan said that no admission form would be received after the expiry of the scheduled dates.
HEARING: A local court continued hearing of the murder case of Naushera Virkan's market committee vice-chairman Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmad.
The judge directed that accused Mazhar Qayyum, brother of parliamentary secretary Mudassar Qayyum Nahara, and Muhammad Azhad, should be produced before court after arresting them. The court adjourned the case till Nov 6. However, accused MPA Mudassar Qayyum and Chaudhry Ghazanfar Ali, already on bail, were present in court.
BLOOD CENTRES: Patients are facing a lot of problems due to the non-availability of life-saving drugs and inadequate blood transfusion centres in the district.
Four blood transfusion centres had been established at the DHQ hospital in Gujranwala and each at Naushera Virkan, Kamoki and Wazirabad THQ hospitals. The centres being run in public sector do not have any technical or trained paramedical staff.
A medical officer told this correspondent that the centres used to provide about 500 blood bags every month to patients on the recommendations of senior medical officers and experts.
Meanwhile, citizens have demanded of the health department to provide medicines at RHCs and set up more blood centres in the district.
