January 06, 2008	Sunday	Zilhaj 26, 1428

GUJRANWALA, Jan 5: Federal caretaker Water and Power Minister Tariq Hameed says that marked improvement in the current level of loadshedding will be witnessed within a week after the restoration of thermal power generation.

Talking to reporters at Wapda Hospital here on Saturday, Mr Hameed pointed out that decrease in hydel generation and seasonal closure of canals besides frequent incidence of terrorism had caused a 900MW shortfall of electricity.

He said the uneven supply of oil to the International Power Plants (IPPs) also resulted in the power deficit of 700MW. While the authority was also facing a shortfall of 1600MW on the thermal power front.

The federal minister said the situation would look up in a week’s time as the Karachi Electric Power Company (Kepco) had started covering up the shortfall.

He said the complete restoration of the power supply system would be restored by Jan 25 after the conclusion of desilting process of canals.

Gepco chief executive Rana Muhammad Ashraf Zahid and other senior officers were also present.

SACKED: Around 210 lady health workers (LHWs) were dismissed on the charge of absence from duty here on Saturday.

Reports said that health department had recruited some 1,900 LHWs in 188 union councils of four tehsils in the district some three months back. The purpose of their appointment in rural areas was to provide better health facilities to women.

Executive district officer (health) Dr Nisar Ahmad Cheema checked the record and sacked 210 LHWs after finding them absent regularly.

PROVIDED: The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Gujranwala, has provided some 8,000 chairs to examination centres in all the state-run secondary schools in the division.

Punjab education secretary Qazi Afaq Hussain distributed the authority letters to the heads of schools regarding the provision of chairs here on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, board chairman Masoodul Haq said that about 3,000 chairs had been distributed in 2007 and 8,000 in 2008 to examination centres.

Board secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Anwer, controller examination Dr Mumtaz Ahmad Awan, principals of educational institutions and senior officers of the BISE were also present.

HEARING: A local Anti-Terrorism Court No 1 on Saturday continued hearing of the Sialkot jail incident case and recorded statements of two witnesses, including complainant and former D&SJ Chaudhry Muhammad Yousaf Aujala.

The court adjourned the case till Jan 11. The main accused, former SHO Chaudhry Zulfikar Ali Virk who was detained in the central jail, was brought to court amid tight security.