Agri dept sets new targets

ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: The Punjab Agriculture Department has said it will bring 16.892 million acres under wheat cultivation during the Rabi season of 2011-12.

A production target of 19.205 million tons has also been fixed for the season which commenced on Saturday; said a spokesman for the department here.

Of the cultivation target, 1.152 million acres will be brought under wheat in the Barani districts of Rawalpindi division with an expected yield of 0.805 million tons.

The department has recommended seven wheat varieties including Chakwal-50, GA-2002, Aqab-2000, NARC-2009, Baris-2009, Dharabi and NARC-2011 for cultivation in the Barani areas this year. — Our Reporter

Drive against billboards

RAWALPINDI, Oct 15: A five-member implementation committee and police teams have been formed by the local administration to remove billboards in the city after a court allowed the city managers to go ahead with the crackdown.

Private advertisers had challenged the authorities in a court of law a month ago when the administration tried to remove the hoardings on the ground that the billboards were displayed without the permission of the authorities concerned.

However, the court ruled in favour of the administration on Wednesday; as a result, District Coordination Officer Saqib Zafar constituted the five-member committee that would be assisted by police and civic machinery to uproot the billboards.

Out of the 600 billboards in the city, over 200 have been displayed without permission and in excess of the prescribed size.

The crackdown is expected to be started from Sunday (today).— Our Reporter

Police arrest seven

TAXILA, Oct 15: Hassanabdal police arrested seven outlaws and recovered drugs and illegal arms from their possession.

Police sources said that during a crackdown against antisocial elements they recovered chars allegedly from Talat Mehmood, Shahid Mehmood and Abdul Waheed. Similarly illegal arms and ammunition was allegedly recovered from Shahzad Latif, Mohsin Zohaib, Gull Rehman and Mohammad Adnan.

Police registered separate cases and started investigation.—Correspondent