RAHIM YAR KHAN: More than 100 shops were burnt in a fire at a flea market (Lunda Bazaar) of Sadiqabad early on Saturday.

The fire, which apparently erupted due to a short-circuit, spread to other shops of the market that is located between Railway Road and a railway track.

Assistant Commissioner Shakeel Bhatti told this correspondent that the cause of fire was not clear but it could be a short-circuit or a cigarette used by an addict. He said the estimated loss was Rs40 million but shopkeepers were claiming Rs500 million loss.

He said that with the efforts of rescuers and the general public they saved half of the market.

Rescue 1122 official Adnan Shabbir said nine fire-fighting vehicles participated in the operation and controlled the blaze.

Railways Divisional Superintendent (Sukkur division) Farrukh Taimour Gurzai told Dawn that there was valuable land of PR along the track out of which five kanal had been leased out to shopkeepers. Two influential persons had encroached upon 10.5 kanal and they had set up shops and businesses.

He said mostly tent shops on the encroached land caught fire due to a short-circuit. He said signal wires of the railway station also were damaged which resulted in delay in trains. He said police had been asked to register a case against Nadeem Sharif, one of the encroachers.

He said instructions had been given to PR officials to take over this land from encroachers.

AIRLINE: A private flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates will start its operation from Rahim Yar Khan by the end of the month.

Shaikh Zayed International Airport Rahim Yar Khan Manager Abdullah Khan Leghari told Dawn that an agreement between the Civil Aviation Authority and Gerry’s Dnata had been signed according to which the company had got permission for seven flights a week.

He said Fly Dubai airlines initially would start its operations and one weekly flight would be available from Rahim Yar Khan to Dubai. “The company wants to establish its complex for cargo flights also for the export of best mango and lint cotton of Rahim Yar Khan. The airline has 122 planes and it will start its operation from Fasilabad and Quetta also.”

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2015

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