Three shops gutted

ISLAMABAD, Sept 13: Three tailoring shops in F-8 Markaz were gutted on Tuesday, police said. Fortunately, the tailors remained unhurt as they were rescued by the labourers working at a nearby restaurant.

The fire erupted on the first floor of the Victory Plaza, which mostly houses tailoring shops, at around 4:00am. It spread quickly and engulfed the shops within minutes.

The labourers spotted the flames billowing out of the plaza and rushed to its first floor. They rescued the workers of the shops, who were sleeping there.

Later, the police and fire brigade were informed which arrived at the spot and got the plaza vacated. The fire fighters extinguished fire after two and a half hours struggle. The police said that the fire erupted due to short circuit. —Staff Reporter

Position holders honoured

MURREE, Sept 13: The girl students who clinched top positions in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination held under the boards of intermediate and secondary education (BISEs) of Lahore, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Gujranwala were given guard of honour by the smartly turned out contingent of the Punjab police on Tuesday.

The 27 girl students would also stay at the tourist resort for three days and would also be taken to the recreational spots. Cheif Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif invites all the students securing first, second and third positions in the educational boards to give honour and encourage them for their achievement. Tallat Mehmood Gondal, Aditional Commissioner Coordination Punjab and administrative officer of Murree Town represented chief minister Punjab at the guard of honour. —Correspondent

Reshuffling in FBR criticised

ISLAMABAD, Sept 13: The business community of the capital has criticised the re-shuffling of a large number of key officials in Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

They said it would further put a big dent on the existing fragile tax collection system that has failed to deliver.

The untimely adjustments would negatively impact the tax collection system which needs to be improved, said Mahfooz Elahi, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry in a statement. Talking to the members of the ICCI in a meeting held here on Tuesday, Mr Elahi was of the view that FBR has set a huge target of tax collection of Rs1,952 billion, which does not seems to be realistic and achievable because of prevailing uncongenial  business environment and inconsistency in the tax system.—A Reporter

Godown looted

TAXILA, Sept 13:  A godown of a construction company was looted by unknown robbers in the limit of Hassanabdal police station on Tuesday.

Arshad Hussain, a company official reported to the police that more than a dozen dacoits equipped with different weapons stormed into the godown of the construction company and made two security guards hostage on gunpoint. Later, they loaded the equipment worth Rs8 million in trucks and fled the scene. — Correspondent