BAHAWALPUR, Sept 11: Punjab Minister for Women Development Hameedah Wahiduddin has said the cases of acid attacks on women will be tried in anti-terrorism courts across the province.

Speaking at a function held at working women’s hostel here on Wednesday, she claimed that the decision reflected the government’s efforts towards empowering women and bringing them to the mainstream.

She said women’s service quota had been increased to 15 per cent with three-year age relaxation for their recruitment in government departments. She said 16 working women’s hostels had been built in several districts.

At a divisional na’at competition and art and craft exhibition at the Government Higher Secondary School for the Blind, Minister for Special Education Asif Saeed Manais said the government was taking measures to provide facilities of speech therapy and physiotherapy to the special children.

The government, he said, was already providing free education, uniform, shoes, books, transport and monthly stipend of Rs800 to each special child. He held out an assurance to school principal Rehman Afzal to overcome the staff shortage in the school.

POACHERS: A magistrate of Yazman, on the complaint of field officials of the wildlife department, on Wednesday issued warrants for the arrest of 10 people for illegal hunting of deer at Ahmadwala pond in Cholistan and opening fire on wildlife staff members.

Wildlife Deputy Director (Bahawalpur division) Chaudhry Afzal Hussain said Kamran Dahar, Qazi Mumtaz, Kabir and others opened fire on officials who found them involved in illegal hunting.

HOCKEY: Bahawalpur Corps team on Wednesday won army hockey championship by defeating Gujranwala Corps.

Bahawalpur Corps Commander Lt-Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat gave away prizes.