SIALKOT, Oct 26: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid has assured people affected by unprovoked Indian firing on villages along the Working Boundary that the government would make compensation payments to them.

Mr Hamid was talking to the affected people during his visit to Wada Dhamala village of Pasrur tehsil on Saturday.

The 12-day unprovoked firing by Indian security forces affected many villages in Bajwat, Chaprar, Charwah, Suchitgarh, Umraanwali, Shakargarh and Bajra Garhi sectors along the Sialkot Working Boundary.

The firing has killed hundreds of cattle and damaged a number of houses and cattle sheds. Mr Hamid accused Indian security forces of violating international laws by targeting civilians.

He said the Pakistan government was trying to build international pressure on India to stop it from violating truce agreements.

He said the morale of people living in border villages was very high.

The affected people informed the minister that villagers were totally dependent on their seasonal crops and that because of the Indian shelling they were not able to harvest their standing paddy crops.

The minister was informed that people in Abiyaal Dogar, Thakarpur and Deera-Kingra villages of Shakargarh sector had vacated their houses and moved to safe places due to Indian firing.

Opinion

Four hundred seats?

Four hundred seats?

The mix of divisive cultural politics and grow­th-oriented economics that feeds Hindu middle-class ambition and provides targeted welfare are key ingredients in the BJP’s political trajectory.

Editorial

Weathering the storm
Updated 29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

Let 2024 be the year when we all proactively ensure that our communities are safeguarded and that the future is secure against the inevitable next storm.
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...
Return to the helm
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Return to the helm

With Nawaz Sharif as PML-N president, will we see more grievances being aired?
Unvaxxed & vulnerable
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Unvaxxed & vulnerable

Even deadly mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria have vaccines, but they are virtually unheard of in Pakistan.
Gaza’s hell
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Gaza’s hell

Perhaps Western ‘statesmen’ may moderate their policies if a significant percentage of voters punish them at the ballot box.