DERA GHAZI KHAN: Eleven students of a private school contracted a respiratory problem due to dust from the adjacent tobacco factories and were shifted to Jampur THQ, 50km from here.

The Rajanpur district council issued notices to the factories to shift their establishments from populated areas otherwise their factories would be sealed, sources told Dawn.

Rescue 1122 personnel reached the location and shifted the children to the hospital. The school is located adjacent to tobacco factories on Dajil Road, Jampur in Rajanpur district.

Acting medical superintendent of the hospital, Mujeebur Rehman, told Dawn that all children who were brought here for respiratory treatment had been discharged and were out of danger.

Rajanpur district council vice chairman Mirza Shehzad told Dawn that there were 13 tobacco factories and the council had passed a resolution for their immediate shifting from the populated area otherwise the factories would be shut down.

He further maintained that the chief officer of district council had been tasked with having the resolution implemented against the tobacco factories, which were allegedly functioning without air filters and necessary checking.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2017