BAHAWALPUR: The district administration has decided to paint the walls of important buildings along the busy roads in the city.

Deputy Commissioner Shozeb Saeed said a decision had been taken to beautify the city under the government’s ‘Clean and Green Campaign’ and important roads selected for the painting which would be carried out by the teachers of the Islamia University Bahwalpur’s (IUB) fine arts department.

The teachers, he said, had been asked to prepare landscaping of high standards and submit their ideas at the earliest.

Parks and Horticulture Authority Director General Asif Hayat Lodhi said cooperation of the well-to-do people and philanthropists would also be sought to accomplish the project.

JEEP RALLY: Punjab Minister for Tourism and Sports Rai Taimur Bhatti says the upcoming 15th Cholistan desert jeep rally will help promote region’s culture at the international level besides economic benefits to the local population.

Speaking at a press conference (along with Divisional Commissioner Asif Iqbal Chaudhry) at his committee room here on Tuesday, the minister said that under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and with the measures put in place by Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, international motor sport would be promoted and the tourism activities during the winter season in Cholistan would also increase.

He said the jeep rally’s motorbike race category would be introduced and local artists given an opportunity to perform to entertain the visitors and tourists at the cultural night that would be part of the rally.

The new double-decker bus service in the city and adjoining (historic) areas would enable the locals and visitors to enjoy sightseeing, he said.

The commissioner spoke about the rally arrangements including security and traffic plan. A tent village at Derawar Fort and food street would also be set up.

PASSES AWAY: Cholistan’s noted Lok singer Audo Bhagat passed away at his ancestral village No 177 after protracted illness on Monday.

He was about 65.

According to his son Mohan Bhagat, his father was an asthmatic and unwell for quite some time. A pupil of popular folk singer Faqira Bhagat (Pride of Performance), he (Audo) made out a name for himself as the voice of Cholistan.

Radio Pakistan Bahawalpur’s senior producer Sajjad Bari paid tribute to the singer by describing his death as a great loss to Cholistan.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2020