SHEIKHUPURA: A labourer died while another fainted in a cotton factory on Faisalabad Road near Feroze Wattwan here on Friday.

The labourers were working in the blower room when both of them fell unconscious after inhaling carbon monoxide gas due to a leakage from the steam boiler. Due to a lack of safety measures, the labourers, Arshad Jan and Rahim Bakhsh, could not receive first aid and had to be shifted to a hospital. This caused a delay in their treatment, the labour union condemned.

Jan was pronounced dead on reaching the hospital, while Bakhsh was stated to be in critical condition.

The labour union president, Mian Shabbir condemned the factory administration for not providing the necessary medical and fire extinguishing facilities on the premises. The union also demanded compensation for the bereaved families and proper treatment to Bakhsh.

Bhekhi police have started an investigation.

LAND RETRIEVAL: The district administration retrieved state land worth Rs10 billion in five tehsils of Sheikhupura which was in the illegal possession of land mafia for a long time.

This was announced by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Asghar Joiya in a briefing here on Friday. The DC added that five task force teams, led by the respective assistant commissioners, got the land retrieved in collaboration with the revenue department.

Moreover, 15 clinics of quacks were also sealed in Muridke and Narang areas by a health department team led by the deputy drug controller. The team head told the media that all-out efforts would be made to eliminate this menace.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2021