TOBA TEK SINGH: The Mull Fatyana boat bridge on River Ravi has been opened for light traffic between Kamalia and Harappa after being suspended for 11 years. It reduces the distance from Kamalia to Sahiwal by at least 30 kilometres.

Previously, a contractor had a large boat and collected Rs50 person to ferry them across the river. In case of a car, bicycle, motorcycle or luggage, he would charge an amount of his choice. Then he bought an engine boat and looted passengers with both hands.

MNA Riaz Fatyana said that to rebuild the old bridge it took over two years to gather boats and wooden and steel bars as well as plates that had allegedly been taken away by MNAs in the former governments.

He remarked that till construction of the bridge on the Ravi was completed, this boat bridge will be used by travellers without paying any toll tax. About the Ravi bridge, the MNA said that during the PML-N government its construction was stopped due to non-release of the Rs1 billion funds. Now, it will cost double the amount while work on it was in progress and a road between the bridge and Mull Fatyana had recently been completed. Work had also been started across the bridge on the Harappa side and it was expected to be opened for traffic on Jan 1, 2022.

SUICIDE: A young man died by suicide by falling into a well in Gojra’s Chak 178-GB in the wee hours of Sunday. His parents said Muhammad Usman disappeared from home in the middle of the night and a farmer informed them that his body was found in the well.

The reason behind the death could not be ascertained.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2021