BAHAWALPUR: Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman has directed the provincial transport department secretary to ensure uninterrupted Speedo bus service in Bahawalpur and Lodhran.

In an official press release, the governor says the Punjab transport department should not only ensure regular and smooth Speedo bus service operation, but also further expand its routes.

He stressed that in order to provide cheap and comfortable transport to the public, all matters related to the bus service be sorted out on priority basis.

The governor issued the directive in the backdrop of the reports that the company’s private owners have demanded payment of the arrears to the tune of millions of rupees from Punjab government and Bahawalpur administration and had also been served a notice in this respect.

Dawn has learnt that after the first notice, the private transport company also issued second notice on the relevant government quarters for the recovery of its outstanding dues.

The private company, in its latest notice, again asked for early payment of its outstanding dues, saying it did not want to discontinue the Speedo bus service but would prefer that the government may clear its arrears amounting to millions of rupees.

The governor issued these instructions to Punjab government so that the local population, particularly a large number of students of Bahawalpur and Lodhran districts, shuttling daily between the two cities may not face difficulties in case of suspension of the Speedo bus operation.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Zaheer Anwar Jappa told Dawn that the district administration was trying its best to arrange the funds for payment of the arrears to the private transport company and keep the bus service intact to facilitate the public, students.

CONVENTION: The speakers at a convention organised by the provincial agriculture department here on Wednesday urged the cultivators to make the ongoing ‘Kappas Ugao (grow cotton)’ campaign launched by the government a success.

The convention was presided over by Commissioner Dr.Ehtesham Anwar Mahar, while the speakers included South Punjab agriculture secretary Saqib Ateel, Bahawalpur agriculture (extension) Director Hafiz Jamil Ahmed Ghauri and others.

The governor, in his video address to the convention urged the farming community to increase the cotton sowing area so that the country could earn more foreign exchange.

LOCAL HOLIDAY: Deputy Commissioner Zaheer Anwar Jappa has declared local holiday on May 24 on the occasion of the death anniversary of Late Nawab of Bahawalpur.

A notification in this respect has been issued.

PROMOTION: Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rai Babar Saeed at a ceremony here pinned badges (ranks) to 26 head constables and six assistant sub-inspector (ASIs), who were earlier promoted by the departmental promotion committee (DPC) to the next ranks.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2023