BAHAWALPUR: Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman has said the work on the second phase of Bahawalpur ring road, from Bindra Pulli on Multan Road to Bahawalpur Railway Station, costing over Rs10 billion, will be initiated soon.

Talking to a delegation here, led by ex-parliamentarian Syed Tabish Alwari, the governor assured it of utilisation of all available sources for the city’s development.

The delegation comprised Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali Maan, Bahawalpur Jymkhana Secretary-General Ijaz Nazim and others.

The governor said the central annual grant for the Sadiq Public School (SPS), Bahawalpur, has been increased from Rs20 million to Rs60 million.

He also assured the delegation of opening an IT centre at the new industrial estate in Bahawalpur, besides introduction of the Holy Quran teaching in Punjab’s private schools.

Meanwhile, in a condolence message, the governor paid rich tributes to the Pakistan Army martyrs, who laid down their lives in an ant-terrorism operation near Turbat, Balochistan.

He said Maj Saqib Hussain and Naik Baqir Ali laid their lives for the peace and solidarity of the country. He said that martyrs’ sacrifices would not go waste and the whole nation was united against terrorism.

The Governor in his message prayed for the departed souls and patience for their families.

He also prayed for early recovery of the Lance Naik who was injured in the terrorists’ attack.

The governor also visited the house of local traders leader late Hafiz Muhammad Younus, who died here last week and offered fateha for him.

MEPCO: The Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) has announced the trial commissioning of the new 132KV Lodhran Grid Station after its completion in a record 22 days at a cost of over Rs480 million.

According to Mepco spokesman, with the completion of the new grid station, to be inaugurated soon by federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir, the consumers’ complaints regarding low voltage would be redressed, while Lodhran’s rural areas will be electrified. He said a 40MVA power transfer has been installed at the Lodhran grid station, in addition to laying of seven kilometer-long double circuit conductor costing about Rs110 million, from which thousands of consumers, mainly of rural areas, would benefit.

Meanwhile, Mepco claimed to have recovered a sum of Rs1.65 billion from running and dead defaulters in thirteen districts of South Punjab. They include Bahawalpur circle’s total 16,473 defaulters.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2023