SAHIWAL: The district administration, in coordination with the Provincial Auqaf Department, has reopened the southern gate of the Baba Farid Ganj Shakar shrine for devotees after 13 years.

The reopening was carried out ahead of the annual Urs, which is scheduled to begin on the first day of Muharram. The gate had been closed for security reasons when a blast occurred near the gate in 2010, resulting in the loss of six devotees’ lives. Provincial Secretary of Auqaf Tahir Raza Bukhari. Several devotees were also in attendance to witness this significant event.

Prior to the secretary’s arrival, extensive preparations were made, including the removal of barbed wire and thorough cleaning of the gate. Locals expressed their joy and anticipation at the reopening of the southern gate, as it provides an additional entrance to the shrine during the upcoming Urs.

BREACH: A breach approximately 40 feet wide occurred at 55/S Canal in Pakpattan.

The breach damaged agricultural land and residential houses near Village 70/D. Locals are blaming this as the fourth instance of the canal being breached, with no repair work done on the damaged right bank by local irrigation department officials.

Villagers reported that in the past, they had managed to fill small breaches on their own, but this time the breach was significant, making it impossible for them to address it with sandbags.

Despite five hours having passed since the incident, no official from the irrigation department has arrived. It is reported that the canal water has damaged hundreds of acres of agricultural land and started entering nearby houses.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2023