SARGODHA: Panic spread in the areas of Kot Momin when locals found remains of bodies, mostly of minor children, removed from the graves of villages Sewar on Thursday.

The Laksian police registered a case of grave desecration.

It is learned that a group has been digging the graves and removing remains. Assistant Police Akhtar Nawaz visited the crime scene.

A similar incident was earlier reported on April 12 when human remains were removed from graves of Ahmadpur graveyard, but Laksian police failed to trace the culprits.

DIRECTIVE: Commissioner Ajmal Bhatti, taking notice of the slow construction of 47 bridges, called the officers of the relevant departments to his office on Thursday and directed them to speed up the construction work.

He directed immediate repairs and restoration of one side for traffic flow.

The roads department superintendent-engineer said that Rs180 million were released in the current fiscal year for 47 flyovers, which have been spent. The provincial government has been recommended to release a supplementary grant of Rs50 million. He said that Rs50 million was released as per the demand notice for transfer of poles and wires to Fesco.

According to Fesco officials, a tender has been issued and the work will be started soon.

The meeting learned that Rs10 million would be spent on the replacement of two main pipelines of gas around the under-construction flyovers.

The offi cial said that the cantonment board authorities failed to replace seven manholes and sewer lines despite repeated requests. The commissioner directed the cantonment board to prepare the estimate and send it to the highways executive engineer office within 24 hours.

The meeting was informed that additional funds of Rs300 million have been released for the Jhal Chakian Bypass.

The commissioner directed the contractor of the highways to speed up the work and said that the quality should also be ensured.

However, due to the non-payment of funds, construction of the overhead bridge on the Qainchi Mor has been stopped. Citizens passing through this route are facing problems because they are stuck on this road.

The contractor says that due to nonpayment of funds, he had to stop the work and if funds are released, they can complete the bridge by June 30 and hand it over to the administration.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2024