TOBA TEK SINGH: A team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Thursday unearthed electricity theft in three private housing societies of Faisalabad.

An FIA spokesperson said power thieves had caused a loss of Rs78.7 million to Fesco in the housing schemes of Hadi Town, Ahmad Villas, and Ahmad Garden, all situated on Jhang Road near Thikriwala. These three colonies were found to be unregistered and located in non-electrified areas where power was supplied through long extension lines installed illegally.

In a separate operation, the team caught power theft in a cotton waste factory in Qaim Shahwali lcoality. He added that cases had been registered against owners of housing schemes and factory owner while supply was disconnected by Fesco on the direction of FIA.

Meanwhile, the enforcement team of the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) dismantled structures belonging to six unapproved housing schemes. Estate officer Aneeb Aslam of the FDA said the schemes were being developed on land at Chak 51 JB, Chak 2 JB, Chak 6 JB, and Chak 42 JB.

WATER SCARCITY: With the passage of time, the issue of water scarcity is aggravating in the country, necessitating adoption of alternative modern irrigation systems.

This was stated by Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, during his address as a special guest at the international conference titled “Bioinformatics for Water and Agricultural Resource Management” held at UAF on Thursday.

Dr. Khan urged agricultural scientists to collaborate with the industry to promote modern water irrigation systems. He stressed the importance of practicing bed-planter, saying that it can save a lot of water.

He said a few decades ago, cemented water channels were important but nowadays there are much better alternative water management techniques, which must be promoted.

Dean Agri Engineering Dr Anjum Munir said at the time of independence, Pakistan’s water per capita was 5,000 cubic meters, so now it has decreased to less than 1,000, for which reforms regarding water conservation are essential.

Chairman UAF Irrigation Department Adnan Shahid said due to irrational and excessive use of tubewells, the quality of underground water is also deteriorating.

He said in the present time, public awareness should be raised regarding water conservation.

Malaysian scientist Dr Robeerto Rianzi, Dr. Anuar Ahmad, Chinese scientist Dr Yuping Lei, Dr Azeem Khan from Australia, Novera Azak from Punjab University presented their research works in technical sessions.

COMPENSATION: Families of five workers, who were burnt to death in steam boiler blast in a textile mills at Faisalabad, will be given compensation of Rs500,000 each by management of Sargodha cloth processing industries.

Cheques were handed over to the labour welfare department commissioner for compensation on Thursday who will ensure payment to the heirs of deceased workers. An official said process had also been started to get approval of lifetime monthly payment of pension to their heirs from the labour department.

REMOVED: The Jhang deputy commissioner removed from their offices five lumberdars (heads of villages) over failing to deposit money of irrigation water fee and revenue tax collected from farmers with the exchequer.

An official said the DC took action on the recommendation of assistant commissioner under Punjab Land Rules 1968.

The DC directed the AC to make arrangements to appoint new lumberdars in five villages.

The removed lumberdars included Syed Zafar Abbas (Mauza Ratta Matta), Nazar Muhammad (Mouza Bheroo), Rana Din Muhammad (Mauza Jan Muhammadwala), Zafar Iqbal (Mouza Ashaba Shumali) and Muhammad Arif (Mauza Maddoki).

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2024