BAHAWALPUR: An elderly shopkeeper died of a cardiac arrest during a raid by the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) at his shop in Lal Sohanra, about 35km from here, on Monday night.

His sudden death sparked a protest by local traders, who blocked the dual Bahawalpur-Hasilpur highway.

Reports said when PFA officials conducted a raid on the shop of Mirza (70), he suffered a heart attack and died. In reaction, the Anjuman-i-Tajran immediately called for a complete shutdown and blocked the highway. After negotiations with police officials, the protesting traders agreed to reopen the highway.

According to a handout, the PFA denied any allegations of harassment or undue pressure on the deceased shopkeeper. The PFA claimed that Mirza was not present at his shop during the raid and that only a notice was served.

RAPE BID FOILED: A seminary teacher allegedly attempted to rape a student at an abandoned house at village No.131/WB in the limits of Mailsi police station on Tuesday.

According to police, the boy raised an alarm as a result people gathered there and the suspect managed their escape. Police have registered a case against the absconding cleric.

SERVICE DELIVERY: A high-level meeting on Tuesday reviewed the measures to improve the municipal services delivery in three districts of Bahawalpur division.

The meeting was largely participated in by the assistant commissions (ACs), Bahawalpur corporation and municipal committees’ chiefs, officials of Bahawalpur Waste Management Company (BWMC).

Divisional Commissioner Nadir Chattha, also administrator of municipal corporation, who chaired the meeting, directed the participants to ensure the sanitation, cleanliness, street light, provision of manhole covers, detection of dengue hot spots, maintenance of green belts and tree plantation in their respective cities.

He also ordered them for effective monitoring and stop payment of salaries to inefficient and negligent field staff members.

KISSAN CARDS: Over 26,000 farmers have been registered so far under the Kissan Card scheme in Bahawalpur district, achieving about 85 per cent of the total target of around 30,000.

This was stated by Deputy Director Agriculture Hafiz Muhammad Shafique during a meeting chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Bahawalpur Amir Taimoor on Tuesday.

He said online registration is still ongoing, and farmers with land holdings of up to 12.5 acres can get themselves registered through their mobile phones.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2024