TOBA TEK SINGH: A delegation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) consultants has met the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) director general to discuss various proposals and technical issues related to Metro Bus Service project to be launched in the city.

The project, being launched under Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), will also include establishment of a Utility Services Corridor (USC) along the metrobus service routes to build infrastructure of internet service, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL), Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), Municipal Corporation (MC) and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco), to avoid any later digging on the bus route.

The meeting with FDA DG Muhammad Asif Chaudhry was attended by ADB consultants Karl Werning, Huma Daha and Sadiq Aftab, while Mike Johnston participated through video link.

FDA Chief Engineer Mehr Ayub and other officers were also present.

DG FDA informed the meeting about the planning for the project, saying it is of great importance for Faisalabad as the government is committed to provide dignified and quality urban transport facilities to the citizens.

The ADB delegation gave a briefing about the details of the USC ideas and said that it will improve the project’s quality as per international standards for which a stakeholders’ conference will also be organised at the local level.

ENCOUNTER: A robber was killed and another critically injured during an encounter with Batala Colony police in Faisalabad on Monday.

Police said four gunmen were confronted by Dolphin police near Odeon Street. The suspects opened fire on the police, who retaliated.

When the exchange of fire ceased, one of the robbers was found dead, while another was critically injured. The remaining two accomplices fled.

The deceased was identified as Abdul Rehman, while the injured suspect, Abdul Rehan, is his brother. Both were involved in over a dozen robberies.

According to the police, the brothers were hit by bullets fired by their own accomplices during the encounter.

ARRESTED: The Faisalabad women police arrested Shahzad on Monday in Toba’s Chak 256-GB, Philour, for threatening to kill lawyer Ayesha Yasin if she did not withdraw from representing a client in a rape case.

The complainant said in her first information report that the suspect and an unidentified accomplice had called her to hurl threats.

Women police SHO Madeeha Irshad said that the suspect had previously been involved in four fraud cases.

FAKE POLICE: Two persons posing as police officials looted Rs1.7 million from two animal traders from Okara near Chak 304 on Jhang Road in Gojra on Monday.

Reports said that traders Habib Shah and Imdad Hussain were returning from Jhang after selling animals at the Malluanana cattle market when the impersonators intercepted them and robbed them of cash and mobile phones at gunpoint.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2024