OKARA: In Dipalpur, nine shop owners, led by Kashif Mustafa, have accused the tehsil administration of unjustly demolishing their shops during an ongoing anti-encroachment drive.

The shops, located at the old bus stand on Basirpur Road, were torn down despite, what the owners claimed, presenting duly registered property deeds issued by the sub-registrar of Dipalpur.

According to Kashif, the administration ignored the legal documents and left the affected traders with irreparable financial losses.

“We are sitting on the debris of our demolished shops and have filed a case in the civil court, which is scheduled for hearing on the 16th of this month,” he said.

However, Dipalpur Assistant Commissioner Naeem Bashir defended the operation, saying that the shops had been illegally built on public land for decades, creating obstructions for the public and motorists. He said the demolitions were lawful and part of an indiscriminate anti-encroachment drive ordered by the Punjab government.

“The administration has no personal conflict with the shop owners. The operation against illegal occupants of government land will continue until its completion,” he added.

FREE EDUCATION: The University of Okara’s (UO) finance and planning committee has unanimously approved a full fee waiver for orphan students.

The decision was taken in its meeting, chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Sajjad Mubin.

The committee also approved a Rs1.6 billion budget for academic and infrastructural development. Other key decisions included the establishment of a Rs50m Endowment and Scholarship Fund, transport facilities for students, and the construction of a dispensary and cafeteria under the Build-Operate-Transfer model.

Also, the meeting approved the policy for international student enrolment and wage adjustments for daily workers. Initiatives such as a driving school, Police Khidmat Markaz, and skills development centre were also praised.

MPA Mian Muhammad Munir also attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2025