TOBA TEK SINGH: Nine candidates for recruitment as police constables were arrested on Tuesday by Millat Town police in Faisalabad for fraud.

A police spokesperson said the candidates in question failed the physical test and race competition but attempted to join the group of candidates who had passed in order to proceed with further tests.

Cases of fraud have been registered against them.

RAPE: An underage boy raped a child in Chak 124-RB, Chak Jhumra, Faisalabad, on Tuesday.

The complainant said in his FIR registered by Sahianwala police under Section 376 of the PPC that his nine-year-old son was playing in the street when 16-year-old boy lured him to his house and raped him.

Police have arrested the suspect.

UAF: The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) on Tuesday opened Qissah, a visual and performance art competition, along with Gur Mela, showcasing the colours of rural culture, folk traditions, and rich heritage.

The event is part of the ongoing Lyallpur Art and Literature Festival, which will continue until February 20.

UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Sarwar Khan, along with Senior Tutor Dr Muhammad Iftikhar, inaugurated the event. It attracted a large number of students, faculty members, and the general public, offering them an opportunity to explore traditional jaggery and flavours.

At Gur Mela, students dressed in traditional attire set up stalls featuring sweets, saag, makai ki roti, lassi, and other rural-based foods. Traditional food lovers flocked to the university to enjoy the festivities. Visitors were particularly drawn to stalls offering freshly prepared gur, organic jaggery products, and live demonstrations of traditional jaggery-making techniques.

Dr Muhammad Sarwar said that nations that ignore their rich culture eventually disappear from the world map. He called for tangible efforts to preserve traditions and connect the younger generation with their cultural roots.

He added that in the modern era, lifestyle and food habits are changing, and simplicity is being abandoned. Festivals like Gur Mela not only celebrate traditional food culture but also create awareness about the nutritional and economic benefits of jaggery.

Dr Shahid Ibne Zamir, Dr Nadeem Akbar, Dr Umair Gull, Dr Nadeem Abbas, Dr Muhammad Tayyib, Dr Muhammad Saghir, and Dr Amir Rasul also attended the event.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2025