BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued to the district administration an advisory alert regarding the looming drought-like conditions in the upcoming summer season in Cholistan.

Dawn learnt that with the issuance of the alert, the Bahawalpur district administration, Cholistan Development Authority (CDA), Rescue 1122, civil defence, livestock, health and other related government departments have started measures to thwart the threat.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that in pursuance of the PDMA’s advisory, Bahawalpur Deputy Commissioner Dr Farhan Farooq has formed a committee comprising Yazman AC, rescue and safety officer, and Cholistan Development Authority OSD.

The committee has been directed to examine any possibility of drought conditions in Cholistan and ensure the adequate supply and provision of drinking water both for humans and animals, diet for humans and fodder availability for their herds in the vast desert.

It may be recalled that in the absence of rainfall in Choilistan during the recently concluded winter season, the temperature in the vast desert was gradually increasing, posing a threat to the local inhabitants in respect of their food and water supply issues for both livestock and humans.

According to reports, the water level in the thousands of open ponds (tobas) in Cholistan has already started receding while the green bushes and grass at some of the left-over vast meadows have also turned dry creating abnormal conditions for the Cholistanis even during the month of March.

This warranted emergency measures to be taken by the administration for the locals and their cattle heads during the coming days.

LODHRAN’S DISTINCTION: District Lodhran was ranked first in the whole of Punjab in the taxes collection of Suthra Punjab phase-5. This was stated by Deputy Commissioner Lodhran Dr.Lubna Nazir at a media briefing in her office on Monday.

The DC added that in the cleaning activities of Suthra Punjab phase-5 campaign, the district was adjudged fourth in the province. She said 32,000 tonnes of garbage was collected during a one-time cleaning operation in the district. She claimed that 243,000 houses in the district would be benefited with a cleanliness operation launched under the Suthra Punjab drive.

She announced that a regular sanitation operation on public-private partnership would be launched in the district from 25th.

PAINTING: The district administration organised a wall painting competition under the title of “we are alive nation” among school children.

According to the official announcement, 31 students of seven school teams participated in the competition. The teams of government model higher secondary school, Vehari, grammar secondary school and divisional public school stood first, second and third, respectively and were given cash prizes by Deputy Commissioner Vehari Ms.Imrana Tauqeer at a ceremony.

She appreciated students’ creative capabilities adding that the city’s roads were beautified with wall paintings.

POSTS: The specialised healthcare and medical education (SHC&ME) department of the Punjab government has invited applications from interested and eligible medical officers to fill the posts in BS-19, 20 of medical superintendents in the 35 teaching hospitals including Bahawal Victoria Hospitals (BVH).

The intending candidates have been asked to apply on prescribed forms through e-mail by March 25.

It may be recalled that these hospitals had been working without regular medical superintendents for the previous several years and were being run on an ad-hoc basis.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2025