VEHARI, April 30: Aftab Khichi, the ruling party MNA and son of former district nazim Mumtaz Khan Khichi, inaugurated the gas pipeline installation at V Chowk here on Saturday night. Speaking on the occasion, he said he had fulfilled his promise made during his election campaign for the provision of Sui gas to the Vehari district.

SNGPL deputy manager Abdul Rasheed Arshed said the project would be completed with the collaboration of the federal government by the end of this year at a cost of Rs3.8 billion.

He said about 1.3 million people of this area would be benefited.

DCO Muhammad Ayub Qazi, Tehsil Nazim Mian Saqib Khursheed, MPAs Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry, Khalid Chauhan, Ayub Suldera, and former district nazim Mumtaz Khichi also spoke.

However, neither the district nazim, naib nazim nor any spokesman of the district government was present in the inaugural ceremony.

Meanwhile, passengers condemned blocking of the traffic on V Chowk and Railway Crossing from 6am to 11pm due to the inauguration ceremony. Women and children were the worst-sufferers who had to face hardships in reaching the General Bus Stand and other localities.

INJURED: Heavy rain accompanied by a powerful windstorm resulted in the collapse of about 14 mud houses and injuries to 12 people in Vehari and its adjoining areas on Saturday night.

Most of the town areas were without power for whole night as several electricity polls were also uprooted. Several low-lying areas were also awash with the rainwater.

College Town, Muslim Town, Danywal, 9-11/WB, Chak 24/WB, Peoples Colony were among the worst-hit areas where 12 people were injured in rain-related incidents. Among the injured were: Rafiq, Ishtiaq, Maqbool, Din Muhammad of Thingi area, Rajab Ali, Shafiq, Waheed of Mailsi, Akram and Rasheed of Chak 9-11/WB.

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...