TOBA TEK SINGH: The Punjab Seed Council has officially approved “Chenab Pasta-24”, a new drought and heat-tolerant durum wheat variety developed by the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF).

A spokesperson for the UAF said on Tuesday that Durum wheat — commonly referred to as pasta or macaroni wheat — is globally valued for its use in semolina flour, a key ingredient in pasta, baked goods and other food products.

With rising global demand for pasta and wheat-based foods, the cultivation of Chenab Pasta-24 in Pakistan is expected to open new industrial, economic, and export opportunities, while strengthening domestic value chains in food processing.

Chenab Pasta-24 can be cultivated in both irrigated and rain-fed areas, enhancing its accessibility to farmers across diverse agro-climatic zones. The spokesperson said that this variety is a part of the university’s broader mission to promote climate-smart agriculture.

The UAF has so far registered over 50 improved lines of various crops, fruits and vegetables.

OPT: The Patient Welfare Association has called for the restoration of the Outpatient Therapeutic (OPT) section of the children’s department at Jhang DHQ Hospital.

Its spokesperson Zafar Sipra said on Tuesday that a special centre for treating children suffering from malnutrition was established at the Jhang DHQ Hospital with the support of the Punjab IRMNCH and Nutrition Programme.

He said hundreds of malnourished and food-deficient children had been registered at the OPT centre, with logistical and staff training support provided by the IRMNCH and NP Programme district team. However, instead of assigning staff from the radiology department to operate the ultrasound machine in the gynecology department, the hospital administration chose to shut down the OPT section, depriving malnourished and underweight children of critical healthcare services.

He alleged that while the Punjab chief minister was trying to improve healthcare services for women and children, the local situation told a different story in Jhang.

Jhang DC Ali Akbar has directed the medical superintendent to submit a detailed report on the closure of the OPT section. He told reporters that he has finalised plans to restructure the Health Council to ensure proper feedback, effective use of health funds, and improved delivery of healthcare facilities.

ENCOUNTER: A hardened criminal, wanted in dozens of robberies and two murder cases, identified as Ilyas, was killed in an alleged encounter with Roshanwala police in Faisalabad on Tuesday near Sem Nullah.

Police claimed he and his accomplices opened indiscriminate fire on police during a raid to arrest them in Chak Balochwala. They hid in bushes and an exchange of fire continued for half an hour. When the firing stopped, police found him dead, having received bullets fired by his accomplices.

He had also killed ASI Abaidullah during a raid a few weeks ago.

In another incident, a robber was killed in an alleged encounter with Toba police.

City police confronted three outlaws on Rajana Road. During an exchange of firing, they ran towards Chak 329-JB, where, after the firing stopped, police found one of the robbers dead. He was also hit by bullets fired by his two accomplices, the police said.

He was identified as Ghulam Ali of Sahiwal, who was involved in a number of dacoities across Punjab.

NO DRIVING LICENCE: The driver of the bus, Imran, which killed 14 rickshaw riders at Lundianwala, Jaranwala, on Friday, has no heavy traffic license.

According to police investigation, the suspect has a light traffic license.

Meanwhile, 11 out of the 14 people who died in the bus-rickshaw collision were buried on Tuesday in the locality of Syedwala.

Their funeral prayers were attended by thousands of people from the area, including PML-N MPA Sardar Bahadur Dogar and a number of former parliamentarians and officers.

RAID: Ahmadpur Sial, Jhang, police conducted an unsuccessful raid on the house of a Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) MPA and opposition’s chief whip in the Punjab Assembly Rana Shahbaz Ahmad to arrest him.

The SIC MPA was not found in his house during the raid, sources said.

PTI sources say that the police wanted to arrest Rana Shahbaz to restrain him from participating in the countrywide agitation being planned by the opposition party.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2025