SARGODHA: A meeting of the office-bearers of the Anjuman Aarthiyan Grain Market was held under the chairmanship of its president, Sajid Hussain Tarrar, to express concern over the abduction of young businessman Muhammad Zubair Khan.

During the meeting, trader representatives stated that Zubair was kidnapped in broad daylight by unknown individuals in a vehicle from outside his residence. His family has received no information about his whereabouts, and the incident has caused anxiety among both his parents and the trading community.

President Sajid Hussain Tarrar said ensuring public safety is the core responsibility of the police. He expressed alarm over the growing insecurity among traders due to such incidents and called on law-enforcement agencies to take swift action. He urged the formation of special teams dedicated to the safe recovery of Muhammad Zubair Khan.

The incident has triggered fear and grief across markets throughout Punjab. There is anger within the business community, and representatives warned if Zubair is not recovered promptly, traders across Punjab will be compelled to take all possible measures to raise their voice.

BREACH: A breach occurred on Monday morning in a nullah running alongside the SOS Village and Children’s School in 49 Tail, located on the Sargodha-Faisalabad Road in the suburban area of the city.

Despite repeated calls by the school administration to both the irrigation department and the cantonment board, the issue remained unresolved. As a result, the entire residential compound and school premises have been inundated with water, causing a great deal of inconvenience for the people.

RAIN WOES:Therecent heavy rainfall in Sargodha has exposed the inefficiency of the Market Committee administration.

Due to the absence of a proper drainage system in the city’s main fruit and vegetable market, the area has been submerged in water and mud, causing serious difficulties for vendors, agents, and labourers.

The sewage system is completely non-functional, leaving the market in a state of disrepair. Workers in the market report that, despite the Market Committee collecting millions of rupees in revenue daily, there are no basic facilities available.

There is no clean drinking water, no drainage infrastructure, and no other essential services. Vendors are forced to sell their produce while sitting in dirty, stagnant water.

The market community has appealed to the commissioner to take immediate action and address the issue.

Meanwhile, the heavy downpour in Sargodha city and its surrounding areas has led to widespread waterlogging. Roads in low-lying areas are flooded, and power outages have been reported as multiple Fesco feeders tripped during the storm. The power supply has been suspended in many localities, causing inconvenience to residents.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2025