BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab government, under an ambitious project costing over Rs2.90 billion, will restore Cholistan’s seven crumbling historic forts, South Punjab Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Fuad Hashim Rabbani told Dawn on Wednesday.

The ACS said that out of total allocation of Rs2.90 for the restoration project, the government has allocated a sum of Rs1.89bn in the recent budget. He said the decaying forts to be restored under the project, included Derawar, Jamgarh, Meergarh, Maujgarh, Deengarh, Phulra and Marot.

Besides, he said, 20 other decaying forts, would also be included in the restoration project at a later stage. He said after the release of Rs1.89bn funds, the restoration work would be initiated at the Derawar Fort.

Mr Rabbni said the government has also allocated a sum of Rs4bn in the budget for seven new development projects aimed at promoting tourism in south Punjab.

He said among these projects, the preservation of natural ecosystem of Bahawalpur’s National Park Lal Sohanra was on top priority, for which a sum of Rs2bn has been allocated in the budget.

The other tourism projects include the development of two recreational parks – one at Fort Munro, costing Rs400 million and the other along the river Indus at Dera Ghazi Khan, at a cost of Rs800m.

The ACS expressed the hope that the timely execution of these projects will not only unlock the south Punjab’s tourism potential, but also open new vistas of employment in the region.

TWO ARRESTED: Two suspected criminals were arrested in injured condition in two separate police ‘encounters’ in Bahawalpur and Vehari districts.

According to police PRO, one Mumtaz Iqbal suffered injuries when he jumped from the roof of his house at Chak 36/BC village to avoid arrest during a police raid in the limits of Abbasnagar police station in Bahawalpur district.

The PRO says that two accomplices of Mumtaz allegedly opened fire on the raiding team, which was retaliated. The two accomplices fled away under the cover of darkness, he adds.

He says Mumtaz is wanted in many criminal cases, including attempted abduction of a D-pharmacy girl student.

According to Vehari police PRO, one Muhammad Yar, of Chak 163/EB, was arrested when he along with his two accomplices allegedly opened fire on a police party near Pull Dogran in Burewala tehsil. The suspect was later arrested in injured condition.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2025