DERA GHAZI KHAN: DG Khan will receive 30 electric buses in the first phase of a project aimed at modernising the public transport system in the district, while six of these e-vehicles have been allocated for Taunsa Sharif tehsil.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid said this on Tuesday while presiding over a meeting of the District Development Committee, adding that these e-buses would be handed over to the district administration with in a month.

He said that consultations were underway to finalise the routes and stations for the new buses and a comprehensive transport plan would soon be announced.

The meeting was also informed that on the chief minister’s directives, approval has been granted to a plan aimed at development of a modern tourism spot on 200 kanals, on the River Indus at Ghazi Ghat, with an estimated cost of Rs80 million.

A stadium and a tourist resort also approved for the district

Additionally, the meeting was told that a scheme has been included in the Annual Development Program (ADP) to establish a new tourist resort at Anari, a location higher in altitude than the hill station of Fort Munro in south Punjab. For this purpose, a 200-kanal piece of land is being identified, along with other necessary measures.

The DC further said practical steps were also being taken to establish a new sports stadium in

DG Khan to provide healthy recreational and sporting opportunities to the youth.

PCGA: Cotton ginners of south Punjab have been struggling to meet their bale production target because of heavy rains in the region, an industry source told Dawn.

The source, quoting the district-wise data jointly complied by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association (PCGA) and KCA, said Vehari reported 73,984 bales with a decrease of 6,724

bales (23.8pc less), while Rajanpur recorded 19,423 bales, marking an increase of 11,568 bales as compared to last year’s.

Layyah district registered 21,460 bales, showing a shortfall of 2,224 bales (2.9pc less), while other districts such as Multan, Lodhran and DG Khan reported minor variations, with Lodhran facing a shortfall of 2,655 bales (11.2pc less) as compared to the previous year’s.

MILK INSPECTION: A Punjab Food Safety Authority (PFSA) team on Tuesday destroyed 500 litres of substandard milk being carried by a vehicle during inspection at a checkpoint at Ghazi Ghat.

As per PFSA, the inspection revealed that the milk in the tanker was adulterated with water and lacked essential fat and natural nutrients.

As a result, around 500 liters of substandard milk were destroyed on the spot, while the supplier was instructed to ensure the supply of pure milk to the consumers.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2025