OKARA, Dec 30: Transporters have demanded that the government take action against contractors allegedly overcharging vehicles at entrance points of urban areas of all the three tehsils in the district.

They said contractors had manned checkpoints with thugs who extorted double toll tax from every vehicle and in case someone refused to pay the amount, they manhandled the people.

Farmers had blocked Okara-Satgarh Road a few days ago when contractors manhandled advocate Irshadul Haq Ramey who had refused to pay illegal toll collection. The lawyer wrote to the government officials for action, on which Assistant Excise and Taxation Officer Rana Muhammad Ashiq was appointed as an inquiry officer to look into the matter.

TESTING TIMES: Parents have demanded that the chief minister and the provincial education minister order the Lahore Secondary and Intermediate Board of Education to lower matriculation examination fees from Rs660 to Rs300 and admission form’s price from Rs30 to Rs10.

ARRESTED: Police claimed to have arrested three highwaymen after a shootout on Okara-Jandraka Road which also left one constable injured. The three outlaws — Walayat, Ali Raza and Ashraf – who were fleeing after a robbery were intercepted by Jandraka Post Police. Near Darbar Peero Shah, police and the outlaws exchanged fire in which Constable Mushtaq Ahmed was injured and shifted to a Lahore hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police arrested the accused and confiscated weapons from them.

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
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...