KASUR, Jan 11: Emissions from tanneries waste are a major cause of respiratory diseases, including asthma, in Kasur.

This was stated by Dr Khurshid Zaman of Gulab Devi chest hospital, Lahore, while addressing a seminar on asthma, its causes and treatment, at Gulab Devi chest hospital, Kasur.

Elaborating various causes of asthma, Dr Khurshid said pet animals, including cats, parrots and pigeons, were also contributing a lot to the spread of asthmatic diseases while a common patient had no knowledge of it.

Other experts urged the government to take solid steps to bring down air pollution and vehicular emissions.

DBA: ARD-backed Chaudhry Munir Ahmed became president of the Kasur district bar association for the second consecutive term while Malik Iqbal Qazi of the PML secured the vice-president slot in annual elections here on Thursday. Munir Ahmed, elder brother of MNA Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed, bagged 223 votes out of 447 votes, three of which were rejected, while his opponent Muhammad Yasin Farakh Kamboh got 171 ballots.

For the slot of vice-president, Malik Iqbal Qazi polled 220 votes against his rival Iftikhar Husain who got only 211 votes. Sohail Imran Gujjar of Yaseen Farakh group made it to the secretary-general slot with 237 votes while M Aslam Ansari got 133 votes.

Ali Javid Chaudhry became joint secretary by obtaining 227 votes against his rival Ikram Chisti’s 201. Abdul Hamid got 232 votes for the slot of library secretary against Abdul Rasheed who secured 192 ballots.

Muhammad Ramzan Ansari was elected finance secretary unopposed.