TOBA TEK SINGH, June 9: The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited has failed to utilize annual development programme funds in setting up new exchanges and expansion of the existing ones in the district during the financial year 2003-2004.

According to a source, in NA-92, Gojra, two new 300-line exchanges were approved for Chak 308-JB and Chak 312-JB while expansion of 300 and 200 lines was sanctioned in the existing exchanges of Chak 278-JB and Chak 178-GB, respectively.

In NA-93, Toba Tek Singh, a 500-line exchange was approved for Chak 519-GB and a 300-line exchange for Chak 346-GB. Another 200 lines each were approved for the exchanges of Chak 383-JB and Chak 287-JB and 300 lines for Chak 318-JB exchange.

In NA 94, Kamalia, two new exchanges were approved for Bhussi Adda (300 lines) and Chak 675/16-GB (400 lines) while the expansion was approved in the exchanges of Arrouti (200 lines) and Chak 664/5-GB (200 lines).

Similarly, another 500 lines each were sanctioned for urban exchanges of Kamalia, Toba and Pirmahal, but the work could not be started due to increase in copper wire rates in the international market. The PTCL failed to purchase the required wire in its budget allocation. The source claims that these schemes will now be completed in the next fiscal 2004-2005.

LOOTED: Highwaymen looted passengers of a bus in the Gojra area on Tuesday night. The bus was going to Lahore from Layyah. When it reached near the Nawan Lahore area, the dacoits who had boarded from Jhang, held up the passengers at gunpoint and looted cash, ornaments and valuables.