GUJRANWALA, July 18: Citizens have expressed their resentment over increase in gas tariff and termed it a mini budget. They said the government on the one hand claimed to have presented a tax-free budget , but on the other it had started increasing tariffs.

They said the government should cut its non-development expenditures for the provision of a relief to the general public. They said with an increase in the gas tariff, the prices of all articles would rise automatically.

They also criticized the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited for offering a free local calls package from mid-night to 6am, and said it was a joke with the subscribers. They demanded that the local call rates should be reduced.

However, they appreciated a cut in connection fee for urban areas and nation wide calls, and demanded that the decision should be implemented from July 1 instead of Aug 14.

POLICE CLAIM: The range police claim to have arrested 8,809 proclaimed offenders and 452 members of 111 gangs of dacoits and robbers besides recovering a huge quantity of illegal arms and looted goods from their possession. This was claimed by DIG Altaf Qamar in a half yearly report sent to the government here on Sunday.