SIALKOT, Sept 5: Exporters have expressed their concern over the inordinate delay in the establishment of a rice training institute.

Speaking at a meeting of Sialkot-based rice exporters at a local hotel here on Sunday, former central chairman of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Shehzad Ali Malik said a few years ago, Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool had allotted a piece of land to the association near the Kala Shah Kaku rice research institute for setting up a training institute there, but no progress had so far been made.

He said the institute was vital for producing rice experts in order to increase the exports.

DEFENCE DAY: People will celebrate national defence day with traditional zeal here on Monday (today). The main ceremony to this effect will be held at the Sialkot Fort where district Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid will hoist Hilal-e-Istaqlal. A rally will march towards Chawinda, Pasrur from Sialkot to mark the day.

Senior army officials, social, religious and political figures will lay floral wreaths and offer fateha at the graves of martyrs of the 1965 war in Cantonment area, Daska and Chawinda, Pasrur.

MOTION APPROVED: As many as 14 councillors in a special session here on Sunday unanimously passed a no-confidence motion against Maalo Mahay UC Nazim Fazal Ahmad Dogar.

TWO KILLED: Two men were killed in a road accident here on Saturday near Murshadabad, Pasrur. Muhammad Arif lost control over the van (LOK-5934) as a result it rammed into a tree. Consequently, Arif and Rafiq died on the spot.

ANTI-US RALLY: Scores of activists of Shia Amal Tanzeem took out an anti-US rally here on Sunday in Daska city as a protest against bombing of Hazrat Ali's shrine in Najaf, Iraq.

The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against US policies in Middle East. The rally started from Jamiatul Najaf Mandranwala and ended at BRB Canal Bridge.

Later, a special convoy of protesters wearing white coffins Left Daska for Islamabad. Tanzeem central chief Agha Syed Sibtain Hyder Sabazwari told newsmen that the convoy would march towards Islamabad by foot and hand over memorandums to UN officials.

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