SIALKOT, Nov 10: The district police arrested on Wednesday three more officials of the education department, who were allegedly involved in the business of fake degrees.

Sialkot District Nazim Mian Naeem Javed told newsmen in the afternoon that the Cantonment police had registered separate cases against these suspects and sent them behind bars.

Replying to a question, the Nazim said the officials of the education department and several institutions were directly or indirectly involved in the practice.

The police, he said, were raiding various places under his supervision for the arrest of the suspects.

Norwegian envoy: Norwegian Ambassador in Pakistan Janis Bjorn Kanavin has stressed the need for taking measures to enhance trade volume between the two countries.

He was speaking at a meeting of Pakistan Gloves Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PGMEA) here on Tuesday night.

The envoy assured his full co-operation for flourishing the export-oriented gloves industry. He said there were bright opportunities for establishing joint ventures between the Norwegian and Sialkot-based companies in different fields.

PGMEA Chairman Sheikh Abdul Waheed Sandal, district Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid, Pakistan Ready-made Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Chairman Ijaz A. Khokhar and others were also present on this occasion.

PROTEST CALL: The local Shia leaders on Wednesday withdrew the agitation call scheduled to be held on Nov 12 against the failure of district police and other investigation agencies in arresting the accused in Zainabia Mosque tragedy which left 35 people dead.

According to a press release issued here, a delegation of Shia leaders, led by Allama Faiz Ali Karpalvi, held a meeting with the administration at the district Nazim office here on Wednesday.

They urged the government to make all-out efforts for the arrest of culprits.

The district Nazim urged the ulema to promote religious and sectarian harmony in society in the larger national interest.

On this occasion, the Shia leaders announced withdrawal of the agitation call.

BARANI AREA: State Minister for Defence Zahid Hamid has said that the federal government has declared Pasrur tehsil as "Barani Area" and now the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide Rs12.5 million grant annually to each union council, besides assistance for water turbines.

Talking to newsmen on Wednesday at Pasrur, he said the federal government had approved establishment of Sialkot Cadet College here and Rs200 million would be released in first phase in this regard.

Zahid Hamid said work on the Sialkot-Pasrur Road had also been started with a total cost of Rs160 million. He said the Punjab government had also approved a project of re-building the Pasrur tehsil's five rural areas roads.

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