QAU’s summer school

ISLAMABAD, March 27: A week-long international summer school on ‘Recent Advances in Plant Biotechnology for Sustainable Development’ started at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) on Tuesday.

The event is being hosted by Department of Plant Sciences (QAU) in collaboration with German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Prof Dr Asghari Bano, chairperson, Department of Plant Sciences, in her welcome address said Pakistan had rich biodiversity of plants, animals and microbes but it was facing threats of deforestation, pollution, over-exploitation of natural resources, invasive alien species, environmental problems and population pressure.

She stressed the protection of biodiversity for future generation by adopting practical measures. She said the summer school would promote healthy scientific collaboration through this platform.

Professor Dr. Hans Joerg Jacobsen, Head of the Institute of Plant Genetics, University of Hanover, Germany said the world had to grapple with several challenges like growing population, decreasing arable land, changing climate and decreasing fossil fuel reserves. — A Reporter

Sasti Roti plants

RAWALPINDI, March 27: City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) on Tuesday curtailed wheat flour quota from 504 bags weighing 20kg each to 405 bags for 27 Sasti Roti mechanical plants in the city.

CDGR provides subsidised wheat flour to the plants but it has reduced the supply after receiving complaints regarding irrational distribution of wheat flour and decided to provide 15 bags daily to 27 plants.

According to the official figures, three Sasti Roti mechanical plants at Sadiqabad will get 45 bags instead of 62, two plants at Banni Chowk will have 30 bags instead of 40, three plants at Airport area will receive 45 bags instead of 58 while the supply to three plants at Pirwadhai area has been reduced from 49 bags to 45 bags, two plants at R.A. Bazaar from 40 bags to 30 bags, three plants in Westridge from 60 bags to 45 bags, three plants at Gunjmandi from 58 bags to 45 bags, one plant at city area from 20 bags to 15 bags, two plants at Saddar Baroni from 35 bags to 30 bags and three plants at Waris Khan from 55 bags to 45 bags.— A Reporter

Six cops booked

RAWALPINDI, March 27: Six police officials were booked by Civil Lines police on Tuesday as their educational certificates proved bogus, the sources said.

In the ongoing verification of police officials’ credentials, so far the certificates of 32 police officials were found fictitious.

Of the six cops booked by the police on Tuesday for submitting bogus educational certificates, four are sub-inspectors (SIs), a head constable and a constable.

SI Rasheed Ahmed’s school leaving certificate issued by Government High School, Faisalabad was bogus and SI Mohammad Naseer’s date of birth was changed.

Secondary School Certificates of SIs Mohammad Ramzan, Mohammad Aslam and head constable Arshad Mehmood were found fake. Constable Chanzaib was accused of submitting fake high school certificate. No police official could be arrested so far. — Staff Reporter

Three shot, injured

TAXILA, March 27: Three rickshaw drivers sustained bullet injuries in a quarrel at Taxila Chowk on Monday.

Police sources said Mehtab Shah, a rickshaw driver exchanged hot words with another driver Mansoor Khan over picking the passengers. In fury, Mehtab Shah pulled out his pistol and opened indiscriminate fire at Mansoor Khan and other rickshaw drivers, Khizar Shah and Faiz Mohammad who came to settle down the issue, injuring them seriously.

They were rushed to THQ hospital where their condition is stated to be out of danger. The police registered a case and started further investigation. — Correspondent