KARACHI: A Press show of the Bengali film “Surya Snan” was held at Kaiser Cinema yesterday. Director Salahuddin, who is in Karachi in connection with the release of the picture here, spoke to the pressmen on the problems and challenges of film-making in Pakistan.

“Surya Snan”, a slow-moving tragedy, has a poignant story. It deals mainly with the life of a mill worker — his love, his crime, his punishment, his revenge.

With a better screenplay, the picture could have been a great success. There are plenty of dramatic elements in the story, only a few of which have been exploited fully. Of particular interest to the audience in West Pakistan are two lilting Urdu songs. The cinematography is very good in parts.—Staff correspondent

Lahore-Lyallpur non-stop train service

SARGODHA: The Pakistan Western Railway has decided to introduce a non-stop fast train service between Lahore and Lyallpur, covering “the distance in about two hours”. The fares will be normal and the timings will suit businessmen, it is learnt. —Agencies

New wheat variety increases yield five-fold

TRIAL of a new variety of wheat has shown increase in yield to 60 maunds per acre — five times the average yield in West Pakistan.

This was disclosed by West Pakistan Food and Agriculture Minister, Malik Qadir Buksh, yesterday. Another new variety yielded 42 maunds per acre. Both the varieties were grown on the farm at Kalabagh owned by Malik Amir Mohammad Khan, West Pakistan Governor. The Provincial Minister said other commercial varieties gave an average yield of 12 maunds an acre with a maximum of 25 maunds. Steps, he said, were being taken to introduce the new varieties in the province to increase the yield.—Staff correspondent