TOBA TEK SINGH, March 18: As many as 16 Pakistan Air Force planes had been crashed after colliding with birds since 1967, it was informed at the 13th bird hazard control committee meeting here on Tuesday.

The meeting was arranged at the Shorkot Rafiqi airbase where base commander Chaudhry Muhammad Yousaf, District Nazim Chaudhry Muhammad Ashfaq, Toba DCO Saleem Akhtar Kiani, Jhang DCO Muhammad Arif Khan, Shorkot cantonment board executive officer Aftab Ahmad Asif and public relations deputy director Muhammad Abid were present.

The participants recalled history and learnt that 2,010 PAF planes had collided with birds since 1967. At least 16 planes were crashed and five pilots lost their lives in the accidents involving vultures and birds.

In Shorkot, it was learnt that 151 PAF aircrafts had collided with the birds since 1972. However, joint efforts by the Toba Tek Singh and Jhang districts administrations had reduced the number of PAF planes’ accidents.

Base commander urged the people not to throw dead poultry birds, fish and other animals in the open.

The Toba Nazim assured the participants that he would ban the throwing of dead birds and animals in the open areas under section 144 CrPc.

The participants decided that the PAF officials would be allowed to address district and tehsil council meetings to apprise the councillors of the harms of throwing of the dead animals and birds in the area’s crops fields.

At this moment, the base commander announced that a person, who would kill three vultures and five other birds, would be awarded cash prize of Rs300 along with the expenses of cartridges.

ARRESTED: Gojra police claimed on Tuesday to have arrested 15 proclaimed offenders in various raids.