TOBA TEK SINGH: Two died and more than two dozen passengers were injured when an overloaded bus overturned on Dijkot-Gojra road near Chak 277-RB, Gokhowal, in Faisalabad late on Wednesday night.

The deceased were identified as Muhammad Shakil (25) and Ziaur Rehman (30).

Rescue 1122 staffers provided first aid to all the injured, while six seriously wounded passengers were shifted to the Gojra THQ hospital.

Doctors later referred the critically wounded passengers to the Faisalabad’s Allied hospital. They were identified as Mahmood (20), Imran (30), Muneeb (28), Sajjad (40), Razzaq (43) and Talib (55).

All the deceased and wounded were residents of Jatoi, Muzaffargarh, and were going to Lahore.

In a separate incident on Toba Road near Burji Chowk Jhang, a truck hit a motorcycle killing the motorcyclist. The biker, identified as Muhammad Luqman (29), died instantly while his pillion was injured and shifted to the DHQ hospital.

CHOPPED OFF: Relatives allegedly chopped off both legs and an arm of a woman in Chak 244-RB, Waseeran, in Faisalabad on Thursday.

Roshanwala police said three brothers Qasim, Zafrullah and Nasrullah attacked the house of their relative over an enmity over farmland ownership.

Police said during the attack, the men overpowered Kausar Bibi (40), the wife of Mukhtar Waseer, and chopped off her legs and left arm with axes.

The woman was shifted to the DHQ hospital in a critical condition.

Police were conducting raids to arrest the accused.

MURDERED: A woman has been allegedly murdered by her in-laws in Tandlianwala on Thursday.

The police said that deceased Azra Bibi (30) had obtained divorce through court from her husband Faisal. Over this, her father-in-law Muhammad Saleem allegedly shot and killed her.

The accused has been arrested by the police.

SEMINAR: Teachers and students of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) staged a rally on Thursday and held a seminar to mark the World Environment Day, calling for collective action to tackle plastic pollution.

The day was observed under the auspice of the Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences (ISES), Faculty of Agriculture, UAF.

This year’s theme was “Ending Plastic Pollution”.

UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Zulfiqar Ali urged people to play an active role in restoring ecosystem that sustained life on Earth. He said that purpose of celebrating this day was to preserve nature in its original state.

He said, “Nature has designed our environment in such a way where a strong connection is observed between all living organisms and they rely on each other for the fulfillment of their basic needs. This is how nature has created a balance on Earth.”

ISES Director Dr Ghulam Murtaza said over 450 tonnes of plastic was produced globally each year. He urged proper disposal of industrial wastes and encouraged individuals to reduce plastic usage to protect the environment.

Faculty of Engineering Dean Prof Anjum Munir said the transportation sector contributed significantly to air pollution. He said Faisalabad being an industrial city produced more pollution than any other city. He said burning one kilo of petrol produces three kilo of carbon dioxide which was a serious threats.

He advocated for the adoption of electric vehicles. He said 25pc smog was caused due to burning of crop residues.

Dr Anwarul Haq urged the public to reduce both indoor and outdoor plastic use and spread awareness within their families. He emphasised the academic sector’s responsibility to spread awareness about these threats.

Dr Hafiz Naeem Asghar stressed the need for banning plastic bags and warned about the dangers of micro plastics, which were more harmful due to being invisible and had toxic effects on the body.

Environmental Protection Department Deputy Director Dr Muhammad Atif informed the participants about government’s initiatives to combat pollution, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which supports farmers shifting from conventional farming to tree plantation.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2025