TOBA TEK SINGH: Deputy Commissioner Umar Abbas Mela along with District Food Controller Shumaila Bano visited the Jhang Road motorway M-4 interchange checkpost established by the Food department on Sunday to review the steps taken to stop wheat smuggling from the Toba Tek Singh district.

Ms Bano briefed the DC that 11 checkposts had been established in the district to stop wheat and other wheat products’ smuggling.

She said that the food department and police officials had been deployed there to prevent illegal transportation of wheat, flour and other items.

FDA SPORTS COMPLEX: The meeting of the management committee of FDA City Sports Complex was held on Sunday with Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar in the chair and approved 35 membership candidates without individual interviews.

A statement said that the decision was based on the candidates’ reputable backgrounds and their demonstrated interest in healthy lifestyle activities.

Addressing the new members, the commissioner emphasised that they must consciously follow the rules and regulations and maintain the discipline of the complex. He described the sports complex as a family-like community where mutual respect and learning were the top priorities. He warned that any serious breach of discipline would result in a member being blacklisted, rendering them ineligible for membership in any other club across the country.

The committee also reviewed administrative matters and future development strategies of the complex.

FDA DG Asif Chaudhry briefed the participants about the ongoing expansion projects and said that a padel tennis court was being constructed rapidly to meet the growing demand.

This new facility would be open to both members and non-members, with a separate fee structure proposed for outsiders to encourage broader participation in the sport, he added.

The meeting was also attended by DC Nadeem Nasir, FDA Additional Director General Qaiser Abbas Rind, Chief Engineer Meher Ayub, FDA Director IT Yasir Ejaz Chattha, Divisional Sports Officer Manzar Fareed and FCCI President Farooq Yusuf Sheikh.

SEMINAR: Speakers of a seminar said that a safe and sustainable society can only be ensured by rooting out the menace of drug addiction through collective efforts.

They were speaking at a seminar on “Drug Free Pakistan” organised on Sunday by the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Department of Rural Sociology in collaboration with the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF).

Renowned Psychiatrist Prof Dr Imtiaz Dogar emphasised that the curse of narcotics must be eliminated through joint efforts. He noted that drug abuse not only destroyed a person’s life, but also tarnished their reputation and family honour.

UAF Sociology department Chairperson Dr Sadaf Mehmood stated that proper treatment facilities for drug addicts must be ensured so they could recover and become responsible citizens.

ANF Assistant Director Muhammad Nawaz remarked that they were taking all possible measures to eliminate drugs from society.

Dr Naima Nawaz highlighted the need to increase investment in education, health, and medical sectors to combat narcotics effectively and establish a safe and sustainable society.

Dr Muhammad Atif said it was a collective social responsibility to motivate drug victims and help them lead a normal life.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2025