BAHAWALPUR: Commissioner Musarrat Jabeen has suggested to the Punjab government that the historically significant machinery of the Bahawalpur printing press may be preserved in the local museum, instead of auctioning it.Dawn has learnt that in this connection the commissioner has written a letter to the Punjab additional chief secretary (ACS).
The Punjab government had decided to close down the printing press, constituting a committee headed by the ACS, with commissioner and industries secretary as members, to decide about its building and the machinery.
The commissioner, in a letter (a copy of which is available with Dawn) to the ACS, says that the machinery of the printing press, which was established here in 1867 during the former state’s era, represents early phase of the government-owned printing technology, reflecting the evolution of the printing practices over a century.
Such machinery, she adds, is not only of technical importance but also formed an integral part of institutional heritage, symbolising the governance system of the former princely state and post-independence period.She says that auctioning this machinery will deprive the future generations of an opportunity to understand the technological history of the region and would be a loss of important institutional legacy.
She has suggested to the government to donate the machinery to the Bahawalpur Museum for its display and preservation, as it could prove useful for researchers and tourists.
The press has over 15 old printing machines, all made by foreign companies, including those of Germany, which are lying idle on the premises of the printing press.
Several other machines at the printing press are still in working condition and are functioning at their full capacity to print government documents.
However, the fate of around 100 workers of the printing press still hangs in balance. These workers have appealed to the government to absorb them in other departments to save their jobs.
GANGS SMASHED: Lodhran district police claimed to have smashed 12 burglars’ gangs, arresting their 27 members and recovering stolen property worth about Rs10 million from their possession during January, 2026.
DPO retired Capt Ali Bin Tariq says that during the period as many 165 beggars were also arrested in the district, besides 39 drug peddlers.
He says that the police recovered 70 kilogram charas, two kilogram heroin and 435 gram Ice from these peddlers.
GOAT FAIR: The Islamia University (IUB) organised a ‘Goat Fair’ at its Baghdadul Jadeed Campus.
According to an IUB press release, a number of livestock farmers, along with their goats of different breeds from rural areas including Cholistan participated in the fair.
The event was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Kamran.
The event featured a milking competition and a goat parade, where the owners of outstanding animals were awarded prizes for best breed and high milk yield by their goats.
Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2026