BAHAWALPUR: The much-awaited downpour in Cholistan on Thursday has filled up a number of open ponds in the desert areas, ensuring the supply of water for locals and their animals for several days.
Dawn has learnt from Cholistani people and officials of the Cholistan Development Authority (CDA), Bahawalpur, that a number of ponds, locally called ‘toba’, in the desert area, which had gone dry because of prolonged hot and dry spell, have been filled up by the Thursday downpour in the region.
They say that these revived ponds, located at Qasaiwala, Kutianawala, Phaisar, Kundiwala, Tharwala, Bijnot and some other places, are now teaming with accumulated rainwater, which will cater to the needs of humans, as well as their livestock, for several days.
Locals say that other than tobas, the rainwater has also accumulated in the depressions in the areas, where the land is hard and can hold rainwater. Such depressions are locally called “dahars”, wheresheep and other cattle heads could quench their thirst for a few days.
The CDA officials say that though the rain has mitigated the water shortage that had been persisting in the desert area for the last three months, for the time being, temperatures in the desert areas are still high.
The officials say that they are continuing to supply potable water to the desert areas facing acute shortages through the CDA water lines and tankers.
They say that more heavy rains could improve the water situation in the region and result in the return of the Cholistan residents who had left their native areas due to the long dry spell in search of drinking water and fodder for their animals.
MEPCO FEEDERS: The Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) says that as many as 260 power feeders tripped on Thursday night due to the windstorm, which also lashed many districts in south Punjab, including Bahawalpur, Lodhran and Vehari.
A Mepco press release claims that a majority of thefeeders that tripped during the windstorm have been restored, while work on the remaining ones in the three districts was going on.
It adds that the high-velocity winds damaged high as well as low-tensionlines and installations, besides uprooting several poles. It says that in many cases, trees uprooted by the winds fell on the high-tension wires, disrupting electric supply.
In Bahawalpur and its suburbs, the windstorm uprooted trees and damaged solar panels in many areas. However, no casualty has so far been reported.
BAR’S DEMAND: The executivecommittee of the High Court Bar Association, Bahawalpur, has demanded that Ahmedpur East tehsil should be upgraded to the status of a district.
The demand was made at a meeting presided over by the bar secretary Saqib Tariq, through a resolution.
According to a press release, the resolution, passed unanimously, says that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during his visit to Ahmedpur East,before the 2023 general elections, had promised to accept this demand if the PML–N came to power.
DEATH SENTENCE: Burewal Additional Session Judge Shaukat Alion Friday handed down a death sentence, along with a fine, to a man who had killed a young girl over a marriage row in the limits of Gaggo police station.
According to the prosecution, in 2025, the convict, Sanwal, had shot dead a girl, M, in her house, after her father rejected his marriage proposal.
Gaggo Mandi police, after registering FIR No. 691/25 under Sectiona 302 of the PPC against Sanwal, arrested him and submitted the case challan in the court.
The court awarded Sanwal a death sentence, along with a fine of Rs1.5 million.
Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2026