FAISALABAD, May 24: On the call of the Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association, the local yarn market traders observed a shutter-down strike on Monday to protest deteriorating law and order.

The trade leaders also held a protest meeting at the market and demanded the Punjab governor and chief minister to take action against the police higher-ups, who had failed to control crime.

The meeting noted with concern that the incidence of robberies and dacoities in the industrial units and offices of traders had become an order of the day. Despite repeated complaints, the police and administration had failed to protect yarn godowns, they said.

Meanwhile, the All-Pakistan Cloth Exporters Association and the Anjuman-i-Tajran also threatened to close down their industrial units and business establishments.

During separately arranged meetings, they observed that increase in robberies and thefts in the industrial units and godowns had created panic among the businessmen.

Emergency Services: Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has earmarked Rs1 billion for strengthening the emergency medical services in teaching hospitals of the province.

This was claimed by DHQ Hospital's Medical Superintendent Dr Hafiz Mukhtar Randhawa while talking to newsmen here on Monday. He said that out of the total amount Rs60 million would be spent on the construction of a new emergency block and provision of other related medical facilities at the local DHQ Hospital.

A sum of Rs20 million, he said, would be spent on the construction of a three-storey emergency block. It would consist of 70 beds and would be equipped with the latest medical facilities.

While the similar amount had been earmarked for the purchase of modern medical and diagnostic machinery and equipments. For the patients of medical and surgical departments, he said around 32 beds each had been reserved in the emergency block while six beds in the ICU.