BAHAWALPUR, April 24: At least 300 educators have not been paid their salaries for the last six months by the district government.

According to the affected educators, they were appointed in September, 2003, and had reported for duty in October last year. Since then, they had not been paid their salaries and were now in a severe financial crunch.

They said that they had secured loans from their friends and relatives and purchased essential commodities on credit from shopkeepers, who were now demanding payments from them.

When contacted, the Education department revealed that the district treasury had created some technical flaws which needed removal by the district government. As the District Nazim was not present in Bahawalpur, he could not be contacted for his comments.

SANCTIONED: The Punjab Small Industries Corporation sanctioned Rs14 million loan to over 18 applicants of the three districts of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan.

A press release issued on Saturday by the PSIC's regional office said that Rahim Yar Khan's 13 applicants were released Rs11 million loan while Bahawalpur's three and Bahawalnagar's two applicants were advanced Rs2 million and over Rs1 million loans, respectively, to set up small industries in their respective areas.

It further stated that corporation's regional committee had so far sanctioned loans to 138 small industry projects in the three districts.

CASES: The local Food department lodged seven cases with the police for alleged hoarding and purchasing wheat without valid licence.

It was learnt that Sadar police, Ahmedpur East, registered cases against Ghulam Hussain and Khalid Mahmood on the complaint of DFC for hoarding 5,000 wheat bags.

Similarly, Khairpur Tamewali police registered cases against Noor Muhammad, Ramzan, Ishaque and two others. However, no arrests have so far been reported.

RELEASED: A local Anti-Terrorism Court on Saturday released on bail Khairpur Tamewali tehsil Naib Nazim Rana Luqman Ahmed. He was involved in a murder case.