KARACHI: The Central Government has reduced the foreign exchange cash allocation to West Pakistan this year for the new industries as well as balancing and modernisation of existing units in the province, including Karachi, it was reliably learnt yesterday.

While last year, the allocation was of Rs2,00,00,000, this year, it has been reduced to Rs1,00,00,000 only.

Competent sources said that instead of increasing the allocation following Karachi’s merger with West Pakistan, the Central Government has reduced the foreign exchange cash ceiling. It is stated that Rs2,00,00,000 were allocated to West Pakistan prior to Karachi’s merger, but even then the Provincial Industries Department provided over Rs40 lakhs to the city last year.

The West Pakistan Industries Department is believed to have taken up the matter with the Centre to enhance the allocation in order to meet the growing requirements of the province, including Karachi. —Agencies

Madrassah students agitate

DACCA: The Government of East Pakistan has decided to set up an Islamic Arabic University in Dacca, it was announced today (Jan 18). The announcement came in the wake of unprecedented processions by Madrassah students numbering about 35,000.

The Madrassah students, who have been agitating for the fulfilment of their five-point demands for some time, now came in their thousands from all over the province and held a mammoth meeting at the Ramna green today after the Jumma prayers, to voice their demands.—Correspondent