Man shot dead

RAWALPINDI, June 4: A man was shot dead by two motorbike riders in Ratta Amral police area on Monday, police said.

Shaki Jan was standing outside a shop when he was targeted by two unidentified motorbike riders who escaped after shooting him.

Abdul Ghaffar, the cousin of Shaki Jan told police that the injured was being shifted to hospital when he died. He also claimed that his cousin had no enmity.— Staff Reporter

Eight outlaws arrested

ISLAMABAD, June 4: The capital police have arrested eight outlaws including a woman drug peddler and recovered narcotics and liquor from them, a police spokesman said on Monday.

He said that the Sabzi Mandi police had arrested a female drug peddler during special checking near `Carriage Factory’ and recovered 4.995 kg hashish during search.

The police also arrested a man for his alleged involvement in theft.

The Industrial Area police arrested three persons along with hashish weighing 510gram and five bottles of liquor.

Similarly, the Shalimar police apprehended a bootlegger and recovered five bottles of liquor.

Moreover, the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) apprehended two persons separately and recovered heroin weighing 55grms and two fake arm licences from them.

Meanwhile, the Margalla police conducted search operation in katchi abadies, slums, markets, hotels, inns, bus terminal which led to the arrest of four persons who failed to produce their identification. —Staff Reporter

Awareness walk held

RAWALPINDI, June 4: A walk was held at Nawaz Sharif Park under the joint auspices of the Solid Waste Management Department, City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) and Lion’s Club Islamabad to create awareness of keeping the environment and houses neat and clean in connection with International Environment Day.

Executive District Officer Municipal Services Imtiaz Ahmed Malik led the walk which was attended by District Officer Solid Waste Management Dr Mazhar Azeem, DO Environment Mohammad Usman, Members of Lion’s Club and large number of students.

EDO Municipal Services said that we should keep our houses and streets clean and sanitation principles must be observed. “We must not throw waste, cold drink bottles and ice cream cups as well as empty packets of cigarettes in the parks. Flowers should not be plucked to keep the beauty of the parks intact,” he pleaded the participants.—A Reporter

Environment Day today

ISLAMABAD, June 4: The World Environment Day being observed on Tuesday (June 5) with focus on “Green Economy” to sensitize people about improving the human well-being in a manner that does not add to environmental degradation and pollution.

The ‘Rio+20’ scheduled for June 20-22 is expected to adopt a treaty to be known as ‘The Future We Want’ which will endeavour for renewal of political commitment, a roadmap for green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication and institutional framework for sustainable development.

Officials say that Pakistan is an active player in the on-going negotiations between developed and developing countries for an agreed document at Rio+20 and would like to safeguard its interests in terms of definition of green economy and actions required, setting of institutional framework. Planning Commission has estimated that environmental degradation is costing up to Rs365 billion to economy annually.

Other major environmental challenges facing the country include population growth, water and air pollution, impact of climate change on energy, water and food securities, watershed degradation and deforestation etc.—Our Reporter

Sui gas project inaugurated

FATEHJANG, June 4: A Sui gas project was inaugurated by State Minister for Defence Sardar Saleem Haider Khan at Dhoke Tirkhan Dakhli Mangial some 13 kilometers from here late in the Sunday evening.

Speaking to a public meeting on this occasion Saleem Haider said that Rs16.5 million were allocated for the project. He further said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was the party of the poor and was providing basic facilities to the masses living in far-flung areas.

Saleem Haider said, “We have made our best efforts to give relief to the masses in the recently announced budget. Our government will also provide jobs to the unemployed.

“The efforts are being made to get gas and electricity from our brother country Iran to make up for the shortage.”

He further claimed that development funds had been allocated for the rural areas in the budget so that the backward areas could also be developed.—Correspondent