BAHAWALPUR: The e-stamp papers project will be introduced across the district from on Friday (tomorrow).

The system is being switched in pursuance of the decision of the Punjab government.

This was stated by District Coordination Officer Dr Ehtasham Anwar Mahar at a seminar held at the Central Library here on Wednesday. Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB)’s e-governance director-general Sajid Latif was also present.

The Punjab government has already introduced the project in 18 districts of four divisions of Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi.

The DCO claimed that the local people would be facilitated to procure stamp papers with the launching of this project as they would not have to wait for several days as had been the practice with the manual system.

Besides, the new system would provide a big relief to people from cheating which was currently rampant in the manual purchase system, he said.

Earlier explaining the significance of the project, Sajid Latif said the attested system for the purchase of e-stamp papers worth over Rs1,000 had been introduced in the province in view of people’s convenience.

He said any applicant after filling the challan himself and paying the stamp duty in any branch of the Bank of Punjab (BoP) could be able to collect the E-stamp paper from the same bank.

He claimed the government had so far earned Rs2 billion revenue with the sale of e-stamp papers in 18 districts of the province.

Mr Latif clarified that the sale of e-stamp papers from banks had been given a legal cover.

PITB joint director Ali Mazhar said the system would ensure absolute transparency.

PTI: The Jan Nisar Imran Khan force also surfaced in the city on Wednesday as around 50 activists, including men and women, in shrouds demonstrated outside the PTI’s district office on Multan Road.

Holding cricket bats in their hands, the protesters were led by PTI leaders Nabilur Rehman (cousin of minister of state for education and professional training Baleeghur Rehman), Asghar Joya and Syed Tahseen Gardezi.

The demonstration also disrupted the vehicular traffic on Multan Road for a while.

They raised Go Nawaz Go slogans and also burnt two effigies of lion.

AINAKWALA JIN: An old drama “Ainakwala Jin” presented at the Bahawalpur Arts Council (BAC) amused a large number of schoolchildren here on Wednesday.

The organizer and BAC resident director, Rana Ejaz Mahmood, said that around two decades old famous drama was still popular today.

Punjab Minister for Cooperatives Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar and MNA Begum Parveen Masood Bhatti were the chief guests in two separate shows.

SUICIDE BID: A rickshaw driver attempted to commit suicide by setting himself on fire due to poverty in Mohallah Mir Sirajdin on Tuesday night.

Police said that Sadiq, 45, father of seven children, sprinkled kerosene oil on his body and set himself on fire. With the screams of his children, the neighbours rushed to his house and rescued him. He was shifted to Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) where doctors said he suffered 70 per cent burns.

Kotwali police have registered case against Sadiq for attempting suicide.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2016