BAHAWALPUR: Arrangements are being made to celebrate events in connection with the 275th anniversary of establishment of the defunct Bahawalpur State and the Bahawalpur High Court (a name previously used).

Justice Shujaat Ali Khan of the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Bahawalpur Bench on Tuesday inaugurated a secretariat set up to finalise arrangements and oversee the programmes. LHC judges Justice Jawad Hassan, Justice Anwarul Haq Panno and Justice Sultan Tanveer Ahmed, IUB VC Prof Dr Athar Mehboob, Divisional Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar, Deputy Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathiya and other dignitaries graced the ceremony.

In his inaugural speech, Justice Shujaat Ali Khan observed that these events were of pivotal importance with a view to creating awareness in the new generation about the defunct State’s judicial system and governance.

The commissioner and the DC briefed the guests on Bahawalpur State’s functionaries at Bahawalpur Gymkhana and said a brochure, a gazetteer and a documentary film on Bahawalpur division would be prepared to mark the occasion.

An exhibition of local handicraft was also organised on the occasion.

LUMPY SKIN: Twenty animals have died of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in south Punjab’s 11 districts during a month whereas 8,843 cases have been reported since the outbreak of the disease in the region.

This was stated by Deputy Director (DD) Dr Sohail Azmat of the South Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Department. He told Dawn that 2,554 animals were under treatment while 6,269 had recovered from the disease due to mass vaccination campaign.

Dr Azmat said 82,6210 animals had been vaccinated as the process was being carried out as per notified policy of the Animal Husbandry Commission (AHC) and only ring vaccination within a radius of two to five kilometres had been ensured in the areas where LSD cases were reported.

Meanwhile, South Punjab Livestock Secretary Nasir Jamal Hotiana inaugurated a diagnostic laboratory at the veterinary hospital. He said the LSD virus had spread from the Indian border with which Cholistan had a belt of 450 kilometres. He said that after checking more than 3,400 vehicles laden with cattle, 7,777 affected animals were returned and they were being vaccinated in the ring area.

He said the laboratory would conduct tests of the animals. He made it clear that the meat of the affected animals could be used as the disease did not affect their flesh.

SEIZED: Lodhran District Police Officer Abdul Raoof Babar says police have recovered eight maunds of charas (cannabis) worth millions of rupees from two persons.

The DPO told a news conference that Muhammad Abbas, a resident of Bahawalpur, and Muhammad Tariq of Bahawalnagar were members of an international smugglers’ gang and smuggling the drug to Bahawalpur.

A police party led by SHO Muzammil Khan, on a tip-off, stopped an oil-tanker and arrested the suspects.

Police registered a case against the two persons.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2022