BAHAWALPUR: Commissioner Dr Ehtasham Anwar Mahar has warned the media persons and social media users propagating false propaganda regarding cotton market rates of prosecution under the Telegraphic Act.

He took notice of some media outlets and social media accounts posting unfounded and baseless reports regarding the sale of raw cotton (phutti) and fluctuation of its rates in the open market.

He was chairing a meeting to review the cotton market in the districts of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan. The meeting was participated by Chaudhry Waheed Arshad, president of the Pakistan Cotton Ginners association (PCGA), Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali Mann, president of Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and Bahawalpur Agriculture (extension) Director Muhammad Jamil Ghauri.

According to an official handout, the commissioner directed the agriculture officials to register a complaint with his office if anybody gave incorrect or false information on the media or made fake posts on social media besides registering a case against him under the Telegraphic Act. This action, he observed, was necessary to effectively check promotion of the cotton business and trade.

He asked the agriculture department to monitor daily arrival of raw cotton in markets and its rates and trade records to ensure cotton’s standard and stability of prices in the open market.

Mr Mahar said protection of monetary interests of the business community, particularly the cotton growers, was important to strengthen the country’s economy.

PROTEST: The government and municipal employees observed a strike, locked offices and took out a big rally on the call of the All-Pakistan Government Employees Grand Alliance against the government’s encashment and pension policy.

The participants, including a large number of women employees and lecturers of colleges, held a procession on the Stadium Road and a demonstration at Farid Gate. They raised slogans against the government and demanded restoration of the previous policies regarding their pension and other benefits.

MEPCO APP: The Multan Electric Supply Company (Mepco), in coordination with USAID’s Power Sector Improvement Activity (PSIA), launched a new app ‘Mepco Smart’ for the convenience of consumers.

According to a press release, inaugurating the new app, Mepco Board of Directors Chairman Sardar Muhammad Jamal Khan Leghari and Mepco CEO Mahrullah Yar Bharwana said that with the new mobile app, the consumers would have the facilities of payment of electronic bills, their, energy adviser, load management, their meter readings and access to customer services centres.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023