MULTAN, May 29: A four-month-old girl died in the custody of Dera Ghazi Khan police on Thursday.

Reports said that Hatoo Gurchani of Chitri tribal area was returning to his home along with his family after labouring at wheat thrashers at the Muhammadpur Dewan district in Rajanpur. At Mithawan check post, a food department team stopped the family, who was carrying wheat in return of their labour, alleging that they were smuggling wheat from Punjab to Balochistan.

All the arguments failed to satisfy the food department staff, who sent the family, including women and children, to Sakhi Sarwar police station where Shano Mai’s daughter died.

Hatoo Gurchani told reporters that he was carrying only 25 maunds of wheat for consumption, but the police had lodged an FIR against him for smuggling 50 maunds of wheat.

He demanded registration of an FIR against the food department staff.

Heritage project: The district nazim has blamed the delay in the implementation of a project relating to conservation and restoration of Multan’s historical and cultural heritage on a consultancy firm. He has asked the Multan Development Authority to reconsider its agreement with the firm.

During a visit to the Clock Tower building here on Thursday, District Nazim Mian Faisal Mukhtar said the consultancy firm did not initiate work on the project despite availability of funds for it. He directed the authorities concerned to write a letter to the Planning and Development Department for cancellation of an agreement with Unicon, the firm which has been engaged for the restoration of Multan Fort, Eidgah and other historical sites.

Mukhtar said the Punjab government provided funds for the project, adding that Italian firm UNISIF also promised funds for the project.

He said the project was aimed at the restoration of the Clock Tower building, olds gates of the city, Eidgah, historical mosques and other places. He said a park would be constructed within 90 days at a cost of Rs10 million at the place of the demolished Gol Market.

Earlier, representatives of various foreign business organisations called on the nazim at his office.

Ettore Marzocchi, president of the Pak-Italy Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Italy’s agricultural engineering firms would invest $10 million to introduce modern agricultural machinery in south Punjab. He said a modern mass transit system would be introduced in Multan and passengers would travel through a tube that would be fixed in the air with the help of magnetic fields.

He said a Swedish company would visit Multan soon to prepare a feasibility report on the project, for which the World Bank would provide financial help.

Simon Kim, chief executive of Korean firm GNC, said the model of a low-cost house had reached Karachi that would be exhibited in Multan from June 15. He said such houses would be built on 50 square foot and 82 square foot and would have two and three bedrooms.

HJ Kim and JO Kim, representatives of another Korean Firm DAMC, also met the district nazim.