SIALKOT, Oct 1: Local business community on Friday announced two-day mourning after a bomb blast left over two dozen people dead.

Secretary-general of Markazi Anjuman Tajraan Ehsanul Haq Butt said that all markets would remain closed on Saturday and Sunday to mourn the killings. The district government also announced one-day mourning.

POOR CARE: The Allama Iqbal DHQ Hospital is 'highly' ill equipped to meet emergencies. People who drove the injured to the hospital alleged that emergency treatment was very poor mainly because of lack of equipment and medicines. Meanwhile, a large number of volunteers thronged local hospitals for donating blood.

COMPENSATION: The Punjab government has announced Rs100,000 for the family of each deceased and Rs50000 for each injured. Punjab Minister for Industries Muhammad Ajmal Cheema told newsmen that the punjab government would conduct a judicial inquiry into the blast. Meanwhile, funeral prayers of all the dead would be held at the Police Lines on Saturday (today) afternoon.

MEETING: IGP Saadatullah Khan, Minister for Health Tahir Ali Javed, Minister for Industries Muhammad Ajmal Cheema, Minister for Power Ch Armughan Subhani and Sialkot District Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid reviewed the law and order situation in the city at a meeting at the DPO office on Friday night.

Gujranwala Range DIG Altaf Qamar and DPO Nisar Ahmad Saroya were also present. Earlier, they visited the site of the blast and the DHQ and Sardar Begum hospitals and promised free medical treatment for the injured.

CONDEMNED: MNA Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan has termed the bomb blast a failure of security agencies. Talking to newsmen at the DHQ Hospital, she said the act might be the reaction of Amjad Farooqi's killing.

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...
Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...