GUJRAT: The Local Government Department has established 100 field offices for the delivery of necessary services across the district after dissolution of union councils.

Official sources said the field offices had been set up in those dissolved UCs that had been functional in the government buildings.

The services like registration of births, deaths, marriages and arbitration would be delivered in the field offices whereas complaints regarding the sanitation and provision of drinking water could also be lodged there.

The first field office was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Dr Khurram Shahzad in Muslimabad locality of Gujrat city where deputy director local government Qamar Zeeshan, chief officer Gujrat MC Mahmood Iqbal Gondal and other officials were also present.

The DC told the media that all the record of union councils had been handed over to nine urban municipalities including that of Gujrat Municipal Corporation and three rural local bodies institution such as tehsil councils whereas the services of staff of the UCs had been handed over to the chief officers of municipalities and tehsil councils.

He said the areas of 10 rural union councils located in the surroundings of Gujrat city had already been included in the limits of Gujrat MC. The authorities in the local bodies institutions had been directed to listen to and resolve the issues of people in their respective areas.

MISSING: The four youths who went missing in the River Chenab on Thursday and Friday in two incidents have yet to be found.

On Friday three friends, of Tanda Adeel Arshad (19), Ahmed Ehsan (18) and Amanullah (17) -- went to the Chenab river for swimming near Sheikh Chugani village and were swept away in the strong current of the river.

Rescue 1122 divers have launched a search operation.

Earlier on Thursday, a youth who went missing in the Chenab near Gujrat has yet to be found.

Professional divers were also hired on Friday to search the missing youth.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2020