BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab government has launched a major project worth over Rs2.90 billion to restore seven historic forts in the Cholistan desert. This was announced by South Punjab Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Fuad Hashim Rabbani.
He said that Rs1.89 billion has already been allocated in the current budget for this purpose. The forts to be restored in the first phase include Derawar, Jamgarh, Meergarh, Maujgarh, Deengarh, Phulra, and Marot.
He added that 20 more old forts will be included in the restoration plan in the second phase. The restoration work will start from Derawar Fort once the funds are released.
Mr Rabbani also said that Rs4 billion has been earmarked in the budget for seven new tourism development projects in South Punjab. The top priority is the protection of the natural environment of Lal Sohanra National Park in Bahawalpur, for which Rs2 billion has been allocated.
Other tourism projects include the development of two recreational parks—one in Fort Munro at a cost of Rs400 million, and another along the Indus River in Dera Ghazi Khan, costing Rs800 million.
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The ACS expressed hope that these projects would boost tourism and create new job opportunities in the region.
Arrests in Bahawalpur and Vehari:
On the other hand, two suspected criminals were arrested in injured condition during separate police encounters in Bahawalpur and Vehari districts.
According to Bahawalpur police, a man named Mumtaz Iqbal was injured after he jumped from the roof of his house in Chak 36/BC village while trying to escape a police raid. The raid took place in the area of Abbasnagar police station.
Police said Mumtaz’s two accomplices fired at the raiding team but managed to escape in the darkness. Mumtaz is reportedly wanted in several criminal cases, including an attempted abduction of a female D-pharmacy student.
In another incident in Vehari, Muhammad Yar of Chak 163/EB was arrested with bullet injuries after he and his two accomplices allegedly opened fire on a police party near Pull Dogran in Burewala tehsil. Police returned fire and later arrested him in injured condition.
