OKARA: The Apiculture Research Centre of the University of Okara (UO) conducted a survey to assess the general health and seasonal diseases of the honeybees by collecting samples for lab examination.

UO Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Wajid, Associate Professor of Wildlife and Ecology from the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Ravi Campus Dr Shehzad Ali and students participated in the survey to gauge the causes and symptoms of various diseases that infect honeybees and find out ways to enhance their health and breeding potential.

Prof Wajid said the monsoon season is a high time of infections in honeybees and it badly affects thehoney production in hives.

Experts in the survey shared recommendations with the researchers for the care and cure of the honeybees, augmentation in the honey production and genetic improvement of the insects.

RALLIES: Four rallies were taken out in protest at `unbearable` electricity bills here on Wednesday.

Tehsil Road was blocked by hundreds of protesters, led by Ghulam Jilani Bodla, Shakil Dola and Nasir Khan Ruth, where people demanded that the government control powers bills as the consumers, especially the low-income people, were unable to pay them. Protesters were carrying flexes and banners inscribed with slogans against the government.

The protest was dominant with shopkeepers.

Also, Okara-Dipalpur Road was blocked in frontof the Lesco sub-divisional office where hundreds of people protested against inflated bills beside sales tax levied on commercial power connections.

At village Jammun Wacchal in Dipalpur, dozens of village people blocked the rural area`s main road in protest against high power bills.

They said these bills were out of the affordability of the farm labourers and small holding agriculturists.

Similarly,localtransport operators have been on strike for a couple of days against heavy increase in vehicles` annual token tax and diesel rates.

They demanded the government reconsider the much increased token tax and diesel rates. Due to the transport operators` strike, the railway station was full of commuters.

KILLED: Dhoop Sari`sresident Qurban slit the throat of his wife Saadia, 36, a mother of four, and escaped along with children.

The Dipalpur Saddar shifted the body to the Tehsil Headquarter Hospital for an autopsy.