BAHAWALPUR: The food department has foiled an attempt to smuggle wheat to Afghanistan and seized seven trucks carrying 2,700 bags (of 100kg each) on the national highway near Ahmedpur East on Tuesday night.

According to a department official, on a tip off that the convoy was on its way to Afghanistan via Kashmor and Chaman, a team with the help of police impounded the trucks at the Ahmedpur East toll plaza and arrested their drivers and wheat owners (who were accompanying the vehicles).

Saddar police have registered the case.

Meanwhile, Hasilpur police claimed to have smashed two inter-district gangs of burglars and arrest their five members. It recovered from them stolen/snatched valuables worth about Rs 1.4 million, six motorcycles and illicit arms.

NO SALARY: Some 45 contractual employees of the Government Forest School, Bahawalpur, have not been paid their salaries for the last three months.

In a statement, they requested the Punjab forest department to release their salaries.—Correspondent