BAHAWALPUR: The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) is facing a shortage of funds due to the non-payment of R800 million by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for two years. The funds shortage has delayed the release of salaries for academics and other employees.

IUB Public Relations Officer Shehzad Khalid said that despite withholding HEC funds, the IUB managed its financial affairs regularly and paid Benazir Scholarships to 6,000 students and financial assistance in other heads tothousands of its students from its own resources.

Now, he said, the HEC funds had become indispensable to save the educational future of students and urged the HEC to release the pending funds.

WHEAT: A bumper wheat crop is expected despite unfavourable weather conditions in the three districts of Bahawalpur division.

Director of Agriculture (extension) Muhammad Jamil Ghauri said that this year wheat was sown on 1.000382 million hectares where harvesting was in progress. However, he said, during past weeks rainfall and windstorm damaged 600 acres of wheat in Bahawalnagar district. Exceptthat, he added, yield could be around 40-45 maund per acre in many parts of the division.

Deputy Director Muhammad Shafiq told Dawn that in the district, the wheat was cultivated on 700,000 acres. As there was no report of the lodging of the standing wheat crop, thus it was expected that per acre yield of 37.50 maund may be reaped as the district had last year over 36 maund per acre production.

EASTER: Christians celebrated Easter amid tight security measures at churches in Bahawalpur and Lodhran districts.

According to the police, 400 policemen in addition to the personnel of other law-enforc-ing agencies were deployed at 30 churches for foolproof security. In Lodhran, 150 police officials were deployed at churches.

KILLED: One alleged robber was killed and his accomplice arrested, while two others fled after a police encounter on Railway Road in Lodhran.

According to the police, four gunmen snatched a motorcycle and cash from Muhammad Tariq and fled. Upon receiving the alert, a police team rushed to the scene, where the robbers fired from behind the cover of bushes.

The police team returned fire in self-defence, seriously injuring one of the robbers (by the firing of his accomplices) while arresting another. The injuredgunman was transported by Rescue 1122 to the DHQ hospital but succumbed to his wounds en route. The identity of the deceased is yet to be determined. A case was registered by the city police.

ACCIDENT: A man and a woman riding a motorcycle were killed, and another sustained serious injuries when their motorcycle collided headon with a tractor-trolley near Mehrabwala in Ahmedpur East.

The bodies of Ishfaq and Muneeba Kausar were taken to the Ahmedpur East THQ Hospital,while injuredNazeera Parveen received medical treatment. The police are investigating the incident.