BAHAWALPUR: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has offered to provide financial and technical assistance for improvement of basic amenities in the city under its Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement investment Programme (PICIIP).

An ADB team paid a visit to the city and discussed the possibilities of the extension to its financial and technical help to improve the infrastructure of basic amenities like sewerage, water supply and sanitary systems.

According to an official handout, the ADB team called on Additional Deputy Commissioner Zahid Ikram who apprised it of the needs and requirements of the city.

The team was led by Umar Ali Shah, senior project officer, and comprised Brain Capati, project manager of Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA), and Sosan Jose, environmental and resilience specialist.

Later, the visitors alsomet with Managing Director Naeem Akhtar of Bahawalpur Waste Management Company (BWMC). The MD briefed the visitors on the working structure of the BWMC and the need of ADB in various sectors.

The ADB`s programme involves $300m financing and $75m of counterpart funds of the Punjab governmentforfour cities,namely Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffargarh and Sargodha.

According to the officials, the team members also visited some of the city sites which needed the ADB`s help.

COUPLE KILLED: A couple was killed in a carmotorcycle collision on Head Pallah Road near Hasilpur, about 90km from here.

According to Rescue 1122 officials, a speeding car allegedly hit a motorcycle. As a result, motorcyclist Muhammad Sharif andhiswife,ManoMai,fell down. The car ran over them and killed them on the spot. Hasilpur police claimed to have confiscated the car.