BAHAWALPUR: Construction work on the Rs12 billion project of Vehari dual carriageway has started, says Multan Commissioner Aamir Karim.

After inspecting the project, he said the Vehari road was directly linked with the three districts of Vehari (49.60km), Multan (19km) and Khanewal (6km).

Highways Multan Superintendent Engineer Ghulam Nabi informed the commissioner that the funds for the shifting of services have been deposited with the related departments.

On the occasion, the Multan commissioner said the approval of upgrade scheme costing about Rs13bn of Vehari road was being done.

HOLI: The Hindu community cel-ebrated Holi at Chak 98/DNB near Yazman on Saturday.

Punjab Minister for Minorities Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora participated in the Holi function.

The minister, on behalf of the Punjab government, gave away Rs15,000 per Hindu family to over 20 Hindu families and said that the Punjab government was executing a number of projects for the welfare of the community across the province.

Earlier, the minister met Regional Police Officer Rai Babar Saeed and discussed with him problems of the Hindu community. The RPO assured him to resolve their genuine issues.

ARRESTED: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Multan circle, claimed to have arrested an alleged human smuggler from MianChannu.

According to sources, the suspect, Ahmed Hassan, in connivance with his brother, Muhammad Hussain, allegedly committed fraud against one Shaharyar Khalil of about Rs2.4m on the pretext of sending him to Japan. Instead of Japan, the suspects sent Khalil to Indonesia on a work visa where he faced a number of difficulties and returned home.

RECOVERY: Bahawalpur District Police Officer Asad Sarfraz Khan claimed to have recovered five stolen and snatched cars worth over Rs10m along with a cash of Rs3.4m from a three-member Rajput gang, including its ringleader Waheed Rajput.

He expected more recoveries from the robbers and said that the cars to be handed over to their owners.