DERA GHAZI KHAN: The commissioner says water and fodder are being provided to the drought-hit tribal areas of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.

The 350-kilometre tribal belt of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur is home to 350,000 people.

Commissioner Liaqat Ali Chattha told Dawn 80 mauzas of the tribal belt, hit by drought, were being helped by the officials of livestock, public health engineering, veterinary, Rescue 1122 and health departments.These departments have set up camps at Marri Top in Rajanpur and Fort Munro in Dera Ghazi Khan. He said work on water supply schemes for Fort Munro would be functional in June.

He appealed to the philanthropists of both districts to come forward to help drought-affected people of the arid zone and tribal areas.

Political Assistant to Dera Tribal Area Ikram Malik said the tribal area of DG Khan consists of 385 mauzas.

Political Assistant to Rajanpur Tribal Area Imran Ahmed told Dawn that there are 43 mauzas in Rajanpur.

The offices of both political assistants have been declared control rooms while police stations of borer military police are made sub-control rooms to address the drought situation and relief work.

HELD: The Ralhi Gaaj policearrested two suspected thieves, of them, one was wearing burqa, at the check post of Rakhi Gaaj on Thursday when they were trying to flee Balochistan.

The police said both suspects are residents of Fort Munro.

JOIN PPP: Former director general of the Intelligence Bureau Akhtar Hassan Gorchani with his son, former MPA Athar Hassan Khan Gorchani joined the PPP.

Both Gorchanis met former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and expressed solidarity with the leadership of the PPP.

Athar Gorchani told Dawn earlier in 2008, he won the MPA election as an independent candidate and later joined the PPP.

In 2013 and 2018, he contested elections on the PPP ticket against Sher Ali Gorchani and Husnain Darishak.

He said he and his father would take part in the general elections.