BAHAWALPUR: The environment department in Bahawalpur has got registered 15 FIRs against the owners of brick kilns and industrial units for causing pollution in the district.

District Environment Officer Ansar Abbas said this at a meeting.

According to him, those facing action included eight brick kilns and seven industrial concerns here, who werealsofinedRs50,000.

The meeting directed the staff to take strict action against the owners of brick kilns, who have not adopted the zigzag technology at their kilns and those transport owners whose vehicles emitted smoke to add to the smog in the district.

THEFT: A gang of 10 thieves allegedly stole animals worth lakhs from a pen at Noorpur Noranga, 30km from Bahawalpur, late on Sunday.

Complainant Malik Sharif said burglars transported animals in dumpers when the area was plunged into darkness due to a power breakdown.

The Musafirkhana police registered a case.

FARMERS: The recent rains and hailstorms have damaged the standing crop of wheat in the vast areas of the district.

According to a number of farm owners, rains lashed the crop, which was nearing the harvest-ing stage.

The affected people have demanded that the government undertake a survey of the damages and announce compensation for the affected tenants and zamindars.

REPORT: A non-government organisation in its annual status of education report on constituency-based education mapping for the year 2022 targeting NA-171 in Bahawalpur district has stressed the need for increasing enrollment of children, particularly girls in schools, raising education standards and the capacity building of the teachers.

Stakeholders, including 37 scholars, educationists and former MPA Kazim Ali Peerzada, attended the launch of the report here. They expressed concern over the number of dropouts -over 25 million in the country.

Beela Raza Jamil and Zubeda Hassan said that Bahawalpur had 65 per cent of enrollment, which should increase by 20 per cent.

The report states that over 50 per cent of children lag behind in foundational skills and that consistent efforts are needed to promote basic literacy and numerous skills among students.

The report also mentioned that only 3.4 per cent of schools in NA-171 are equipped with computer labs while only 27 per cent have libraries.

Besides, schools also lacked gender-based washing facilities, which should be improved.