Responding to intelligence reports, the Faisalabad police have been put on high alert to combat any terrorist activity in the region. The new instructions to increase the police strength in sensitive areas have been issued following the reports that a terrorist gang has entered Faisalabad. The intelligence reports have not pinpointed the possible target of the suicide group.
Following the March 8 suicide attack in Civil Lines, killing 28 people and injuring more than 50, Faisalabad police have already been reorganised to prevent any similar incident in future. A police officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it was impossible for any agency to track down the suicide bombers before hand. “The only option available is to beef up patrolling that poses deterrence to the discreet groups,” he said. “No police force in the world has enough manpower to post a guard at every corner of a street,” he said.
After receiving the threat from extremists, security parameters in the four districts of the division, Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot and Toba Tek Singh, have been directed to take all steps to ensure the safety of the citizens at large. The threat has sent a wave of fear among the residents, especially the business community.
‘Youngsters’ role in ‘save energy’ drive vital’: The new generation, especially students, can play a key role in the national energy conservation campaign launched by Faisalabad Electric Supply Company, said FESCO Board of Directors Chairman Nadeem Aftab Sindhu, while presiding over an inter-school seminar and painting competition at Nusrat Fetah Ali Khan Auditorium Faisalabad.
“The new generation has a paramount national duty of taking the country to the new horizons of progress and prosperity,” he said. “Taking up comprehensive measures towards energy conservation is the critical need of the hour so that the wheels of activity keep moving in the production sectors like agriculture, industry and trade. It is because the stability of our national economy lies in the dynamic growth of these sectors,” he argued.
Nadeem Aftab Sindhu acknowledged that Pakistan was bestowed with abundant natural energy resources like coal, wind energy, solar energy and water. “It is unfortunate that for lack of vision and strategy by the past governments, we are facing this terrible energy crisis,” he analysed. He appealed to the audience to get untied to face the challenge and play their role in saving electricity for the production sectors.
On the occasion, around 400 students from various schools, their parents and teachers and general audience pledged on oath that they would not only do their level best to save electricity but also motivate others to follow the campaign.
The other speakers included Chief Engineer Operations and Maintenance (FESCO) Shakeel Ahmed, Director General Admin and Human Resources Muhammad Gulzar Sheikh, Sheikh Muhammad Saeed, Nasir Randhawa and and Asif Chaudhry.
FESCO Public Relations Deputy Manager Tahir Sheikh, the anchor of the seminar, told Pakistan Today that the theme of the seminar and painting contest was to educate the youngsters that they had a social duty to stop the waste of energy. “A sense of responsibility embedded in the young minds at this stage through such programmes would surely rest in their hearts and minds for the whole life,” he remarked.
The following winners of the painting competition were given prizes sponsored by Messrs Prime Energy Savers.
Grade One: Shayan Amin and Mamoon of Beacon House School (first and second positions). Grade Two: Zara Joseph of City Girls School (first), Ahmed Malik of Beacon House School (second), Aneeq Ahmed of City School (third). Grade Five: Jabeen Asif from Beacon House School and Rafia Asghar of City School shared the first position, Anas Ali Bajwa of Beacon House School (second), Maha Aroosh, and The Educators (third).
Grade Six: Abdur Rehhman of City School (first), Muhammad Zufair Irfan of Ummul Madaris School (second), Usman Amjad of The Educators (third).
Grade Seven: Sabahat Asghar Ummul Madaris School (first), Hashir Shakeel of Beacon House School (second), Mahnoor Saqib of City Star Public School (third).
Grade Eight: Fatima Arshad of White Rose School (first), Ayesha Munmawar of City Star School (second), Kashif Abdur Rehman of Ummunl Madaris (third). Grade Nine: Tooba Shah of Beacon House (first), Osama Saleem of Beacon House (second), Nazish Salim of Ummul Madaris (third). Garde 10: Nabeel Amer of City Star School (first), Huma Arif of Websters School and Aneeqa Haseeb of Ummuml Madaris (second) and Zarfashan Butt of White Rose School (third)
