Page 221 - Muzaffargarh Gazzetteer

pomegranates, especially the white variety, were considered the best not only
in the entire Punjab but even beyond, and had rather become the identity of
Alipur. However, a few decades ago, the crop started getting afflicted with an
unexplained disease whereby the fruits would start splitting up before
ripening. Ordinary measures, and even the use of pesticides, did not cure the
disease. With no solution in sight, and after having borne successive losses,
the growers started shifting to other produce. And today, pomegranate is
hardly grown on around 400 acres. The District Administration therefore
decided to retrieve this lost glory too, and restore the pomegranate
cultivation, and thereby the identity of Alipur. Upon its request, the
Agriculture Department, the Government of Punjab, constituted a committee
of experts to conduct a research into the causes of downfall of pomegranate
cultivation, and suggest remedial measures. The Secretary Agriculture
himself visited Muzaffargarh and chaired a meeting of all relevant
stakeholders. A comprehensive plan was devised and immediately put into
place. It was envisaged that within next 3 years, the area under pomegranate
cultivation would be extended preferably up to 4000 acres. It was decided to
add a component of pomegranate revival into PC-1 of the project, "Promotion
of Fruits Crops Production in Punjab through Provision of Certified Plants".
It was further decided that nurseries would be established in Alipur with a
capacity of producing around 8000 saplings to be provided to the growers
free of cost or on nominal price. Awareness seminars were held in Alipur,
and active as well as potential growers were invited to attend the talks,
interact with the specialists, and get their apprehensions removed and
queries addressed. A databank of all the participants was also prepared for
networking and follow-up purposes.
CONSTITUTION OF ACCIDENTS REVIEW COMMITTEE

Road accidents are one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide, and
Pakistan is no exception. In fact, with more than 25000 traffic related deaths
annually, Pakistan has one of the largest numbers of such deaths in the
entire world. The number is much higher than those killed in terrorism,
which is considered the most serious and challenging problem the country
has faced in recent years. However, not many in the country are seemed
perturbed or intend to take a meaningful action to check the trend. The
District Administration Muzaffargarh decided to take a lead on this account
too.

Major reasons for the road accidents could be attributed to poor road
engineering, deficient road fixtures and fittings, reckless driving, lack of road
safety awareness, improper law enforcement and unsafe pedestrian
crossings, yet more reliable and precise data needed to be gathered for an
effective short term as well as long term actions. Accordingly, an Accidents
Review Committee comprising Secretary District Transport Authority, DSP
Traffic, Sub-Divisional Officer (Roads), District Emergency Officer (1122) as
well as Assistant Commissioner and Sub-Divisional Police Officer of the

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