LAHORE: The Punjab Archaeology Department in Pakistan’s most populous province will conserve and restore a Sikh Samadhi and a Hindu temple, two important monuments located near the Lahore Fort, at a cost of Rs22m. The Samadhi belongs to Bhai Vasti Ram, a spiritual guide to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and the temple to Jhingar Shah Suthra, a Hindu mendicant of Aurangzeb Alamgir’s time who, according to Sikh records, won the emperor’s favour with his “miracles”.
Archaeology officials said yesterday that work on both the projects would start in January next year to be completed in 2016. The Samadh of Bhai Vasti Ram, entirely built in marble, is a beautiful and unique monument of the Sikh period. It was damaged badly during the 1992 violent protests in reaction to the Babri Masjid demolition in India.
Car sales in Karachi rise
KARACHI: Sales of locally produced cars in Pakistan rose by 6.4 percent to 37,229 units in July-October 2013 compared to 34,990 units in the same period a year earlier. Month-on-month car sales fell slightly in October to 8,690 from 9,659. But year-on-year (YoY) car sales saw a paltry rise in the month as they were 8,184 units in October 2012.
Data released by Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (Pama) revealed that YoY sales of Honda Civic and City increased to 3,492 and 4,532 from 2,290 and 3,719 in the four-month period. A total of 9,375 units of Toyota Corolla were sold compared to 9,187 units. Sales of Suzuki Liana and Swift fell to 61 and 1,757 from 86 and 2,402. Suzuki Cultus and Bolan sales grew to 4,609 and 4,249 from 4,317 and 3,484, while sales of Suzuki Mehran dropped to 9,154 units from 9,435 units.
Two suicide bombers killed
Islamabad: At least two suicide bombers were killed in an explosion in Bagh district of Azad Kashmir.
Police said that five suspects wearing police uniform entered the house of a man named Arshad in village Doga Rawali in Bagh District of Azad Kashmir, according to Pakistan’s.
The residents raised alarm upon which the attackers detonated explosive.
The blast killed two attackers while another was captured in wounded condition. Two of the attackers managed to escape from the scene.
Agencies
