Gambling on prize bonds on the rise in Muzaffargarh

By Khalid Chaudhry

MUZAFFARGARH: Parchi jua, or illegal prize bond selling, is flourishing in district Muzaffargarh, Daily Times has learnt.

The prize bond sellers, or parchi mafia as they are popularly known, are operating mostly in Faisal Market, Tahir Shah Market and Jhang Road. The police, locals in these areas complain, have done nothing to stop the illegal practice, while the parchi mafia continues to spread, many in the business now using computers to allocate numbers. Muzaffargarh citizens have demanded senior officials of the district administration take action against gambling.

Rs 140m loan: Community Development Executive District Officer (EDO) Malik Khair Muhammad Bud said on Saturday the government is doing all it can to provide better facilities to farmers and to improve their living standard.

The EDO told Daily Times at the district council hall here that by adopting modern techniques, farmers would be able to improve their yield, adding that the government had granted farmers loans at low interest rates.

Mr Bud said the government had sanctioned loans worth Rs 140 million for the farmers of Muzaffargarh for the coming Kharif crop, and already issued loans for tractors. He said that the Community Development Department had provided financial assistance worth Rs 1.9 million to the heirs of 19 labourers under the death grant while Rs 475,000 were distributed among 160 persons under the marriage grant.

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