GUJRANWALA: The Gujranwala Marriage Hall Association (GMHA) on Thursday staged a demonstration in front of office of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) against a recent 20 percent tax imposed on the marriage halls. Reportedly, the protesters including GMHA Chairman Majid Siddique and president Sarfraz Ahmed Basra chanted full-throat slogans against the interim government and FBR authorities. Later, FBR chief commissioner negotiated with the protesters, and ensured them for forwarding their demands to the higher authorities for consideration. Meanwhile, the GMHA office bearers addressed a press conference at the Gujranwala Press Club in which they said that they had been paying 5 percent tax to FBR, and the sudden rise in tax was unacceptable to them. “The sudden hike in taxes not only affected the poor masses in arranging marriage halls, but hit marriage hall owners as well,” they said while demanding that the government should take notice about the matter on the priority basis. Traffic warden crushed by tractor when he tried to stop it A traffic warden was crushed to death by a speeding tractor-trolley when he tried to stop the vehicle to check its license. Reportedly, traffic warden Ansar tried to halt the tractor-trolley, but its driver ran over him, killing him on the spot. Meanwhile, the area police launched investigation into the incident. Social Welfare minister visits Sanatzar centre to support women learning The interim Provincial Minister for Human Rights, Population and Social Welfare department Faisal Mushtaq said on Thursday that the government had taken certain effective initiatives to secure and promote women in society in terms of providing them better employment opportunities. Reportedly, he visited the Sanatzar and Model Children Home in Gujranwala, where he inspected cooking, beautician, computer, handicrafts, dress making, art and craft classes. He was delighted over the skillful performance of the learning women, thereby announced appreciation certificates and cash prizes for their teachers and principal of the institute. Besides, the deputy commissioner (DC) Shoaib Tariq Warriach, social welfare department deputy director Rana Mehboob Ahmed, Sanatzar manager Zubair Ahmed, district population welfare officer Adnan Ashraf, Model Children Home manager Sumera Iqbal were also present on the occasion. Sanatzar, which works across Punjab under the supervision of Punjab Bait-ul-Maal for women development, organises different exhibitions to display the works of women and imparts training of various skills to women for their financial help. Published in Daily Times, August 3rd 2018.