MULTAN
Lahore High Court (Multan Bench) Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah has said that the judicial academy will be upgraded to university and special courses will be held to build the professional capability of judges, and directed the judges at a meeting to adopt Alternative Dispute Resolution method for quick solution and disposition of cases.Addressing the meeting of district and sessions as well as senior judges from nine districts lying under the jurisdiction of LHC Multan Bench, he added that the judicial record of all nine districts would be computerised and the performance of lower judiciary would be monitored regularly. He said that the automation of the system would help locate reasons behind delay in cases besides keeping check on the performance of judges and improving their performance. He stressed the judges to adopt an effective strategy to end pendency in cases. He said that the judges would have to discharge their professional obligations with utmost honesty and dedication for the dispensation of justice.He declared that the training sessions for the judges would be held once or twice every year so that they could be imparted latest skills. He added that attending at least one course a year would be made mandatory for all judges working at district level. He declared that permanent professors would be appointed at the judicial academy for offering high stand training to the judges. He said that the establishment of Research Centre at Judicial Academy promoted the culture of research as research was underway on the laws of Pakistan and other countries at the centre.He told the participants that fast track system was introduced at LHC Multan Bench under which 5,300 cases were disposed in just three weeks. He said that steps were being taken to run the system systematically and annual rooster would be evolved under this strategy.Mr Justice Qasim Khan of LHC Multan Bench and Additional Registrar Syed Khurshid Anwar Rizvi were also present. Many district judges spoke on the occasion and shared proposals for bringing improvement in the system.POLICY RATE CUT PRAISED: The Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry has appreciated the reduction of policy rate by 50 basis points by the State Bank of Pakistan, hoping it will help boost private sector.MCCI acting president Bakhtawar Tanvir Sheikh said that the cut would help cash starved private get cheaper money besides encouraging the potential foreign investors for investment in Pakistan. He suggested to the government to bring the interest rates further low to 8 percent in next monetary policy. He said that the provision of ample cheaper liquidity is a must to create new businesses but in the last five years the higher interests kept the private sector growth at the lowest ebb causing huge damage to the businesses.17,269 POWER PILFERERS FINED RS241M: The Multan Electric Power Company caught 17,269 power pilferers, imposed Rs241 million fine collectively on the suspects. The Mepco authorities have disclosed that as many as 17,629 power pilferers were caught red handed during the last financial year and over Rs241 million fine was imposed on them. The recovery teams of Mepco realised over Rs97 million from 9,524 power thieves besides taking other legal actions against them. Mepco sources said that action is underway to recover remaining fine money.Mepco has upgraded over 500 power transformers by spending over Rs152 million during a drive to upgrade its infrastructure. The upgradation was done during financial year 2012-2013 and the transformers have been upgraded in Multan, Dera Ghazi Kham, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sahiwal, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalnagar circles.