PU team discovers 1.1m years old elephant tusk

LAHORE

A paleontological team of Punjab University has discovered recovered 1.1 million years old elephant tusk (tooth) from Pabbi of Rajo, Gujrat. 

According to a press release0, the tusk belongs to extinct genus of elephant family named Stegodon and measures approximately 8 feet long and 8 inches in diameter. It is the largest tusk of this elephant species ever found in Pakistan and belongs to an old individual. Bovid skulls with associated isolated teeth were recovered from Punjan Sher Shahana, Gujrat from where the elephant skull was recovered previously. The skull and teeth belong to Reduncine, a relative of antelopes of cattle family. 

The team was sent to this area on recommendations of Chairman Department of Zoology Prof Dr Iqbal Qazi and the team comprised Prof Dr Muhammad Akhtar, Dr Muhammad Akbar Khan, Dr Abdul Majid Khan, Dr Abdul Ghaffar (COMSAT University) PhD and Research Scholar Sayyed Ghyour Abbas, PhD students Muhammad Asim, Muhammad Khalil Nawaz, Khalid Mahmood, Shabina Gull and Muhammad Ameen and MPhil and MSc students. Prof Dr Muhammad Akhtar said that these fossils would essentially be helpful in understanding classification and evolution of animals and play a significant role in deciphering past life of this area (Siwaliks) and its relationship with the living animals of above said family.

LGH: Construction work of five-storey extension project of block-3 in Lahore General Hospital has been completed. The state of the art new building of phase 3 is consisting of 18 operation theatres. Six surgical theatres of these 18 operation theatres have been made functional. This was informed by Prof Khalid Mahmood, Principal Post Graduate Medical Institute and Lahore General Hospital, in a press statement issued on Sunday. Professor of Surgery Dr Afsar Ali Bhatti, Dr Sikandar Hayat Gondal, Dr Tanveer Anwar, MS LGH Dr Niaz and other administrative doctors were present. 

Prof Khalid Mahmood said newly constructed block covering 13,300 square feet area has Rs 58 crore cost while total Rs 72 crore was allocated for the project. He said the remaining amount of Rs 14 crore would be spent on purchase of medical equipment. He said an ICU consisting of 13 beds and 17 private rooms are also available in new centrally air conditioned building of block three.