Day: July 10, 2026

Lahore: The 1761st meeting of the Punjab University Syndicate was held under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali to consider the University’s budget estimates for the financial year 2026-27.

The Syndicate recommended to the Senate the approval of a budget of Rs20.87 billion. The University will provide subsidies and scholarships worth Rs10 billion from government grants, its own resources, and other funding sources to ensure that students from all segments of society have greater access to quality higher education.

On the directions of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali, the Syndicate recommended enhancing scholarships and student subsidies to further reduce the financial burden on students and their families.

The University has allocated Rs341 million from its own resources for scholarships. In addition, students will continue to benefit from financial assistance under the Honhaar Scholarship Programme, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) scholarship schemes, and the Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF).

As a result of the financial reforms introduced by the University administration, Punjab University has recorded a significant reduction in its budget deficit for the first time.

The budget deficit for the financial year 2025-26 has been reduced to Rs1.6 billion, compared with Rs2.2 billion in the previous year. The Syndicate members appreciated the University’s prudent financial management and austerity measures.

On the instructions of the Vice Chancellor, the Syndicate also approved the allocation of Rs284 million as research grants to further strengthen the University’s research culture, improve its international rankings, and support research that contributes to the country’s socio-economic development.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali expressed confidence that the University’s budget deficit would be eliminated in the coming years. He said the University would focus on expanding its revenue streams rather than relying on borrowing and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the University’s Endowment Fund.

The University is expected to receive a Rs786 million grant from the Government of Punjab. According to the salient features of the proposed budget, students with disabilities will continue to receive free education and free hostel accommodation, while students admitted on sports quotas will be provided free education. Tuition fees for Huffaz-e-Quran will also remain waived.

Furthermore, students will continue to receive subsidies worth billions of rupees in the areas of education, hostel accommodation, transportation, electricity, and other student welfare facilities.

The Syndicate also approved the recommendations of the Selection Board and various other statutory bodies.

Lahore: The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has developed a hospital grading manual aimed at improving the quality of healthcare services, enabling patients to make informed choices, and encouraging healthy competition among hospitals to enhance treatment standards across the province.

The grading manual was presented during a broad-based consultative meeting held at the PHC headquarters on Thursday, where leading healthcare service providers shared their feedback on the proposed framework. The initiative marks a significant step towards recognising and rewarding healthcare quality beyond the Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS).

The meeting was chaired by PHC Chief Executive Officer Dr Muhammad Saqib Aziz and attended by senior management representatives from 12 leading public and private hospitals. Vice-Chancellor of Fatima Jinnah Medical University Prof Dr Khalid Masood Gondal and executives from four hospitals in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan joined the session virtually.

Director Clinical Governance and Organisational Standards Dr Mushtaq Ahmed briefed participants on the hospital grading manual, highlighting its focus on quality of care, patients’ right to informed choice and the potential to promote medical tourism through recognised healthcare excellence.

Addressing the participants, Dr Muhammad Saqib Aziz appreciated stakeholders for their continued support in developing the grading framework. He said the Commission had undertaken an extensive review of relevant literature, legal provisions and international best practices while ensuring the framework was adapted to Punjab’s healthcare realities through extensive stakeholder consultations.

He said the grading system would formally recognise hospitals committed to delivering high-quality care and provide patients with objective information to help them choose healthcare facilities. He added that the framework would establish a new benchmark for healthcare quality, improve service delivery across Punjab and strengthen the province’s potential as a destination for medical tourism.

“Grading of hospitals is a legal mandate of the PHC through which we will reaffirm our commitment to recognising clinical excellence, empowering patients with informed choice and supporting hospitals in delivering safer and higher-quality healthcare services,” Dr Saqib Aziz said.

Prof Dr Khalid Masood Gondal described the grading framework as a collaborative achievement of healthcare stakeholders and said it represented the next major step in improving healthcare quality beyond compliance with the Minimum Service Delivery Standards.

Participants welcomed the PHC initiative to recognise clinical excellence and patient safety through a structured scoring and ranking system. They stressed the need for continued PHC support to help hospitals achieve better grading outcomes and agreed that the manual should first be implemented through a pilot phase before its formal province-wide launch, allowing refinements based on practical experience.

Lahore: Punjab Counter Narcotics Force (CNF) has achieved a major breakthrough against drug traffickers in Lahore by seizing 29 kilograms of narcotics besides arresting two drug traffickers and weapons worth approximately Rs 22 million.

According to a spokesperson for the CNF, the intelligence-based operations were conducted in the Dhyal area of Wahga Tehsil, Lahore district. In the first raid, two major drug dealers were apprehended, and 29 kilograms of narcotics, including 19 kilograms of crystal meth (Ice) and 10 kilograms of heroin, were recovered from their possession. The operation also led to the seizure of a 9mm pistol, a drone, drone batteries, and a drone controller.

Acting on information provided by the arrested suspects, CNF teams carried out a second raid at another location, recovering one drone, 11 drone controllers, 12 drone batteries, a drone camera, a drone bunker, chargers, power adapters, and a large cache of weapons. The recovered arsenal included one 12-bore pump-action shotgun, a submachine gun (SMG), two 30-bore pistols, multiple magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Lahore: Punjab Police have intensified their province-wide crackdown on violations of the Anti-Kite Flying Act, arresting 9,813 suspects and registering 9,445 cases during the current year, a Punjab Police spokesperson said on Thursday.

The spokesperson said during the crackdown, police recovered 472,296 kites and 14,833 string reels from the possession of the accused.

In Lahore alone, police arrested 4,575 suspects, registered 4,405 cases, and recovered 121,630 kites and 4,723 string reels, the spokesperson added.

IGP Abdul Kareem directed police officers to continue strict and indiscriminate action against all those involved in kite flying, stressing that the hazardous activity would not be tolerated anywhere in the province.

He also ordered police to take legal action against individuals involved in the online sale and distribution of kites and metallic string.

The IGP urged parents to keep their children away from the dangerous activity and appealed to citizens to report incidents of kite flying by calling the Police Helpline 15, enabling law enforcement agencies to take prompt action.

Lahore: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has launched a comprehensive monsoon preparedness campaign ahead of the upcoming rainy season.

According to WCLA sources here on Thursday as part of this initiative, WCLA had completed a detailed structural survey of buildings across the Walled City of Lahore to identify properties that may pose a threat to public safety during heavy rains.

Based on the findings of the survey, formal notices have been issued to the owners of dangerous and dilapidated buildings, directing them to immediately undertake the necessary repair and strengthening of their structures.

Property owners have been advised to carry out all essential repairs at their own expense to ensure that their buildings remain structurally safe throughout the monsoon season.

Those who are unable or unwilling to undertake the required repairs have been directed to vacate the unsafe buildings immediately in order to prevent any loss of life or property resulting from possible structural failure.

In addition, WCLA had advised all residents and property owners within the Walled City to ensure that rooftops, rainwater drainage systems, gutters and downpipes remain fully functional and free from obstruction throughout the monsoon period.

Sources said, “Proper maintenance of these systems is essential to prevent water accumulation, seepage and structural deterioration of buildings.”

The Authority has also reiterated that no unauthorized construction, addition of floors, structural alterations, excavation, extensions or modifications to heritage buildings or other properties within the Walled City shall be carried out without obtaining prior approval from WCLA. Such unauthorized activities not only violate heritage conservation regulations but also increase structural vulnerabilities during adverse weather conditions.

The Walled City of Lahore Authority DG, Najmus Saqib stated that the protection of human life remains the foremost priority of the Authority.

He said that preventive measures taken before the onset of the monsoon season are essential to minimizing risks and ensuring the safety of residents living within the historic city.

He further emphasized that preserving Lahore’s rich architectural heritage must go hand in hand with protecting the lives of the people who reside within these centuries-old neighborhoods.

The Director General urged all citizens to cooperate with WCLA by complying with the issued notices, carrying out timely repairs, maintaining proper drainage facilities, and observing all safety instructions issued by the Authority.

The Walled City of Lahore Authority remains committed to implementing the vision of the Punjab government by ensuring public safety, protecting the city’s unique cultural heritage, and adopting proactive disaster risk management measures to minimize the impact of the upcoming monsoon season.

Lahore: The Punjab Transport and Mass Transit Department has introduced five special buses for women using the Metro Bus Service to provide them with safer and more convenient travel facilities.

According to the department, five speedo buses have temporarily been deployed on Metro Bus routes to facilitate women passengers during rush hours.

Provincial Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan said the additional buses had been added to the service to protect women from harassment and ensure a safe travelling environment.

He said the speedo buses were included in the Metro bus fleet following the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

The minister said new Metro buses would soon be purchased to replace the temporarily deployed speedo buses, which would then be permanently allocated for women passengers.

Bilal Akbar Khan said provision of safe and secure travel facilities for women was among the top priorities of the Punjab government and further measures would be taken in this regard.