Day: July 14, 2026

Lahore: Acting on the directives of Director General Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Tahir Farooq, the LDA carried out a grand operation against illegal housing schemes and unauthorizedcommercial buildings across the city.

According to an LDA spokesperson, teams from the Directorate of Metropolitan Planning-IV launched an operation against 14 illegal housing schemes, while Town Planning teams sealed 73 properties for unauthorized commercial use.

During the operation on Manhala Road, Chhapa Village Road and Miraj Road, the LDA took action against illegal housing schemes including Al Kabir Garden, Ammar Avenue, Canal View Farms, Ayan City Phase-I, Ayan City Phase-II, Ali Garden, Grand Bazaar/Kashmir Garden, New Nathoki Abadi, Ahmed Garden, Pak Homes, Mughal Homes, Suleman City/Heaven City, Al Hammad Meadows, Royal Villas and BM Estate/Muhafiz City.

The enforcement teams demolished roads, boundary walls, sewerage systems and other infrastructure developed within the illegal schemes and sealed their site offices.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Planning-IV teams also conducted operations in Gulberg, Faisal Town, New Muslim Town, Samanabad and Allama Iqbal Town, sealing 73 commercial properties being used in violation of land-use regulations. These included 29 properties in Gulberg and Faisal Town, 29 in New Muslim Town and Samanabad, and 15 in Allama Iqbal Town.

The sealed properties comprised private schools, pharmacies, clinics, grocery stores, caf©s, restaurants, food outlets, auto workshops, shops and offices.

The operation was supervised by Chief Metropolitan Planner and Chief Town Planner-I Asad uz Zaman.

Lahore: Punjab Police continued province-wide search and combing operations against terrorists, proclaimed offenders and other criminal elements under the Safe Punjab Vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, detaining 74 suspects during the last 24 hours.

According to a Punjab Police spokesperson on Monday, 383 search and combing operations were conducted across the province, including Lahore, during which 11,400 individuals were questioned and 74 suspects were taken into custody.

The spokesperson said that since the beginning of the current year, Punjab Police had carried out 84,210 search and combing operations, questioned more than 286,000 individuals and detained 29,445 suspects.

During these operations, police also recovered 1,971 pistols, 152 guns, 213 rifles and a large quantity of ammunition from the possession of suspects, the spokesperson added.

Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Kareem directed field formations to further intensify search, sweep and intelligence-based combing operations across the province.

He instructed officers to continue daily search and combing operations at sensitive locations, educational institutions, bus terminals, hotels and guest houses, and directed them to ensure strict legal action against anti-social elements involved in criminal activities in accordance with the law.

Lahore: Commissioner Noman Yousaf has directed the authorities concerned to ensure strict safety measures at all excavation sites during the monsoon season, saying there would be no compromise on public safety while development and heritage restoration projects continued across the city.

Chairing a briefing on development works in Lahore’s historic and cultural areas, here on Monday, the commissioner was informed that on-ground work was in progress on the underground parking and commercial complex project at Neela Gumbad. He was also briefed that restoration work on 10 historic buildings along Mall Road, Library Road, Nabha Road and Old Anarkali was actively underway.

The meeting was told that restoration of the Pakistan Surgical Building, Ewing Hall, Old State Bank building and College Hall was also in progress, while all utility services in the Circular Garden area were being shifted underground.

The rehabilitation and beautification of the historic Pak Tea House also forms part of the project.

Addressing the meeting, the commissioner said preservation of historical and cultural heritage reflected the identity of civilized nations and emphasized that all excavation sites must be properly secured during the monsoon season. He said the district administration would extend full support to the Walled City of Lahore Authority for timely completion of the projects, adding that clear instructions had already been issued to the district administration regarding the removal of encroachments in the project areas.

Deputy Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Ali Ejaz, Director General Walled City of Lahore Authority Najam Saqib, Additional Commissioner Bilal Hassan, Assistant Commissioner Raiwind Rai Babar and other officials attended the meeting.

Lahore: For the first time in the history of the Punjab Assembly, a parliamentary judicial committee has been formed. The committee was established under Section 11C of the Punjab Assembly Privileges Act 1972. Member of the Assembly Sardar Muhammad Owais Dareshak has been appointed as the chairman of the committee formed on the instructions of Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan.

Similarly, the members of the committee include Syed Ali Haider Gilani, Shaukat Raja, Noorul Amin Wattoo, Chaudhry Iftikhar Hussain Chachar, Amjad Ali Javed, Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Rahila Khadim Hussain and Ahmar Rashid Bhatti. Advisor to the Speaker Usama Khawar Ghuman will assist in the proceedings of the committee.

The judicial committee will be authorised to hear matters related to the privileges of the assembly, investigate and act on privilege references sent by the Speaker. The committee will have the power to issue notices, call for evidence and documents, record statements of witnesses and hear the views of the concerned persons.

Upon completion of the investigation, the committee will submit its report and recommendations to the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly. The committee will hear cases related to parliamentary privilege and discipline of the assembly. Criminal and civil cases will not be included in its jurisdiction.

In case of violation of privilege, the committee can recommend punishment or fine or take relevant legal action. The sources further said that DPO Kasur will be the first government officer whose case will come under hearing in this newly formed judicial committee of the Punjab Assembly.

Lahore: The Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation (PAKMMAF) successfully staged the inaugural PAKMMAF ACTIVIT Contender Series at Fight HQ in Lahore, bringing together many of the country’s finest mixed martial artists for an action-packed event featuring 12 elite contests.

Designed to bridge the gap between domestic competition and the international stage, the Contender Series showcased Pakistan’s emerging talent as athletes continued their preparations for upcoming IMMAF World Championship campaigns. The event was headlined by outstanding victories from twin sisters Maliha Ali and Manesha Ali, rising youth sensation Aurangzeb Ahmed, and former national wrestling champion Rashid Gujjar.

The standout performance of the evening came from former National MMA Champion Manesha Ali, who earned both a dominant unanimous decision victory over Karachi’s Imama and the prestigious Fight of the Night award. Representing Brave Gym and hailing from Hunza, the accomplished international competitor controlled every aspect of the contest across all three rounds, demonstrating the composure, technical ability and championship pedigree that have established her as one of Pakistan’s leading female mixed martial artists.

Her twin sister, Maliha Ali, also delivered an impressive performance to maintain the family’s perfect night. The Hunza-born Brave Gym athlete defeated Quetta’s Sadia despite conceding approximately five kilograms in weight to her opponent. A Wushu champion and national kickboxing gold medallist, Maliha displayed exceptional skill, determination and resilience throughout the contest, underlining her credentials as one of Pakistan’s most promising international prospects.

Former national wrestling champion Rashid Gujjar enjoyed a memorable victory by defeating Qurban Khan in a highly anticipated rematch. The result carried added significance as Gujjar avenged his defeat to Khan in the National Championship final, highlighting his rapid evolution since transitioning from wrestling to mixed martial arts and further strengthening his credentials ahead of upcoming international competition.

Among the evening’s most exciting moments was an emphatic knockout victory by Aurangzeb Ahmed, widely regarded as one of Pakistan’s brightest young MMA talents. His explosive performance served as another reminder of his immense potential as he prepares to represent Pakistan at the IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi this August.

The victories represent significant milestones in Pakistan’s international MMA ambitions. Maliha Ali, Manesha Ali and Rashid Gujjar will now intensify their preparations for the IMMAF World Championships in Georgia this November, while Aurangzeb Ahmed turns his attention to the IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi. The PAKMMAF ACTIVIT Contender Series has been established to provide athletes with consistent, high-level competition that mirrors the demands of international events, while also creating a pathway towards opportunities with leading professional MMA organisations.

Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, who attended the event as chief guest, praised the federation’s efforts in promoting mixed martial arts among Pakistan’s youth. She said the rapid growth of MMA is creating positive role models for young people while encouraging healthier lifestyles and stronger communities. She noted that participation in sport helps keep young people away from drugs, crime and other negative influences, contributes to improved mental health, reduces excessive screen time and instils discipline, resilience and strong character. She commended the Pakistan MMA Federation for creating opportunities that empower young athletes to pursue their dreams through sport.

PAKMMAF President Omar Ahmed said the federation’s vision extends far beyond winning medals on the international stage. “Success isn’t measured solely by medals. Success is building a complete athlete development pathway that creates sustainable opportunities for every aspiring mixed martial artist in Pakistan. Our pathway begins in schools and colleges, progresses through White Collar MMA, the Contender Series and the Pakistan Open before preparing athletes for IMMAF World Championships and ultimately professional organisations. We are building world champions while creating opportunities for Pakistani athletes to sign with leading international promotions such as BRAVE CF, UAE Warriors and ACA. Pakistan MMA is building a complete ecosystem for the sport, not simply organising events.”

Ahmed also acknowledged the federation’s partners for their continued commitment to the growth of mixed martial arts in Pakistan. “A special thank you to ACTIVIT and Rd. Rizwan Aftab Ahmed for once again believing in Pakistani MMA. Their continued support allows our athletes to compete internationally and proudly raise the Pakistan flag on the world stage.”

The inaugural PAKMMAF ACTIVIT Contender Series marked another important step in the federation’s long-term athlete development strategy, providing Pakistan’s top competitors with valuable high-performance experience while strengthening the country’s pathway to international success. As Pakistan continues to produce talented athletes capable of competing with the world’s best, the Contender Series is expected to play a pivotal role in developing future IMMAF champions and guiding the nation’s next generation of mixed martial artists towards successful professional careers.

Lahore: Lahore Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Abdul Raheem Shirazi on Monday visited Mukhtaran Rafiq Welfare Hospital, where he reviewed medical facilities and appreciated the hospital’s collaboration with Lahore Traffic Police to provide quality healthcare services to traffic wardens.

Upon his arrival, the CTO was received by Project Director Col (retd) Najeebullah Malik, President Abdullah and Vice President Chaudhry Shafiq.

During the visit, Abdul Raheem Shirazi inspected the hospital’s state-of-the-art dialysis centre and other departments. The hospital administration briefed him on the medical facilities and healthcare services being provided to patients.

The hospital also organised a medical camp at the Traffic Police Lines, Manawan, where a team of doctors conducted medical examinations of traffic wardens for various health conditions.

The CTO appreciated the initiative to provide quality healthcare services to traffic personnel and said the welfare of traffic wardens remained a priority.

Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Lahore Traffic Police and Mukhtaran Rafiq Welfare Hospital, traffic wardens would receive discounted and free medical facilities. Wardens would be entitled to a 50 per cent discount on laboratory services, while deserving traffic personnel, including the families of martyred officials, would receive free medical services of up to 100 per cent.

He added that traffic officers and officials would also be able to avail discounted medical tests for up to six family members under the agreement.