Day: July 19, 2026

Lahore: Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Lahore Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi has directed traffic officers to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against traffic violations to ensure safer roads and an organized traffic system across the city.

Chairing a meeting of circle officers and sector in-charges of Model Road, here on Saturday, the CTO reviewed the performance of each officer individually. The meeting also assessed accident hotspots, traffic congestion, response to 15 emergency calls and the overall performance of the traffic police.

The CTO ordered a strict crackdown on one-way driving, helmet violations, juvenile driving and dangerously overloaded vehicles. He also directed officers to ensure strict enforcement against violations of lane discipline and one-wheeling.

He instructed that no incidents of riding motorcycles without helmets, one-way traffic violations or lane discipline breaches should go unchecked. The CTO further ordered action against public transport operators failing to install QR panic buttons, stressing that the safety of passengers must be ensured.

Highlighting the importance of accident-prone areas, he directed officers to identify accident hotspots and implement effective preventive and safety measures to reduce road crashes.

The CTO said the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for accident-free travel, safe roads and secure commuting remained the foremost priority of the Lahore Traffic Police.

Lahore: Punjab Food Authority on Saturday has seized and destroyed 4,730 kg of various expired and non-standard food items while taking action at the packing warehouse of a well-known superstore, while the warehouse has been sealed until it is rectified.

DG Punjab Food Authority Raja Mansoor Ahmad supervised the raid at the warehouse of a well-known super store on Jiyya Bagga Road. During the operation, 1500 kg of pulses, 620 kg of gram flour, 500 kg of porridge, 500 kg of flour, 800 kg of expensive coffees, 500 liters of oil, 200 kg of dry fruits and 110 kg of flour were destroyed.

According to Raja Mansoor Ahmad, a large consignment of expired items was recovered from the godown, while expired and fresh stock was kept in the same place against the rules, which could pose a serious threat to the health of consumers.

He said that the action was taken in violation of previous instructions and food safety SOPs. During the inspection, the food storage area was full of insects, stinky environment, dirty water dripping on food and drink and very poor sanitation arrangements were also revealed.

The DG Food Authority further stated that several exported items were also missing labels and registration information, on which further legal action was initiated by closing the warehouse pending rectification.

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari on Saturday strongly condemned recent remarks made by Noreen Niazi about the Pakistan armed forces, saying the statement reflected the mindset of her brother and was against the national interest.

In a statement, Azma Bokhari said the family of the PTI founder had consistently appeared uncomfortable with Pakistan’s achievements, adding that remarks targeting the country’s successes were deeply regrettable.

She said the entire world had acknowledged Pakistan’s success in Marka-e-Haq and India’s defeat, adding that at such a time, Noreen Niazi’s comments, which she described as being in support of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were not only shameful but also highly condemnable.

The provincial minister said the Pakistan armed forces, particularly the Pakistan Air Force, achieved historic success during Marka-e-Haq, bringing pride to the entire nation. She said every Pakistani salutes the courage, sacrifices, professionalism and unwavering commitment demonstrated by the country’s armed forces in safeguarding the homeland.

Azma Bokhari further said the PTI founder and his three sisters, through their conduct, gave the impression that they either considered themselves infallible or remained detached from reality. She maintained that neither the PTI founder nor his family had ever played a constructive role for Pakistan and that their recent statements were contrary to the national interest.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has paid glowing tribute to former South African president Nelson Mandela on the occasion of International Nelson Mandela Day, saying his extraordinary life of sacrifice, perseverance and unwavering commitment to justice continues to inspire humanity and serves as a guiding light for generations across the world.

In her message on Saturday, the CM said Nelson Mandela’s life was a shining symbol of patience, resilience and an unwavering struggle against oppression. She said that despite enduring years of imprisonment and immense hardships, Mandela never compromised his principles and remained steadfast in his pursuit of freedom, equality and justice.

M Maryam Nawaz said Nelson Mandela’s philosophy of non-violence, equality, reconciliation and respect for human rights had left an enduring legacy for the international community. She said his tireless struggle against racial discrimination, injustice and inequality had become an integral part of world history and would continue to inspire those striving for peace and social justice.

The chief minister said the Punjab government, led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), was committed to building a society based on equality, justice, tolerance and respect for human dignity. She said inclusive development, equal opportunities and the rule of law were essential for sustainable progress and social harmony.

Highlighting the importance of International Nelson Mandela Day, Maryam Nawaz said the annual observance encouraged people to dedicate their time and efforts to serving humanity and contributing to public welfare. She urged citizens, especially the youth, to promote values of compassion, tolerance, volunteerism and public service to bring positive change.

Quoting Nelson Mandela’s famous principle that education was ‘the most powerful tool to change the world,’ the chief minister said investment in education and human development was key to building prosperous and peaceful societies.

She added that as long as poverty, injustice and inequality persisted anywhere in the world, humanity’s collective responsibility remained unfinished. She said every individual had the ability and responsibility to contribute towards creating a fairer, more compassionate world through positive action and commitment to justice.

Lahore: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on Saturday reaffirmed the commitment to continue development projects and uphold the respect of martyrs and the Pakistan Armed Forces.

He was addressing a public reception held at Khudian Khas Railway Station to mark the restoration of the Bulleh Shah Passenger Train after a gap of 16 years. Thousands of residents attended the event, which was also attended by Minister of State Malik Rashid Ahmad Khan, MPA and PEMRA Chairman Malik Saeed Ahmad Khan and other political and social figures.

Malik Saeed Ahmad Khan said the restoration of the train service fulfilled a longstanding demand of the people and appreciated the efforts of the government and railway authorities in making it possible. He said the people of Khudian Khas had always stood with the armed forces and paid tribute to the sacrifices of the martyrs.

Minister of State Malik Rashid Ahmad Khan said the train service was restored within three months through the efforts of the government and Federal Minister for Railways. He announced that the number of coaches would be increased from 10 to 12 to facilitate passengers.

The PA Speaker said modern communication had a significant impact on public opinion and stressed that no compromise would be made on the honour of martyrs and national institutions. He said any attempt to undermine the sacrifices of the armed forces was against the national interest.

Highlighting development initiatives, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had allocated funds for the uplift of Khudian Khas and adjoining areas, with focus on roads, education, public services and welfare projects.

The ceremony concluded with the arrival of the Bulleh Shah Passenger Train at Khudian Khas Railway Station, where it received a warm welcome from residents.

Lahore: Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique chaired the 44th Syndicate Meeting of Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) on Saturday, where a series of key administrative, academic and financial decisions aimed at strengthening the university and its affiliated healthcare institutions were approved.

The syndicate ratified the decisions taken during its 43rd meeting and appreciated the measures adopted to ensure transparency in financial affairs at Fatima Jinnah Medical University and its affiliated hospitals.

Among the major decisions, the meeting approved the institution of the Professor Dr. Abdul Majeed Chaudhry Medal in the Department of Surgery, the appointment of Professor Emeritus, and the adoption of Higher Education Commission (HEC) policy guidelines for the appointment of Professors of Practice and the Distinguished National Professor Programme.

The syndicate also approved the creation of two additional seats of Professor of Pathology in accordance with Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) requirements and sanctioned the appointment of a Consultant Examinations for the university.

Financial matters also came under discussion, with the syndicate approving the Finance Committee’s recommendations, departmental and examination budget estimates for the financial year 2026-27, and the annual procurement plans of Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, the Punjab Thalassemia Programme, and the College of Nursing and Midwifery.

The meeting further approved the re-tendering of the framework contract for the procurement of medicines, surgical disposables, laboratory kits, chemicals and dialysis equipment for Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. It also approved annual operation and maintenance contracts for critical medical infrastructure, including lifts, HVAC and Building Management Systems (BMS), CT scan and digital mammography machines, anesthesia machines and fluoroscopy equipment for the 2026-27 financial year.

In addition, the syndicate approved a framework contract for the procurement of hematology laboratory kits and hematology analyzers for the Punjab Thalassemia Programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Khawaja Salman Rafique praised the services of Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal, saying his contributions to medical education and healthcare were unparalleled. He said the Punjab government was giving special attention to promoting modern medical research in the province’s medical institutions.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department, university faculty members, representatives from the Higher Education Commission, Finance and Law departments, and other syndicate members, while several participants joined the proceedings through video link.