Day: July 20, 2026

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister(CM),Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered the constitution of a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the alleged use of substandard construction material in beautification projects in Kamalia and other areas of Toba Tek Singh district.

According to a handout issued on Sunday,a four-member inquiry committee has been constituted under the convener ship of the Chairman of the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team (CMIT).

The committee also comprises the Director General Monitoring and Evaluation of the Planning and Development Board, a member of CMIT and another member to be nominated by the convener.

The committee has been tasked with conducting a detailed inspection of the beautification projects in Kamalia and other parts of Toba Tek Singh, besides examining all relevant project records.

It will assess the quality of construction materials, project design and other technical aspects to identify any irregularities, deficiencies or violations.

The committee will also determine responsibility in cases of negligence,substandard work or the use of inferior construction material.

The inquiry committee has been directed to complete its investigation and submit its report to the Chief Minister within three days.

Lahore: Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said on Sunday the journey of development and public prosperity would continue in accordance with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, with the provision of quality civic facilities remaining the government’s top priority. He was chairing a meeting to review the progress of various development projects underway in Constituency PP-153. The meeting was informed that several major schemes were in progress, including Harbanspura to Phatak Saddar Cantt trunk sewerage project costing Rs4.5 billion, installation of tube wells in Amna Park of UC-148 at a cost of Rs1.1 billion, as well as street rehabilitation, sewerage improvement and clean drinking water supply projects. Officials briefed the minister that hundreds of streets in PP-153 have already been repaired, while work was continuing on a number of development schemes that would provide improved civic facilities to millions of residents upon completion. Khawaja Salman Rafique said resolving publ
ic issues remains the Punjab government’s foremost priority and directed the authorities concerned to ensure the timely completion of all ongoing projects. He emphasized that no compromise would be made on the quality of development work and that transparent monitoring of all schemes would continue to ensure efficient implementation. He said the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, was committed to providing basic amenities and improving the quality of life for people across the province through sustainable development initiatives. Deputy Director LDA Aqeel, WASA Executive Engineer Salman Mirza, SDO WASA Sultan, SDO MCL Aamir Humayun and other officials attended the meeting.

Lahore: Pakistan’s premier exhibition for the dyes, chemicals and allied industries, the 11th Colour and Chem Expo 2026, successfully concluded at the Lahore Expo Centre on Sunday. Business to business (B2B) deals worth millions of rupees were signed on the occasion.

Event and Conference International organised the event in collaboration with Rainbow Group and the Punjab Dyes and Chemicals Merchants Association.

More than 350 national and international exhibitors, which included companies from China, Turkiye, Bangladesh and others, showcased cutting-edge products, technologies and solutions across the dyes, chemicals and allied industries.

The event attracted thousands of business professionals, manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors, researchers, policymakers and investors from Pakistan and overseas.

Running alongside the exhibition, Digital Textile Printing Industry Expo (DTPIE), provided visitors with an expanded opportunity to explore the latest developments in digital textile printing, screen printing, textile processing, finishing technologies and industrial automation.

The exhibition featured a wide range of sectors, including textile chemicals, dyes and intermediates, pigments, printing technologies, paints and coatings, pharmaceuticals, food chemicals, agrochemicals, fertilisers, petrochemicals, detergents, leather chemicals, water treatment, specialty chemicals, laboratory equipment, industrial machinery and environmental technologies.

Event organiser Rashidul Haq said the 11th edition aimed to further strengthen collaboration among industry stakeholders while highlighting the latest innovations shaping the future of manufacturing and industrial development

He further said the exhibition reflected the growing strength of Pakistan’s industrial sector and provided an ideal platform for local and global companies to launch new products, expand business networks and explore emerging.

Lahore: Police registered 156 bicycle and 508 cattle theft cases in the provincial capital during the current calender year. According to police, Cantt division topped the list with 47 bicycle theft cases, 35 in Saddar Division, 26 bicycle theft cases were registered in Model Town Division, 19 bicycles were stolen from City Division and 15 from Iqbal Town Division. Police records revealed that 14 bicycle theft cases were reported in Civil Lines Division this year. Apart from this, Cantt Division topped the list with 163 cases of cattle theft, 158 cases were registered in Saddar Division, 81 cases of cattle theft were registered in Model Town Division. Likewise, 46 cases of cattle theft were reported in Iqbal Town Division, 42 cases of cattle theft were reported in City Division, and 18 cases of cattle theft were registered in Civil Lines Division this year.

Lahore: Former president of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Iftikhar Ali Malik has said Pakistan can earn billions of dollars in foreign exchange annually by unlocking the potential of its tourism sector through effective global promotion of its natural landscapes,historical heritage and religious sites.

Speaking to Discover Pakistan HD Chairman Dr.Kaiser Rafiq on Sunday,Malik said tourism could emerge as a multi-billion-dollar industry if the country’s leading destinations were marketed internationally to attract both foreign and domestic visitors.

He identified Hunza,Skardu,Swat,Naran,Kaghan,Gilgit-Baltistan,Harappa,Taxila,Gurdwara Panja Sahib,the birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak and Gurdwara Darbar Kartarpur as key attractions with significant tourism potential.

Malik said Pakistan had previously been recognized among the world’s top holiday and adventure tourism destinations because of its diverse landscapes and natural beauty.

He added that the country also offered some of the world’s most affordable and scenic tourist attractions.

Highlighting recent policy initiatives,he said Pakistan had introduced an online visa facility for citizens of 175 countries and visa-on-arrival for nationals of 50 countries,making travel to the country more convenient.

While noting a steady increase in tourist arrivals over the past few years,he stressed the need to improve service standards through professional training of tour operators,hotel staff and other stakeholders.

He also called for better hygiene,enhanced security measures and a more welcoming environment for visitors.

Malik said it was encouraging that the World Economic Forum had recognized Pakistan among the world’s leading destinations for its rich heritage,ranging from the Indus Delta mangroves to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization sites, including Mohenjo-daro.

He described tourism as a key driver of economic growth and said Pakistan’s natural beauty and cultural diversity provided a strong foundation for developing a vibrant tourism industry.

Dr.Kaiser Rafiq said countries such as China and India generated billions of dollars annually through tourism while several European nations earned even higher revenues from the sector.

He said Pakistan possessed world-class tourism assets and urged the government to take practical steps to promote a tourism-friendly environment.

He added that Discover Pakistan,in line with the prime minister’s vision,had been actively showcasing the country’s cultural heritage and tourist destinations to international audiences,particularly in China.