Day: July 23, 2026

Lahore: An anti-corruption court on Wednesday dismissed the post-arrest bail petitions of two Excise Department officials, Raja Waseem Haider and Fazil Ajmal, accused of facilitating the fraudulent sale of land worth millions of rupees through forged documents.

Anti-Corruption Court Judge Muhammad Jamil announced the decision after hearing arguments from both sides.

The defence counsel requested the court to grant benefit of bail to his clients, claiming they were innocent.

However, the prosecution submitted that the accused allegedly facilitated the sale of valuable land belonging to Nishat Cinema, Rawalpindi, using a forged power of attorney. The land, worth millions of rupees, was allegedly transferred in the names of the co-accused, it added.

The prosecution requested dismissal of the bail petitions, arguing that the accused had assisted their co-accused in the fraud.

The court subsequently rejected the post-arrest bail petitions of Raja Waseem Haider and Fazil Ajmal, who had been serving as Excise and Taxation Officers (ETOs) in Rawalpindi.

The case was registered by the Anti-Corruption Establishment Lahore on the complaint of Nishat Cinema owner Bilal Sajid.

Lahore: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol Wednesday urged the federal government to immediately engage with petroleum dealers and address their concerns through meaningful consultation.

He said that any disruption in fuel supplies would not only affect transportation and logistics but also have far-reaching consequences for trade, industry, agriculture and daily economic activity across the country.

LCCI President said that petroleum products serve as the backbone of economic activity and any interruption in their supply chain could create serious challenges for businesses. He stressed that government should make every effort to resolve the matter through dialogue and consensus-building so that normal economic activity continues uninterrupted.

Saigol said that announcement of a nationwide strike by petroleum outlets should be viewed as a matter requiring immediate attention, asserting that stakeholders’ concerns should be addressed through institutional consultation. He added that sustainable policymaking is only possible when all stakeholders are taken into confidence.

Commenting on the proposed daily petroleum pricing mechanism, he said that business community has serious concerns regarding the uncertainty that such a system could create. He noted that fuel prices have a direct bearing on transportation costs, production expenses, distribution networks, freight charges and retail pricing. Frequent changes in petroleum prices would make it increasingly difficult for businesses to accurately calculate costs, prepare budgets and make informed commercial decisions.

‘Businesses need predictability to operate efficiently. Manufacturers, traders, exporters, transporters and retailers prepare their costing and pricing structures based on known input costs. Under a daily pricing system, businesses would remain uncertain about fuel prices from one day to the next, making it difficult to plan operations and determine actual costs,’ he argued.

Saigol said that while transparency and alignment with international prices are important objectives, they must be balanced with the realities faced by businesses operating on the ground. Economic policies should provide stability and predictability rather than creating an environment where businesses are unable to forecast costs even for the coming day.

Lahore: At least 21 people were injured when two buses collided on Raiwind Bypass, Lahore on Wednesday. According to Rescue 1122, emergency teams rushed to the scene immediately after receiving information about the accident and started providing first aid to the injured.

Rescue officials said 21 injured passengers were shifted to Indus Hospital, Raiwind, for medical treatment. The spokesperson said that no loss of life was reported in the accident. The cause of the collision could not be immediately ascertained, added spokesperson.

Lahore: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Lahore Zone on Wednesday arrested 12 suspects, including two passport office employees, during a major crackdown on the passport agent mafia for allegedly charging citizens illegal fees for passport processing.

According to an FIA Lahore Zone spokesperson, the raids were conducted by the FIA Anti-Corruption Circle outside passport offices in Garden Town, Shahdara and Harbanspura.

The spokesperson said two passport office employees and 10 agents, belonging to different areas of Lahore, were taken into custody during the operations.

The arrested suspects were allegedly collecting illegal additional charges from citizens on the pretext of facilitating passport issuance and misleading applicants by promising expedited processing in return for extra payments.

During the raids, FIA recovered passports, passport tokens, bank challans, payment receipts and other incriminating material from the possession of the accused.

The spokesperson said all the suspects had been arrested and further investigation was underway.

Lahore: Heavy downpours lashed the provincial capital on Wednesday,flooding low-lying areas.However,the rainfall brought a significant drop in temperature, with more showers forecast over the next 24 hours.

Heavy downpours started in morning hours and remained continue till afternoon with occasional gaps varying low to high in most parts of the city.

Maximum rainfall recorded in Laxmi Chowk 123mm,while Pani Wala Talab received 122mm,Chowk Nakhuda 106, Saggian 82,Samanabad 90,Shadi Pura 70,Jail Road 52,Gulberg 23 mm.

According to a spokesperson of Pakistan Meteorological Department, widespread intermittent rain-wind/thundershower was expected in most parts of the Punjab.

Heavyfalls (at times very heavy) may also occur at few places during next 24 hours.

Lahore: The Punjab government on Wednesday launched the ‘Naya Aaghaz’ programme under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s prison reforms agenda to facilitate the rehabilitation of deserving released prisoners by providing them with interest-free loans to start or expand small businesses.

The programme was launched under a memorandum of understanding signed between the Punjab Home Department and Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance to promote the social and economic reintegration of released inmates.

Under the programme, deserving released prisoners would be eligible for interest-free loans of up to Rs 200,000 under the Qarz-e-Hasna model to establish new businesses or expand existing ones using vocational skills acquired during imprisonment.

According to the Home Department spokesman, Akhuwat had allocated an initial revolving fund of Rs 5 million for the programme. The loans would be repayable in equal monthly installments over a period of 36 months, while recovered amounts would be recycled into the fund to support additional beneficiaries.

The Prison Department would recommend eligible inmates after evaluating their conduct and vocational training during imprisonment. Jail superintendents would identify prisoners expected to be released within the next three months to facilitate loan processing before their release.

The spokesman added that vocational training programmes were currently being conducted in all Punjab prisons, where inmates were receiving technical training in 23 different trades through certified institutions. Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance would bear all administrative and operational expenses of the programme, while no financial liability would fall on the Punjab Home Department or the Prison Department. Furthermore, individuals designated under the National Counter Terrorism Authority lists or the United Nations Security Council sanctions would not be eligible for the facility.

Speaking on the occasion, Rana Mannan Khan said the programme would enable released prisoners to become financially independent and lead dignified lives, adding that prison reforms remained among the Punjab chief minister’s top priorities. Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi said the initiative reflected the government’s commitment to comprehensive rehabilitation and successful reintegration of released prisoners into society, besides helping reduce poverty and create respectable employment opportunities. Dr Amjad Saqib noted that the programme was entirely based on the principle of Qarz-e-Hasna and would provide released prisoners with a meaningful opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity. IG Prisons Mian Salik Jalal stated that more than 28,000 inmates had obtained vocational certificates through TEVTA and PVTC training centres established in Punjab prisons, while around 6,500 inmates were currently receiving technical training, supported by 74 psychologists serving in prisons to encourage inmates tow
ards positive and productive activities.

The MoU was signed by DIG Prisons Ahmad Naveed Gondal and Akhuwat CEO Dr Kamran Shams in the presence of Chairman Chief Minister’s Task Force on Prisons Rana Mannan Khan, Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi, Akhuwat Foundation Chairman Dr Amjad Saqib, Special Secretary Home Zainab Khan, Special Secretary Home Faisal Fareed, Inspector General of Prisons Mian Salik Jalal and other senior officials.