Day: July 24, 2026

Lahore: Special Advisor to the Chief Minister Ali Dar chaired a meeting to review the arrangements for the Data Darbar Urs.

Provincial Minister Bilal Yasin, Vice Chairman LDA Mian Marghoob Ahmed participated. Secretary Auqaf Dr. Ehsan Bhutta, Deputy Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Ali Ijaz, DIG Operations Faisal Kamran, DG LDA Tahir Farooq and others also attended the meeting.

The briefing was informed that the three-day annual Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) will be held from August 2 to 4. Khateeb Data Darbar Maulana Nadeem Mukhtar informed about the Sufi conference.

A briefing was given about the organisation of gatherings, Qiraat and Naat Khawani competitions. Ali Dar said that the construction project of Data Darbar is epoch-making and historic in nature. The under-construction underpass and related roads will be opened before the Urs.

Lahore: Ensuring the best cleanliness facilities to citizens, Suthra Punjab Agency Lahore (SPAL) continues its cleanliness operations across the city without interruption during the rainy day.

On the directions of Director General Suthra Punjab Authority Umer Javed, sanitation staff and operational teams remain fully alert in the field. Despite rainfall, waste collection and waste clearance activities continued as per routine across Lahore. Under effective cleanliness arrangements, special teams have been deployed at important roads, underpasses, and low-lying areas to carry out cleaning activities and support drainage management. Furthermore, under the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s ‘Suthra Punjab’ initiative, machinery and sanitation staff remain actively engaged for the immediate clearance of waste accumulated due to rainfall at markets and busy roads across the city. The operational teams of Suthra Punjab Agency Lahore are also continuing the timely clearance of more than 7,000 waste containers across Lahore without any interruption, as part of ongoing efforts to maintain a clean and healthy environment for citizens.

Lahore: A high-level delegation of Turkish lawyers has begun a three-day visit to Lahore to further strengthen legal and professional relations between Pakistan and Turkey.

During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between the lawyers of the two countries to promote legal cooperation, professional contacts and exchange of experiences.

Upon the arrival of the Turkish delegation at the Punjab Bar Council, former President Supreme Court Bar and prominent lawyer leader Ahsan Bhoon warmly welcomed the delegation. Vice Chairman Pakistan Bar Council Pir Masood Chishti, Chairman Executive Committee Punjab Bar Council Fakhar Hayat Awan, Chairperson Legal Education Committee Punjab Bar Council Samira Hussain, Director Legal Education Pakistan Osama Malik and other senior lawyers, leaders and bar officials were also present on the occasion.

During the visit, the delegation of Turkish lawyers paid a detailed visit to the historic building of the Lahore High Court.

Pakistani lawyers also showed the delegation the courtroom of the Chief Justice Lahore High Court and informed them about the history, traditions and judicial system of the court.

The Turkish delegation also visited the Lahore High Court Bar Association, where the delegation met with lawyers and discussed the legal systems of the two countries, the legal profession and the role of bar associations.

The delegation also visited the Advocate General Punjab Office and the Pakistan Bar Council office, where various issues related to legal reforms, administrative matters of bar councils, legal education and professional training were discussed in detail. The Turkish delegation reached the Punjab Bar Council, where the delegation was welcomed by Chairman Executive Committee Fakhar Hayat Awan, Chairperson Legal Education Committee Samira Hussain and other bar officials.

At the Pakistan Bar Council Sub-Office, Lawyer Leader Ahsan Bhoon gave a detailed briefing to the Turkish delegation about the mutual role of the bench and the bar in Pakistan, the judicial system, the procedure for hearing cases, the constitutional and legal framework and the professional responsibilities of lawyers.

In a key phase of the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the lawyers of Pakistan and Turkey to promote legal cooperation, joint training programs, research activities, legal education, exchange of experiences and strengthen mutual ties.

The Turkish lawyers’ delegation thanked the Pakistani lawyers for their wonderful hospitality, warm welcome and professional cooperation, while representatives of both countries expressed their determination to further expand cooperation in the legal sector between Pakistan and Turkey and to continue holding joint conferences, seminars, training programs and exchanges of delegations in the future.

Lahore: The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Lahore has finalised comprehensive arrangements to celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day with great enthusiasm, featuring fireworks displays, city-wide illuminations, flag-hoisting ceremonies, free sapling distribution, and cultural activities across the provincial capital.

The arrangements were reviewed during a high-level meeting chaired by Managing Director PHA Lahore, Zahid Parvez Warraich. The meeting was attended by Additional Managing Directors Tasleem Akhtar Rao and Sonia Kaleem, Director Marketing Naeem Afzal, Director Finance Ahmed Saeed Manj, Horticulture Directors, and other senior officials.

MD PHA Zahid Parvez Warraich directed all departments to ensure that Independence Day celebrations are organised in a befitting manner, reflecting national spirit, patriotism, and excellence in public service.

He announced that spectacular fireworks displays will be held at Liberty Chowk and Minar-e-Pakistan on Independence Day, while the main flag-hoisting ceremony will take place at Jilani Park.

The MD further said that major government buildings, historical landmarks, roads, intersections, and green belts across Lahore will be beautifully illuminated and decorated with national flags and festive lighting to transform the city into a vibrant symbol of patriotism.

To promote environmental awareness alongside the Independence Day celebrations, PHA will distribute free saplings to citizens through its eight horticulture zones, encouraging tree plantation and a greener Lahore.

He also announced that the National History Museum, located in Greater Iqbal Park, will host a series of cultural, educational, and recreational events to commemorate Independence Day, providing families, youth, and children with opportunities to celebrate the occasion in a meaningful and engaging environment.

MD PHA Zahid Parvez Warraich reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to making this year’s Independence Day celebrations memorable and ensuring that Lahore reflects the true spirit of patriotism and national unity.

Lahore: The office-bearers of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) on Thursday welcomed and endorsed the recent appointments of judges to the Lahore High Court, describing them as a reflection of merit, professionalism and dedication to the legal profession.

In a joint statement, LHCBA Vice President Sohail Qasir Tarar, Secretary Qasim Ijaz Summra and Finance Secretary Malik Ali Raza Khokhar said the appointments reaffirmed the principle that committed legal professionals could attain the highest judicial offices through hard work, integrity and excellence.

They expressed satisfaction that individuals with impeccable integrity, outstanding professional competence and distinguished legal standing had been entrusted with the responsibility of serving on the Bench. They said the appointments reflected a commitment to strengthening the judiciary by selecting deserving candidates on merit.

The office-bearers also lauded the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court for her leadership and commitment to merit, transparency and professionalism in the judicial appointment process. They said providing capable and deserving members of the Bar with opportunities to serve on the Bench would reinforce public confidence in the judiciary and uphold the constitutional principle that merit should remain the foundation of judicial appointments.

They expressed confidence that the newly appointed judges would discharge their constitutional responsibilities with independence, impartiality and dedication. They hoped their appointments would contribute to the expeditious dispensation of justice, help reduce the backlog of pending cases and improve the overall efficiency of the justice delivery system.

The LHCBA office-bearers extended their congratulations to the newly appointed judges and wished them success in serving the cause of justice and upholding the rule of law.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Thursday expressed profound grief over the martyrdom of a session judge and his gunman in a terrorist attack in Mastung. In her message, she strongly condemned the firing incident targeting a session judge and a judicial magistrate in Mastung.

The CM extended her heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of injured Judicial Magistrate Tariq Lashari and others wounded in the attack.