Day: July 24, 2026

Lahore: Overnight heavy rainfall caused severe waterlogging in several areas of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), disrupting traffic flow and forcing the closure of key underpasses, City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) said on Thursday.

According to a traffic police spokesperson, traffic remained slow in various parts of DHA Phases I to V due to accumulated rainwater.

Around two feet of water accumulated on the road from Defence Mor to A Block Checkpost, resulting in slow-moving traffic.

The Ghazi Underpass and Masjid Chowk Underpass were closed after rainwater inundated the carriageways, while traffic was diverted to alternative routes.

Traffic was also diverted on the road from Lalak Jan Chowk to Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) because of waterlogging. Motorists travelling from Wateen Chowk towards LUMS were being turned back through a U-turn, increasing traffic congestion in the area.

The spokesperson said vehicles travelling from Masjid Chowk towards Ghazi Chowk were being diverted via Z Block to Defence Mor following the closure of the Ghazi Underpass. Traffic was also being rerouted from other affected locations, including Main Boulevard, to ensure smooth vehicular movement.

To manage the situation, 20 additional traffic wardens were deployed in Sector Defence A alongside the regular force to regulate traffic and assist commuters.

The Traffic Police said it had coordinated with the DHA administration, whose teams were present at the affected locations.

Dewatering operations were underway with pumping machines in operation, and authorities expressed hope that the accumulated rainwater would be cleared soon to restore normal traffic flow.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Thursday directed a province-wide rainwater drainage, rescue and emergency response operation across 41 districts as the government intensified efforts to minimise public inconvenience and ensure safety during the ongoing monsoon spell.

Acting on her directives, district administrations, WASA, Rescue 1122 and other relevant departments remained fully mobilised to carry out drainage operations and provide emergency assistance. For the first time, all 41 districts were equipped with modern machinery and adequate human resources to effectively respond to heavy rainfall.

Officials said the chief minister’s decision to strengthen and expand the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) to additional districts had significantly enhanced the government’s capacity to ensure the timely disposal of rainwater. Drones were also deployed for the first time to monitor water accumulation, support drainage operations and facilitate rescue activities in vulnerable areas.

Residents of Lahore, Sialkot, Daska, Narowal, Muridke, Raiwind, Sheikhupura, Kasur and several other cities appreciated the swift response, noting that areas which had previously remained inundated for weeks or even months were cleared within a matter of hours.

CM Maryam Nawaz commended officers and field staff for completing drainage operations in record time despite persistent heavy rainfall. She remained in constant contact with district administrations, closely monitoring drainage activities and emergency response measures across the province.

The CM directed authorities to ensure the prompt removal of rainwater from residential areas, particularly low-lying localities, neighbourhoods, narrow streets and markets, while also ordering special attention to public safety around dilapidated buildings and structurally unsafe rooftops.

She appealed to citizens to avoid unnecessary visits to rivers, streams and canals during the monsoon season and instructed the entire WASA workforce to remain in the field until weather conditions improved to ensure uninterrupted public service.

Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday directed the Director of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Lahore, Ali Zia, to submit a detailed and comprehensive report explaining the legal procedure, powers and policy governing the offloading of passengers at airports.

Justice Farooq Haider passed the directions while hearing petitions filed by Shazim Ali and other citizens challenging restrictions on their travel abroad and their offloading at airports. The court adjourned further hearing of the case until July 27.

During the proceedings, FIA Lahore Director Ali Zia appeared in person and explained the reasons for preventing certain citizens from travelling abroad and offloading them at airports.

Justice Farooq Haider observed that the issue of FIA stopping citizens from travelling abroad was repeatedly coming before the court. He said it was necessary for the agency to present a clear policy and its complete position before the court so that a permanent solution could be found.

The court observed that issuing visas and passports was not within the FIA’s jurisdiction, while verification of educational credentials for study visas fell within the domain of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The FIA’s role, the court noted, was primarily to examine travel documents, visas and passports.

The court remarked that if a citizen possessed a valid study visa and complete travel documents, it would not be appropriate to offload the person merely on the basis of permanent residence or other arrangements.

The judge further observed that actions that raised questions about Pakistan and its institutions could not be accepted. He said unnecessarily offloading citizens despite their having valid travel documents undermined public confidence, adding that travelling abroad was a legal right that could not be unnecessarily restricted.

The FIA director told the court that 11,351 people had travelled abroad on visit visas from Lahore alone, with several of them subsequently deported from different countries. He said the repeated deportation of Pakistani citizens damaged the country’s reputation, prompting the FIA to take precautionary measures to prevent further embarrassment.

He said parents often spent their life savings on sending their children abroad on study visas, and the FIA also regretted the deportation of students. He added that the large-scale return of Pakistani nationals from certain countries had led to stricter scrutiny of Pakistani travellers there.

Ali Zia further informed the court that many people travelled abroad on visit visas after being lured by fake or illegal agents with promises of employment. Malaysia was among the countries from which a large number of Pakistani nationals had been sent back, he said.

The FIA official maintained that genuine study visa holders who fulfilled all legal requirements were not stopped from travelling. However, he said, cases involving lengthy gaps in education or other suspicious circumstances sometimes required further scrutiny.

He added that some individuals travelled abroad on Pakistani passports and subsequently stayed there illegally, which also affected the country’s reputation. Around 8,000 to 10,000 passengers travelled abroad from Lahore airport every day, he said.

The LHC directed the FIA Lahore director to submit at the next hearing a comprehensive report covering the legal procedure for offloading citizens, the relevant powers and authority, the applicable policy, statistics and reasons for preventing passengers from travelling abroad.

The court adjourned further proceedings until July 27.

Lahore: Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Lahore on Thursday. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi welcomed his Iranian counterpart.

Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Haider Khan and others were present at the airport. The Iranian interior minister visited the mausoleum of Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal and the shrine of Bibi Pak Daman.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Punjab Governor Salim Haider Khan accompanied him. The Iranian interior minister laid flowers at the shrine of Allama Iqbal and prayed for peace and stability in the region.

Lahore: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Punjab has arrested three suspects during coordinated operations in Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan over their alleged involvement in cyber harassment, online blackmail, impersonation and the dissemination of objectionable content targeting women.

According to a spokesperson, the operations were conducted on the special directions and under the supervision of Director NCCIA Punjab Muhammad Ali Wasim. During the raids, investigators recovered mobile phones, SIM cards and other digital evidence, while further investigations are underway.

In Lahore, NCCIA arrested Qaiser Bilal in connection with FIR No. 151/2026. According to investigators, a mobile phone recovered from the suspect allegedly contained objectionable images of the complainant, threatening messages and evidence of image sharing. The investigation further revealed that the suspect had allegedly created a private TikTok account under the name ‘Miss.B’, uploaded the complainant’s photographs and impersonated himself as an officer of a sensitive institution to harass and blackmail the victim. The case is being investigated by Sub-Inspector Um Salma.

In Faisalabad, NCCIA arrested Subhan Ahmad under FIR No. 100/2026. Investigators alleged that the suspect used social media platforms and WhatsApp to blackmail and threaten the complainant’s sister by exploiting objectionable content. A mobile phone and relevant SIM cards were seized during the operation. The investigation is being conducted by Sub-Inspector Umar Rehman.

In Multan, NCCIA arrested Muhammad Imran in connection with FIR No. 123/2026. According to investigators, the suspect allegedly obtained objectionable images of the complainant and circulated them through multiple WhatsApp accounts while continuously harassing the victim and her family. Officials recovered a mobile phone, two SIM cards and the WhatsApp account allegedly used in the offence. A court granted a four-day physical remand of the accused for further investigation, which is being carried out by Sub-Inspector Saeed Ahmed.

Punjab NCCIA Director Muhammad Ali Wasim said that protecting women from online harassment, cyber blackmail, the circulation of objectionable content and other cyber-enabled crimes remained among the agency’s top priorities. He said the agency was committed to taking strict and impartial legal action against individuals involved in cyber offences targeting women and ensuring that offenders were brought to justice through the use of modern digital forensic evidence.

Lahore: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has released a report on the loss of life and property caused by monsoon rains this year.

According to the PDMA spokesperson, 21 citizens died in various accidents during the monsoon rains while 154 people were injured. According to the report, no casualties were reported due to being swept away or trapped in floodwaters.

The spokesperson said that two people died due to lightning strikes, 15 people due to collapse of buildings, while three people due to electrocution, and one person died due to drowning in water.

According to the PDMA report, 38 houses were partially damaged due to the rains while one livestock was also killed.

The DG PDMA has warned that there is a risk of urban flooding and flash flooding due to monsoon rains, and instructions have been issued to all relevant agencies to remain alert.