Day: July 24, 2026

Lahore: Heavy rains triggered flooding in the provincial capital, affecting people and interrupting routine work on Thursday.

The falls started at 4:15 early in the morning and continued till 10:25am without any break, recording 263mm at Air Port.

Other areas of the city also received heavy downpour including Tajpura 157mm, Kahna 143, Manawan 111, Upper Mall 116, Johar Tow 81, Chowk Nakhuda 64, Shadipura 136, Pani Wala Talab 28, Laxmi Chowk 27, Jail Road 31, Nishter Town 56, Iqbal Town 55mm.

According to a spokesperson for Pakistan Meteorological Department, more widespread intermittent rain-wind/thundershower is expected in most parts of the Punjab including the city during next 24 hours.

Heavy rains may generate flash flooding in local streams and Nullahs of Northeastern Punjab during the wet spell while urban flooding in Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Multan and Faisalabad is also expected during the period.

Despite the heavy downpour in several areas, WASA claimed that all major roads and underpasses remained clear, with traffic flowing normally across the city.

WASA’s Monsoon Control Room continued round-the-clock monitoring of the city’s drainage situation, while all disposal stations and operational teams remained fully active to provide timely relief to residents.

Managing Director WASA directed officials to ensure the immediate resolution of public complaints and warned that any negligence in drainage operations would not be tolerated.

Lahore: Punjab Minister for School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat has announced that he will personally begin teaching classes in Lahore from the first week of September as part of an initiative aimed at strengthening public education and promoting greater engagement between policymakers and educational institutions.

In a statement issued in this regard, the minister said he would start teaching students in classrooms in Lahore from the first week of September. He said the initiative reflects the Punjab government’s commitment to improving educational standards and maintaining direct interaction with students and teachers.

Rana Sikandar Hayat expressed hope that the move would encourage a stronger learning environment and demonstrate the government’s practical commitment to reforms in the education sector. He added that firsthand classroom experience would also help identify challenges faced by students and teachers, enabling more effective policymaking.

Lahore: The Emergency Services Department (ESD) responded to 1086 road traffic crashes (RTCs) in all 38 districts of Punjab during the last 24 hours. In these RTCs, 11 people died, whereas 1,229 were injured. Out of these, 514 people with serious injuries were shifted to different hospitals, while 715 victims with minor injuries were treated at the incident site by Rescue Medical Teams thus reducing the burden of Hospitals.

The majority (73pc) involved motorbikes, therefore effective enforcement of traffic laws and lane discipline are essential to reduce the increasing number of road traffic crashes. Furthermore, the analysis showed those 694 drivers, 57 underage drivers, 148 pedestrians, and 308 passengers were among the victims of road traffic crashes.

The statistics show that 186 RTCs were reported in Lahore which affected 233 persons placing the Provincial Capital at top of the list followed by Multan 79 in with 84 victims and at third Faisalabad with 70 RTCs and 82 victims.

The details further reveal that 1240 victims were affected by road traffic crashes including 999 males and 241 females, while the age group of the victims shows that 273 were under 18 years of age, 659 were between 18 and 40 years and rest of the 245 victims were reported above 40 years of age.

According to the data 1135 motorbikes, 73 auto-rickshaws, 117 motorcars, 19 vans, 10 passenger buses, 36 truck and 57 other types of auto vehicles and slow-moving carts were involved in aforesaid road traffic crashes accidents.

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari on Thursday said the Punjab government is utilising public funds for the welfare of citizens and development projects across the province, adding that this appears to be the reason behind the Pakistan Peoples Party’s criticism of Punjab.

Responding to recent statements by PPP spokespersons, Azma Bokhari said everyone was aware of the reasons behind the party’s hostility towards Punjab. She said the government led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had completed only two years in office and, during this period, ensured the equitable distribution of resources while extending development initiatives from Attock to Rahim Yar Khan and from Rawalpindi to Vehari.

She said development projects were being implemented in every district of Punjab without discrimination, resulting in a visible improvement in the quality of life of the people. She added that criticism from those envious of Punjab’s progress would not deter the government from continuing its public service agenda.

The minister said the people of Punjab had repeatedly expressed confidence in the performance of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), adding that if the PPP ranked as the fourth-largest political party in the province, it was due to its own political performance rather than any actions of the PML-N.

Referring to Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab’s visit to Lahore, Azma Bokhari said the Punjab government had extended full cooperation to help him understand Punjab’s governance model. She expressed hope that the people of Sindh would also benefit from improved governance and development similar to that witnessed in Punjab.

Addressing PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, she urged him to maintain the dignity of his position by avoiding politics based on hatred and division. She also claimed that PPP spokespersons in Sindh appeared more focused on criticising Punjab than highlighting the performance of their own provincial government.

Reaffirming the Punjab government’s commitment, Azma Bokhari said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the provincial administration would continue pursuing its agenda of public welfare, transparent governance and inclusive development with dedication.

Lahore: Two brothers died in a traffic accident that occurred during the rain on Ferozepur Road. According to initial reports, the motorcycle lost control due to the rain and crashed into the footpath, as a result of which both brothers — 18-year-old Hamza and 16-year-old Hassan — died on-the-spot.

After the incident, the relevant agencies started necessary action, while further investigation into the accident is underway.

Lahore: Punjab Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Khawaja Salman Rafique on Thursday paid tribute to the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and police personnel who sacrificed their lives for the restoration and maintenance of peace, while chairing the 56th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order at the Home Department.

The meeting, attended by Provincial Minister Chaudhry Shafay Hussain and Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Rana Bilal Ahmed, reviewed the overall law and order situation across Punjab. Secretary Home Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi briefed the participants on the latest security situation in the province.

The committee directed authorities to ensure comprehensive security arrangements for Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and the martyrs of Karbala, Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA), the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, and the MDCAT examinations.

The committee approved Rs965.195 million for the financial year 2026-27, including Rs80 million specifically for law and order measures. It also approved the formation of Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) for 22 cases, the notification of 28 Special Price Control Magistrates, the de-notification of 15 others, and the establishment of a new police station in Bahawalpur.

Speaking on the occasion, Khawaja Salman Rafique said the law and order situation across Punjab was satisfactory, adding that the protection of citizens’ lives and property remained the state’s top priority. He said Pakistan’s efforts to maintain peace had received international recognition.

Provincial Minister Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said peace and stability were being maintained under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and appreciated the efforts of all institutions working to ensure public safety.

Special Assistant Rana Bilal Ahmed said all relevant institutions were continuously working to maintain security and stressed the need for strict implementation of Home Department directives during Chehlum and the Urs celebrations.

Secretary Home Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi said all available resources were being utilised to maintain peace across the province, reiterating that safeguarding the lives and property of citizens remained the government’s foremost priority.

The meeting was attended by Special Secretary Home Faisal Farid, Additional IG Muhammad Ali Nekokar, Additional IG Imran, DIG CTD, senior Home Department officials and other concerned officers, while commissioners, deputy commissioners, RPOs and DPOs participated through video link.