Day: July 25, 2026

Lahore: Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan Chairman and Khateeb of the Badshahi Mosque, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, on Friday stressed the need for stronger collaboration between religious leaders, law enforcement agencies and civil society to protect the younger generation from the menace of drugs.

He expressed these views during a visit to the headquarters of the Punjab Counter Narcotics Force (CNF), where he met Director General and Commander Punjab CNF Brigadier Mazhar Iqbal.

The meeting discussed measures to curb the growing use of synthetic drugs, including ice, as well as conventional narcotics, and explored ways to strengthen public awareness campaigns.

The participants agreed that effective coordination among law enforcement agencies, religious scholars, educational institutions, parents, media and civil society was essential to make the anti-narcotics campaign more effective and ensure wider public participation.

Speaking on the occasion, Abdul Khabir Azad said Islam strictly prohibited all acts that harmed human life, intellect and society, adding that drug abuse was destroying the future of youth, destabilising families and undermining social values.

He said religious scholars could play a key role in the moral and spiritual guidance of young people and pledged to raise awareness about the harmful effects of narcotics through Friday sermons and other religious gatherings.

He appreciated the professional performance and anti-narcotics operations of the CNF and assured his full support for its awareness initiatives.

He also described the establishment of the force under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif as a timely and effective step towards a drug-free Punjab.

Brig. Mazhar Iqbal said the CNF was working with professional commitment to realise the chief minister’s vision of a drug-free province. He said the fight against narcotics was a collective national responsibility that required the active participation of religious leaders, parents, teachers, media and civil society.

He said mosques served as an effective platform for spreading awareness at the community level and expressed confidence that the cooperation of religious scholars would further strengthen the CNF’s public awareness campaign.

At the end of the meeting, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad offered prayers for the success, steadfastness and safety of the officers and personnel of the CNF. Mazhar Iqbal presented him with a commemorative souvenir on behalf of the force.

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Health and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee for Disaster Management Khawaja Salman Rafique on Friday said the provincial administration is fully prepared to respond to any emergency situation during the ongoing monsoon season.

He made the remarks during a visit to the Provincial Emergency Center at the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Headquarters, where Director General PDMA Umar Abbas Mela briefed him on the latest monsoon situation and water flow in rivers across the province.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said the Punjab government, under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, is taking comprehensive measures to safeguard the province from floods and other water-related disasters. He said Rescue services have been equipped with modern machinery and equipment worth billions of rupees to enhance emergency response capabilities.

The minister said both pre-disaster preparedness and post-disaster response mechanisms are being strengthened to ensure timely action and minimize losses. He added that the measures being implemented would play a vital role in preventing flood-related damage and protecting human lives and property.

He expressed satisfaction over the preparedness of the PDMA, saying the authority’s arrangements for the current monsoon season are significantly better than those made last year.

Speaking on the occasion, DG PDMA Umar Abbas Mela said all field officers have been placed on high alert and that the authority is maintaining continuous monitoring of the monsoon situation and river water flows to ensure a swift response to any emerging emergency.

Lahore: Pakistan Second-Hand Medical Equipment Importers Association has expressed reservations over the recent notification No. 1-1/2026/DD-MDMC issued by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), urging the regulatory body to review the policy after meaningful consultation with industry stakeholders.

According to the Association here Friday, the notification provides for the import of refurbished medical devices but yet to address the import of used (second-hand) medical equipment, which currently meets the operational requirements of nearly 90 percent of Pakistan’s private healthcare sector, including hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centres.

Representatives of the Association Representatives

The Association representatives- Khalid Rafiq Chaudhry, Masroor Ahmed Khan, Abdul Wahab Rafique, Naveed Ahmad and Mian Miraj said in a joint media statement that quality second-hand medical equipment plays a vital role in strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare delivery system by providing affordable access to modern medical technology. Since such equipment is significantly less expensive than new devices, it enables private healthcare institutions to establish and upgrade diagnostic and treatment facilities at a lower cost, ultimately reducing the financial burden on patients.

The Association feared that any restrictions or uncertainty regarding the import of second-hand medical equipment could have far-reaching economic and social consequences. Hundreds of import businesses and allied enterprises may face severe operational challenges, while thousands of skilled and semi-skilled workers employed in the sector could lose their livelihoods. They further noted that reduced availability of affordable medical equipment could affect the expansion and modernization of healthcare facilities, particularly small and medium-sized private hospitals serving communities across the country.

They said that the representative body of second-hand medical equipment importers and other key stakeholders should be consulted before the issuance of the notification. They emphasized that effective regulatory reforms require transparent stakeholder engagement to ensure that policies are practical, balanced, and aligned with the realities of the healthcare and medical equipment sectors.

The Association has called upon federal government and the DRAP to revisit the notification and develop a comprehensive regulatory framework that clearly defines the status and import mechanism for second-hand medical equipment alongside refurbished devices. Such a framework should safeguard patient safety while ensuring uninterrupted access to affordable, quality medical equipment for healthcare providers throughout the country.

The Association also urged the government to institutionalize a consultative process for all future legislation, regulations, and policy decisions affecting the medical equipment sector so that the views of industry stakeholders are adequately reflected before implementation. They were confident that constructive dialogue between regulators and stakeholders would help formulate policies which protect public health, support economic activity, preserve employment, and strengthen Pakistan’s healthcare infrastructure.

Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif fulfilled her commitment made to the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) by dispatching 10 electric buses to Muzaffarabad.

Acting on the chief minister’s directions, the buses were sent from Murree to AJK and began operating in Muzaffarabad, the region’s capital, within a few hours. CM Punjab said the electric buses were ‘a gift from the people of Punjab to the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.’

She added that trained staff and drivers were also being deployed to Muzaffarabad to ensure smooth operation of the service. The chief minister said Punjab’s electric bus system offers free travel to women, students and senior citizens, adding that she wanted the people of AJK to benefit from the same modern transport facility.

‘Millions of people in Punjab travel on electric buses, and I want the citizens of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to benefit from this service as well, ‘ she said.

Lahore: The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Punjab transferred 27 officers in Police Department on Friday.

Ali Raza has been posted as DSP Intelligence Special Branch Lahore, Aamir Iqbal has been posted as DSP Sadar Special Branch Lahore Region from DSP Inquiry Lahore. Muhammad Khalid has been transferred from SDPO Fort Abbas Bahawalnagar and posted as DSP Intelligence Special Branch Gujranwala.

Inamul Haq has been posted as DSP City Special Branch Lahore Region from a pending posting. Nasir Mehmood has been transferred from DSP Organized Crime Nankana Sahib and posted as DSP Intelligence Special Branch Sheikhupura.

Muhammad Akbar Mahmood DSP Sadar Layyah has been posted as DSP Investigation Muzaffargarh, Muhammad Bashir has been posted as DSP IAB Sheikhupura Region. Rai Abdul Ghaffar DSP PHP Hafizabad has been posted. Ashfaq Ahmed DSP CCD Muzaffargarh has been posted as DSP CCD Kot Adu. Muhammad Danish District Traffic Officer Okara has been posted as Traffic Officer Ring Road Police Lahore, while Waheed Ishaq DSP Headquarters Dolphin Squad Lahore has been posted.

Mansoor Ahmed has been transferred from SDPO Sadar Bhakkar. Mansoor Ahmed DSP VIP Security Supreme Court Lahore Registry has been posted. Muhammad Saeed District Traffic Officer Sargodha has been posted as Traffic Officer President City Traffic Police Faisalabad. Masood Ahmed Traffic Officer President City Traffic Police Faisalabad has been posted as District Traffic Officer Sargodha.

Tauseef Ahmed DSP Riot Police Sargodha was posted as DSP Investigation 3 Faisalabad, Muhammad Arham DSP Investigation 4 Investigation Branch Punjab Lahore was posted as DSP Operations Civil Lines Lahore and Abdul Wahid was posted as DSP Operations Cantt Lahore. Babar Ali DSP Precision Escort Lahore was posted as DSP Two Battalion Five Punjab Constabulary Lahore.

Muhammad Asif Khan DSP Headquarters Chiniot was posted as DSP Precision Escort Lahore. Muhammad Ehsan Ashraf DSP Operations Muzang Lahore was posted as CPO Punjab Lahore. Rao Dilshad Ali SDPO City Rahim Yar Khan was posted as DSP Operations Muzang Lahore.

Lahore: The National School of Public Policy (NSPP) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kinnaird College for Women University, Lahore, to strengthen collaboration in public policy research, publications and joint academic activities.

The ceremony began with the welcome address by Dr. Naveed Elahi, Dean, National Institute of Public Policy (NIPP). He briefly introduced NSPP’s integral and constituent units – the National Institute of Public Policy, the Administrative Staff College and the National Institutes of PublicPolicy (NIPAs)- and shared the Rector’s vision of building strong linkages with the country’s most prestigious academic institutions. He said the greatest dividend of the MoU would be the interaction it opens up with the youth of Kinnaird College.

Rector NSPP, Mr. Farhan Aziz Khawaja, said the partnership would create new opportunities for joint research, faculty interaction, seminars, internships and capacity building, adding that students who engage early with real policy problems develop a lasting sense of public purpose.

Prof. Dr. Iram Anjum, Principal, Kinnaird College, said the collaboration marked an important step towards bridging academic research and policy practice, giving faculty and students the chance to learn from real policy challenges.

The MoU was signed by the Rector and the Principal on behalf of their respective institutions. Senior representatives of both institutions attended the ceremony.