Day: July 27, 2026

Lahore: DIG Operations Lahore has taken strict action against two police officials accused of taking bribes from a citizen, leading to the arrest of one official and registration of cases against those involved.

According to a spokesperson, serving police official Khurram, posted in the Security Branch, and former official Ahsan Nawaz allegedly harassed a citizen on Ferozepur Road in connection with a complaint regarding demand and acceptance of bribe.

During an inquiry, the allegations against both officials were found to be true. Khurram was arrested, while Ahsan Nawaz had already been dismissed from service.

DIG Operations ordered the dismissal of the serving official involved in the case and directed further legal proceedings against those responsible.

He said the police department had adopted a zero-tolerance policy against corruption and misuse of authority, adding that no police officer was above accountability.

Lahore: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Sunday recovered and destroyed 25, 500 kilograms of expired tea leaves worth Rs47 million during a raid on a tea manufacturing company’s warehouse on Raiwind Road, besides suspending production and imposing a Rs1 million fine for multiple food safety violations.

The raid was conducted by Director General Punjab Food Authority Raja Mansoor Ahmed at Bashir Chowk on Raiwind Road.

The DG PFA said expired tea leaves and fresh stock were found stored in the same warehouse, posing a serious risk to food safety. He added that the company failed to produce any record regarding the safe disposal of expired tea returned from the market.

Raja Mansoor Ahmed said the company was also unable to provide videos, photographs, or documentary evidence proving the destruction of returned tea stock. He added that no testing record of the tea leaves before use was available. He termed the company’s quality control system ‘highly unsatisfactory’ and said the authority destroyed the expired tea before it could be sold or used in any suspicious activity.

Lahore: Police on Sunday foiled an alleged attempt to supply drugs in Batapur area and arrested two suspected drug dealers. According to police spokesperson, SHO Batapur Asif Mansab along with his team raided and arrested accused Noman and Suleman while they were allegedly involved in drug supply.

Police recovered 18-kg hashish and more than 13-kg poppy from them.

SP Cantt said intelligence-based operations were underway to trace and arrest other accomplices of the arrested suspects. A case has been registered against them and further investigation was underway.

Lahore: Convener of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Committee on Food, Shahid Imran, on Sunday said that Pakistan could save billions of dollars in foreign exchange annually by bringing more cultivable land under sugarcane, pulses and wheat cultivation, thereby reducing dependence on costly food imports.

Talking to a delegation of women entrepreneurs led by Nida Tariq Ch, he stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy to increase domestic production of essential food commodities, improve crop yields, and ensure the efficient utilization of agricultural land.

He said the country should focus on modern farming practices, high-yielding and climate-resilient seed varieties, efficient irrigation systems, mechanization, and the timely availability of quality agricultural inputs. He also underlined the importance of strengthening agricultural research and extension services to help farmers adopt profitable cropping patterns.

Shahid Imran noted that Pakistan spends a substantial amount of foreign exchange on importing pulses, wheat, and other food items to bridge the gap between domestic production and consumption. He said coordinated efforts by the government, the private sector, and the farming community could enhance food security, conserve valuable foreign exchange, and strengthen the national economy.

Speaking on the occasion, delegation leader Nida Tariq Ch stated that Pakistan’s food import bill rose to $9. 1 billion in FY2025-26, driven largely by higher imports of sugar and edible oil.

She said palm oil accounted for the largest share of food imports, followed by pulses, tea, soybean oil, and sugar. Citing official trade data, she noted that Pakistan imported 309, 545 tonnes of sugar during FY2025-26, compared to only 3, 508 tonnes in the previous fiscal year, while the import value surged to $175. 182 million from $3. 508 million.

She added that pulse imports declined by 18. 13 percent to $832. 038 million from $1. 016 billion, whereas soybean oil imports dropped by 68. 41 percent to $108. 683 million during the outgoing fiscal year.

Lahore: President of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) Abdul Aleem Khan on Sunday urged the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), particularly the youth, to exercise their right to vote responsibly and prioritize national interests while electing their representatives.

In a video message, he said elections were not merely about changing governments but about shaping the future of coming generations and ensuring the region’s long-term prosperity, according to a press release.

He highlighted that sustainable progress and economic stability in Azad Kashmir depend heavily on developing robust local revenue streams.

He stressed that until AJK’s local economy becomes self-reliant, efforts to raise personal incomes, execute large-scale development projects, and realize public welfare goals will remain unfulfilled.

Calling for the promotion of new investments, he urged the government to foster a business-friendly environment where local and foreign investors can operate with complete confidence, thereby expanding commercial activity and driving long-term economic growth.

Investment, he added, will not only strengthen the regional economy but also generate significant employment opportunities for unemployed youth, particularly educated young men and women.

Underscoring AJK’s vast natural potential, the IPP President remarked that Azad Kashmir’s breathtaking landscape, scenic valleys, and world-class tourist spots make it an ideal engine for regional growth. Modernizing the tourism sector, upgrading basic infrastructure, and incentivizing private investment would significantly boost local revenues while creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

Reminding citizens that elections every five years offer a crucial opportunity to redefine their trajectory, Abdul Aleem Khan urged voters to assess candidates based on their track record rather than rhetoric or partisan loyalty.

He called on the public to reject politicians who make grand pre-election promises only to ignore public grievances once in power, advising them instead to place their trust in proven performance and honest leadership.

Directly addressing the youth of Azad Kashmir, the IPP President encouraged them to look beyond simply casting their own votes. He urged them to actively guide their parents, elders, and family members to the polling stations with a shared vision.

“Voting is not just about an individual; it is about the future of your family, your region, and Azad Kashmir as a whole, ” he remarked, tasking the youth with raising political awareness within their communities.

He concluded by calling on voters to critically evaluate past performance, unfulfilled commitments, and persistent issues before making their choice.

“The people of Azad Kashmir have a defining opportunity to choose a better future-one that leads to a prosperous, resilient, and stable region, ” he stated, reaffirming the IPP’s unwavering commitment to public service, economic stability, transparent governance, youth employment, and all-round development across Azad Kashmir.

Lahore: Lahore Commissioner Nauman Yousaf on Sunday visited flood-affected areas of Sheikhupura district and directed district authorities to intensify rescue and relief operations as heavy inflows caused all major drains in the district to overflow.

Accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Sheikhupura Adil Tasawur and Chief Engineer Irrigation Rashid Minhas, the commissioner inspected Nikki Deg, Deg Nullah at Muridke, Bhed Nullah at Ferozewala, Nangal Sahdan Canal and Leela Nullah at Ferozewala to review the flood situation and ongoing irrigation and rescue operations.

During a briefing, Chief Engineer Rashid Minhas said the flooding was caused by heavy rainfall in upstream districts. He informed the commissioner that residents from vulnerable settlements in overflow areas had been safely evacuated, while heavy machinery was being used to reinforce protective embankments around populated areas with sand and earth.

Nauman Yousaf monitored the ongoing rescue operation and directed the immediate deployment of additional dumpers, cranes and water pumping equipment to strengthen the emergency response.

He said all drains in Sheikhupura were carrying water beyond their capacity and had overflowed, adding that efforts were underway to plug breaches and reinforce embankments to protect nearby populations.

The commissioner directed district officers to remain present at every rescue point and personally supervise relief activities. He said there would be no compromise on the protection of human lives, property and livestock, adding that rescue and evacuation operations were continuing according to pre-planned mapping while every verified emergency report was being responded to promptly.