Day: July 27, 2026

Lahore: The flood situation in various rivers of Punjab caused by monsoon rains remained stable during the last 24 hours, with a notable decline in water levels recorded in the River Chenab, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

A PDMA spokesperson said low-level flooding was continuing in the River Chenab at Marala, Khanki, Qadirabad and Trimmu. The water flow at Marala was recorded at 143, 000 cusecs, Khanki at 138, 000 cusecs, Qadirabad at 135, 000 cusecs and Trimmu at 184, 000 cusecs.

The spokesperson said low-level flooding was also being observed in the River Indus at Kalabagh, Chashma and Taunsa. The water flow at Kalabagh was recorded at 334, 000 cusecs, Chashma at 370, 000 cusecs and Taunsa Barrage at 313, 000 cusecs.

The authority said water flow in the Sutlej and Jhelum rivers remained normal, while low-level flooding persisted in the River Ravi at Balloki and Head Sidhnai. The water flow at Balloki was recorded at 81, 000 cusecs and at Head Sidhnai at 60, 000 cusecs, while the situation at Jassar and Shahdara remained normal.

The PDMA further reported low-level flooding in the Basantar drain of Narowal, while a high-level flood was recorded in Wazirabad’s Phalko drain, where the water flow stood at 5, 000 cusecs.

Director General PDMA Omar Abbas Mela said rainfall in upper catchment areas had increased river flows; however, the flood situation in the Chenab River improved significantly after the rains subsided in its upper catchment areas.

He said the PDMA was continuously monitoring the situation, while all relevant departments remained alert to deal with any emergency arising from the ongoing monsoon spell.

Lahore: The third spell of monsoon rains is likely to continue across Punjab until July 27, with rain also forecast for Lahore and most districts of the province on Sunday, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

A PDMA spokesperson said that during the last 24 hours, the highest rainfall of 115 millimetres (mm) was recorded in Noorpur Thal, followed by 107 mm in Gujranwala, 94 mm in Gujrat, 68 mm in Narowal, 65 mm in Mandi Bahauddin, 52 mm at Sialkot Airport, 46 mm in Okara, 40 mm in Joharabad and 38 mm in Sargodha.

The spokesperson said Lahore and Mangla each received 37 mm of rainfall, while Jhelum recorded 32 mm, Sheikhupura 28 mm, Hafizabad and Kasur 27 mm each, Chakwal 20 mm, Bahawalnagar 18 mm and Khanewal 16 mm. Rain was also reported from Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Attock, Murree and Bahawalpur.

According to the PDMA, Lahore has received a cumulative 450 mm of rainfall during the last five days.

The authority said the Provincial Control Room and all District Emergency Operation Centres had been put on high alert to respond to any emergency situation.

The PDMA warned that heavy rains could trigger flooding in rivers, streams and low-lying areas, while the risk of landslides remains high in Murree and other hilly regions. It urged the public to exercise caution and follow official advisories during the ongoing monsoon spell.

Lahore: The Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMA) abolished the token and old card system for the Orange Line Metro Train, Speedo buses and Metro Bus services in Lahore, introducing digital payment options for commuters.

According to an official statement, passengers can now use T-Cash cards, mobile applications and ATM cards to pay fares across the mass transit network.

The authority said commuters returning their old travel cards would receive only the Rs 130 security deposit, while any remaining balance on the cards would not be refunded. Passengers have been advised to submit their old cards at the relevant stations.

Meanwhile, several commuters expressed concern over the decision, alleging that the discontinued cards were still being recharged despite the authority’s announcement. They also complained that adequate public information had not been provided regarding the discontinuation of the old card system.

The Mass Transit Authority has urged passengers to switch to the new digital payment methods to ensure uninterrupted travel on the city’s public transport services.

Lahore: Rainwater drainage, sanitation and rescue operations continued across 41 districts of Punjab on Sunday as the provincial government maintained a coordinated response to the ongoing monsoon spell under the direct supervision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

The operations involve Local Government, WASA, Suthra Punjab, district administrations and other concerned departments working jointly to ensure the prompt disposal of rainwater and restoration of normal civic life, said a handout issued here.

In Lahore, rainwater was cleared from major arteries, including M. A. Jinnah Road and Ravi Road, allowing traffic to resume smoothly. In Sargodha, sanitation teams launched cleaning operations in streets, markets and residential areas after water was drained from inundated localities.

Authorities also restored traffic in Gujranwala after clearing rainwater from Lalazar Colony, Jinnah Road, Civil Lines, Shamsi Underpass and Sheikhupura Road.

Similarly, roads in Sambrial and Pasrur in Sialkot district were reopened for traffic following the completion of drainage operations.

In Hafizabad, rainwater was swiftly removed from DHQ Road, Jalalpur Bhattian Road, Kalma Chowk, Kutchery Road, Sukheke Road and Sharjah Chowk, where sanitation work was also completed.

The CM was personally monitoring the ongoing drainage and rescue operations across all districts to ensure an effective and timely response to the monsoon situation.

Lahore: Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Chief Executive Officer Mian Kashif Ashfaq on Sunday stated that Pakistan’s rapidly expanding gig economy presents a historic opportunity to significantly increase export earnings by leveraging its large pool of skilled technology professionals and freelancers.

Chairing a meeting of the PFC Board of Directors, he emphasized that young entrepreneurs should move beyond conventional freelancing and focus on developing value-added digital products, software solutions, and technology-based businesses to generate higher export revenues.

He stressed the need to facilitate secure digital payment systems, improve access to international freelancing platforms, and promote technology startups to further strengthen Pakistan’s digital exports.

Mian Kashif Ashfaq urged policymakers to formulate a comprehensive national digital economy strategy anchored in public-private partnerships, expanded digital literacy programmes, and greater investment in innovation, research, and development. Such measures, he noted, would help Pakistan emerge as a leading exporter of digital services while ensuring sustainable economic growth.

He added that Pakistan boasts the world’s fourth-largest freelance workforce, providing a robust foundation for expanding the export of digital services. He pointed out that rising global demand for software development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, digital marketing, graphic designing, content creation, and virtual assistance offers immense opportunities for Pakistani professionals.

The CEO highlighted that the digital economy has become one of the fastest-growing sectors globally and can play a pivotal role in strengthening Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, generating employment, and promoting inclusive economic growth. He described the country’s youthful population as its greatest asset, capable of driving innovation and economic transformation with appropriate policy backing.

Furthermore, he called for close coordination among the government, private sector, and educational institutions to equip young people with market-oriented digital skills, advanced technical training, and entrepreneurial capabilities. He added that investment in digital infrastructure, uninterrupted high-speed internet connectivity, and innovation-friendly policies would enable Pakistani freelancers to compete more effectively in global markets.

Lahore: Participants at a multi-stakeholder consultation on Sunday called for timely local government elections in Punjab in accordance with Article 140-A of the Constitution, stressing that empowered local governments are essential for democratic continuity, effective service delivery and citizen participation.

The advocacy panel, titled ‘Ensuring Timely Local Government Elections and Strengthening Constitutional Local Governance in Punjab, ‘ was organized by HomeNet Pakistan in collaboration with Awaz Foundation, said a press release issued here.

It brought together Members of the Provincial Assembly, government representatives, legal and governance experts, civil society organizations, academia, media professionals and other stakeholders.

Opening the session, HomeNet Pakistan Executive Director Ume Laila Azhar said strong local governments served as the closest link between citizens and public institutions, adding that timely local government elections were essential for transparency, accountability, inclusive governance and effective public service delivery.

Participants appreciated governance and development initiatives undertaken by the Punjab government under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and expressed hope that her administration would further strengthen democratic institutions by supporting transparent, accountable and empowered local governance.

During the panel discussion, MPA Fatima Begum stressed political commitment to democratic decentralization and timely elections, while governance expert Tauqir Sadiq highlighted constitutional obligations under Article 140-A and emphasized the need to protect devolved political, administrative and financial powers through transparent legal processes.

Other speakers, including Zahid Islam, called for greater political, administrative and fiscal autonomy for local governments to improve service delivery and development planning.

Nabila Shaheen underscored the importance of meaningful participation of women, persons with disabilities, transgender persons, youth and marginalized communities in local decision-making, while journalist Asim Shahzad highlighted the media’s role in promoting civic awareness and institutional accountability.

During an interactive session moderated by Irfan Mufti, participants identified delayed elections, weak decentralization, limited fiscal autonomy, centralized decision-making and reduced citizen access to elected representatives as key challenges to effective local governance.

The consultation concluded with remarks by Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC) General Manager Masood Tamanna, who appreciated the contributions of participants and reaffirmed the importance of collective efforts to promote democratic, inclusive and accountable local governance in Punjab.