Day: July 28, 2026

Lahore: Deputy Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Ali Ejaz on Monday visited Tehsil Ravi to review the flow of the Ravi River and inspect flood preparedness measures amid the ongoing monsoon season.

During the visit, he inspected the protective embankments at Shahdara Town and reviewed arrangements at the Old Ravi Bridge.

Chief Officer MCL Kaleem Yousaf, Assistant Commissioner Ravi Humaera Shah, representatives of relevant departments and Irrigation Department officials accompanied him.

The Assistant Commissioner Ravi and Irrigation Department officials briefed the deputy commissioner on the current water situation in the Ravi River, the condition of protective embankments and the district’s emergency response plan for the monsoon season.

The DC was informed that the district administration is maintaining round-the-clock monitoring of the Ravi River and flood protection embankments. He directed field officers to remain on high alert, particularly in low-lying areas and along protective bunds, and ensure that all emergency machinery remains fully operational to respond promptly to any unforeseen situation.

DC Muhammad Ali Ejaz said the flow of water in the Ravi River was currently normal and all protective embankments were completely safe. He said all precautionary arrangements had been completed to effectively deal with any monsoon-related emergency. He further directed the authorities to keep a comprehensive drainage plan ready for the immediate removal of rainwater from low-lying areas, adding that the protection of citizens’ lives and property remained the district administration’s top priority.

The DC said the administration had established an effective system for continuous monitoring of the river and immediate response in case of any rise in the water level. He also urged citizens to cooperate with the administration and follow safety precautions during the monsoon season.

Lahore: The 12th meeting of the Board of Governors (BoG) of Jinnah Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, was held here on Monday under the chairmanship of Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique and BoG Chairman Dr Farqad Alamgir. The meeting reviewed progress on the under-construction Jinnah Institute of Cardiology and approved the minutes of the 11th BoG meeting. The ongoing recruitment process for various posts was also reviewed in detail, along with measures being taken to open the institute’s OPD to the public. Provincial Secretary of the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department Azmat Mahmood attended the meeting via video link. Board members Irfan Ali, Dr Zubair Akram, Asad Ali Khan and Parveen Qadir Agha, Principal of Allama Iqbal Medical College Prof Dr Tayyaba Waseem, Additional Secretary Technical Dr Hafiz Muhammad Waseem, Hospital Director Dr Sabrina Jamil and PITB Director Nosheen Fayyaz also participated via video link. Member Health Shafaat Ali, Additional Secretary Finance
Zabda Mubashir and Director Law Department Shahid Imtiaz also attended the meeting. Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said the institute would provide world-class healthcare facilities to people in the region. He said the institute would become fully operational soon and offer new treatment facilities to heart patients. He added that the institution would prove to be a landmark in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and reiterated that the Punjab Government was providing the best possible healthcare facilities to heart patients across the province.

BoG Chairman Dr Farqad Alamgir said all members were playing an important role in the development of the institution. He said the institute would be established as a transparent and modern healthcare model. He added that the 256-bed hospital would be handed over to the administration soon.

Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department Azmat Mahmood directed that all decisions taken by the BoG should be implemented immediately. He said the recruitment process for various posts was being completed strictly on 100 per cent merit.

Lahore: The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore and the Institute of Public Health (IPH) Lahore discussed launching a joint BS degree program in Human Nutrition and Dietetics at a meeting at UVAS City Campus on Monday.

UVAS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Masood Rabbani chaired the meeting attended by IPH Dean and Chief Executive Officer Prof Dr Saira Afzal, UVAS Dean Faculty of Biosciences Prof Dr Habib-ur-Rehman, Chairman Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition Prof Dr Sanaullah Iqbal, Directors of Quality Enhancement Cell, ORIC and Advanced Studies and food and human nutrition faculty members.

The meeting discussed various areas of collaboration including academic, research, public health, one health and preventive healthcare in addition to the proposed joint degree program. Both the institutions agreed to nominate focal persons to finalize modalities for launching the joint BS degree program in Human Nutrition and Dietetics.

Earlier, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Masood Rabbani spoke about the academic, research and developmental programs of the university. He said that the university’s focus is on further improving the quality of undergraduate degree programs and skill-based training of the students. He said that UVAS is strengthening its linkages with the industry. He sought IPH help in placement of UVAS Nutrition and Dietetics students at IPH related hospitals for internship.

Prof Dr Saira Afzal also spoke about the academic and preventive healthcare programs of the institute. She also desired collaboration with the UVAS in microbiology, one-health, food safety, public health and business education. Earlier, Prof Dr Saira Azal called on Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Masood Rabbni and discussed the matters of mutual interest of both the institutions.

Lahore: A delegation of the Central Azadari Ittehad Council on Monday met Provincial Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Khawaja Salman Rafique at the Home Department and discussed arrangements for the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and the martyrs of Karbala.

The delegation comprised President Safdar Ali Shah, Caretaker Akbar Shah, Mansoor Raza, Caretaker of Imambargah Haveli Alif Shah, Delhi Gate, Syed Zawar Hussain, Syed Zil Hussain, Kamran Naqvi, Syed Hassan Rizvi, Syed Jafar Ali Shah, Al Haider Shah, Agha Abbas Kazmi, Asif Bukhari, Waqar Kazmi and Murtaza Kazmi.

Special Secretary Faisal Farid, Ghulam Saghir Shahid, Additional Secretary Abdul Rauf, SP Adil Rasheed and Deputy Secretary Internal Security Zainab Jahandad also attended the meeting.

The delegation thanked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for ensuring peace and security during Muharram-ul-Haram and assured the government of its full cooperation in maintaining law and order during the Chehlum.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said that scholars belonging to all schools of thought were united for the sake of peace in Punjab. He stressed the need to rise above all differences and reservations and work together for the security of Pakistan.

He said all schools of thought were on the same page regarding the security of Pakistan, adding that scholars were the main component of the peace caravan in Punjab. The Punjab government was fully coordinating with all stakeholders to maintain peace, he added.

The minister said scholars from all schools of thought had extended 100 per cent cooperation during Muharram. He highly appreciated the efforts of the Home Department, Police, Rescue 1122, Auqaf Department, local governments, WAPDA and district administrations for performing their security and other duties during Muharram.

The delegation assured the Punjab government of its full cooperation in ensuring national security and said all schools of thought would remain united and ensure compliance with the law. The delegation also appreciated the measures taken by the Punjab government to maintain peace and public order.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday approved the continuation of the Maryam Nawaz Rashan Card Programme for the financial year 2026-27 and announced an additional allocation of Rs43. 2 billion for registered workers during the current fiscal year.

Chairing a meeting here, the CM was briefed by Labour Minister Manshaullah Butt and Labour Secretary Danish Afzal on the implementation and progress of the workers’ welfare initiative.

The meeting was informed that over Rs28 billion had already been disbursed to nearly 1. 2 million registered workers through the Maryam Nawaz Rashan Card. The number of registered workers has reached a record 1, 403, 063, while 1, 244, 130 workers have received their Rashan Cards and another 4, 984 cards are currently being printed.

Officials said registered workers are receiving essential household items worth Rs3, 000 per month through the programme from more than 62, 000 registered retail outlets across Punjab. More than 100, 000 workers associated with the Suthra Punjab programme are also benefiting from the initiative.

CM Maryam Nawaz directed the authorities to further expand worker registration across the province to ensure that a greater number of laborer’s benefit from the welfare scheme.

The CM said the financial security of every laborer and worker was a responsibility of her government, adding that the Rashan Card project would continue to be expanded to provide relief to more deserving workers across Punjab.

Lahore: The Standing Committee of the Punjab Assembly has ordered to ensure free education for 10 percent children in all private schools.

The PA Standing Committee has ordered all private schools to ensure free education for 10 percent children studying in their institutions within ten days.

In the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Punjab Assembly, the issue of non-implementation of the condition of free education for 10 percent children in private schools under the law was discussed. The member committee suggested that in this regard, the data of the schools should not be relied upon, but the department itself should admit the deserving children in private schools, so that verification can be done easily.

The chairman of the committee ordered that the licenses of schools that do not implement the decision should be canceled.

On this occasion, the Secretary School Education told the committee that data from all private schools related to 10 percent free education would be collected.