Month: July 2026

Lahore: A fun race organized by Summer Special was held in the Sports Zone on Bedian Road in Lahore, in which more than 100 people of different ages, including children, women and men, participated enthusiastically.

According to the organizers, separate races of one kilometer for children and five kilometers for adults were organized. The five-kilometer race was held at the racing circuit of the Sports Zone, where participants completed five laps of the track to complete the specified distance.

More than 15 boys and girls participated in the children’s race, while more than 100 men and women participated in the adult category. The significant participation of women made the event more exciting.

The participants appreciated the organization of such a healthy and fun activity, saying that such events play an important role in promoting a healthy lifestyle and increasing public participation.

Lahore: DIG Traffic Punjab Muhammad Waqas Nazir has taken a major initiative to improve traffic flow and eliminate encroachments across the province by establishing a special encroachment desk at the traffic headquarters.

According to a spokesperson for the Traffic Police, the special encroachment desk is monitoring anti-encroachment operations across the province at the central level. So far, illegal encroachments have been identified at 1, 310 locations across Punjab, out of which obstructions have been successfully cleared from more than 1, 280 places.

The spokesperson said that smooth traffic flow has been completely restored at these cleared sites. The special encroachment desk has been linked to a modern IT-based monitoring system, allowing continuous surveillance of operations through photos, videos, and other verifiable evidence.

DIG Traffic Punjab Muhammad Waqas Nazir stated that the vision of the Chief Minister of Punjab for encroachment-free highways and roads is being strictly implemented. According to him, the removal of encroachments has significantly improved traffic flow, enabling citizens to reach their destinations on time while saving both travel time and fuel.

He clarified that the enforcement of a zero-tolerance policy against encroachments across Punjab will continue in full swing in the future.

Lahore: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued an alert for residents and travellers due to the potential risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the upper districts of the province.

According to the PDMA, rising temperatures coupled with intermittent rainfall could accelerate glacier melt, increasing both the volume and water levels of glacial lakes.

The advisory comes as thousands of tourists, including many from Punjab and Lahore, travel to the northern regions during the summer season.

The authority has warned that the sudden bursting of glacial lakes could trigger flash floods and rapidly rising water levels, posing a serious threat to lives, property, and infrastructure. District administrations in Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Swat, Upper Kohistan and Mansehra have been placed on high alert.

Authorities have been directed to ensure continuous monitoring of vulnerable locations, issue timely warnings, conduct evacuation drills in high-risk areas, and prepare designated safe shelters.

Tourists and travellers have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel, camping and trekking in vulnerable areas. The PDMA has also cautioned motorists against attempting to cross fast-flowing streams and floodwaters, warning that vehicles can be swept away by strong currents.

A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is a sudden and potentially devastating flood that occurs when a natural dam of ice or loose rock containing a glacial lake fails. Such events are commonly triggered by rising temperatures, heavy rainfall or seismic activity, releasing large volumes of water downstream within a short period.

Lahore: Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department launched a portable X-ray service for wildlife for the first time in the history of the province. The modern facility has been activated at the modern Wildlife Hospital at Safari Zoo.

According to the department, deer and pythons were also successfully medically examined on the spot through the new portable X-ray machine. Thanks to this facility, injured or sick wild animals will no longer need to be shifted to the veterinary hospital for X-ray.

Officials say that rapid on-site diagnosis will save animals from unnecessary transportation stress, while making the treatment and diagnosis process more effective and faster, helping to provide timely medical care to wildlife.

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Communication and Works (CandW) Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bharth on Sunday directed authorities to launch an indiscriminate crackdown on overloaded vehicles during a visit to Lahore Ring Road, emphasizing stricter enforcement to improve road safety and travel facilities.

During the visit, the minister reviewed overloading issues and inspected operational arrangements at various locations, including Burnanspura, Mehfoozpura, Garrison, Askari-10 and Kamahan. SP Ring Road Police Ejaz Rasheed and Director Operations Shahid Mehboob briefed him on traffic management and enforcement measures.

The minister also reviewed plantation, lighting infrastructure and other facilities along the Ring Road.

He directed officials to take strict legal action against overloaded vehicles without discrimination, ensure that all heavy vehicles and trailers are properly covered, and prohibit passengers from travelling in the loading compartments of loader vehicles.

Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bharth also instructed authorities to construct proper ramps at pedestrian overhead bridges to facilitate commuters, particularly persons with disabilities, the elderly and other pedestrians.

He stressed the need for more effective measures to reduce traffic accidents and enhance safety on the Ring Road.

The minister said the Punjab government, under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, remained committed to providing safer, more efficient and modern travelling facilities for citizens across the province.

Lahore: Punjab Secretary Auqaf and Chief Administrator Dr. Ehsan Bhutta on Sunday stated that providing maximum facilities to hundreds of thousands of devotees expected to attend the annual Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (Ali Hajveri) remained the top priority of the Punjab government.

Chairing a high-level review meeting at Data Darbar, he said all relevant departments had been fully mobilized to ensure that pilgrims arriving from across Pakistan and abroad faced no inconvenience during the grand spiritual event.

The meeting was attended by Administrator Data Darbar Muhammad Ali Khan, Khateeb of Data Darbar Mosque Mufti Mukhtar Ahmad Nadeem, Convener Langar Committee Mansoor Rizvi, Convener Milk Sabeel Committee Imran Hanafi, SSP Special Branch Tariq Aziz, and senior officials of the shrine administration.

Briefing the participants, Mufti Mukhtar Ahmad Nadeem announced that two days of preliminary religious programmes would be held on July 30 and 31, while the three-day annual Urs celebrations will officially take place from August 2 to 4. The events will feature international Qirat and Naat competitions, spiritual gatherings, and scholarly conferences with the participation of eminent scholars and Qaris from Pakistan and abroad.

Administrator Data Darbar Muhammad Ali Khan informed the meeting that, in line with the Regional Peace Committee’s directives, comprehensive arrangements had been finalized for round-the-clock langar distribution, CCTV-based security monitoring, and foolproof security measures.

Concluding the session, Dr. Ehsan Bhutta directed the authorities to ensure proper accommodation and food for devotees, set up first-aid medical camps, maintain an uninterrupted supply of chilled drinking water, uphold strict cleanliness, provide adequate parking facilities, and manage smooth traffic to ensure the Urs concludes in a peaceful and spiritually conducive atmosphere.