Month: July 2026

Lahore: Punjab Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, Khawaja Salman Rafique, on Wednesday termed the Chief Minister Punjab’s honorarium programme for imams a highly commendable initiative, saying the government is committed to working closely with religious scholars to maintain peace and strengthen public order across the province.

He expressed these views while addressing a meeting with a delegation of Ittehad Tanzeem Madaris, led by Secretary General Wifaq Al-Madaris Al-Arabiya Pakistan, Maulana Qari Hanif Jalandhari, at the Home Department. The meeting was held as part of an ongoing series of consultations with religious scholars on the directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

The meeting reviewed the overall law and order situation in Punjab and discussed the registration of madrassas.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said consultations with scholars from all schools of thought are continuing under the leadership of the Chief Minister. He described the meeting with the senior leadership of Ittehad Tanzeem Madaris as highly productive and expressed optimism that further progress would be made in the next round of discussions in light of the recommendations presented regarding madrassa registration.

He said religious scholars from all schools of thought have demonstrated unity for the sake of peace and stability in Punjab. Stressing the need for national unity, the minister said all differences must be set aside to work collectively for the security and prosperity of Pakistan, adding that scholars across all schools of thought are on the same page regarding the country’s security.

Punjab Home Secretary Dr. Ahmed Javed Qazi said the provincial government is maintaining close coordination with all stakeholders to ensure lasting peace. He acknowledged the significant role of religious scholars in promoting harmony and appreciated their full cooperation during Muharram in maintaining law and order across the province.

Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Qari Hanif Jalandhari assured the Punjab government of continued cooperation for safeguarding the country’s peace and security. He said scholars from all schools of thought would continue to promote unity and ensure compliance with the law. He also appreciated the Punjab government’s measures aimed at strengthening public order.

Special prayers were offered at the conclusion of the meeting for the peace, security and prosperity of Pakistan and its people.

The meeting was attended by Punjab Home Secretary Dr. Ahmed Javed Qazi, Special Secretary Faisal Farid, Syed Tahir Raza Bukhari, Director General Auqaf Hafiz Anisur Rehman, Chief Coordination Officer Ghulam Saghir Shahid, Additional Secretary Special Initiatives Abdul Rauf, senior officers of the Special Branch and Counter Terrorism Department, along with representatives of major religious boards, including Director General Tanzeem Al-Madaris Ahl-e-Sunnat Pakistan Sahibzada Muhammad Mustafa Hazarvi, Maulana Muhammad Yasin Zafar of Wifaq Al-Madaris Al-Salafiya, Hafiz Syed Qutab of Rabitat Al-Madaris Al-Islamiya Pakistan, Maulana Lal Hussain Tohidi of Wifaq Al-Madaris Al-Shia Pakistan, Hafiz Muhammad Amjad, Hafiz Asad Obaid of Jamia Ashrafia and other scholars.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday approved the construction of 800 additional mini dams in the Potohar region over the next three years to enhance rainwater harvesting and strengthen the province’s long-term water conservation strategy.

Chairing a meeting on the Transformation of Agriculture and Water Management, here on Wednesday, the CM reviewed progress on water conservation and groundwater management. She was informed that 110 mini dams had already been completed across Punjab under the government’s water preservation initiative.

CM Maryam Nawaz directed the authorities to prepare a comprehensive plan for developing surface water bodies to maximise rainwater storage and called for further strengthening of the legal framework governing groundwater management.

The meeting decided to deploy dedicated human resources for water conservation and monitoring, while the agriculture, irrigation, housing and local government departments were directed to work in close coordination to promote efficient water management across the province.

The CM approved the construction of 800 new mini dams in Potohar, which were expected to create storage capacity of 32,000 acre-feet of rainwater over the next three years.

Reviewing agricultural support measures, the meeting also decided to provide 1,000 laser land levellers to farmers at a 50 per cent subsidy during the current financial year to improve land productivity and water-use efficiency.

Photographic evidence of recently completed mini dams in Attock, Talagang, Gujar Khan and Rawalpindi was presented during the meeting.

Addressing participants, the CM said prosperous nations were those that valued and protected every drop of water, stressing that water conservation was essential for ensuring food security and sustainable agricultural growth.

Officials informed the meeting that a comprehensive strategy had been prepared to reduce 30 per cent water losses during conveyance and 25 per cent losses during on-farm use across Punjab.

The briefing further revealed that lining of 2,600 watercourses covering 7,000 kilometres had been completed, resulting in 20 per cent water savings. Over the next three years, another 4,500 watercourses, spanning 11,500 kilometres, would be rehabilitated and lined.

The meeting was informed that the adoption of high-efficiency irrigation systems had already saved 18,000 acre-feet of water while increasing crop yields by 50 per cent. An additional 30,000 acres would be brought under modern drip and sprinkler irrigation systems during the next three years.

Officials also informed the chief minister that 100 groundwater recharge wells were already operational in the Gujranwala, Gujrat and Lahore divisions, while another 300 wells were nearing completion.

Lahore: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol has urged the federal government, the Ministry of Interior, and relevant authorities to take practical steps to further improve passenger facilities, traffic flow, and administrative arrangements at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore.

He, however, appreciated the efforts of the Federal Interior Minister and the airport administration, saying that significant improvements have been made over the past few years in airport management, security systems, and passenger services. These improvements have benefited citizens and helped project a positive image of Pakistan.

He said in a media statement here Wednesday that the increasing number of international flights, especially between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., has led to heavy congestion in the airport’s departure area. Under the current situation, there is only one drop-off lane, which causes passengers to face long delays. This not only wastes time but also increases the risk of passengers missing their flights.

The LCCI President suggested the construction of additional drop-off lanes on the departure road to improve traffic flow and ensure that passengers can reach the airport terminal on time. He noted that major airports in developed countries successfully operate with two or three drop-off lanes, which significantly reduces traffic congestion.

Saigol also emphasized the need for further improvements in the parking system. He suggested introducing a limited-time parking policy in the departure area. Under this system, vehicles would be issued a token upon entry, and a penalty would be imposed if they remain parked beyond the allowed time. According to him, this measure would discourage unnecessary parking, improve traffic flow, and increase government revenue.

Regarding security arrangements, he appreciated the services of the Airport Security Force and other relevant agencies, stating that passenger safety should remain the top priority. However, he suggested that vehicles requiring detailed inspection should be moved to a designated inspection area separate from the main queue. This would help maintain security standards while preventing unnecessary delays for other passengers.

The LCCI President said that an airport creates the first impression of any country. Tourists, investors, business visitors, and overseas Pakistanis form their initial opinion about the country based on the airport’s facilities and management. Therefore, establishing a modern, organized, and passenger-friendly airport is of national importance.

He expressed hope that the relevant authorities would seriously consider these proposals so that the performance of Lahore Airport can be further improved, passengers and airport staff can enjoy greater convenience, and Pakistan’s international image can be strengthened further.

Lahore: Punjab Police have deported 37,000 Afghan nationals as well as other illegally residing foreign nationals from across the province as part of the ongoing repatriation drive, while 214 individuals are currently being held at designated holding points.

According to the spokesperson, the deported individuals included 14,954 men, 7,254 women and 14,783 children. The total also comprised 11,145 holders of Proof of Residence (PoR) cards, 11,137 Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders and 14,709 illegally residing foreign nationals.

The spokesperson said the repatriation campaign is continuing across Punjab, including Lahore, in line with the government’s policy.

Punjab Inspector General of Police Abdul Kareem said security remains on high alert throughout the province and the repatriation of all illegally residing foreign nationals is being ensured.

Lahore: An enforcement team of Punjab Food Authority discarded 700kg of fungus infested carrots and ash gourd, 800kg of Murabba Ashrafi and other substandard food items while suspending the production of a murabba manufacturing unit during a raid in Bhagat Pura, Lahore.

Operation was conducted on the order of Director General Punjab Food Authority Raja Mansoor Ahmad.

Food safety team raided the murabba production unit and found murabba being prepared from insect infested and fungus contaminated fruits. PFA took action after detecting serious violations of food safety regulations and ordered the immediate suspension of production.

Director General Raja Mansoor Ahmad said that poor sanitation arrangements and heavy insect infestation were observed throughout the unit. He said that fungus-infested ash gourd, carrots and other raw materials were being stored for use in food production.

He said that the unit owner was using prohibited chemicals to remove foul odours, insects and fungus from fruits and vegetables before processing. Non-food-grade blue plastic drums were also being used for storing fruits and vegetables.

He said that the unit failed to maintain proper storage conditions and could not produce mandatory expiry date records or food-grade certification. He said that the substandard murabba products were intended to be marketed across Punjab in attractive packaging to deceive consumers.

He further stated that strict action is being taken against the food fraud mafia that endangers public health for the sake of higher profits.

Lahore: Lahore Divisional Commissioner Nauman Yousaf on Wednesday visited flood-hit Muridke to review ongoing rescue and relief operations, announcing that a fully operational relief camp had been established to provide shelter, food, healthcare and other essential services to displaced families.

During his visit to the Government High School Muridke relief camp, the commissioner inspected arrangements for accommodation, food distribution, medical facilities and other relief measures for flood-affected residents. He also reviewed the overall relief operation after conducting a late-night visit to the area on Tuesday.

Nauman Yousaf said residents from inundated localities, along with their livestock, had been safely evacuated and shifted to secure locations. He assured that the administration had ensured uninterrupted provision of food, relief supplies and other essential services, adding that sufficient stocks of ration and relief goods were available at the camp. He said the district administration remained fully mobilised to assist affected communities and was working round the clock to address their needs.

The commissioner said that, on the directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, all available resources had been deployed to ensure timely rescue and relief operations. He added that senior district officials were personally supervising rescue points and monitoring relief activities, stressing that there would be no compromise on the protection of human lives, property and livestock.