Month: July 2026

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday ordered strict legal action against those involved in rape, child abuse and corruption, directing authorities to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against crimes targeting women and children.

Chairing a high-level meeting on law and order here, the chief minister reviewed the province’s security situation and called for a comprehensive strategy to eliminate rape, child abuse and corruption.

She was informed that the Safe City Project had been completed in all 43 districts of Punjab and would be formally inaugurated soon. The chief minister approved the installation of more than 2,000 additional Safe City cameras in Lahore and directed the expansion of the project to 98 more tehsils as well as riverine (Katcha) areas.

The meeting was told that the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) had established a dedicated cell to monitor blasphemy-related cases, while a Special Cyber Unit would be created to tackle cybercrime. Additional personnel were also being inducted to strengthen security and development in tribal areas.

CM Maryam Nawaz directed that mobile police stations should provide services at citizens’ doorsteps, saying that if people could not reach police stations, the police should reach them instead. She observed that the establishment of the Crime Control Department (CCD) had contributed to a significant decline in the provincial crime rate.

Declaring the protection of women and children her ‘red line’, the chief minister reiterated that no leniency would be shown towards offenders involved in crimes against vulnerable groups.

The meeting was further informed that 29,000 body-worn cameras would be provided to police personnel by the first week of September to improve transparency and accountability.

Officials also briefed the meeting that the registration of Imams had been completed and Rs10 billion had been released for more than 72,000 Imams across the province.

The CM was informed that more than 139,000 illegally residing foreign nationals had been repatriated so far. During 2026, 23,243 illegal foreign nationals had been deported, while 5,127 illegal Afghan nationals were shifted to holding centres during the first six months of the year.

The meeting was also told that documentary and biometric verification of over 1.25 million people had been completed across Punjab, while all arrangements had been finalised to ensure the transparent conduct of the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT).

Lahore: Fatima Memorial Hospital (FMH) observed World Hepatitis Day by organising an awareness seminar and walk to promote hepatitis prevention, early diagnosis and effective treatment, with experts stressing the need for greater public awareness and timely medical intervention to combat the disease.

The event was attended by doctors, faculty members, students and hospital staff. Principal, Schools of Health Sciences, NUR-Fatima Memorial System, Prof Dr Tayyab Abbas was the chief guest. Addressing the seminar, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist Dr Raja Ikram-Ul-Haq described hepatitis as a silent but serious disease that could lead to severe liver damage if not diagnosed and treated in time.

Referring to this year’s World Hepatitis Day theme, ‘Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,’ he said around 287 million people worldwide and nearly 13.8 million people in Pakistan were living with chronic hepatitis B or C. He urged the public to undergo regular screening, seek timely medical consultation and strictly follow preventive measures to curb the spread of the disease.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Tayyab Abbas said public awareness remained one of the most effective tools in the fight against hepatitis. He said Fatima Memorial Hospital was committed not only to providing quality healthcare services but also to promoting disease prevention through sustained public health education and awareness campaigns.

The seminar concluded with an awareness walk in which participants carried banners highlighting the importance of hepatitis prevention, early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Lahore: The Punjab Food Safety and Consumer Protection Department has digitised more than 131,000 official files, marking a major step towards paperless governance under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s e-Vision initiative. Secretary Food Safety and Consumer Protection Dr Kiran Khurshid told media on Wednesday that 131,821 official files had been successfully scanned and uploaded to the department’s digital record management system, significantly reducing reliance on physical documentation. She said seven of the department’s eight attached organisations had achieved Level-4 digitalization, while the Directorate General of Food had reached Level-3, with work continuing to convert its extensive backlog of legacy records.

According to the secretary, the Punjab Food Authority, Directorate General of Enforcement, PAYAM, and Punjab Sahulat Bazar Authority had completed 100 per cent digitization of records at both headquarters and field offices. To accelerate the remaining work, the Directorate General of Food has been equipped with seven additional high-speed scanners, with officials tasked to digitise 25,000 pages daily until all pending records are converted.

Dr Khurshid said major departments, including the Punjab Food Authority, PAMRA, the Directorate General of Food and Cane Commissioner, and the Punjab Sahulat Bazar Authority, had also been integrated with the e-Biz portal, enabling online processing of business-related services.

She added that the Directorate General of Food had already received its first three online applications through the portal, describing the development as an important milestone in improving transparency, efficiency and digital public service delivery in Punjab.

Lahore: Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi on Wednesday visited and supervised the Departmental B-I Promotion Examination conducted by Lahore Traffic Police at Manawan Lines, reaffirming the department’s commitment to transparency, merit and fairness in the promotion process.

A total of 112 traffic assistants appeared in the examination, which was conducted for their promotion to the rank of senior traffic assistant. The CTO personally monitored the examination process, while SP Headquarters Maqsood Ahmed Loon, DSP Headquarters and the Office Superintendent were also present.

Addressing the participants, CTO Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi said Lahore Traffic Police was committed to ensuring a transparent, merit-based and impartial promotion system. He made it clear that no candidate would be allowed to secure any undue advantage or use influence during the examination.

He said mobile phones and all other digital devices were strictly prohibited inside the examination center, adding that the entire examination process was being audio and video recorded to ensure complete transparency and accountability.

According to a Lahore Traffic Police spokesperson, candidates who successfully qualify in the Departmental B-I Promotion Examination will be promoted to the rank of senior traffic assistant.

CTO Abdul Rahim Shirazi emphasized that conducting fair, transparent and merit-based departmental examinations remained a top priority of Lahore Traffic Police, adding that equal opportunities would continue to be provided to all eligible officials strictly on merit.