Month: July 2026

Lahore: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Lahore Zone has arrested six suspects, including passport and visa agents, during a crackdown against agent mafias involved in fraud and illegal overcharging of citizens.

According to a spokesperson, the operations were carried out by the Anti-Corruption Circle and Anti-Human Trafficking Circle Lahore in Nankana Sahib, Sahiwal and Sargodha districts.

The arrested suspects were identified as Arsalan, Karamat, Allah Ditta and Shehryar, who were apprehended outside the Passport Office in Nankana Sahib, while Basharat Ali and Farooq were arrested in Sahiwal and Sargodha.

The spokesperson stated that the four passport agents were allegedly charging citizens illegal additional fees for passport processing and deceiving applicants by promising expedited issuance of passports in exchange for extra payments.

During the raids, FIA teams recovered passports, tokens, bank challans, receipts, and other incriminating evidence from the suspects’ possession.

The spokesperson added that Shehryar and Farooq allegedly defrauded citizens of a total of Rs1. 19 million on the pretext of arranging overseas work visas.

Cases had been registered against the suspects and further investigations were under way.

Lahore: More than 2. 729 million citizens have availed various digital and public services from Punjab Police Khidmat Marakaz during the current year, reflecting the growing reliance on the police’s citizen service centres.

According to a Punjab Police spokesperson, over 1. 014 million citizens obtained General Police Verification, while more than 510, 000 were issued Police Character Certificates during the period.

The spokesperson said over 700, 000 citizens completed Tenant Registration, while more than 100, 000 obtained Medico-Legal Certificates. Under initiatives for vulnerable segments of society, more than 67, 000 individuals were provided legal and social protection.

He said 19, 612 citizens availed Vehicle Verification services, while 56, 526 registered reports of lost documents and 2, 091 registered crime reports.

The spokesperson added that more than 156, 000 citizens obtained copies of First Information Reports (FIRs), 49 reports related to violence against women were registered, over 88, 000 citizens completed Employees Registration (ROPE), and 2, 133 obtained police verification for private employment.

IGP Abdul Kareem said Punjab Police Khidmat Marakaz had become a flagship public service delivery project, providing modern and digital services to citizens round the clock.

He directed officers and officials deployed at Khidmat Marakaz, police stations and other public dealing offices to ensure courteous, professional and citizen-friendly behaviour while delivering services.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday hailed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) performance in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, thanking Allah for the party’s ‘resounding victory’ in Mirpur Division.

The CM also urged the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to accept the electoral verdict instead of alleging rigging.

Congratulating the people of Mirpur and Kotli, she said voters had chosen development and a better future by supporting the PML-N. She maintained that the people had endorsed the party’s vision for progress and expressed confidence that the outcome of the first phase would influence the remaining stages of the elections.

The CM congratulated PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying the electorate had endorsed the party’s message and manifesto. She also appreciated the election campaign led by Rana Sanaullah, Amir Muqam and party workers.

CM Maryam Nawaz said the PML-N had won nine of the 13 key seats in the first phase and expressed optimism that the party would also succeed in the remaining constituencies.

Criticising the PPP’s reaction to the results, she said the party should have accepted the public mandate in the spirit of democracy rather than making allegations of rigging. Recalling the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, she said the PML-N had accepted the PPP’s victory without questioning the electoral process.

Referring to Sindh, she alleged that despite remaining in power for 17 years, the PPP had failed to deliver significant improvements in infrastructure and public services. She said voters now judged political parties on their performance rather than rhetoric.

CM Maryam Nawaz said the electorate had endorsed public welfare initiatives, including the Green Tractor Scheme, Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Programme, Apna Khet initiative, employment schemes, the Kisan Card, road infrastructure projects and improved law and order. She also rejected repeated allegations of rigging, claiming that videos circulating on social media showed bags of ballot papers allegedly recovered from the homes of PPP candidates. She challenged the PPP to produce similar evidence against the PML-N.

The CM maintained that the PPP had contested the AJK elections while already in power in the territory and noted that no caretaker government was in place. She said allegations of electoral manipulation effectively amounted to questioning the credibility of the PPP’s own government in Azad Kashmir.

Urging the PPP leadership to focus on governance in Sindh, she said governments earned public support through performance and service delivery rather than criticism of political opponents.

CM Maryam Nawaz assured the people of Azad Kashmir that, if elected, the PML-N would introduce reforms on the pattern of Punjab and improve public services across the region. She also appealed to voters in the remaining phases of the AJK elections, scheduled for Aug 2 and Aug 10, to support the PML-N in the interest of development and progress.

Lahore: The Punjab Home Department on Tuesday highlighted its rehabilitation-oriented criminal justice reforms as students participating in the Punjab Probation and Parole Service Summer Internship Programme visited the department for a training session.

The delegation of 30 students from seven universities met Special Secretary Home Zainab Khan. Inspector General of Prisons Mian Salik Jalal, Probation and Parole Director General Shahid Iqbal, Prisons Additional Secretary Roman Burana and other senior officials attended the session.

The participants, belonging to the disciplines of psychology, sociology, social work, criminology, law and gender studies, represented Government College University Lahore, Punjab University, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Beaconhouse National University, Kinnaird College for Women University and Forman Christian College University.

Addressing the interns, Special Secretary Home Zainab Khan said the Punjab Probation and Parole Department was reducing the burden on prisons through accountability and rehabilitation. She said the Punjab government had launched the “Naya Aghaz” programme for prisoners, under which deserving inmates released from jail would be provided interest-free loans of up to Rs200, 000 to help them establish small businesses using vocational skills acquired during incarceration.

She said the internship programme reflected the department’s commitment to preparing future professionals in the field of criminal justice and rehabilitation.

Briefing the participants on prison reforms, Additional Secretary Prisons Roman Burana highlighted initiatives introduced under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

IG Prisons Mian Salik Jalal said around 70, 000 inmates across Punjab prisons were undergoing rehabilitation and correctional training. He said more than 100, 000 books had been provided to prison barrack libraries, while inmates were receiving technical training in 23 different trades under the skilled prisoners programme.

He added that a prison visitation mobile application introduced for inmates’ families had already been used by over 50, 000 people.

DG Shahid Iqbal said the department was supervising the rehabilitation of around 40, 000 probationers across Punjab. He said interns were being provided practical exposure to the province’s criminal justice and community corrections system, including rehabilitation of accidental offenders and training on countering violent extremism.

During the visit, the students also toured the Provincial Intelligence Centre and the Digital Media Public Outreach Cell, where Director Public Relations Tauseef Sabih Gondal briefed them on cyber patrolling and public awareness campaigns.

Officials informed the participants that the Home Department’s Cyber Patrolling Cell had reported more than 9, 000 objectionable social media accounts to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) since the start of Muharram. The interns were also briefed on the department’s Central Control Room and Quick Action System.

As part of the internship programme, the students also visited courts, the Punjab Safe Cities Authority, Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), Rescue 1122, Central Jail Lahore and the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA).

Lahore: City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) have taken action against more than 34, 000 vehicles during a special campaign against bogus, tampered and non-standard number plates aimed at preventing motorists from evading the e-challan system.

According to a spokesperson on Tuesday, 88 cases were registered against owners of motorcycles and luxury vehicles for using fake number plates during the last two months.

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Abdul Raheem Shirazi said 15, 974 vehicles without registration plates or displaying “Applied For” plates were issued challan tickets, while action was taken against 9, 382 motorcycles and vehicles for using fancy or non-standard number plates instead of the Excise Department’s prescribed design.

He said another 9, 218 vehicles were fined for bending, damaging or concealing their number plates to avoid identification by the e-challan system.

During the campaign, traffic police also educated more than 50, 000 motorists committing minor traffic violations about the importance of displaying standard number plates and complying with traffic laws.

Shirazi said motorists found tampering with number plates were liable to fines of up to Rs5, 000 for cars and Rs1, 000 for motorcycles, while criminal cases under relevant cheating provisions were being registered against those using fake number plates.

He urged vehicle owners to install their new universal registration number after transferring ownership instead of continuing to use the previous registration plate.

The CTO said some motorists tampered with number plates to avoid e-challans, while criminals often used fake number plates to conceal their identity. He clarified that vehicles displaying number plates in accordance with the prescribed Excise Department specifications were not being challaned.

Lahore: Drizzle was recorded at isolated locations across the provincial capital on Tuesday, but it did little to ease the severe humidity. The Meteorological Department has forecast another spell of monsoon rains from Wednesday with occasional breaks during the period.

According to a spokesperson for the Pakistan Meteorological Department, monsoon currents from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are likely to penetrate upper and central parts of the country from the 29th of July.

A westerly wave is currently affecting northern areas, which is likely to strengthen and affect most upper and central parts from 01st August. Under the influence of this weather system, rain-wind/thundershowers (with scattered heavy falls at times very heavy) is expected in Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Khushab, Mianwali, Layyah, Bhakkar, Noorpurthal, Sargodha, Sahiwal and Pakpattan from the 29th of July to 04th August with occasional gaps.

Rain-wind/thundershowers (with scattered heavy falls) is expected in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Khanpur, Multan, Vehari, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur from 31st July to 03rd August with occasional gaps.

Kashmir: Rain-wind/thundershowers (with scattered heavy falls at times very heavy) is also expected in Kasmir, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan and Sindh.

Heavy rains may cause Urban flooding in low lying areas of Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad from 30th July to 04th August.

Windstorm and lightning may damage weak structures (solar panels, electric poles, bill boards etc. ) during the forecast period. Tourists and travelers are advised to remain cautious during the forecast period.

Farmers are advised to manage their crop activities keeping in view the weather conditions and take care of their livestock as well.