Month: July 2026

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday strongly condemned the terrorist attack in the Mangi Phase III area of Quetta. In a statement, she paid glowing tribute to the police personnel who embraced martyrdom while successfully foiling the terrorist attack, describing their sacrifice as exemplary and unforgettable. She extended her heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for the early recovery of those injured in the attack. “The fight against terrorism is a battle for our survival. There will be no compromise or weakening in our unwavering resolve to eradicate this menace,’ the chief minister said. The entire nation salutes the supreme sacrifice rendered by the martyred police personnel in the line of duty, she added.

Lahore: Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) Mian Shahid Hussain Khan and Muhammad Aoun Jahangir called on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif here on Tuesday. Public issues, the law and order situation, constituency matters, and the progress of ongoing development projects across the province came under discussion during the meeting. The meeting also reviewed the prevailing political situation, while the legislators expressed grief over the tragic Kahna incident in which children lost their lives and offered prayers for the departed souls.

The MPAs congratulated the chief minister on presenting Punjab’s third consecutive surplus budget and appreciated the launch of the ‘Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar’ initiative as well as the extension of electric bus services to tehsil-level cities. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the legislators to ensure comprehensive preparations for Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) in their respective constituencies. She said public service had always remained her foremost priority, adding that she had learnt the spirit of serving the people from Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. She said the upgradation of Rural Health Centres was ensuring quality healthcare at people’s doorsteps, while nearly 125,000 houses under the ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar’ programme were progressing rapidly towards completion.

The legislators appreciated the provincial government’s public welfare agenda, improvements in road infrastructure and beautification projects. They also commended the Muharram arrangements, including effective security measures, cleanliness drives and government-sponsored Sabeels, and praised the chief minister’s initiatives for the welfare and empowerment of women and children.

Lahore: Acting on the directives of Director General LDA Tahir Farooq, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Town Planning Wing intensified its operation against illegal commercial buildings across LDA-controlled areas, sealing 154 properties during a citywide enforcement drive.

The operation was carried out in Gulberg, New Garden Town, New Muslim Town, Gujjarpura, Gulshan Ravi, Revenue Society, Naz Town, and Sabzazar under the supervision of Chief Town Planner-I Asad Zaman and Chief Town Planner-II Azhar Ali.

According to the LDA spokesperson, 27 properties were sealed in Gulberg and New Garden Town for unauthorized commercial use. Another 50 properties in New Muslim Town, Gujjarpura, and Gulshan Ravi were sealed for illegal commercial activities and non-payment of commercialisation fees.

The authority also sealed 42 properties in Revenue Society and 20 properties in Naz Town for similar violations. During a separate recovery operation, 15 properties were sealed in Sabzazar over outstanding dues.

The sealed properties included private schools, academies, colleges, pharmacies, clinics, laboratories, grocery stores, caf©s, restaurants, food outlets, bakeries, beauty salons, electrical shops, auto workshops, offices, and other commercial establishments.

DG LDA Tahir Farooq said the authority would continue indiscriminate action against illegal commercial buildings and properties that have defaulted on commercialisation fees to ensure compliance with planning regulations.

Lahore: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday confirmed the pre-arrest bail of two members of a banned religious organisation, including a woman, in a case related to arson and rioting.

ATC Judge Malik Abid Hussain announced the verdict, confirming the interim bail of Ruqayya Bibi and Kazim Ali. The court directed both suspects to furnish surety bonds of Rs100,000 each.

The accused appeared before the court to attend the hearing.

According to the prosecution, a case was registered against the suspects at Nawab Town Police Station in 2025 in connection with arson and rioting.

The defence maintained that both accused were innocent and requested the court to confirm their interim bail, which was subsequently granted.

Lahore: Punjab University (PU) Department of Media and Development Communication on Tuesday launched a U.S.-supported project titled ‘Digital Trust and Free Expression in the AI Era: Strengthening Responsible Content Creation in Open Digital Spaces’ to promote ethical journalism, responsible artificial intelligence (AI) use and digital trust. The initiative was being implemented with the support of U.S. Mission to Pakistan in partnership with the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN). Speaking at the inaugural ceremony as chief guest, Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali said universities had a critical responsibility to prepare responsible digital communicators capable of upholding truth and integrity in an increasingly technology-driven information environment.

He observed that while AI could accelerate access to information and process vast amounts of data, it could not replace human judgment, empathy and intuition, which remain indispensable for ethical journalism and credible storytelling. Project Lead Dr. Ayesha Ashfaq highlighted the growing challenges posed by AI-generated content, synthetic media and deepfakes, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen verification skills and promote responsible AI use among journalists and digital content creators. Senior journalist Sohail Warraich stressed the importance of restoring journalism’s credibility through truth, transparency and sound editorial judgment, saying these values were essential for rebuilding public trust amid the rapid spread of digital information.

Senior anchor and digital media consultant Ajmal Jami discussed the transformation of modern newsrooms, noting that AI-powered algorithms increasingly influence content visibility and audience engagement, making it imperative for journalists to understand and adapt to evolving digital media dynamics.

Media development practitioner at Shirkat Gah Fazli Hadi presented an overview of Pakistan’s digital information landscape, identifying emerging trends, existing capacity gaps and the need for enhanced verification and fact-checking skills across the media sector. The ceremony was attended by faculty members Dr. Shazia Ismail Toor and Dr. Madiha Maqsood, along with representatives of the U.S. Consulate General Lahore. The project aims to equip early-career journalists, media students and digital content creators with practical skills in verification, ethical storytelling and responsible AI use, thereby strengthening public trust in Pakistan’s rapidly evolving digital information ecosystem.

Lahore: In a bid to improving citizens’ access to public services, applications for new residential and commercial water connections of Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) are now being accepted at both e-Khidmat Maraakaz set up by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) in the provincial capital. With the introduction of this facility, citizens can conveniently submit their applications for new WASA water connections at the e-Khidmat Centres, making the application process faster, simpler and more streamlined. The initiative reflects the Punjab government’s continued commitment to enhancing public service delivery through citizen-centric digital governance.

Both e-Khidmat Centres remain operational from 9: 00 AM to 10: 00 PM, Monday to Saturday, ensuring extended service hours for the convenience of citizens. Citizens can also visit the e-Khidmat website to learn more about this facility and explore the wide range of government services available through the centres. For further guidance and assistance, they may also contact the e-Khidmat Helpline at 1317. On the occasion in his message, PITB Chairman Faisal Yousaf said the Punjab government was continuously expanding the portfolio of public services available through e-Khidmat Centres to provide citizens with modern, convenient and efficient access to government services. He further stated that the inclusion of WASA’s residential and commercial new water connection service at the e-Khidmat Centres aims to offer citizens a wider range of government services under one roof while eliminating the need for unnecessary visits to multiple government offices.