Month: July 2026

Lahore: Medical Superintendent (MS) Nishtar Hospital Multan, Dr Rao Amjad Ali Khan, has been removed from his post and directed to report immediately to the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department.

Meanwhile, Principal Medical Officer of Nishtar Hospital Multan, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, has been assigned the additional charge of Medical Superintendent of Nishtar Hospital Multan for the next three months.

An official notification has been issued in this regard on Monday.

Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday suspended, until the next hearing, an order of a Justice of the Peace directing the registration of an FIR against Advocate Rimsha Iqbal, the sister of actress Momina Iqbal.

Justice Abher Gul Khan heard a constitutional petition filed by Rimsha Iqbal challenging the Justice of the Peace’s order. Counsel for the petitioner argued that the Justice of the Peace had directed the registration of an FIR under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure without properly examining the facts and the applicable law. They contended that the allegations contained in the application did not disclose the commission of any cognizable offence.

They requested the court to set aside the Justice of the Peace’s order dated June 30, 2026.

After a preliminary hearing, the court found the issues raised in the petition to be arguable, issued notices to the respondents, and adjourned further proceedings until September 14.

On June 30, the Justice of the Peace ordered the registration of an FIR against petitioner Rimsha Iqbal at Bhawana Police Station. Rimsha Iqbal subsequently challenged the order before the Lahore High Court.

Lahore: The Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has announced another major step in its campaign to eliminate single-use plastic, declaring that businesses will no longer be allowed to charge customers separately for plastic shopping bags after September 6, 2026.

Director General EPA Punjab Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh said that no business will be permitted to collect additional charges for plastic bags from consumers. He urged the public to report any violations by calling the EPA helpline 1373.

He warned that businesses found charging for plastic bags could face fines ranging from Rs5,000 to Rs50,000. In serious cases, authorities may seal the business premises and register an FIR against the violators.

Dr Sheikh clarified that businesses may charge customers for reusable bags made from cloth or other environmentally friendly materials. However, charging separately for plastic shopping bags-often branded and sold to consumers as a product while generating additional profit-will no longer be permitted.

Lahore: Federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Hafiz Mian Muhammad Nauman, on Monday said political stability is essential for economic development, stressing that strong institutions and consistent policies are key to sustainable growth. Addressing the launch ceremony of the 7th Agricultural Census 2024 Integrated Digital Count Punjab Report at a local hotel, he said political instability in the past had weakened institutions, slowed the country’s development journey and adversely affected the evolution of public thinking.

Describing the Agricultural Census 2024 as a landmark achievement in Pakistan’s statistical history, Nauman said the country’s first fully digital agricultural census provides comprehensive and reliable data on agriculture, livestock and water resources. He said the information would enable governments, researchers, policymakers and development organizations to formulate informed policies, improve resource allocation and promote sustainable economic growth.

Congratulating Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) Chief Statistician Dr Naeem uz Zafar and his team, he expressed hope that the data would contribute significantly to the country’s future development.

Highlighting the importance of agriculture, Nauman said the sector has always been the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and emphasized the need for value addition and modernization to enhance productivity.

He said both the federal and Punjab governments were focusing on the uplift of the agriculture sector by introducing various incentives for farmers. Referring to the recent US-Iran conflict, he said fertilizer shortages had become a major concern for many developing countries, but Pakistan had ensured adequate availability of fertilizers while providing them to farmers at subsidized rates.

The parliamentary secretary said the impression created in the past that Pakistan was on the verge of default had proved incorrect, adding that under the able leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the country had overcome multiple economic challenges through sincere and coordinated efforts.

Later, while speaking to the media, Nauman termed the Agricultural Census 2024 a historic milestone, saying it provides baseline data essential for evidence-based policymaking, efficient resource allocation and the formulation of strategies to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.

He said the census would help assess farming practices, livestock populations, farm mechanization, resource utilization and market trends, enabling the government and other stakeholders to address key challenges and identify opportunities for growth. The data, he added, would also be valuable for the private sector.

Speaking on the occasion, PBS Chief Statistician Dr Naeem uz Zafar said the 7th Agricultural Census 2024 (Integrated Digital Count) was conducted through an integrated approach covering agricultural land, crops, livestock and agricultural machinery.

He said the report comprises six chapters, including an introduction, digital innovations, sample design and key indicators related to agriculture, livestock and agricultural machinery.

Dr Zafar said the census employed advanced digital technologies, including tablet-based data collection, geo-tagging of agricultural households, real-time monitoring dashboards, digital maps and task management systems to improve the accuracy and reliability of data collection.

He added that publicity campaigns were conducted through social media, while a hotline-based complaint management system ensured transparency. Several software modules, including a GIS-based dashboard monitoring system and Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) applications, were developed to enhance operational efficiency and data quality.

He said PBS utilized its upgraded in-house data centre to support census operations, reducing costs while ensuring round-the-clock IT support and data security. He also acknowledged the cooperation of provincial administrations in conducting field operations and praised the dedication of enumerators and supervisors who underwent extensive training for the exercise.

James Robert Okoth, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), also addressed the ceremony.

A detailed presentation on the 7th Agricultural Census 2024 was given during the event, while a souvenir was presented to Parliamentary Secretary Hafiz Mian Muhammad Nauman at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Lahore: Investigation Police Ichhra successfully carried out an operation and arrested a wanted criminal for the last four years in a murder case.

According to In-charge Investigation Inspector Hasnain Saleem, the accused was wanted by Kasur police in the murder case and had been absconding for a long time. He said the accused had killed a person during a minor argument in 2022 and fled the scene.

The accused had set up a puncture shop in Ichhra to hide his identity, from where he was arrested on a tip-off.

Lahore: The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) successfully conducted two-day written examinations for the posts of Assistant Superintendent Jail, Deputy Superintendent Jail in the Punjab Prisons Department and Assistant Registrar Cooperative Societies across Punjab, including Lahore.

According to the PPSC spokesperson, more than 6,000 candidates appeared in the examinations held at various centres across the province.

On the directions of PPSC Chairman Lieutenant General (Retd.) Muhammad Abdul Aziz, members of the commission carried out surprise visits to examination centres to monitor the examination process and review administrative arrangements.

Member Ahmad Ali Kamboh visited examination centres in Multan, Muhammad Hassan Iqbal inspected centres in Lahore, Najam Waheed monitored arrangements in Sargodha, Masood Anwar visited Rawalpindi, while Major General (Retd.) Kamran Khurshid inspected centres in Faisalabad.

The spokesperson said comprehensive arrangements were made to ensure the transparent and smooth conduct of the examinations. These included foolproof security, installation of mobile phone signal jammers, biometric and identity verification of candidates, CCTV surveillance, rescue and medical services, provision of cold drinking water, uninterrupted power backup and other facilities for the convenience of candidates.

The spokesperson added the extensive arrangements ensured that the examinations were conducted in a transparent, secure and uninterrupted manner.

The two-day examination process concluded successfully, with the PPSC describing the exercise as transparent, well-organised and efficiently managed.