Month: August 2026

Lahore: A 30-member United States business delegation met Punjab Chief Minister(CM), Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Saturday, as both sides discussed expanding investment, strengthening economic cooperation and exploring new business opportunities in the province.

The delegation, comprising executives from the healthcare, minerals, manufacturing, information technology, energy, hospitality, electronics and marketing sectors was briefed on the Punjab government’s investment policies, including its Punjab Innovation for Value, Opportunity and Transformation (PIVOT) programme and reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business.

Secretary Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Jameel Qureshi also briefed the delegation on investment opportunities and ongoing initiatives to facilitate domestic and foreign investors.

During the meeting, the two sides explored avenues for greater US investment in Punjab across multiple sectors. The visiting delegation also invited the chief minister to visit the United States, an invitation she welcomed.

CM Maryam expressed interest in home dialysis technology as part of the provincial government’s efforts to strengthen healthcare services while members of the delegation showed interest in investment opportunities, including shrimp farming.

The delegation appreciated the provincial government’s hospitality and expressed confidence in Pakistan’s investment potential.

“Pakistan is fully prepared for business, “members of the delegation said, adding that the country’s young population represented a major economic asset.

The delegation also praised the Punjab government’s development initiatives, particularly the Suthra Punjab programme, describing it as a “game changer” and commending the province’s efforts to create a more business-friendly investment climate.

Lahore: The Interfaith Harmony Society of the Civil Services Academy (CSA), comprising probationary officers of the 54th Common Training Programme, organised an interfaith dialogue titled ‘Building Bridges of Understanding, Respect and Peace’ to promote mutual respect, tolerance and peaceful coexistence among diverse faith communities.

The programme, held in two sessions, brought together representatives of different religions, senior government officials and religious scholars to deliberate on the importance of dialogue in fostering an inclusive and harmonious society.

The first session, ‘Interfaith Harmony Dialogue: Building Bridges through Faith, ‘ featured addresses by Isphandyar M. Bhandara representing the Parsi community, Rt Rev Bishop Nadeem Kamran from the Christian community, Prof Ashoke Kumar Khatri representing the Hindu community, Dr Ruhiyeh Muffedi of the Bah¡’­ community and Ahmad Ali Kelashi from the Kalasha community.

The speakers highlighted the common values shared by their respective faiths, including compassion, justice, human dignity and service to humanity. They underscored that meaningful dialogue and mutual understanding are vital to overcoming prejudice, strengthening social cohesion and fostering respect for religious diversity.

The second session, titled ‘Challenges and Solutions to Interfaith Harmony, ‘ was addressed by Secretary Human Rights Division Abdul Khalique Sheikh, Secretary Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department Punjab Dr Usman Ali Khan, Director Administration Auqaf Department Muhammad Shakir Sandhu and Grand Imam and Khateeb of the Badshahi Mosque Syed Muhammad Abdul Kabeer Azad.

The speakers stressed the importance of sustained engagement among religious communities, effective public policies, quality education and responsible leadership to counter intolerance and reinforce national cohesion. They observed that interfaith harmony is central to Pakistan’s constitutional vision and called for collective efforts by state institutions, civil society, educational institutions and faith leaders to safeguard the rights of all citizens and promote a peaceful, pluralistic society.

Speaking at the concluding session, CSA Director General Farhan Aziz Khawaja appreciated the Interfaith Harmony Society and the probationary officers for organising the dialogue. He said Pakistan’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths and emphasised that civil servants must uphold the constitutional principles of equality, inclusion and respect for all citizens. He urged the probationary officers to carry the spirit of interfaith harmony into their professional responsibilities and contribute to building a more cohesive and peaceful society.

Lahore: Punjab sought to attract American investment on Saturday by highlighting opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, textiles and mining with Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chaudhry Shafay Hussain assuring a visiting US delegation of a business-friendly environment and government support.

Speaking at an investment briefing organized by the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT), the minister said the province’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) offered world-class infrastructure and investor-friendly incentives, making it an ideal destination for foreign investment.

The session was attended by a 22-member delegation of US investment companies led by Muhammad Hanif Channa, Minister (Commerce and Investment) at Pakistan’s Embassy in Washington, DC.

A delegation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), senior government officials and representatives of the business community also participated.

Shafay said Punjab and the United States had vast potential to expand economic cooperation, adding that joint working groups would be formed to identify new areas of collaboration.

He said the provincial government was prioritizing modern agriculture and invited American firms to invest in the manufacturing of agricultural machinery, soybean cultivation and seed development. Punjab, he added, was keen to benefit from US expertise in agricultural technology.

The minister said the government was encouraging industrial expansion through sector-specific projects, including a Surgical City in Sialkot and a new industrial estate in Quaidabad for value addition in pink salt.

He added that electric motorcycle assembly plants were already operating in the province, while Chinese companies were setting up lithium battery manufacturing facilities.

Referring to the textile sector, Shafay said a state-of-the-art Garment City had been established at Quaid-i-Azam Business Park in Sheikhupura to boost value-added exports and attract investment.

He urged businesses from both countries to strengthen cooperation and bridge the existing trade gap through increased investment and industrial partnerships.

Members of the US delegation welcomed Punjab’s investment initiatives and expressed interest in exploring opportunities in various sectors of the provincial economy.

Lahore: Lahore Commissioner Nauman Yousaf on Saturday reviewed arrangements for the 983rd annual Urs of Hazrat Ali Hajveri (Data Ganj Bakhsh), directing all departments to ensure comprehensive security, cleanliness and public facilitation as the three-day celebrations are scheduled to be held from August 2 to 4.

During a visit to the entry and exit points of Data Darbar, the commissioner inspected preparations in and around the shrine, including under-construction areas, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Ali Ejaz, the Administrator of Data Darbar and officers of the district administration. He issued on-the-spot directions to ensure the safety of devotees in areas undergoing construction.

Later, chairing a meeting at the Data Darbar Complex, Nauman Yousaf was briefed by the district administration and the shrine administration on arrangements for the annual Urs. The meeting was informed that religious gatherings, Mehfil-e-Samaa, Chadar Poshi, an art gallery exhibition and special prayer ceremonies would be held during the three-day event. It was also informed that Clinic on Wheels, medical camps, Rescue 1122 counters and ambulances would remain available at designated locations.

The commissioner said millions of devotees were expected to attend the Urs and directed all civic agencies, including Suthra Punjab, WASA and the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore, to ensure round-the-clock cleanliness at the shrine, surrounding areas and procession routes.

He also instructed the authorities to install adequate directional signboards and deploy additional volunteers to facilitate pilgrims visiting the shrine.

Nauman Yousaf directed that a central control room be established at the Data Darbar Complex and said the shrine area would be monitored through Safe City cameras as well as additional surveillance cameras installed inside the shrine and surrounding areas. He ordered immediate action on public complaints and stressed that all under-construction sites must be made completely safe with zero tolerance for negligence.

The commissioner further directed Civil Defence to inspect every gas cylinder being used at the Langar Khana and maintain continuous deployment during the Urs.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Ali Ejaz, the Administrator of Data Darbar and representatives of the Traffic Police, Lahore Police, Metropolitan Corporation Lahore, TEPA, LDA, LESCO, Health Department, WASA, Suthra Punjab, Lahore Parking Company (LEPARK) and other relevant departments.

Lahore: Prime Minister(PM), Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday telephoned Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker, Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar to express his heartfelt condolences over the demise of his father, former Member of the National Assembly Malik Iqbal Channar.

During the conversation, PM expressed profound grief and sorrow over the passing of the veteran politician and prayed for the departed soul.

Paying tribute to Malik Iqbal Channar’s political and public services, PM Shehbaz said he was a sincere, loyal and dynamic leader of the PML-N, whose contributions to the party and public service would always be remembered.

The Prime Minister prayed that Almighty Allah grant the deceased the highest place in his eternal mercy and bless the bereaved family with patience and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Lahore: The trophy of the CM Punjab Champions League was unveiled at a colourful ceremony held at the E-Library, Nishtar Sports Complex, on Saturday, with Provincial Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar declaring the tournament would become Pakistan’s biggest cricket event after the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The sports minister unveiled the trophy alongside Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed and captains of all 12 participating men’s teams. The ceremony also featured the unveiling of the official logos of the participating teams.

Addressing the ceremony, Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, was transforming the province into the country’s sports hub by creating world-class opportunities for athletes.

He said the tournament would feature 12 men’s and four women’s teams, with matches to be played in Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan. The league will commence on August 3, while the final will be played on August 9 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

The minister said several national and internationally renowned cricketers would participate in the competition, giving emerging players an opportunity to play alongside established stars. He added that all players had been selected purely on merit through a transparent process and that every match would be played under floodlights and broadcast live.

Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said the Pakistan Cricket Board was the league’s official partner and would provide umpires, match referees, scorers and other match officials to ensure the tournament was conducted according to professional standards.

He also announced that the Punjab Sports Department would organise the CM Punjab Youth Games, with around five million athletes expected to participate.

Highlighting the provincial government’s sports development agenda, the minister said Punjab planned to organise 18 major sporting events during the year to promote sporting excellence and provide talented youth with opportunities to excel at the national and international levels.

Speaking on the occasion, PCB Chief Executive Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed termed the CM Punjab Champions League the first event of its kind in the country’s history, saying its primary objective was to identify and nurture cricket talent at the grassroots level. He said the PCB had encouraged all provinces to organise provincial cricket competitions, adding that Punjab had taken the lead by launching the CM Punjab Champions League. He reaffirmed the board’s commitment to working closely with the Punjab government and Sports Board Punjab for the promotion of cricket.

Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said the Sports Board Punjab was committed to providing world-class sporting opportunities in line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. He said the league would not only promote cricket but also provide talented players from across Punjab with an excellent platform to showcase their skills.

The men’s competition will feature 12 teams: Lahore Lions, Bahawalpur Nawabs, Faisalabad Hawks, Sargodha Shaheens, Rawalpindi Panthers, Gujranwala Warriors, Gujrat Thunder, Lahore Strikers, Dera Ghazi Khan Titans, Lahore Tigers, Multan Mavericks and Sahiwal Stallions.