Month: August 2026

Lahore: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) South Punjab President and former Punjab governor Makhdoom Syed Ahmed Mahmood paid tribute to Madar-e-Millat Fatima Jinnah on her 133rd birth anniversary, describing her as one of Pakistan’s greatest national figures, whose leadership inspired Muslim women across the Subcontinent to participate in politics and the Pakistan Movement.

In a statement issued here on Friday, Ahmed Mahmood said Fatima Jinnah played a pivotal role alongside the Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah (RA), during the struggle for independence. He said her determination, courage, and unwavering support strengthened the movement for the creation of Pakistan while encouraging women to play an active role in the country’s political awakening.

He said Fatima Jinnah’s contributions extended well beyond the creation of Pakistan. According to him, she emerged as a symbol of democratic resistance by challenging a military rule and contesting the 1965 presidential election against General A
yub Khan, upholding democratic principles and constitutional values.

Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood said Fatima Jinnah’s sacrifices, principled leadership, integrity, and commitment to the people continue to inspire Pakistanis, particularly women. He said her life demonstrated the indispensable role of women in strengthening democracy, promoting national stability, and contributing to Pakistan’s development.

He said the Pakistan Peoples Party remained committed to the ideals of democracy, human rights, equality, and constitutional supremacy, which he said reflected the vision of Madar-e-Millat. He added that the party renewed its pledge to continue working for a progressive, democratic, and prosperous Pakistan in line with her ideals.

The PPP South Punjab president further said that under the leadership of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari, the party was determined to uphold Fatima Jinnah’s principles and work towards building a peaceful, dignified, and welfare-oriented state.

Lahore: The supply of flour across the province is continuing uninterrupted and there is no shortage of flour in the market.

A spokesperson for the Food Safety and Consumer Protection Department said this here on Friday: “Certain elements are spreading false rumours to mislead the public.”

The Punjab government was continuously and closely monitoring the situation to ensure the uninterrupted supply of quality flour to the public, spokesperson said and sharing the latest figures, he stated that after grinding government wheat, flour mills in Punjab supplied 109,799 bags of 10-kg flour to the market at a price of Rs 1,100 per bag. In addition, after purchasing wheat from the private sector and milling it, 396,196 bags of 10-kg flour were supplied across all districts of Punjab. Likewise, 78,996 bags of 20-kg flour were also supplied.

The spokesperson further said that a total of 663,987 bags of 10-kg flour have been supplied across all districts of the province, which clearly demonstrates that all flour mills in Punjab were operating normally and flour production was continuing without interruption.

The spokesperson said that all necessary and effective measures were being taken to maintain the flour supply chain, and no disruption in the supply of flour to the public would be allowed.

He also made it clear that strict legal action would be taken against hoarders, profiteers without any discrimination and no leniency would be shown towards them.

Lahore: Food governance in Punjab has been established on modern lines, according to the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, digitalized applications for food checking have been launched.

In this connection, Food Safety and Consumer Protection Department and Punjab Food Authority have introduced three new applications.

According to the details, Special Assistant Chief Minister Punjab Salma Butt along with Secretary Food Safety and Consumer Protection Department Dr. Karan Khurshid and DGPFA inaugurated the applications, star rating application, automatic inspection scheduling application and consumer protection were formally launched.

Special Assistant Chief Minister Punjab Salmi Butt says that healthy competition will be promoted in the food industry through star rating program, automatic scoring will be done under food safety management system through transparent and merit-based classification of food businesses through digital star rating.

She said that digitization has been promoted by reducing human intervention, checking system will be completely digital through automated inspection scheduling, adding there will be healthy competition in the food industry through star rating program

Lahore: The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) has intensified its enforcement campaign against tax defaulters across the province. During operations conducted in Lahore and other cities, three premises, including a hotel, were sealed for tax non-compliance.

PRA spokesperson told media here Friday that the action was taken after tax evasion was established and repeated violations of tax laws were detected. Additionally, dozens of food outlets and aesthetic clinics were issued notices for failing to use Point of Sale (POS) machines.

The spokesperson stated that failure to deposit taxes collected from the public into the government treasury in a timely manner constitutes a violation of the law.

He further emphasized that non-use of POS machines facilitates the concealment of sales records and contributes to tax fraud. To ensure transparency in tax collection through digital monitoring, the implementation and use of POS machines is mandatory across the province.

The public has also been advised to obtain only PRA-verified receipts bearing the official QR code after making payments to ensure that their transactions are properly recorded and verified.

Lahore: Punjab University’s Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS), in collaboration with the Government of the Punjab, CrossEdge, and Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO), organised a seminar to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons under the theme ‘Trapped Behind the Scam: Human Trafficking for Forced Criminality and Cyber-enabled Financial Fraud.’

PU VC Prof Dr Muhammad Ali, former Health Minister Punjab Dr. Saeed Elahi, Director ISCS Prof. Dr. Farhan Navid Yousaf, Additional Secretary Home and Focal Person TIP, Government of the Punjab Ayesha Mumtaz, representatives from government institutions, law enforcement agencies, civil society, media, legal fraternity, academia, and students were present.

The seminar’s aim to raise awareness about emerging forms of human trafficking and the growing exploitation of vulnerable individuals in forced criminality and cyber-enabled financial fraud. In his address, PU VC Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali emphasized the need for collective efforts involving educational institutions, government agencies, law enforcement, civil society, media, and the legal community to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable populations.

Dr Saeed Elahi followed by an interactive question-and-answer session with participants. Ayesha Mumtaz highlighted government initiatives and interventions to counter trafficking in persons.

Assistant Director Investigation, AHTC, FIA Syed Zain ul Abideen spoke on the nexus between trafficking in persons, forced criminality, and cyber-enabled financial fraud. CEO CrossEdge Barrister Haaris Ramzan emphasized the importance of prevention, protection and rehabilitation of trafficking victims.

Senior Analyst Salman Abid highlighted the crucial role of media in public awareness and responsible reporting on trafficking-related issues.

Finance Secretary Lahore High Court Bar Association Ali Raza Khokhar discussed trafficking as a human rights abuse and the role of the justice system in ensuring accountability and protecting victims.

Prof. Dr. Farhan Navid Yousaf underscored the importance of creating awareness among young people about emerging forms of exploitation, particularly those facilitated through digital platforms and deceptive online schemes.

He said that seminar provided an important platform for dialogue on the evolving nature of human trafficking and highlighted the need for stronger public awareness, institutional coordination, digital literacy, victim protection, and effective legal mechanisms to address forced criminality and cyber-enabled financial exploitation.

Lahore: Ahmed Usman Javed has officially assumed charge as the managing director (MD) of the Horticulture Agency Lahore.

He formally took over his responsibilities on Friday. A senior officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), Grade 19, he previously served as Additional Secretary in the Home Department Punjab.

Upon his arrival at the Horticulture Agency Lahore office, Javed was warmly received by the agency’s senior officers, who welcomed him and congratulated him on assuming his new responsibilities.