Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Lahore: On the instructions of Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, the Department of Punjab Wildlife Conservation and Parks is carrying out a crackdown to protect protected wild animals and birds across the province.

In this regard, wildlife teams raided a private breeding farm in Soye Asal area of Lahore and safely recovered a young leopard cub that was kept illegally.

The rescued leopard has been shifted to Safari Zoo Raiwind Road for special care and an FIR has been registered against the accused at Kahna Police Station.

In other operations, Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Sialkot arrested the accused involved in illegal trade of singing parrots and recovered 5 parrots. They were later released in the natural environment. Similarly, 2 illegal quail knitting gears have been recovered from the Saifan area in Vehari and legal action has been initiated.

Lahore: Punjab Home Department on Friday said that 139,902 illegally residing Afghan nationals had been repatriated from the province as part of the government’s ongoing drive against illegal foreign nationals.

According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Home Department, the Foreign National Security Cell continued to coordinate and monitor the repatriation campaign across the province in line with the federal government’s policy.

The spokesperson said around 2.66 million Afghan nationals had so far been repatriated from Pakistan, including 139,902 from Punjab.

He said illegally residing Afghan nationals were being apprehended and shifted to holding centers, where temporary accommodation, registration, and documentation formalities were completed before their repatriation through the Torkham border crossing.

Currently, 39 holding centers are operational across the province, where 284 Afghan nationals are being housed. They will be repatriated after the completion of the required procedures, the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson said that, under the government’s policy, the stay of Afghan nationals in Pakistan without a valid visa was illegal. He added that inspections had been carried out in residential areas and markets across the province as part of the ongoing crackdown.

He urged citizens to report the illegal stay of Afghan nationals, identity fraud or any suspicious activity by calling the Police Emergency Helpline 15, assuring that the identity of informants would be kept confidential.

The spokesperson clarified that the ongoing action was being taken only against illegally residing foreign nationals, while the Punjab Home Department’s Foreign National Security Cell continued to oversee and coordinate the repatriation process across the province.

Lahore: On the directions of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Provincial Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee for Disaster Management Khawaja Salman Rafique, along with Director General Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Saif Anwar Jappa, paid a detailed visit to the flood-affected areas of Muridke on Friday to review ongoing rescue and relief operations.

During the visit, the provincial minister inspected a flood relief camp and reviewed measures being taken for the rehabilitation and assistance of affected families. Teams of the Punjab Health Department and Suthra Punjab were actively engaged in relief work across the affected areas.

Speaking on the occasion, Khawaja Salman Rafique said relief activities were continuing at full pace in the flood-hit areas. He said Federal Minister Rana Tanveer and PML-N leader Ashraf Rasool were also actively present in the field and maintaining close coordination to ensure effective relief efforts.

He said cabinet members, commissioners and deputy commissioners were personally visiting Muridke, Pathan Colony, Ferozewala and adjoining areas to monitor rescue and relief operations. He added that ready-to-eat food was being delivered to citizens at their doorsteps in the affected localities.

The minister said flood relief camps and medical camps had been established to facilitate affected people, while ration bags were being distributed among flood-hit families. He added that green fodder, todi and vanda were also being provided for livestock to support farmers.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said all essential medicines and basic facilities had been ensured at the relief camps. He reaffirmed that the government was making every effort to provide uninterrupted food supplies, clean drinking water, healthcare services and other essential facilities to flood victims.

He said the district administration, Rescue 1122 and all relevant departments remained fully active in the field, adding that all institutions were on high alert and relief operations were continuing without interruption in the affected areas.