Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Lahore: City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) on Wednesday issued a public advisory urging motorists and commuters to exercise caution as the city experienced heavy rainfall under the fourth spell of the monsoon season.

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi advised motorists to drive at a safe speed, maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and avoid sudden braking on slippery roads.

He urged motorcyclists to wear helmets and refrain from unnecessary overtaking during rain to minimize the risk of accidents.

The CTO advised citizens to assess the depth of accumulated rainwater before attempting to cross flooded roads and avoid driving through submerged streets.

He also urged the public to stay away from electricity poles, transformers, feeders and other electrical installations during rain, and to immediately report fallen or damaged power lines to the relevant authorities.

Shirazi further advised citizens to avoid taking shelter near trees, weak walls, signboards and under-construction structures during adverse weather conditions.

He urged people to avoid unnecessary travel and check traffic conditions before leaving home.

The CTO said traffic wardens had been deployed at major roads, underpasses and low-lying areas to ensure smooth traffic flow and assist commuters. He also urged motorists to cooperate with WASA teams and traffic police at locations where rainwater had accumulated.

He said that observing simple safety precautions could help prevent accidents and save precious lives during the ongoing monsoon season.

Lahore: A delegation comprising water supply and sanitation experts from Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa undertook a learning exchange visit to the Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC).

The visit was organized in collaboration with AGAHE and Welthungerhilfe to promote the interprovincial exchange of innovative approaches and best practices.

The delegation included representatives from the Public Health Engineering Departments of Sindh and Balochistan, the Planning and Development Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, other government institutions working in water supply, sanitation and the WASH sector, and development partners.

Managing Director PMDFC, Syed Zahid Aziz, welcomed the delegation and briefed the participants on PMDFC’s ongoing initiatives for urban development, water supply and sanitation, institutional capacity building and improved municipal service delivery. He stated that such learning exchange visits play an important role in strengthening collaboration among provinces, promoting knowledge sharing and identifying sustainable solutions to challenges confronting the WASH sector.

Mudassir Javed, Director Planning and Evaluation, WASA Lahore, delivered a detailed briefing on WASA Lahore’s projects, institutional reforms and measures being undertaken to improve water supply and sanitation services for citizens. Mubarak Ali Sarwar, Chief Executive Officer of AGAHE, highlighted the objectives of the visit and the importance of strengthening interprovincial linkages in the WASH sector.

The delegation was also briefed on the projects, successful experiences and institutional reforms of the Pakistan Water Operators Network (P-WON), PMDFC and WASA Lahore. Special documentary highlighting the initiatives and achievements of PMDFC was also screened on the occasion.

Tahira Jabeen, National Coordinator P-WON; Umair Butt; Shahid Ibrahim; Ali Mufti; Amir Mahmood Shah, SPO GIS; and other officers also attended the meeting.

The participants appreciated the initiatives undertaken by PMDFC, PWON and WASA Lahore and emphasized the need to further promote the interprovincial exchange of experiences, technical expertise and replicable models.

Lahore: Lahore Divisional Commissioner Nauman Yousaf on Wednesday said 11 flood relief camps and 19 rescue camps had been established across the Lahore Division as authorities intensified rescue and rehabilitation efforts in flood-affected areas.

Sharing the latest situation report, he said 709 people had been evacuated to safe locations and relief camps across the division, including 636 people in Sheikhupura and 73 in Nankana Sahib. He added that no displaced persons were currently staying at relief camps in Lahore and Kasur.

The commissioner said a 250-bed field hospital had been made operational at the Muridke relief camp under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer (Health) to provide medical services to affected families.

During his visit to the Muridke relief camp, Nauman Yousaf distributed food among displaced residents and later inspected inundated areas by boat. He also reviewed the district administration’s ongoing embankment strengthening operations aimed at protecting vulnerable settlements. He expressed the administration’s commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of affected residents, saying rescue teams remained fully active despite damage to homes, crops and temporary settlements.

Lahore: Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) Chairman Moazzam Iqbal Sipra has directed strict enforcement against businesses failing to implement the Electronic Invoice Monitoring System (EIMS).

While chairing a meeting to review the Authority’s divisional performance in business registration, EIMS implementation and tax collection here Wednesday, the Chairman directed field officers to accelerate the campaign for the mandatory implementation of EIMS and intensify efforts to register new businesses and bring them into the tax net. He emphasised that broadening the tax base and ensuring compliance remain key priorities of the Authority.

The Chairman further directed that complaints regarding the issuance of fake, unauthorised or QR code-less invoices be addressed without delay and that heavy penalties be imposed on violators in accordance with the law. He warned that businesses involved in tax evasion or other violations of tax laws would remain under continuous monitoring.

He underscored that the promotion of digital tax systems is essential for enhancing transparency, improving taxpayer services and increasing provincial revenue. He stated that effective enforcement, coupled with digitalisation, is indispensable for strengthening tax administration and ensuring sustainable growth in tax collection.