Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Lahore: The City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) on Saturday announced a comprehensive traffic management plan for the three-day 983rd annual Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh Ali Hajveri (RA), deploying more than 900 traffic wardens and imposing diversions around Data Darbar to facilitate devotees and ensure smooth traffic flow.

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO), Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi said the arrangements would be supervised by SSP City Zone Maqsood Loon, with five DSPs, 111 traffic inspectors and over 900 wardens deployed across the city. Fifteen forklifts and four breakdown vehicles have also been stationed at key points to prevent congestion caused by illegal parking while five designated parking stands have been established for visitors.

The CTO said several roads surrounding Data Darbar would remain closed due to security arrangements.

These include routes from Kachehri Chowk, Bhati Chowk and Pir Makki towards the shrine while Lower Mall Road from District Courts Chowk to the Pir Makki U-turn will remain closed to all traffic.

Under the diversion plan, traffic from Shahdara heading towards Lower Mall will be redirected via Azadi Chowk to the Railway Station while vehicles from Shahdara will also be diverted through Niazi Shaheed Chowk towards Bund Road and Saggian.

Motorists approaching Lower Mall from Chouburji Chowk will be diverted through MAO College.

Traffic from the Inner Circular Road will be allowed to travel via Mori Gate, Urdu Bazaar and Kachehri Road. However, entry to Lower Mall will remain restricted from District Courts Chowk, the DIG Operations Office corner, Government College University gate, Rattigan Chowk, Bilal Ganj Chowk, Beri Wala Chowk, Mori Gate, Taxali Chowk and Azadi Chowk.

Commuters travelling from Shahdara to Upper Mall have been advised to use the Railway Station and Press Club route while those travelling from Chouburji and PMG Chowk towards Ravi Road should use the Saggian Ring Road as an alternative.

Special arrangements have also been made for milk supply vehicles, handcarts and rickshaws which will be allowed access to Sabeels through Azadi Flyover and Pir Makki in accordance with the traffic plan.

CTO Shirazi said traffic updates and alternative routes would be shared through the Rasta FM radio service and the Rasta mobile application.

He urged citizens to follow traffic advisories and contact Police Helpline 15 for assistance during the Urs.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has congratulated Pakistan’s first woman boxer, Fatima Zahra, on winning a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games, describing the achievement as a proud moment for the nation.

In her message, the chief minister felicitated Fatima Zahra for becoming the first Pakistani woman boxer to secure a medal at the Commonwealth Games, saying that her success had brought honour to the country and inspired young female athletes.

Expressing happiness over the achievement, Maryam Nawaz said it was encouraging to see Pakistan’s daughters advancing and proving their talent at the international level. She added that Fatima Zahra’s accomplishment would serve as a source of motivation for aspiring sportswomen across the country.

The chief minister praised the boxer’s dedication, hard work and determination, and expressed hope that Pakistani athletes would continue to earn laurels for the country in international competitions.

Lahore: Secretary Provincial Transport Authority Hasan Ahsan has issued new orders to protect travel rights of special people across Punjab and provide them with better travel facilities. All regional transport authorities have been directed to ensure strict implementation of the prescribed facilities for special people and provide special concessions in fares to disabled people in public transport. Instructions have also been issued to immediately provide the prescribed concessions to persons holding disability cards.

According to the orders, public transport will be made more accessible for special people, while the availability of ramps and special seats at all bus stands has been made mandatory. Along with this, an awareness campaign will also be launched at bus stands regarding the rights of special needs persons and the facilities available so that the public and transport staff are fully aware of these facilities.

The Provincial Transport Authority has also decided to continuously monitor the performance of transport operators. According to the authorities, indiscriminate legal action will be taken against transporters who do not provide the prescribed facilities and concessions in fares to special needs persons.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the death of eight mountaineers after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Skardu. The chief minister prayed for the safe recovery of the missing mountaineers and extended her heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families.

Lahore: In view of the fourth spell of monsoon, a special alert has been issued to all districts including WASA Punjab. A detailed review of the arrangements to deal with the rains was taken in a video link meeting chaired by Minister for Housing and Urban Development Bilal Yasin, in which

DG WASA Punjab Tayyab Farid and MDs of various districts briefed on the preparations and performance.

It was decided in the meeting that now not only field operations but also office staff will directly monitor drainage and other activities. Wearing uniforms has been made mandatory for all WASA field employees, while their presence and performance will be monitored through a geo-location system.

The minister directed that the de-silting (cleaning of drains) process will not stop under any circumstances,

while the DG WASA was directed to take immediate steps to ensure the provision of additional staff and machinery. He said that in any emergency, the machinery of the adjoining districts and WASA Lahore will provide full support to other districts.

Bilal Yasin directed all MDs to submit regular reports on the drainage of low-lying areas, the status of manholes and field operations. All disposal stations, de-watering machinery, generators and special complaint cells were also directed to be kept fully functional.

The minister clarified that no delay in drainage will be tolerated during rains, while in case of emergency, immediate communication and joint action should be ensured between all relevant institutions so that timely relief can be provided to the citizens.

Lahore: The 116th birth anniversary of renowned Urdu poet Noon Meem Rashid was observed on Saturday, with writers, academics and admirers paying glowing tribute to one of the pioneers of modern Urdu poetry.

Born as Nazar Muhammad Rashid on August 1, 1910, Rashid revolutionized Urdu literature by introducing Azad Nazm (free verse), breaking away from conventional poetic traditions and paving the way for new forms of creative expression.

Rashid’s celebrated collections, including Mavra, Iran Mein Ajnabi, La Insaan and Gumaan Ka Mumkin, are considered milestones of modern Urdu literature. On the occasion of his birth anniversary, literary organizations, scholars and poetry enthusiasts acknowledged his contribution to Urdu literature and praised his lasting influence on successive generations of writers.