Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

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: 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.

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: 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.

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Housing and Urban Development Bilal Yasin on Saturday directed the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) to maintain round-the-clock preparedness during the ongoing monsoon spell, warning that any delay in rainwater drainage would not be tolerated.

Chairing a video-link meeting to review monsoon preparedness across the province, the minister received briefings from Director General WASA Punjab Tayyab Farid and managing directors of WASA in different districts on operational readiness and contingency measures.

Bilal Yasin said monitoring of field operations would be further strengthened, adding that office staff would also oversee on-ground performance to ensure timely response during rainfall. He announced that wearing uniforms would be mandatory for all WASA personnel, while the performance of field staff would be monitored through a geo-location-based tracking system to improve accountability and efficiency.

The minister directed that desilting operations should continue without interruption and instructed the DG WASA to ensure the immediate deployment of additional workforce and machinery wherever required. He said that in case of any emergency, machinery from adjoining districts, along with resources from WASA Lahore, would be mobilised to provide operational support.

Bilal Yasin also instructed all WASA managing directors to assign dedicated staff for submitting regular reports on rainwater drainage in low-lying areas and the condition of manholes. He directed that all disposal stations, dewatering machinery, generators and special complaint cells should remain fully operational throughout the monsoon season.

The minister further emphasised the need for immediate coordination among all relevant departments to ensure a swift and effective response to any rain-related emergency.

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.