Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Lahore: Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) Commissioner Zulfiqar Ali Kharal on Wednesday reviewed the recovery performance of several Social Security directorates and directed officers to ensure timely achievement of assigned targets through enhanced monitoring and field inspections.

Chairing a meeting at the PESSI head office here, the commissioner reviewed the performance of the Social Security Directorates of Lahore (City), Sheikhupura, Faisalabad (North), Gujrat and Sialkot.

The directors concerned briefed the meeting on recovery targets, progress under the Maryam Nawaz Ration Card Programme and ongoing field operations.

Following an individual performance review of each directorate, Kharal directed the officers to adopt effective measures to complete recovery targets within the stipulated timeframe. He also ordered further strengthening of field monitoring and expediting inspections to improve compliance and performance.

The commissioner stressed that all officers should take practical steps to improve administrative efficiency and ensure the achievement of assigned recovery goals.

Warning that negligence in meeting recovery targets would not be tolerated, Kharal urged all directorates to further improve their performance through effective field operations and continuous monitoring.

Lahore: Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Ejaz on Wednesday visited Nishtar Tehsil to review cleanliness arrangements, desilting operations and overall administrative affairs. He directed the authorities concerned to immediately clear all garbage points and ensure prompt drainage of stagnant rainwater from low-lying areas.

During the visit, the DC inspected Gajju Mata, Halloki and adjoining localities to assess the ongoing sanitation campaign and post-rain response measures.

Chief Officer MCL Kaleem Yousaf, Assistant Commissioner Nishtar Muhammad Saleem Asi, representatives of allied departments and concerned officials of WASA accompanied him.

The DC was briefed by the Assistant Commissioner Nishtar and WASA’s Deputy Managing Director on the progress of cleanliness operations, desilting activities and administrative measures being undertaken across the tehsil.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the presence of stagnant water and waste at various locations, Muhammad Ali Ejaz directed the authorities to ensure the immediate drainage of all water ponds in Nishtar areas and remove every garbage accumulation point on an emergency basis.

He further instructed field officers to remain present on the ground and personally monitor cleanliness and desilting operations to ensure timely completion of the assigned tasks. The DC also directed all relevant departments to work in close coordination for improving administrative performance and delivering better civic services to the public. ‘The district administration is committed to ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness in every area of Lahore,’ he said, adding that he was personally monitoring all development and administrative projects to facilitate citizens and improve public service delivery.

Lahore: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol has urged the federal government, the Ministry of Interior, and relevant authorities to take practical steps to further improve passenger facilities, traffic flow, and administrative arrangements at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore.

He, however, appreciated the efforts of the Federal Interior Minister and the airport administration, saying that significant improvements have been made over the past few years in airport management, security systems, and passenger services. These improvements have benefited citizens and helped project a positive image of Pakistan.

He said in a media statement here Wednesday that the increasing number of international flights, especially between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., has led to heavy congestion in the airport’s departure area. Under the current situation, there is only one drop-off lane, which causes passengers to face long delays. This not only wastes time but also increases the risk of passengers missing their flights.

The LCCI President suggested the construction of additional drop-off lanes on the departure road to improve traffic flow and ensure that passengers can reach the airport terminal on time. He noted that major airports in developed countries successfully operate with two or three drop-off lanes, which significantly reduces traffic congestion.

Saigol also emphasized the need for further improvements in the parking system. He suggested introducing a limited-time parking policy in the departure area. Under this system, vehicles would be issued a token upon entry, and a penalty would be imposed if they remain parked beyond the allowed time. According to him, this measure would discourage unnecessary parking, improve traffic flow, and increase government revenue.

Regarding security arrangements, he appreciated the services of the Airport Security Force and other relevant agencies, stating that passenger safety should remain the top priority. However, he suggested that vehicles requiring detailed inspection should be moved to a designated inspection area separate from the main queue. This would help maintain security standards while preventing unnecessary delays for other passengers.

The LCCI President said that an airport creates the first impression of any country. Tourists, investors, business visitors, and overseas Pakistanis form their initial opinion about the country based on the airport’s facilities and management. Therefore, establishing a modern, organized, and passenger-friendly airport is of national importance.

He expressed hope that the relevant authorities would seriously consider these proposals so that the performance of Lahore Airport can be further improved, passengers and airport staff can enjoy greater convenience, and Pakistan’s international image can be strengthened further.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday approved the construction of 800 additional mini dams in the Potohar region over the next three years to enhance rainwater harvesting and strengthen the province’s long-term water conservation strategy.

Chairing a meeting on the Transformation of Agriculture and Water Management, here on Wednesday, the CM reviewed progress on water conservation and groundwater management. She was informed that 110 mini dams had already been completed across Punjab under the government’s water preservation initiative.

CM Maryam Nawaz directed the authorities to prepare a comprehensive plan for developing surface water bodies to maximise rainwater storage and called for further strengthening of the legal framework governing groundwater management.

The meeting decided to deploy dedicated human resources for water conservation and monitoring, while the agriculture, irrigation, housing and local government departments were directed to work in close coordination to promote efficient water management across the province.

The CM approved the construction of 800 new mini dams in Potohar, which were expected to create storage capacity of 32,000 acre-feet of rainwater over the next three years.

Reviewing agricultural support measures, the meeting also decided to provide 1,000 laser land levellers to farmers at a 50 per cent subsidy during the current financial year to improve land productivity and water-use efficiency.

Photographic evidence of recently completed mini dams in Attock, Talagang, Gujar Khan and Rawalpindi was presented during the meeting.

Addressing participants, the CM said prosperous nations were those that valued and protected every drop of water, stressing that water conservation was essential for ensuring food security and sustainable agricultural growth.

Officials informed the meeting that a comprehensive strategy had been prepared to reduce 30 per cent water losses during conveyance and 25 per cent losses during on-farm use across Punjab.

The briefing further revealed that lining of 2,600 watercourses covering 7,000 kilometres had been completed, resulting in 20 per cent water savings. Over the next three years, another 4,500 watercourses, spanning 11,500 kilometres, would be rehabilitated and lined.

The meeting was informed that the adoption of high-efficiency irrigation systems had already saved 18,000 acre-feet of water while increasing crop yields by 50 per cent. An additional 30,000 acres would be brought under modern drip and sprinkler irrigation systems during the next three years.

Officials also informed the chief minister that 100 groundwater recharge wells were already operational in the Gujranwala, Gujrat and Lahore divisions, while another 300 wells were nearing completion.

Lahore: Pakistan should make energy security its foremost national priority by seeking US guarantees for uninterrupted and affordable gas imports from Iran, provided Washington and Tehran resolve tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, said prominent Pakistani-American entrepreneur Mossadaq Chughtai in a media statement here Tuesday.

He added, “To break free from energy insecurity, Islamabad must pursue a single-point agenda: secure a US-led international exception for gas imports under the Iran-Pakistan pipeline.”Chughtai, an investor in advanced technologies and agricultural projects, argued that expediting the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline represents the most practical path toward reducing Pakistan’s chronic energy shortages and stabilizing its economy.

Pakistan’s recent diplomatic engagement, he said, should now translate into tangible economic gains with energy security serving as the foundation for long-term growth. While acknowledging the importance of diversifying energy sources, Chughtai said Pakistan should prioritize the most affordable option available – Iranian natural gas.

“The Middle East is likely to remain in prolonged turmoil, with no major power willing to compromise. Stability, let alone business as usual, remains a distant prospect. Even if the region stabilizes, energy producers will increase output to recover losses, but Iran is expected to remain among the most competitive suppliers due to its large production capacity and established international buyers,” he observed.

Mossadaq Chughtai, Vice Chairman of KiNRG, a US-based energy company that recently acquired a data-center construction firm to expand its integrated energy solutions business, said Pakistan had been presented with a rare opportunity. “I believe Pakistan has been presented with a rare opportunity that could take the country to unprecedented levels of economic growth, beyond anything in its modern history,” he viewed.

He identified the proposed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, entering through the Gabd-Kumb Border Crossing, as the country’s most significant strategic energy project, noting that the pipeline had already been completed on the Iranian side of the border.

“If there is one strategic initiative Pakistan should pursue, it is the proposed gas pipeline from Iran, entering through the Gabd-Kumb Border Crossing,” Chughtai said. The project has the potential to transform Pakistan’s economy, provided it was implemented with strategic foresight and long-term discipline.

Chughtai proposed that Pakistan seek a non-revocable 50-year US sanctions waiver to ensure uninterrupted gas imports from Iran. He also called for a long-term pricing agreement with Tehran, suggesting a gas price capped at USD 2.25 per MMBtu, with a maximum ceiling of USD 5.00 per MMBtu over the 50-year period.

He further recommended establishing a domestic pricing framework that would limit consumer and industrial gas tariffs to no more than 10 percent above the government’s procurement cost. Such a policy, he argued, would improve the competitiveness of Pakistani manufacturers and exporters in global markets.

“If executed effectively, such a framework could fundamentally reshape Pakistan’s economic trajectory by accelerating manufacturing growth, attracting mid to large scale investment, and increasing exports to levels comparable to Vietnam’s within five to ten years,” Chughtai said.

He projected that the strategy could create more than 11 million jobs, broaden the tax base, support sustained GDP growth, and deliver long-term economic prosperity.

“Now is the time for Pakistan to open a dialogue with the White House to secure reliable energy supplies capable of meeting the country’s growing development needs in an evolving regional environment filled with both opportunities and challenges,” he concluded.