Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

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Cold, partly cloudy weather forecast for Lahore

Lahore: Cold and partly cloudy conditions prevailed in the city on Wednesday, with the Meteorological Department forecasting similar weather for the next 24 hours.

The MET officials reported that a weather system was expected to enter western regions of the country later tonight, potentially affecting upper areas until January 6. Rain and snow are predicted for northern and western Balochistan, Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and adjacent hilly areas. Moderate to heavy rain or snow may occur in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the evening or night.

In addition, moderate to dense fog is likely to persist in most plains of Punjab and Upper Sindh. Other parts of the country are expected to experience cold and partly cloudy weather.

The lowest temperature on Wednesday was recorded in Skardu and Gupis at -9°C, while Lahore's minimum temperature was 6.6°C, with a maximum of 14°C.

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Benevolent fund board disbursed to applicants


Faisalabad: The district benevolent fund board disbursed an amount of Rs 83.5 million on 3,091 applications, including education scholarships, marriage and death grants.



According to official sources, a sum of Rs 29.5 million was transferred on 1,924 applications of education scholarships, Rs 35.3 million on 661 applications of marriage grant, and Rs 17.6 million on 506 applications of death grants.



The board meeting also approved 89 new cases of monthly aid.



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BISP beneficiaries to get increased Benazir Kafalat stipends in New Year


Islamabad: Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid Wednesday announced an increase in the quarterly installment under the Benazir Kafalat Programme from Rs. 10,500 to Rs. 13,500 with advent of the year.



The amount has been raised for providing much-needed financial relief to deserving women across Pakistan.



The announcement was made at a ceremony where Senator Rubina Khalid, along with Secretary Amir Ali Ahmed, Additional Secretary Dr. Tahir Noor, and other staff members, celebrated the New Year by cutting a cake.



Senator Rubina Khalid declared 2025 as the “Year of the Benazir Hunarmand Programme”, emphasizing the initiative’s potential to empower underprivileged individuals by equipping them with skills to earn a livelihood and achieve self-sufficiency.



‘This year, we are committed to continuing our work with honesty and dedication to serve the marginalized segments of society,’ said Senator Rubina Khalid during her New Year message.



The chairperson BISP extended her heartfelt New Year greetings to all citizens on behalf of the BISP team.



The Benazir Income Support Programme remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s social protection efforts, ensuring financial stability and skill development opportunities for the country’s most vulnerable communities.



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Punjab minister inaugurates revamped dispensary

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare, Khawaja Imran Nazir,

inaugurated a newly revamped urban dispensary on Bhogiwal Road on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, he announced that the new year would be marked with a renewed commitment to serving humanity. The minister lauded the completion of the dispensary's revamping within a mere three months and reiterated that, under the vision of Chief Minister, all urban dispensaries in Punjab would be revamped by the end of year. Khawaja Imran Nazir highlighted key developments in Punjab's healthcare infrastructure, including the near-completion of a state-of-the-art cancer hospital in Lahore, costing Rs 82 billion. He also mentioned the establishment of a second Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC-2) at Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, and a new cardiac center in Sargodha. Additionally, new dialysis machines are being provided to healthcare facilities across the province. The minister provided an update on the recruitment of healthcare professionals, stating that 3,500 doctors were hired duri ng the previous tenure, while 1,500 have been recruited so far in the current term. He revealed that by December 31, nearly 600 health facilities had been revamped, and 150 Basic Health Units were being upgraded into Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics. He assured that no doctor, nurse, or staff member would face unemployment, as they would be relocated to nearby facilities. He emphasized that these clinics would significantly enhance the healthcare system at the grassroots level. Local MPA Shoaib Siddiqui also attended the ceremony. The formal inauguration of dispensary was performed by Falah Ghaffar, the daughter of Union Council Chairman Abdul Ghaffar Chaudhry. During the event, the Provincial Health Minister inspected various sections of the dispensary, including the pharmacy, labor room, X-ray room, and ultrasound machine. CEO Health Dr Zohaib provided a detailed briefing on the revamping process. The dispensary now offers a range of services, including OPD, antenatal care (ANC), normal deliveries, nutrition counseling, and family planning. A documentary highlighting the improvements and showcasing the upgraded facilities was presented to attendees. The event concluded with enthusiastic support from the local community, who chanted slogans in favor of Maryam Nawaz, Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, and Khawaja Imran Nazir, while showering flower petals to express their appreciation for the upgraded healthcare facility.

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Public cooperation must for effective traffic management: DPO

Dera ismail khan: District Police Officer (DPO) Sajjad Ahmad Sahibzada on Wednesday said that the public cooperation was must for an effective traffic management system.

He stated this during a meeting with Traders, Transporters, and Qingqi Rickshaw Unions held here at Ejaz Shaheed Police Lines, Dera Ismail Khan which was attended by Superintendent of Police (SP) Headquarters Dera Muhammad Nawab Khan, other officials, members and office-bearers of various traders' organizations and rickshaw unions from across the district.

During the meeting, the participants shared their suggestions for controlling the increasing traffic congestion in the city.

The DPO was of the view that an effective traffic management system is not possible without public cooperation.

He instructed the relevant authorities to ensure that Qingqi rickshaws and street vendors operate within their designated routes and comply with traffic regulations.

He urged the rickshaw union representatives to enforce adherence to routes and traffic laws to ensure smooth traffic flow in the city.

The DPO also advised transporters to park their vehicles at their respective bus terminals and comply with traffic rules.

Furthermore, he called on the trader community to cooperate with traffic police by discouraging illegal stalls and improper parking in marketplaces.

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Punjab launches 7th agricultural census 2024


Lahore: Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, representing Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, inaugurated the field operations for the 7th Agricultural Census 2024 during a formal ceremony held at the Chief Minister’s House, here on Wednesday.



Speaking on the occasion, the minister announced the launch of the census in collaboration with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. He emphasized Punjab’s critical role in Pakistan’s agriculture, highlighting its 29.4 million acres of cultivated land. He noted that agriculture contributes 24% to Punjab’s GDP and provides livelihoods to millions of farmers. The census data will enable more effective utilization of agricultural resources and guide the formulation of policies to support farmers’ welfare and productivity improvements, he added.



‘This initiative is a milestone in Punjab’s journey towards agricultural modernization,’ said the minister, adding that the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, is fully committed to the success of this project and will extend all necessary support to achieve its objectives.



The ceremony also featured representatives from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and the Department of Agriculture. The Provincial Minister officially launched the field operations by activating the data collection device. Attendees commended the Punjab government for its forward-thinking initiative to enhance the agricultural sector and pledged their full support for the project’s success.



The census, titled “Integrated Digital Count,” marks a significant step towards leveraging digital technology to gather comprehensive data on Punjab’s agricultural resources. Utilizing the Geographic Information System (GIS), real-time monitoring will ensure accuracy and transparency in the data collection process.



This census, scheduled from January 1 to February 10, 2025, will focus on collecting data on agricultural lands, crops, livestock, and machinery. The innovative digital approach aims to modernize the agricultural sector, address existing challenges, and enhance policy-making for sustainable development.