Partly cloudy, cold weather forecast for Lahore

Lahore: Partly cloudy and cold weather persisted in the city on Tuesday, while the MET Office forecast similar conditions for the next 24 hours.

According to MET officials, continental air continues to dominate most parts of the country. They predicted mainly cold and dry weather in most areas, with very cold conditions expected in hilly regions during the morning and night hours. Moderate to dense fog patches are likely to persist in northeastern Punjab, while shallow to moderate fog is expected in southern Punjab and upper Sindh during the same periods. Frost is anticipated in certain areas of Kashmir, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Pothohar region, and upper Punjab during the early morning hours.

Rainfall was reported in some cities across the country.

The minimum temperature recorded on Tuesday was -10°C in Leh, while Lahore experienced a low of 5.4°C and a high of 19.5°C.

IRSA releases 33,400 cusecs water

Islamabad: Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Tuesday released 33,400 cusecs water from various rim stations with inflow of 42,500 cusecs.

According to the data released by IRSA, water level in River Indus at Tarbela Dam was 1475.09 feet and was 77.09 feet higher than its dead level of 1,398 feet. Water inflow and outflow in the dam was recorded as 17,500 cusecs and 10,000 cusecs respectively.

The water level in River Jhelum at Mangla Dam was 1133.20 feet, which was 83.20 feet higher than its dead level of 1,050 feet. The inflow and outflow of water was recorded 5,600 cusecs and 4,000 cusecs respectively.

The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa , Guddu and Sukkur was recorded as 12,000, 12,300, 7,600 and 18,000 cusecs respectively. Similarly, from River Kabul, a total of 14,300 cusecs of water released at Nowshera and 5,100 cusecs released from River Chenab at Marala.

Inter-District Cricket Tournament to begins in Bhit Shah Tomorrow

Hyderabad: The Inter-District Matiari Cricket Tournament, organized by the department of sports and youth affairs will commence tomorrow, January 8, 2025, at Ali Waris Cricket Ground, Bhit Shah.

Assistant Commissioner Hala Dr. Mazhar Burero will inaugurate the tournament along with District Sports Officer Matiari Jaleel Ahmed Halepoto.

The opening match between Matiari Eleven and Bhit Shah Eleven will be played at 12:00 PM. On January 9, Hala Eleven will face Saeedabad Eleven. The winners of these matches will compete in the final on January 10.

According to a handout, the Deputy Commissioner Matiari Muhammad Yousif Shaikh will be the chief guest for the final match and will distribute prizes among the winning team and standout performers. The tournament will be played under the ICC rules.

Uzbekistan’s Culture, a key tool for preserving national identity: Uzbek Minister

Islamabad: Minister of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ozodbek Nazarbekov has said that culture and art are the foundation of civilization, national identity, and spiritual perfection, as well as important indicators of a country's progress. The development of these spheres, reflecting the spiritual growth of the people, their past, present, and future, requires an approach that meets the demands of the times, the minister said in a statement issued by the embassy of Uzbekistan in Islamabad here on Tuesday.

This is why the reforms aimed at the development of culture and art in Uzbekistan carry profound meaning and are entering a new phase, he said.

The Minister said the words of the President of Uzbekistan Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev: 'In these troubled times, it is increasingly difficult to preserve intrinsic and humanistic values.

In such a challenging situation, true art, music, and literature, which originate from sacred sources and celebrate the ideals of humanism, must emerge as a life-affirming force, bringing peace and goodness to people, transcending the boundaries of time and space' serve as the guiding principle for current processes, he said.

He said the Preserving national art, educating the younger generation through its beauty, and strengthening culture as an integral part of social life are considered essential elements of our country's development.

He said the development of education in the field of culture and art plays a crucial role not only in improving the professional training system but also in ensuring the spiritual harmony of society.

The minister said that modern and innovative teaching methods are being implemented to familiarize young people with the best achievements of national and global culture, fostering respect for their history and art.

Ozodbek Nazarbekov said the tasks of the day include the use of credit-modular systems, the introduction of programs aligned with international standards, and enriching industry specialists with international experience.

He said that preserving the rich cultural heritage left by our ancestors and passing it on to future generations through modern technologies is of great importance for maintaining national identity and showcasing it to the world.

In this context, efforts to digitize cultural heritage objects, expand their scientific study, and enhance their popularization are becoming key areas of international cooperation, he said.

Cultural minister said the national art schools of Uzbekistan and the tradition of 'Ustoz-Shogird' (Master-Apprentice) play a unique role in ensuring harmony between national and contemporary culture. All necessary measures are being taken to create a bright future for the arts in our country, including identifying and supporting young talents.

He said the development of culture and art is reflected in all areas of public life. Every step in this direction represents a commitment to the spiritual growth of our people, respect for national values, and showcasing New Uzbekistan to the world.

In today's process of globalization, the lifestyle, customs, and values of the world's peoples are becoming closer, but at the same time, the struggle to preserve their national identity is intensifying. Under such conditions, culture becomes a powerful tool allowing nations to demonstrate their uniqueness.

He said in the context of globalization, national cultures, on one hand, open new opportunities on the global stage due to their distinctive appeal, while on the other hand, face the necessity of preserving themselves under the pressures of modernity.

The minister said that Culture is not only the spiritual face of a nation but also a wealth that can be gifted to the entire global community. Therefore, in this process, the preservation and development of national culture, its promotion on the international stage, and its popularization through modern technologies gain paramount importance.

In concluding remarks, he said careful preservation of ancestral heritage and its harmonious integration with modern ideas is not only a necessity but also a high goal. Utilizing the positive aspects of this process, showcasing the unique features of Uzbek culture on the global stage becomes an important criterion for the nation's progress.

Rwp Police Khidmat Centers facilitate 176,337 citizens during 2024

Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi District Police Khidmat centers facilitated 176,337 citizens during 2024 with different services relating to issuance of character certificate, registration of tenants and house servants, general police verification, report of missing persons and items, said a police spokesman.

He informed that Rawalpindi district police are taking all possible measures to provide maximum facilitate to the citizens.

13 Khidmat centers including state-of-the-art Khidmat center, Liaquat Bagh are functioning in Rawalpindi.

Positive feedback from the citizens regarding the facilities of Khidmat centers was given and the citizens appreciated the services.

61,704 people obtained police character certificates from Rawalpindi Khidmat centers in 2024 while 60,614 citizens availed general police verification facilities.

The spokesman further said that 6,442 people obtained new driving licenses from Khidmat centers and 9,720 citizens obtained learner driving licenses from Khidmat centers of Rawalpindi.

8,932 people renewed learner driving licenses and 1600 citizens got copies of the FIRs while 745 people filed missing person reports.

633 citizens received their tenancy and employee registration certificates at different Marakaz and 177 people got duplicate driving licenses, he said adding, 355 applicants got international driving licenses while 96 citizens got their licenses renewed which were issued from other districts.

According to the vision of Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Inspector General of Police, Punjab, the best facilities are being ensured from Khidmat centers for the convenience of the citizens, he said.

City Police Officer, Rawalpindi, Syed Khalid Hamdani said that best service delivery is top priority of Rawalpindi district police and the authorities concerned have been directed to ensure provision of best possible facilities at Khidmat centers along with police stations.

SCBAP stands with parliament, independence of judiciary, says President Mian Atta

Islamabad: President, Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP) Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta has expressed his confidence in the Constitutional Bench and the Supreme Court of Pakistan and said that SCBAP has always been at the forefront of upholding the rule of law and independence of the institutions, including the Parliament.

In a written statement issued here today, the President SCBA said that support for the 26th Constitutional Amendment stems from two main considerations. First, it represents the collective will of the Parliament. Secondly, it has effectively curtailed the judicial overreach and strengthened the very principle of the separation of powers for all times to come. Instead of being skeptical of the collective will of the Parliament, we must recognize and acknowledge that only the Parliament is competent to amend the Constitution. This power has been exercised lawfully, and we must respect this fact, he said.

He said over the years, we have seen the judiciary, often overstepping its mandate, wasting valuable resources and energies on prolonged political matters, deciding them on the basis of personal preferences and became a tool of disruption to smooth governance. We believe that the 26th amendment has made the judiciary more independent than ever and has enhanced the accessibility of justice for ordinary citizens/litigants.

The subject letter incorrectly claims that the 26th amendment has made the executive 'Master of the Roaster". It further falsely referred the Constitutional Bench as 'executive-dominated' bench. The present composition of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) is by far, the finest formation, comprising of equal and balanced representation of the democratic, political (treasury and opposition) and legal minds. Today's JCP ensures that each member is master of his or her own conscience. We have full confidence in the current composition of the JCP, the formation of Constitutional Benches, and its functioning.

We want to emphasize that the Constitutional Bench is fully operational and functioning at its highest capacity. Any matters related to the 26th amendment now fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Bench. No one should compel the Court to call a Full Court. Any such convening under political duress will have no relevance and shall not be accepted by the legal fraternity.

We strongly disapprove writing of such letters by few individuals as their viewpoints have already been rejected by the legal community. They should refrain from creating divisions within the legal community. Any future attempts to do so will be met with a firm response.