Category: Lahore

Lahore: As part of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) quarterly training programme, 42 newly-appointed Assistant Election Commissioners (AECs) and Research Associates (RAs) participated in a one-day orientation and a study visit at the Office of the Provincial Election Commissioner, Punjab.

Director General Training Nighat Siddique, along with other senior officials from the ECP headquarters in Islamabad, also attended the programme.

Provincial Election Commissioner Punjab Sharif Ullah welcomed the participants and delivered a comprehensive briefing on the organisational structure of the ECP in Punjab, preparation and revision of electoral rolls, delimitation for local government elections, voter awareness programmes, the complaint redressal mechanism, and the responsibilities of various wings of the provincial office.

The participants also visited the Central Police Office (CPO), Lahore, where Additional Inspector General (Operations) Sarfraz Virk briefed them on law and order and security arrangements during elections. They were also given a tour of the modern Election Control Room established at the CPO.

Later, the officers visited the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), where its founder, Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, briefed the participants on the organisation’s role in promoting and strengthening democracy in Pakistan.

At the conclusion of the programme, ECP Director General Training Nighat Siddique thanked Provincial Election Commissioner Sharif Ullah, the Punjab Police and Ahmed Bilal Mehboob for facilitating the orientation and study visits.

Lahore: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA),Lahore arrested three suspects allegedly involved in an organised network engaged in the illegal acquisition and sale of citizens’ sensitive telecommunications data, including Call Detail Records (CDRs),SIM ownership information,family registration records,location data and other confidential information.

According to officials,the suspects had allegedly been obtaining citizens’ confidential data through unlawful means and selling it for commercial purposes,posing a serious threat to individuals’ privacy,digital security and national interests.

The action was taken after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Lahore lodged a complaint,following which the NCCIA registered FIR No.146/2026 and launched an investigation.

During the investigation,the agency arrested three suspects identified as Muhammad Saghir,Muhammad Ashfaq and Malik Saddham.

Preliminary findings revealed that they were allegedly operating an organised network to illegally obtain and sell citizens’ CDRs,SIM registration and other sensitive information.

During the operation,the NCCIA recovered 14 mobile phones,a laptop,a tablet,38 SIM cards,10 internet devices, nine Biometric Verification System (BVS) devices,seven fingerprint scanners,three Bluetooth fingerprint scanners,three card readers,11 memory cards,nine USB drives,eight hard disks and RAM modules, and hard copies of 60 fingerprints from the suspects’ possession.

Punjab NCCIA Director Operations Muhammad Ali Wasim said indiscriminate action against individuals involved in the illegal trade of citizens’ personal and sensitive data would continue, adding that all those involved in organized cybercrime would be brought to justice in accordance with the law.

he National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on Friday arrested three suspects allegedly running an organized network involved in the illegal acquisition and sale of citizens’ sensitive telecommunications data.

According to agency officials, the suspects had been obtaining confidential data through unlawful means and selling it for commercial purposes, posing a serious threat to individual privacy, digital security, and national interests. The compromised data included Call Detail Records (CDRs), SIM ownership information, family registration records, and location data.

The action was taken after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Lahore lodged a formal complaint, prompting the NCCIA to register FIR No. 146/2026 and launch a thorough investigation.

During the operation, the agency apprehended three key suspects identified as Muhammad Saghir,Muhammad Ashfaq and Malik Saddham. Preliminary findings revealed that the trio was actively operating an organized network to illicitly trade citizens’ private records.

The NCCIA team also recovered a large cache of digital and biometric equipment from the possession of the suspects. The seized items included 14 mobile phones, a laptop, a tablet, 38 SIM cards, 10 internet devices, nine Biometric Verification System (BVS) devices, seven fingerprint scanners, three Bluetooth fingerprint scanners, three card readers, 11 memory cards, nine USB drives, eight hard disks and RAM modules, alongside hard copies of 60 fingerprints.

Punjab NCCIA Director Operations Muhammad Ali Wasim said that indiscriminate action against individuals involved in the illegal trade of citizens’ personal and sensitive data would continue. He reiterated that all those involved in organized cybercrime would be brought to justice in strict accordance with the law.

Lahore: On the special instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has intensified emergency measures across the province to deal with the heat wave and severe fog situation.

According to the PDMA, there is a possibility of an increase in the intensity of heat wave and fog due to climate change, while the heat wave is predicted to continue during July. The districts of Thal, Cholistan and South Punjab have been included in the most affected areas.

A PDMA spokesperson said that on the instructions of the Punjab Chief Minister, heat wave camps have been established in the potentially affected districts, while the availability of heat wave counters, essential medicines, ORS, cold water and medical staff is being ensured in hospitals.

According to the PDMA, relief camps, clean water, filtration plants, water bowls and first aid facilities are being provided in urban areas, while mobile health teams will remain active to provide immediate medical assistance to heatstroke and dehydration patients.

The spokesperson said that 24-hour control rooms are active to provide timely awareness to the public and all district control rooms have been put on high alert to ensure immediate response in any emergency.

The Meteorological Department, Rescue 1122, Livestock, Local Government and District Administration are in constant touch and are keeping a close watch on the situation.

The PDMA has appealed to citizens not to step out of their homes unnecessarily from 10 am to 4 pm, drink plenty of water, take sun protection measures and immediately consult the nearest hospital if symptoms of heatstroke appear.

Lahore: The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC), in collaboration with the Institute of Public Health (IPH), on Friday organised an orientation session for the Post-Graduate College of Nursing on the regulatory framework, Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) and the vital role of nurses in ensuring patient safety.

Held at the IPH, the session was part of PHC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of healthcare professionals through advocacy and orientation programmes focused on regulatory compliance, quality assurance and patient safety. More than 100 participants, including nursing faculty, professionals and students, attended the event.

Dean IPH Prof. Dr. Saira Afzal highlighted the pivotal role of nurses in strengthening the healthcare system and stressed the need for sustained efforts to overcome the shortage of nursing professionals, improve working conditions and invest in their professional development to ensure the delivery of safe and high-quality healthcare services.

Addressing the participants, PHC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Muhammad Saqib Aziz said nurses are at the forefront of patient care and play a critical role in preventing medical errors, reducing healthcare-associated infections and lowering patient morbidity and mortality. He said the consistent delivery of quality healthcare improves patient outcomes and enhances public trust in healthcare institutions.

Referring to examples of substandard practices despite existing regulations, Dr. Aziz stressed the need to strengthen accountability and promote a culture of responsibility to improve patient safety and healthcare quality. He encouraged nurses to pursue continuous learning, maintain professional excellence and embrace shared responsibility, adding that sustained improvements in healthcare standards benefit patients, healthcare professionals and the wider community. He also responded to participants’ questions during an interactive session.

Earlier, PHC Director Clinical Governance Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed delivered a presentation on the Commission’s regulatory framework, outlining its legislative mandate, regulatory responsibilities, licensing criteria, Minimum Service Delivery Standards and quality assurance mechanisms aimed at improving healthcare service delivery. He particularly emphasised the central role of nurses in implementing MSDS and promoting patient safety through compliance with regulatory standards.

Principal of the Post-Graduate College of Nursing Razia Shafique appreciated the continued collaboration between PHC and IPH in strengthening nursing education and professional development. She acknowledged the Commission’s efforts to promote regulatory awareness, patient safety and quality healthcare practices among nursing professionals and students through its advocacy initiatives.

Lahore: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday intensified passenger screening at Lahore International Airport, intercepting a passenger carrying a passport bearing fake immigration stamps and arresting another suspect wanted in a separate case.

According to an FIA spokesperson, passenger Sohrab Khan, who was travelling to Colombo on SriLankan Airlines flight UL-154, was found suspicious during immigration clearance. A detailed examination revealed fake immigration stamps on his Pakistani passport.

The suspect was handed over to the FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle, Lahore, for further investigation and legal action.

In another operation, the FIA arrested a wanted suspect, identified as Abdul Wakeel Khan, upon his arrival from Dubai on flight 9P-503.

During immigration clearance, his name was found on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL). The suspect had been wanted by the FIA Gujranwala since 2025 and was handed over to the relevant authorities for further legal proceedings, the spokesperson added.

Lahore: An anti-Corruption court (ACC) on Friday adjourned until July 25 the hearing of a corruption reference against former Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan and other accused over alleged irregularities in the award of Mines and Minerals contracts.

Judge Muhammad Jameel also sought arguments on Sibtain Khan’s plea for a fresh investigation and on the acquittal application, filed by co-accused and former Planning and Development Board Chairman Salman Ghani.

During the hearing, Sibtain Khan and other accused appeared before the court to attend the trial proceedings.

Salman Ghani’s counsel did not appear to argue the acquittal application, prompting the co-accused to seek more time. The court adjourned the proceedings until July 25 and directed counsel to complete arguments at the next hearing

Sibtain Khan is accused of awarding Mines and Minerals contracts to favoured individuals during his tenure as Punjab Minister for Mines and Minerals during PML-Q government. Other co-accused include former Mines and Minerals Secretary Imtiaz Ahmed Cheema, former Planning and Development Board Chairman Salman Ghani, and Punjab Chief Inspector of Mines Abdul Sattar.