Category: Lahore

Lahore: Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique on Saturday reaffirmed the Punjab government’s commitment to continuing the journey of development and public prosperity, stating that no compromise would be made on the quality of development projects and that their implementation was being closely monitored.

Chairing a meeting at the office of WASA Managing Director, the minister reviewed the progress of various ongoing development schemes in PP-153. Key projects discussed included the Harbanspura to Phatak Saddar Cantt trunk sewerage project worth Rs4.5 billion, installation of tube wells in Amna Park of UC-148, and multiple schemes for street rehabilitation, sewerage improvement, and provision of clean drinking water.

The meeting was attended by WASA MD Ghufran Ahmed, Syed Ikhlas Shah, Abdul Wahab and other officials. During the session, the minister appreciated the performance of the concerned officers for ensuring steady progress on development works.

Officials informed the meeting that hundreds of streets in PP-153 had already been repaired, while work on several other development schemes was progressing rapidly. Upon completion, these projects are expected to provide improved civic facilities to millions of residents.

Salman Rafique said addressing public issues remained the government’s foremost priority and emphasized that transparent monitoring of development projects would continue to ensure quality and timely completion.

He directed the authorities to complete all ongoing projects within the stipulated timeframe, adding that, in line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab government was committed to providing modern infrastructure and essential public services to the people.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said the overwhelming response to admissions in the Nawaz Sharif Centres of Eminence reflected renewed public confidence in government schools.

Chairing a meeting here on Saturday, she reviewed progress on the flagship education initiative. The CM was briefed that more than 71,000 students had applied for admission to 65 functional Nawaz Sharif Centres of Eminence across the province.

Officials informed the meeting that the government aimed to make 114 centres operational by August 14, while the chief minister directed authorities to complete 300 centres by September. According to the briefing, the centres are being established in line with international education standards, with each class accommodating 30 students and offering quality teaching, modern learning facilities and free education for deserving students.

Officials said a 10 per cent quota had also been reserved for students whose families could afford to pay full tuition fees, while children of parents earning up to Rs200,000 per month would receive education free of charge.

CM Maryam Nawaz described the project as an educational revolution in Punjab and said the large number of applicants for admission tests demonstrated growing public trust in the quality of government schools. She expressed satisfaction over the enthusiastic participation of students in the admission process and said the government planned to establish Nawaz Sharif Centres of Eminence in every division, district and tehsil of Punjab to ensure access to quality education across the province.

The CM said the initiative was close to her heart and thanked Almighty Allah for its successful progress, saying the government was committed to providing world-class educational opportunities to students from all segments of society.

Lahore: Police on Saturday arrested a man after a video allegedly showing him torturing his wife in public went viral on social media.

According to police,Kahna police traced and arrested the suspect from Jhidu village after taking notice of the video.

Police said the footage showed the suspect allegedly subjecting his wife to violence in public.

During the initial investigation,police stated that the incident appeared to have occurred due to a domestic dispute.

DIG Operations said that individuals involved in violence and harassment of women would not be spared and that strict action would be taken against those found involved in such acts in accordance with the law.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Saturday hailed the remarkable success of the province’s plantation drive, saying Punjab’s Green Revolution had reached an unprecedented scale through the collective efforts of the government and the people.

The CM urged every citizen to plant at least one tree to help build a greener and healthier future.

In a post on X, the chief minister said the Punjab Plantation Drive 2025-26 had achieved major milestones, with 40 million saplings planted, 41,342 acres brought under plantation and 3,085 avenue miles lined with trees across the province. She said barren lands stretching from Dera Ghazi Khan to Bahawalpur were being transformed into thriving forests through the dedication of Team Punjab, adding that the campaign marked the beginning of a long-term environmental transformation. ‘This is just the beginning, Insha’Allah. By the grace of Allah, the Punjab of the next decade will be a province of forests, clean air and living rivers for generations to come,’ she said.

CM Maryam Nawaz said the completion of Punjab’s two-year afforestation mission ranked among the most significant environmental achievements in the province’s history. Recalling the government’s pledge to revive Punjab’s forests, she said the commitment had been fulfilled with nearly 50 million trees planted across 54,986 acres between April 2024 and Spring 2026.

She said the impact of the campaign was visible across the province, from Muzaffargarh to Murree, Chichawatni to Faisalabad, and Rahim Yar Khan to Gujranwala, where degraded landscapes were once again turning green.

Describing tree plantation as ‘tomorrow’s inheritance’, the chief minister urged citizens to actively participate in the campaign by planting trees and becoming partners in the mission to build a greener Punjab. ‘What was grey is now green, and what is green shall be protected. This is our gift to generations we may never meet. One mission. One greener Punjab,’ she added.

Highlighting achievements under the Plant for Pakistan Spring Tree Plantation Campaign 2025, she said the restoration of barren lands had emerged as another major milestone, with thousands of acres converted into green landscapes between October 2024 and June 2025.

Sharing details of key plantation sites, the chief minister said around 1.815 million saplings had been planted over 1,500 acres at Ghazi Ghat in Muzaffargarh, 559,000 plants over 2,091 acres at Thul Maghraj in Rajanpur, 708,000 plants across 1,470 acres at Khanani and Rakh Murghai in Muzaffargarh, and 242,000 plants over 200 acres at Pakhowal in Gujrat.

She added that restoration work had also been expanded to Jhok Reserve Forest, Lal Suhanra, Mianwali, Gujranwala and Murree, reflecting the Punjab government’s resolve to restore forests and expand green cover across the province.

The chief minister also highlighted the adoption of modern technology for forest conservation, saying Punjab’s forests were now being monitored round the clock through the Forest Department’s GIS Lab using artificial intelligence-powered drones, satellite imagery and a modern command and control centre.

She said the digital monitoring system enabled the instant detection of illegal tree cutting, encroachments and forest fires through satellite platforms, including Landsat, Sentinel, SPOT and WorldView, ensuring timely action to protect forest resources.

Calling forests a national trust, Maryam Nawaz said every technological innovation was reinforcing efforts to conserve Punjab’s natural heritage and secure a greener future for generations to come. She reiterated her appeal to citizens to plant a tree and play their role in protecting the environment.

Lahore: A delegation from the United States Consulate General visited the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters to review the provincial government’s environmental protection measures, air quality monitoring system and climate resilience initiatives, here on Saturday.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb received the delegation in the presence of provincial ministers and senior officials.

During the visit, the delegation toured the EPA Control Room, where officials demonstrated the province’s environmental monitoring system and Air Quality Management System (AQMS). The delegation also reviewed Lahore’s live Air Quality Index (AQI) through the digital monitoring platform.

Giving a comprehensive briefing, Marriyum Aurangzeb said Lahore had been ranked as the world’s most polluted city in November 2024, but the situation had improved considerably due to the Punjab government’s comprehensive anti-smog strategy and institutional reforms. She said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had empowered the EPA by providing greater administrative authority, enhanced financial resources and modern technological tools to improve environmental governance.

The senior minister said preventing the burning of crop residues remained a key component of Punjab’s anti-smog policy, adding that the use of super seeders had become essential for sustainable agricultural practices. She said only 250 super seeders were available across Punjab when the present government assumed office, whereas around 7,500 machines are currently being used by farmers. She added that the chief minister had set a target of increasing the number to more than 15,000 by next year, with the government bearing 60 percent of the cost under the ‘Maryam Nawaz Smog-Free Punjab’ programme.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Punjab government had allocated unprecedented funding for climate change, environmental protection, forestry and wildlife during the past two years, enabling the departments to adopt advanced technologies comparable with international standards.

She informed the delegation that Punjab is establishing Pakistan’s first and the region’s first Climate Change Observatory, which will serve as a central data hub for monitoring climate trends, environmental changes and weather patterns while supporting evidence-based policymaking for a climate-resilient Punjab.

During the briefing, officials informed the delegation that industrial units across Punjab are under round-the-clock environmental surveillance, while all EPA field officers have been equipped with body-worn cameras to improve transparency and accountability during inspections. They said all brick kilns in Punjab had been converted to zigzag technology to reduce emissions.

The delegation was further informed that all motorways, shopping malls and model bazaars in Lahore had been declared plastic-free zones, while the initiative would gradually be extended to commercial markets throughout the province.

Officials said strict enforcement was underway to control dust emissions from construction sites, while an automated robocall system immediately alerts enforcement officers to environmental violations. Pollution-generating activities are also being monitored through the Punjab Safe Cities Authority.

The delegation was briefed that the provincial government has introduced an online hearing and licensing system to ensure transparency, while the live location of EPA vehicles and field officers is continuously monitored. Wind direction, heatwave conditions and other meteorological indicators are also being tracked to strengthen environmental planning and pollution management.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said vehicle emissions are being monitored through a dedicated emission testing system, while the Punjab AQI mobile application provides citizens with real-time air quality information to promote public awareness and timely precautionary measures. She said the provincial government would continue investing in technology-based environmental governance to ensure cleaner air and a healthier environment across Punjab.

Lahore: Punjab Health Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Disaster Management, Khawaja Salman Rafique, on Saturday directed authorities to launch an operation against encroachments in riverbeds and river valleys as the provincial government stepped up preparations to tackle the ongoing monsoon season and potential flooding.

Chairing a meeting at the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Headquarters, the minister reviewed flood preparedness measures, heatwave response, and disaster management plans across the province.

He said the Punjab government, under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, was taking comprehensive steps to make the province more resilient to floods. He added that Rescue 1122 had been equipped with modern equipment worth billions of rupees to enhance emergency response capabilities.

Salman Rafique said PDMA Punjab was utilizing all available resources to address the challenges posed by heatwaves and drought. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve water supply infrastructure in the remote areas of Cholistan.

PDMA Director General Umar Javed informed the meeting that all necessary arrangements had been completed to cope with heatwave conditions and possible flood emergencies on the directives of the chief minister. He said pre-disaster and post-disaster response mechanisms had been strengthened to minimize the impact of floods and other water-related hazards.

The meeting reviewed 11 flood protection schemes aimed at preventing river erosion and safeguarding local communities and agricultural land in vulnerable districts. The projects include emergency protective works along the Jhelum, Ravi, Indus, Bhindranala and Ben Nallah rivers, with individual schemes ranging from Rs 62 million to Rs 155.5 million.

Participants also reviewed the updated notification of floodplain boundaries based on Flood 2025, while the Flood Hazard Atlas for vulnerable districts prepared by the Urban Unit was examined. The Commissioner Multan briefed the meeting on relief operations, identified weaknesses, and presented a future action plan based on the experience of the 2025 floods in Multan Division.

The meeting was attended by Senior Member Board of Revenue Nabil Javed and other senior officials. Commissioners of Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Gujrat and Gujranwala, along with deputy commissioners of Multan, Sialkot, Gujrat, Layyah and Narowal, participated through video link.