Category: Lahore

Lahore: The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Lahore registered an FIR with the police after a manhole cover was stolen in the Mozang area, prompting immediate action to ensure public safety.

Managing Director WASA Lahore Ghufran Ahmed took serious notice of the incident and directed officials to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against those involved in the theft of manhole and drain covers.He said strict legal action would be taken against all offenders.

According to WASA spokesperson, CCTV footage captured the suspects stealing the drain cover, the video has been handed over to the police to assist in the investigation.

The MD said that WASA’s top priority is the protection of citizens’ lives and property. He instructed all field officers to immediately secure any open manholes or drains and ensure continuous monitoring of sensitive locations across the city.

He also ordered an immediate survey of all manholes and drain covers throughout Lahore,directing that any missing covers be replaced without delay.All WASA directors have been instructed to ensure legal proceedings against those involved in such thefts.

Lahore: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday extended the interim bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Musarrat Jamshed Cheema and her husband, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, until Sept 5 in multiple cases related to the May 9 riots, including the Jinnah House and Askari Tower attacks.

The court directed the investigating officer to complete the investigation against Musarrat Jamshed Cheema.

ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill conducted the proceedings on bail applications. The two PTI leaders appeared before the court after their interim bail expired to mark their attendance.

Musarrat Cheema obtained interim bail in eight cases, while Jamshed Cheema secured interim bail in four cases.

The cases against the accused include allegations relating to the attacks on Jinnah House and Askari Tower, as well as arson and vandalism outside Rahat Bakery and other incidents linked to the May 9 violence.

Lahore: The Punjab Transport and Mass Transit Department has introduced five special buses for women using the Metro Bus Service to provide them with safer and more convenient travel facilities.

According to the department, five speedo buses have temporarily been deployed on Metro Bus routes to facilitate women passengers during rush hours.

Provincial Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan said the additional buses had been added to the service to protect women from harassment and ensure a safe travelling environment.

He said the speedo buses were included in the Metro bus fleet following the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

The minister said new Metro buses would soon be purchased to replace the temporarily deployed speedo buses, which would then be permanently allocated for women passengers.

Bilal Akbar Khan said provision of safe and secure travel facilities for women was among the top priorities of the Punjab government and further measures would be taken in this regard.

Lahore: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has launched a comprehensive monsoon preparedness campaign ahead of the upcoming rainy season.

According to WCLA sources here on Thursday as part of this initiative, WCLA had completed a detailed structural survey of buildings across the Walled City of Lahore to identify properties that may pose a threat to public safety during heavy rains.

Based on the findings of the survey, formal notices have been issued to the owners of dangerous and dilapidated buildings, directing them to immediately undertake the necessary repair and strengthening of their structures.

Property owners have been advised to carry out all essential repairs at their own expense to ensure that their buildings remain structurally safe throughout the monsoon season.

Those who are unable or unwilling to undertake the required repairs have been directed to vacate the unsafe buildings immediately in order to prevent any loss of life or property resulting from possible structural failure.

In addition, WCLA had advised all residents and property owners within the Walled City to ensure that rooftops, rainwater drainage systems, gutters and downpipes remain fully functional and free from obstruction throughout the monsoon period.

Sources said, “Proper maintenance of these systems is essential to prevent water accumulation, seepage and structural deterioration of buildings.”

The Authority has also reiterated that no unauthorized construction, addition of floors, structural alterations, excavation, extensions or modifications to heritage buildings or other properties within the Walled City shall be carried out without obtaining prior approval from WCLA. Such unauthorized activities not only violate heritage conservation regulations but also increase structural vulnerabilities during adverse weather conditions.

The Walled City of Lahore Authority DG, Najmus Saqib stated that the protection of human life remains the foremost priority of the Authority.

He said that preventive measures taken before the onset of the monsoon season are essential to minimizing risks and ensuring the safety of residents living within the historic city.

He further emphasized that preserving Lahore’s rich architectural heritage must go hand in hand with protecting the lives of the people who reside within these centuries-old neighborhoods.

The Director General urged all citizens to cooperate with WCLA by complying with the issued notices, carrying out timely repairs, maintaining proper drainage facilities, and observing all safety instructions issued by the Authority.

The Walled City of Lahore Authority remains committed to implementing the vision of the Punjab government by ensuring public safety, protecting the city’s unique cultural heritage, and adopting proactive disaster risk management measures to minimize the impact of the upcoming monsoon season.

Lahore: Punjab Police have intensified their province-wide crackdown on violations of the Anti-Kite Flying Act, arresting 9,813 suspects and registering 9,445 cases during the current year, a Punjab Police spokesperson said on Thursday.

The spokesperson said during the crackdown, police recovered 472,296 kites and 14,833 string reels from the possession of the accused.

In Lahore alone, police arrested 4,575 suspects, registered 4,405 cases, and recovered 121,630 kites and 4,723 string reels, the spokesperson added.

IGP Abdul Kareem directed police officers to continue strict and indiscriminate action against all those involved in kite flying, stressing that the hazardous activity would not be tolerated anywhere in the province.

He also ordered police to take legal action against individuals involved in the online sale and distribution of kites and metallic string.

The IGP urged parents to keep their children away from the dangerous activity and appealed to citizens to report incidents of kite flying by calling the Police Helpline 15, enabling law enforcement agencies to take prompt action.

Lahore: Punjab Counter Narcotics Force (CNF) has achieved a major breakthrough against drug traffickers in Lahore by seizing 29 kilograms of narcotics besides arresting two drug traffickers and weapons worth approximately Rs 22 million.

According to a spokesperson for the CNF, the intelligence-based operations were conducted in the Dhyal area of Wahga Tehsil, Lahore district. In the first raid, two major drug dealers were apprehended, and 29 kilograms of narcotics, including 19 kilograms of crystal meth (Ice) and 10 kilograms of heroin, were recovered from their possession. The operation also led to the seizure of a 9mm pistol, a drone, drone batteries, and a drone controller.

Acting on information provided by the arrested suspects, CNF teams carried out a second raid at another location, recovering one drone, 11 drone controllers, 12 drone batteries, a drone camera, a drone bunker, chargers, power adapters, and a large cache of weapons. The recovered arsenal included one 12-bore pump-action shotgun, a submachine gun (SMG), two 30-bore pistols, multiple magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.