Category: Lahore

Lahore: The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has launched the ‘Responsible Citizen Award’ campaign to recognise and encourage citizens who actively support law-enforcement agencies in promoting public safety across the province.

According to a PSCA spokesperson, the initiative had been launched in line with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision of citizen-centric governance. Under the campaign, individuals who provide timely information about missing children, harassment incidents, suspicious activities, unattended objects, crimes or other emergency situations would be acknowledged and rewarded for their responsible role in ensuring public safety.

The spokesperson said the first Responsible Citizen Award was presented to a Lahore resident who promptly reported an unattended child through the Public Safety App. Acting on the information, authorities safely reunited the missing child with his family.

The authority appreciated the citizen’s prompt action, describing responsible citizens as key partners in building a safer and more secure society.

The spokesperson urged the public to report emergencies and public safety concerns through the emergency helpline 15 or the Public Safety App to assist law enforcement agencies in preventing crime and responding effectively to emergencies.

He said the PSCA would continue to recognise and encourage citizens who demonstrate civic responsibility and make valuable contributions to public safety and community well-being through the Responsible Citizen Award campaign.

Lahore: The Food Safety and Consumer Protection department is continuing comprehensive measures across the province to ensure the availability of quality essential commodities at official and affordable prices through an effective price control mechanism and continuous market monitoring.

Under the leadership of Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister for Food Safety and Consumer Protection Salma Butt, field teams remain actively engaged in curbing overcharging and profiteering, said a handout issued here on Thursday.

According to the department’s latest performance report, 484,859 inspections were carried out across Punjab during the past week, achieving 108 percent of the assigned target.

During these operations, 23,744 cases of overcharging were detected.

Fines exceeding Rs 15.368 million were imposed, 46 cases were registered, 968 persons were arrested, and 693 business establishments were sealed.

The report stated that although nearly 85 percent of the raw material used in the production of vegetable ghee is imported, and global palm oil prices have increased, the Punjab government’s effective monitoring has helped minimize the impact on consumers.

The average retail price of ghee in Punjab remains around Rs 521 per kilogram, while lower-priced brands are also available at reasonable rates, providing quality alternatives for consumers across different income groups.

Similarly, despite rising production costs, the average price of chicken meat in Punjab has remained around Rs 445 per kilogram. The government continues to strengthen the supply chain through constant monitoring and is taking measures to prevent unnecessary price hikes.

Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Salma Butt said that, in accordance with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision, ensuring the availability of quality food items at affordable prices was the government’s top priority.

She said indiscriminate action against hoarding, overcharging and profiteering would continue to provide genuine relief to the public.

Food Safety and Consumer Protection Secretary Dr Kiran Khurshid said the department was continuously monitoring markets through a modern data-driven monitoring system.

She directed all field officers to ensure strict implementation of official prices, the availability of quality essential commodities and a transparent inspection mechanism to effectively safeguard consumers’ interests.

Lahore: Punjab Minister for School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat on Thursday directed the newly appointed chairmen of education boards across the province to ensure transparency in examinations, introduce digital reforms and enforce a zero-tolerance policy against cheating and corruption.

He issued the directions while chairing an introductory meeting with the newly appointed board chairmen, during which matters relating to examination reforms, transparency and the use of modern technology in the education system came under discussion.

The minister briefed the participants on the educational vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and the provincial government’s ongoing reform agenda.

Rana Sikandar Hayat said the government was taking practical steps to bring the examination system in line with international standards, adding that strict action against the cheating mafia, paper leaks and examination irregularities would continue.

He said eliminating corruption and the influence of mafias in education boards was a shared responsibility of all relevant institutions.

The minister directed the chairmen to introduce digital reforms in the examination process and result compilation and launch online screen marking on a pilot basis for supplementary examinations. He said integrating modern technology into the education boards was among the government’s top priorities.

He urged the newly appointed chairmen to strengthen the ongoing reforms and perform their duties with honesty and professionalism, saying they were responsible for safeguarding the future of millions of students.

Rana Sikandar Hayat also directed the chairmen to regularly visit marking centers, ensure accountability of examiners involved in incorrect marking and protect students from any injustice. He further instructed them to ensure the provision of all basic facilities at examination centers.

The minister said education boards should also organize regular STEM, debate, and sports competitions to promote the overall development of students.

It is pertinent to mention that Punjab’s education boards had remained without permanent chairmen for the past three to four years, with the respective divisional commissioners serving as acting chairmen.

The newly appointed chairmen include Prof Tahir Mahmood for the Rawalpindi Board, Dr Aqsa Shabbir for the Faisalabad Board, Dr Badrul Islam for the Lahore Board, Dr Rana Binyamin for the Multan Board, Iqbal Mahmood for the Sargodha Board, Ishtiaq Ahmed for the Gujranwala Board, Dr Ahmed Muneeb for the Sahiwal Board, Dr Naseem for the Bahawalpur Board and Abbas Haider for the Dera Ghazi Khan Board.

Lahore: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has launched a comprehensive monsoon preparedness campaign to safeguard public life and protect the historic urban fabric of the Walled City ahead of the rainy season.

According to a WCLA spokesperson, the initiative had been launched in line with the directions of the Punjab government to minimise risks associated with heavy rains and ensure the safety of residents.

As part of the campaign, WCLA had completed a detailed structural survey of buildings across the Walled City to identify unsafe and dilapidated structures posing potential risks during the monsoon season.

Based on the survey findings, notices have been issued to owners of hazardous buildings directing them to immediately undertake the required repair and strengthening of their properties. Owners had also been advised to carry out the repairs at their own expense to ensure the structural safety of their buildings.

The spokesperson said owners who were unable or unwilling to repair unsafe structures had been directed to vacate the buildings immediately to prevent any loss of life or property in case of structural collapse.

Residents and property owners had also been advised to keep rooftops, rainwater drainage systems, gutters and downpipes clean and fully functional throughout the monsoon season to prevent water accumulation, seepage and structural damage.

The authority reiterated that no unauthorised construction, addition of floors, structural alterations, excavation or modifications to heritage buildings or other properties within the Walled City would be allowed without prior approval from the WCLA, as such activities violate heritage conservation regulations and increase structural risks during adverse weather.

WCLA Director General Najmus Saqib said the protection of human life remained the authority’s foremost priority, adding that preventive measures before the onset of the monsoon were essential to minimising risks and ensuring the safety of residents.

He said preserving Lahore’s architectural heritage must go hand in hand with protecting the lives of people living in the centuries-old neighborhoods and urged citizens to cooperate by complying with official notices, carrying out timely repairs, maintaining proper drainage facilities and following all safety instructions.

The WCLA remains committed to implementing the Punjab government’s vision of ensuring public safety, preserving the city’s cultural heritage and adopting proactive disaster risk management measures to reduce the impact of the upcoming monsoon season, he added.

Lahore: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Diamer Basha dam project, WAPDA and district administration, Diamer for implementation of livelihood schemes worth Rs. 972.571 million in the project area under Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) by WAPDA.

General Manager/PD Diamer Basha Dam Project Dr. Engr. Nazakat Hussain and Deputy Commissioner Diamer Lt (Retd) Muhammad Owais Abbasi signed the MoU in the presence of Chief Secretary Gilgit Baltistan Arshad Majeed, according to WAPDA spokesman here Thursday.

As per the terms of the MoU, the livelihood schemes will be implemented through the line departments concerned under the supervision of the District Administration, in consultation with the local community. A Joint Committee, comprising representatives of the District Administration, WAPDA, and the local community, will oversee the quality of work and implementation of the schemes.

It is pertinent to mention that Rs. 78.5 billion have been earmarked for socio-economic uplift of the people in the Project area under Diamer Basha Dam Project. A number of mega development schemes have already been completed including Thore Hydel Power Station, Thak Hydel Power Station and Cadet College Chilas etc.

Lahore: Enforcement teams of the PFA on the directions of Director General PFA Syed Musa Raza, Additional Director General Operations Asad Ullah led operation against a renowned snacks production unit in Sundar Industrial Estate. Operation resulted in the sealing of the unit and the disposal of 12,481kg of expired chocolates, biscuits, cakes, cookies, brownies, rusks and other food products worth millions of rupees.

Food safety teams sealed the production unit after discovering large quantities of expired food items stocked alongside fresh products. Stock was discarded in accordance with food safety regulations. Inspectors found that mandatory traceability records and supply documents were unavailable, while the unit had no effective system or standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the disposal of expired food products.

DG PFA Syed Musa Raza said that several products were being offered for sale without mandatory registration and label approval. He said that the warehouse had extremely poor sanitary conditions with a heavy infestation of insects, while food handlers lacked mandatory medical screening and food safety training certificates.

He said that the unit had failed to comply with previously issued directions and was found violating multiple provisions of the Punjab Food Authority regulations. Expired chocolates, biscuits, cakes, cookies, brownies, rusks and other food items were discarded to protect public health.

He further stated that, under the directions of the Chief Minister Punjab, Punjab Food Authority is implementing a zero tolerance policy to safeguard public health.