Category: Lahore

Lahore: Deputy Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Ali Ijaz on Wednesday held an open court at the Land Record Centre, where he personally heard complex complaints related to land ownership, property disputes and revenue matters. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Karim Dad Chughtai, Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) Chief Officer Shahid Abbas Kathia, Assistant Commissioner Shalimar Muhammad Amir Butt and Assistant Commissioner Wagah Zeeshan Manzoor were also present during the open court proceedings.

The Deputy Commissioner interacted directly with citizens, listened to their grievances and issued on-the-spot directions to the relevant officers for prompt resolution of their cases. He said the district administration was removing procedural hurdles in the revenue system to ensure that citizens receive direct and effective justice. DC Muhammad Ali Ijaz directed the revenue authorities to dispose of all pending land record complaints immediately on merit and instructed Assistant Commissioners to personally verify the resolution of every public complaint. He also stressed that complete transparency and merit must be maintained in the processes of property transfer (Intiqal) and inheritance-based property distribution.

The Deputy Commissioner further directed officials to ensure the digitalisation of land records for verified proof of ownership, saying the initiative would enhance transparency, improve service delivery and minimise the chances of disputes and fraud. He said all public complaints would be resolved strictly on merit without unnecessary delay, adding that the administration was committed to eliminating barriers between government offices and the public. He observed that regular open courts would strengthen direct accountability within the revenue departments and reiterated that the district administration would adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of departmental negligence in public service.

Lahore: The Lahore Arts Council (Alhamra) is successfully conducting its annual Summer Art Camp, providing children with a creative platform to develop artistic skills through drawing, painting and calligraphy while encouraging imagination, confidence and self-expression.

According to a spokesperson, the camp, one of Alhamra’s flagship educational initiatives, is aimed at introducing children to the world of fine arts during the summer holidays in a positive and inspiring learning environment. More than 30 children between the ages of five and 12 are participating in this year’s programme, receiving practical training under the supervision of experienced artists.

Renowned artist Usman Khalid is leading drawing and painting sessions, familiarising participants with basic artistic techniques while encouraging them to experiment with colours, composition and creative expression. At the same time, noted calligrapher Fatima Waqar is conducting calligraphy classes, helping children appreciate the beauty, precision and cultural significance of the traditional art form.

The drawing and painting classes are being held regularly at the Alhamra Art Studio every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Summer Art Camp will continue until August 5 and conclude with a certificate distribution ceremony to recognise the participants’ dedication and artistic achievements.

Alhamra Executive Director Muhammad Nawaz Gondal said every child possesses a creative spark waiting to be discovered. He said encouraging children to imagine, create and express themselves through art helps them grow into confident, thoughtful and compassionate individuals, adding that investing in children’s creativity is an investment in Pakistan’s cultural future.

He said Alhamra remained committed to promoting arts and culture through initiatives that nurture young talent and provide meaningful opportunities for children to explore their creative potential, reinforcing the institution’s role in developing the country’s future artists and cultural ambassadors.

Lahore: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) commemorated the 75th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Pakistan and the People’s Republic of China with a prestigious ceremony held at its Regional Office on Wednesday.

The ceremony was graced by H.E Sun Yan, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lahore; Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Provincial Minister for Finance; Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, Provincial Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment; Zaki Aijaz, Regional Chairman and Vice President FPCCI, senior government officials, diplomats, industrialists, exporters, importers, and a large number of members of the business community. The participants celebrated the enduring friendship and ever-strengthening strategic partnership between Pakistan and China.

Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Consul General Mr. Sun Yan said that Pakistan and China are jointly advancing towards an upgraded phase of cooperation under CPEC 2.0, with a strategic focus on key sectors such as industry, agriculture, and mining. He underscored that developing a skilled workforce with proficiency in the Chinese language would be vital to unlocking the full potential of bilateral trade and investment. The consul general recalled Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to China, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to supporting each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security while expanding cooperation in defence, economic development and global governance. Highlighting the significance of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said, the flagship initiative has attracted billions of dollars in investment and generated thousands of employment opportunities in Pakistan. He added that future collaboration would increasingly focus on emerging sectors such a
s textiles, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, education and innovation. He also pointed out that Pakistani astronauts had been invited to China for professional training.

Mr. Sun Yan reiterated China’s commitment to working closely with the FPCCI, the Punjab government and the business community to deepen economic cooperation and strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

Punjab Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said that over the past 75 years, Pakistan-China relations have successfully withstood every test of time and today stand as a model of strategic partnership for the world. He noted that as the global economy rapidly evolves through digital technology, artificial intelligence and innovation, new avenues of cooperation between Pakistan and China will play a vital role in advancing the shared prosperity of both nations.

He said, the CPEC has made a remarkable contribution to Pakistan’s economic development by strengthening infrastructure, energy security and regional connectivity. As CPEC enters its next phase, greater emphasis is being placed on industrial cooperation, technology transfer, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and modern agriculture.

He mentioned, Punjab government is implementing comprehensive reforms aimed at promoting investment, strengthening institutions and accelerating sustainable economic growth.

The Punjab Government, he added, is fostering an investor-friendly environment through fiscal discipline, transparency, digital governance and regulatory reforms. Punjab offers vast investment opportunities for Chinese investors in advanced manufacturing, information technology, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, electric vehicles, agriculture, healthcare, logistics, tourism and technical education. “We are also keen to expand cooperation with China in smart agriculture, water-efficient irrigation, agricultural mechanization, seed technology and food processing to enhance food security and agricultural productivity.”

The Finance Minister said that Punjab remains dedicated to further strengthening economic cooperation with China by pursuing transparent policies, efficient governance and an investor-friendly business environment while extending every possible facilitation to investors.

Punjab Minister for Industries and Commerce Syed Shafay Hussain highlighted the vast investment opportunities and robust infrastructure available in the province. He said the Punjab Government is working closely with China to promote innovation in the agricultural sector, while also benefiting from Chinese expertise in seed development and artificial intelligence technologies.

FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh described Pakistan-China relations as one of the world’s strongest, long-standing, and most exemplary strategic partnerships, founded on mutual trust, unwavering support, and a shared commitment to peace, development, and prosperity.

In his address, FPCCI Regional Chairman and Vice President Zaki Aijaz stated that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President Xi Jinping, Pakistan-China relations have entered a new era of economic cooperation through CPEC 2.0. He emphasized that the next phase of bilateral collaboration should prioritize industrial cooperation, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), advanced manufacturing, information technology, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, agriculture, healthcare, logistics, tourism, and youth entrepreneurship.

The participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-China economic cooperation, expanding bilateral trade and investment, promoting industrial collaboration, and deepening the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership for the mutual prosperity of both nations.

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Health and Emergency Services Khawaja Salman Rafique on Wednesday said that, on the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Rescue-1122 has been equipped with the latest flood rescue resources to save lives and property of citizens during the upcoming monsoon season.

The minister made these remarks during his visit to the Rescue 1122 Headquarters, where he reviewed flood preparedness measures and the department’s rescue capacity. Secretary Emergency Services Department Dr. Rizwan Naseer briefed him on the flood preparedness and response plan, informing him that modern equipment had been procured to strengthen flood rescue operations.

During the visit, Khawaja Salman Rafique inspected the newly-acquired rescue equipment, including modern jet skis, aluminium rescue boats, life jackets and advanced communication systems.

The minister said that the induction of modern equipment and comprehensive advance planning had significantly enhanced the flood response capacity of Rescue 1122. He stated that providing timely, effective and safe rescue services to citizens in emergencies remained the government’s top priority, adding that advance preparedness, modern resources and well-trained personnel were essential for successful flood rescue operations.

Dr Rizwan said Rescue 1122 had conducted more than 100 flood mock exercises across Punjab in collaboration with relevant institutions. He noted that these drills had substantially improved coordination, response efficiency and operational capacity among all participating departments.

Lahore: Punjab Counter Narcotics Force (CNF) conducted 75 intelligence-based operations across the province during the last two weeks, arresting 87 suspects and recovering over 156 kilograms of narcotics worth more than Rs 29.5 million.

According to the CNF officials, the operations were carried out in Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Sargodha and Sahiwal as part of the ongoing campaign against drug trafficking under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for a “Drug-Free Punjab, Healthy and Safe Punjab.”

A spokesperson said the recovered narcotics included 96.6 kilograms of hashish, 10.4 kilograms of opium, 5.9-kg crystal meth (Ice), 42.2 kilograms of cannabis (bhang), 1.2-kg heroin and 188 bottles of liquor.

The spokesperson said the force also recovered 13 pistols, two rifles and two 12-bore shotguns allegedly being used by criminal elements during various operations.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday approved the launch of the ‘Apna Ghar, Mehfooz Ghar’ (My Home, Safe Home) programme under the existing ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar’ initiative to improve housing safety across the province and prevent tragedies caused by unsafe residential structures.

The decision was taken during a special meeting chaired by the chief minister, which also approved expanding the scope of the government’s flagship housing programme by introducing two new loan categories. Under the proposed initiative, interest-free loans of Rs500,000 will be provided for repairing weak roofs and structurally unsafe houses, while interest-free loans of Rs1 million will be offered in easy installments for constructing an additional storey or floor.

The meeting reviewed progress on the ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar’ and ‘Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar’ programmes. It was informed that interest-free loans had been approved for more than 180,000 homeless families, with loans already disbursed to 170,000 beneficiaries. The government has so far released Rs217.8 billion for the programme, while nearly 27,500 houses are in the final stages of completion.

The briefing further revealed that 134,343 houses had been completed across Punjab under the programme and more than 1.278 million applications had been received from homeless families seeking assistance.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the authorities to release the second instalment of housing loans within the next three days, saying that effective governance was demonstrated through practical action rather than statements during difficult times.

The meeting also approved the new Rs1 million loan category for constructing an additional floor and formally endorsed the Rs500,000 loan category for repairing damaged and unsafe roofs.

Officials informed the meeting that 2,000 residential plots had been distributed in 23 districts under the ‘Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar’ programme, while a report on rehabilitation and development work in these areas was also presented.

The CM directed that the process for obtaining housing loans be further simplified and ordered that the 2,000 families who had received free government plots should also be facilitated with loans for house construction.

She said that the Punjab government would support families in making unsafe, weak-roofed and dilapidated homes secure, stressing that ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar’ and its allied initiatives were flagship welfare projects of the provincial government. She also directed that no additional financial burden should be imposed on low-income families and that there should be no changes to the existing eligibility criteria or procedures for obtaining housing loans.