Category: Lahore

Lahore: Acting on the directives of Director General LDA Tahir Farooq, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Town Planning Wing intensified its operation against illegal commercial buildings across LDA-controlled areas, sealing 154 properties during a citywide enforcement drive.

The operation was carried out in Gulberg, New Garden Town, New Muslim Town, Gujjarpura, Gulshan Ravi, Revenue Society, Naz Town, and Sabzazar under the supervision of Chief Town Planner-I Asad Zaman and Chief Town Planner-II Azhar Ali.

According to the LDA spokesperson, 27 properties were sealed in Gulberg and New Garden Town for unauthorized commercial use. Another 50 properties in New Muslim Town, Gujjarpura, and Gulshan Ravi were sealed for illegal commercial activities and non-payment of commercialisation fees.

The authority also sealed 42 properties in Revenue Society and 20 properties in Naz Town for similar violations. During a separate recovery operation, 15 properties were sealed in Sabzazar over outstanding dues.

The sealed properties included private schools, academies, colleges, pharmacies, clinics, laboratories, grocery stores, caf©s, restaurants, food outlets, bakeries, beauty salons, electrical shops, auto workshops, offices, and other commercial establishments.

DG LDA Tahir Farooq said the authority would continue indiscriminate action against illegal commercial buildings and properties that have defaulted on commercialisation fees to ensure compliance with planning regulations.

Lahore: Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) Mian Shahid Hussain Khan and Muhammad Aoun Jahangir called on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif here on Tuesday. Public issues, the law and order situation, constituency matters, and the progress of ongoing development projects across the province came under discussion during the meeting. The meeting also reviewed the prevailing political situation, while the legislators expressed grief over the tragic Kahna incident in which children lost their lives and offered prayers for the departed souls.

The MPAs congratulated the chief minister on presenting Punjab’s third consecutive surplus budget and appreciated the launch of the ‘Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar’ initiative as well as the extension of electric bus services to tehsil-level cities. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the legislators to ensure comprehensive preparations for Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) in their respective constituencies. She said public service had always remained her foremost priority, adding that she had learnt the spirit of serving the people from Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. She said the upgradation of Rural Health Centres was ensuring quality healthcare at people’s doorsteps, while nearly 125,000 houses under the ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar’ programme were progressing rapidly towards completion.

The legislators appreciated the provincial government’s public welfare agenda, improvements in road infrastructure and beautification projects. They also commended the Muharram arrangements, including effective security measures, cleanliness drives and government-sponsored Sabeels, and praised the chief minister’s initiatives for the welfare and empowerment of women and children.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday strongly condemned the terrorist attack in the Mangi Phase III area of Quetta. In a statement, she paid glowing tribute to the police personnel who embraced martyrdom while successfully foiling the terrorist attack, describing their sacrifice as exemplary and unforgettable. She extended her heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for the early recovery of those injured in the attack. “The fight against terrorism is a battle for our survival. There will be no compromise or weakening in our unwavering resolve to eradicate this menace,’ the chief minister said. The entire nation salutes the supreme sacrifice rendered by the martyred police personnel in the line of duty, she added.

Lahore: Enforcement teams of Punjab Food Authority (PFA) intercepted supply of adulterated milk from Chichawatni to Lahore during a pre-dawn crackdown at Shah Alam Market. Operation, led by ADG Operations Asadullah, resulted in the disposal of 3,600 litres of adulterated milk and the registration of an FIR against the supplier. Dairy safety and vigilance teams intercepted milk tanker (AL-0475) at the checkpoint during an early morning. Adulterated milk, destined for supply to Gujjar Wara, Lahore was found to contain water, vegetable ghee, chemicals and other prohibited substances. Milk was discarded on the spot.

Additional DG Operations Asadullah said the successful operation was carried out after prolonged surveillance and intelligence based monitoring by the vigilance and dairy safety teams, leading to the arrest of adulterated milk supply attempt before it reached consumers. He said that during the previous month, PFA inspected 26,766 milk suppliers, shops and dairy units across Punjab. More than 11.578 million litres of milk was checked, while 67,976 litres of adulterated milk was discarded.

PFA also sealed 41 dairy units and shops, registered 39 FIRs against those involved in food fraud and imposed fines exceeding Rs19.5 million on 1,884 food business operators. He stated that strict action against food fraud mafia would continue without any discrimination. He said all tactics of the adulteration mafia were being defeated through intelligence led operations, while milk traceability and supply were being closely monitored across Punjab. He further stated that, under the directions of CM Punjab, Punjab Food Authority was fully committed to eliminating the food fraud mafia and ensuring the supply of safe, pure and quality food to the public.

Lahore: Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) Commissioner Zulfiqar Ali Kharal on Tuesday directed officers to achieve recovery targets within the stipulated timeframe, warning that no negligence in the recovery drive would be tolerated.

Chairing a performance review meeting at the PESSI Head Office, the commissioner reviewed the performance of the Social Security Directorates of Shahdara, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Sahiwal and Gujrat. He was briefed on the overall performance of the directorates, with special focus on recovery and target achievements.

The commissioner instructed the concerned officers to intensify recovery efforts and make the process more effective to ensure the timely achievement of assigned targets. He also directed field officers to improve recovery performance by utilizing all available resources and adopting a result-oriented approach.

Kharal said the achievement of recovery targets remained the institution’s top priority and warned that any negligence or laxity in this regard would not be tolerated. He added that the performance of all directorates was being monitored on a daily basis to ensure timely accomplishment of recovery goals and improve overall institutional performance.

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Communication and Works (CandW) Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bharth on Tuesday directed officers of the department to remain on high alert amid ongoing rains and the possibility of flooding, ordering round-the-clock monitoring of vulnerable areas to ensure public safety and uninterrupted road connectivity.

The minister, while issuing directives to the department, instructed the Executive Engineer (Highways), Dera Ghazi Khan, to closely monitor the prevailing situation and keep field teams fully active to respond promptly to any emergency.

He particularly ordered continuous monitoring of water flow at the Hill Torrent Crossing Siphon and directed the authorities concerned to take immediate preventive and emergency measures in case of any unusual situation.

Minister Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bharth said field teams should remain fully vigilant to address public difficulties arising from heavy rains or possible flooding. He directed all officers concerned to maintain a state of readiness for an immediate response and ensure that emergency machinery remained available and fully operational at all times.

The minister said that, in line with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, all available resources were being utilized to facilitate the public and ensure a safe and smooth travelling system. He added that timely action would be taken to deal with any emergency and minimize inconvenience to commuters during the monsoon season.