Category: Lahore

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.

Lahore: Lahore Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Abdul Raheem Shirazi conducted visits to various low-lying roads across the city during rainfall on Tuesday to review traffic management and ensure the smooth flow of vehicular movement.

The CTO inspected key roads, including Mall Road, Lower Mall and Outfall Road, along with several other major arteries.

He said that traffic remained smooth across the city despite the rain, attributing the uninterrupted flow to timely deployment and effective traffic management measures.

The CTO directed all traffic officers to visit their respective divisions and circles regularly to monitor the traffic situation and address any emerging issues without delay.

On his instructions, additional traffic wardens were deployed at underpasses and other vulnerable locations to facilitate motorists and prevent congestion.

He said circle officers were maintaining constant coordination with the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) to ensure prompt drainage of rainwater from inundated areas. Additional traffic wardens had also been deployed in low-lying areas to manage traffic and assist commuters, he added.

The CTO appreciated the dedication of traffic wardens, saying they were performing their duties professionally despite the adverse weather conditions. He said no disruption to traffic flow would be allowed despite the rainfall and directed wardens to respond promptly to citizens seeking assistance.

The CTO also advised citizens, particularly traffic wardens performing field duties, to stay away from electric installations and exposed power infrastructure during the rain to avoid any untoward incidents.

Lahore: As many as 300 kanals of state-owned land, worth more than Rs204 million, have been reclaimed from illegal occupants in different districts of the province following the direct intervention and directives of the Ombudsman Punjab.

According to a spokesperson for the Office of the Ombudsman Punjab here on Tuesday, the recovered land belonged to various government departments and had remained under illegal occupation for a prolonged period. Several unauthorized commercial shops had also been constructed on portions of the encroached land.

The spokesperson said the departments concerned had previously made sustained efforts to evict the encroachers but failed to regain possession. Acting on complaints, the Ombudsman Punjab intervened and directed the relevant authorities to proceed under the law, resulting in the successful retrieval of the land through due legal process.

Prior to the operation, the land was properly identified and demarcated in accordance with legal requirements. The Ombudsman Punjab also instructed the departments concerned to adopt all necessary legal and administrative measures to ensure the recovered land remains protected against future encroachments.

Describing the operation as a significant achievement, the spokesperson said the action reflected the institution’s commitment to protecting public property, upholding the rule of law and ensuring transparent governance.

He added that complainants and local residents widely appreciated the timely intervention of the Ombudsman Punjab, terming it an important step towards safeguarding public assets and preventing illegal occupation of government land.

Lahore: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Pakistan Industrial Sewing Machine Importers and Dealers Association (PISMIDA) Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation for the promotion of industrial development, technological advancement and investment in Pakistan’s textile, garment and allied manufacturing sectors. The MoU was signed by LCCI President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol and PISMIDA Chairman Muhammad Yaseen. The agreement seeks to facilitate closer collaboration between the two organizations for the benefit of business community and manufacturing industry.

Under the MoU, LCCI members will be able to avail exclusive discounts and preferential pricing on industrial sewing machinery, equipment, spare parts and accessories offered by PISMIDA members. Both sides will also work together to promote technology adoption, industry awareness and business development initiatives. LCCI Vice President Khuram Lodhi, former senior vice president Ali Hussam Asghar, Executive Committee Members Syed Salman Ali and Rana Shoban Akhtar were also present. The representatives of both organizations expressed confidence that the partnership would contribute to the modernization of Pakistan’s industrial sector and create new opportunities for businesses operating in the textile and garment value chain.

Lahore: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday acquitted Muhammad Salman in a case involving allegations of collecting funds and distributing hate literature on behalf of a banned organisation after the prosecution failed to prove the charges.

ATC Judge Malik Abid Hussain announced the verdict upon completion of the trial, ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish the allegations against the accused.

The case had been investigated by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Sheikhupura, which submitted the challan before the court. A case was registered against Muhammad Salman in 2025.

During the proceedings, defence counsel argued that the allegations levelled by the CTD were false and that the accused had no affiliation with any banned organisation.

Muhammad Salman appeared before the court for the hearing. He had been charged with collecting donations and distributing hate literature allegedly on behalf of a banned organisation.