Category: Lahore

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday launched the Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar scheme by conducting digital balloting under which around 30,000 landless families were allotted cultivable state land on a symbolic annual lease of Rs100 for 20 years.

The scheme covers more than 121,000 acres of cultivable government land, enabling beneficiary families to secure long-term cultivation rights. Each family would also receive financial assistance of Rs50,000 per acre for land preparation, while the Agriculture Extension Department would provide technical support to help ensure successful cultivation.

During the ceremony, the chief minister personally telephoned successful applicants to congratulate them. Speaking to Abdul Sattar of Faisalabad, she informed him that he had been allotted four acres of land for the next 20 years at an annual lease of only Rs100 per acre. She said he would also receive Rs200,000, at the rate of Rs50,000 per acre, to prepare the land for cultivation.

Earlier, Senior Member Board of Revenue Nabeel Javed briefed the chief minister that the programme, launched on April 22, had been completed in less than three months. He said around 60,000 applications had been received, including nearly 11,000 from women. Balloting for approximately 29,000 allotments had been completed after scrutiny, during which applicants were provided opportunities for personal hearings and appeals.

According to the briefing, allotment letters would be issued within a week, while possession of the allotted land was expected to be handed over by July 31. District-level committees had been constituted to oversee implementation, and lease certificates would be issued to all successful applicants.

Addressing the ceremony, the chief minister congratulated the successful families and appreciated Provincial Agriculture Minister Ashiq Kirmani, Secretary Agriculture Iftikhar Sahoo, Senior Member Board of Revenue Nabeel Javed and their teams for completing the programme within a short period.

She said the initiative was designed to empower the poorest landless families by providing them with cultivable land, financial assistance and technical support, enabling them to earn a sustainable livelihood with dignity. She added that only genuinely deserving families without agricultural land ownership had been selected strictly on merit and that no recommendations were entertained during the allotment process.

Maryam Nawaz said the Punjab government would continue identifying cultivable state land across the province for distribution among deserving landless families and that more beneficiaries would be included in future phases of the programme.

She said the initiative would strengthen the rural economy, increase agricultural production and promote financial independence among low-income households. Highlighting women’s participation, she said female applicants constituted about 20 per cent of the total applications and 29 per cent of applicants under the Cholistan component of the programme.

The CM said Punjab had become the first province to make ordinary citizens stakeholders in state-owned agricultural land through such an initiative, adding that successful beneficiaries would receive both land and financial assistance to make cultivation economically sustainable.

Lahore: Investigation Police Ichhra successfully carried out an operation and arrested a wanted criminal for the last four years in a murder case.

According to In-charge Investigation Inspector Hasnain Saleem, the accused was wanted by Kasur police in the murder case and had been absconding for a long time. He said the accused had killed a person during a minor argument in 2022 and fled the scene.

The accused had set up a puncture shop in Ichhra to hide his identity, from where he was arrested on a tip-off.

Lahore: Quran Khawani and Qul were held here on Monday for the departed soul of renowned educationist Prof Sheikh Imtiaz Ali, who passed away at the age of 103 on Sunday.

Prof Sheikh Imtiaz Ali was the teacher as well as the maternal grandfather-in-law (his wife’s grandfather) of Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi.

According to a press release, the late professor rendered distinguished services as vice chancellor of the University of the Punjab and Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He also served as chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Prof Sheikh Imtiaz Ali trained countless civil servants from 1962 to 2014, and many of Pakistan’s senior bureaucrats were among his students.

His funeral prayers were offered at the University of the Punjab before he was laid to rest at a local graveyard.

The Qul was held at his residence in Garden Town, where prayers were offered for the elevation of his ranks in the hereafter.

Punjab Muttahida Ulema Board, Chairman Mufti Dr Intikhab Ahmad Noori, led the special prayers.

A large number of senior bureaucrats, educationists, members of civil society and prominent personalities from different schools of thought attended the ceremony and paid tribute to the late scholar’s lifelong services to education and public administration.

Lahore: Federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Hafiz Mian Muhammad Nauman, on Monday said political stability is essential for economic development, stressing that strong institutions and consistent policies are key to sustainable growth. Addressing the launch ceremony of the 7th Agricultural Census 2024 Integrated Digital Count Punjab Report at a local hotel, he said political instability in the past had weakened institutions, slowed the country’s development journey and adversely affected the evolution of public thinking.

Describing the Agricultural Census 2024 as a landmark achievement in Pakistan’s statistical history, Nauman said the country’s first fully digital agricultural census provides comprehensive and reliable data on agriculture, livestock and water resources. He said the information would enable governments, researchers, policymakers and development organizations to formulate informed policies, improve resource allocation and promote sustainable economic growth.

Congratulating Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) Chief Statistician Dr Naeem uz Zafar and his team, he expressed hope that the data would contribute significantly to the country’s future development.

Highlighting the importance of agriculture, Nauman said the sector has always been the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and emphasized the need for value addition and modernization to enhance productivity.

He said both the federal and Punjab governments were focusing on the uplift of the agriculture sector by introducing various incentives for farmers. Referring to the recent US-Iran conflict, he said fertilizer shortages had become a major concern for many developing countries, but Pakistan had ensured adequate availability of fertilizers while providing them to farmers at subsidized rates.

The parliamentary secretary said the impression created in the past that Pakistan was on the verge of default had proved incorrect, adding that under the able leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the country had overcome multiple economic challenges through sincere and coordinated efforts.

Later, while speaking to the media, Nauman termed the Agricultural Census 2024 a historic milestone, saying it provides baseline data essential for evidence-based policymaking, efficient resource allocation and the formulation of strategies to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.

He said the census would help assess farming practices, livestock populations, farm mechanization, resource utilization and market trends, enabling the government and other stakeholders to address key challenges and identify opportunities for growth. The data, he added, would also be valuable for the private sector.

Speaking on the occasion, PBS Chief Statistician Dr Naeem uz Zafar said the 7th Agricultural Census 2024 (Integrated Digital Count) was conducted through an integrated approach covering agricultural land, crops, livestock and agricultural machinery.

He said the report comprises six chapters, including an introduction, digital innovations, sample design and key indicators related to agriculture, livestock and agricultural machinery.

Dr Zafar said the census employed advanced digital technologies, including tablet-based data collection, geo-tagging of agricultural households, real-time monitoring dashboards, digital maps and task management systems to improve the accuracy and reliability of data collection.

He added that publicity campaigns were conducted through social media, while a hotline-based complaint management system ensured transparency. Several software modules, including a GIS-based dashboard monitoring system and Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) applications, were developed to enhance operational efficiency and data quality.

He said PBS utilized its upgraded in-house data centre to support census operations, reducing costs while ensuring round-the-clock IT support and data security. He also acknowledged the cooperation of provincial administrations in conducting field operations and praised the dedication of enumerators and supervisors who underwent extensive training for the exercise.

James Robert Okoth, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), also addressed the ceremony.

A detailed presentation on the 7th Agricultural Census 2024 was given during the event, while a souvenir was presented to Parliamentary Secretary Hafiz Mian Muhammad Nauman at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Lahore: Former president of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry and founder of the US-Pakistan Joint Business Council Iftikhar Ali Malik on Monday extended warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations to the government and people of the United States on the occasion of the country’s 250th Independence Anniversary.

In a statement issued here, he said the historic milestone reflected the enduring strength of democratic values, constitutional governance, innovation and the resilience of the American people. He wished the US leadership and people continued peace, progress, prosperity and success in the years ahead.

He said the United States had played a significant role in global economic development, technological advancement, education and humanitarian efforts.

Expressing optimism about the future of bilateral relations, he said stronger trade, investment, innovation and people-to-people contacts would further deepen Pakistan-US ties and create new opportunities for shared prosperity.

He said Pakistan and the United States enjoyed a long-standing relationship based on mutual respect and shared interests, adding that the private sector could serve as a strong bridge for enhancing economic cooperation, promoting entrepreneurship and expanding business partnerships.

Reaffirming his commitment to strengthening commercial relations through the US-Pakistan Joint Business Council, he said sustained collaboration between the business communities of both countries would help unlock new avenues for economic growth and mutual benefit.

Lahore: The Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has announced another major step in its campaign to eliminate single-use plastic, declaring that businesses will no longer be allowed to charge customers separately for plastic shopping bags after September 6, 2026.

Director General EPA Punjab Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh said that no business will be permitted to collect additional charges for plastic bags from consumers. He urged the public to report any violations by calling the EPA helpline 1373.

He warned that businesses found charging for plastic bags could face fines ranging from Rs5,000 to Rs50,000. In serious cases, authorities may seal the business premises and register an FIR against the violators.

Dr Sheikh clarified that businesses may charge customers for reusable bags made from cloth or other environmentally friendly materials. However, charging separately for plastic shopping bags-often branded and sold to consumers as a product while generating additional profit-will no longer be permitted.