Category: Lahore

Lahore: The crackdown on illegal and unplanned constructions by the city metropolitan corporation is under way, and a record recovery of more than Rs. 400 million has been made for the first time in terms of map fees.

According to metropolitan corporation official sources, at the end of the financial year, the recovery of Rs. 409.77 million was completed, while the planning department was given a target of Rs. 400 million for the current financial year.

According to the performance of the zones, Allama Iqbal zone stood first with 127 per cent recovery while Data Gunj Bakhsh zone came second with 105 per cent recovery. Ravi Zone achieved 69 per cent recovery and Sumanabad zone 51 per cent recovery, while overall all zones performed well to achieve the set targets.

Officials say that indiscriminate actions against illegal constructions will be continued in future and citizens have been instructed to get an approved map from the authority concerned before construction to avoid legal complications.

Lahore: SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry former president Iftikhar Ali Malik on Sunday called for accelerating efforts to translate Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement with Iran into sustainable economic growth through enhanced trade, energy cooperation and investment.

In a statement,he said Pakistan needed a two-pronged strategy focused on expanding economic ties with Iran while strengthening its presence on regional and global economic platforms to achieve long-term prosperity.

He urged the government to institutionalize cooperation with Iran in the areas of energy,trade and logistics,saying such measures would bring long-term economic benefits for both countries.

Malik said Pakistan should also focus on promoting its economic potential internationally, adding that the country had a strong base of family-owned businesses with significant investment capacity.

He stressed that the private sector should be allowed to play a leading role in driving economic growth.

He said targeted fiscal and monetary incentives through commercial banks, simplified tax policies and the one-window facilitation mechanism of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) would help strengthen economic foundations.

He added that enhanced economic cooperation with Iran could lead to increased bilateral trade, affordable energy supplies, reduced smuggling and lower cross-border transaction costs, while also improving Pakistan’s international economic outlook.

He further said diplomatic initiatives could yield meaningful economic dividends if complemented by policies promoting export-led growth, value addition, foreign direct investment, job creation, import substitution and technology transfer.

Lahore: Convener of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Committee on Food, Shahid Imran, on Sunday said the ‘Made in Pakistan’ campaign had emerged as a turning point in promoting locally manufactured products and strengthening the national economy by reducing dependence on imported brands.

Speaking to a delegation of industrialists, he said every purchase of a locally made product directly contributed to employment generation, industrial growth and economic stability.

He said a vibrant domestic manufacturing sector could significantly reduce the country’s import bill, conserve valuable foreign exchange reserves and improve the trade balance.

Shahid Imran said consumers could play a vital role in promoting self-reliance and sustainable economic development by choosing quality Pakistani brands.

He said Pakistan possessed immense potential in textiles, sports goods, surgical instruments, leather products, engineering goods, processed food and information technology, all of which could compete successfully in international markets if provided adequate policy support and investment.

Expressing optimism, he said a strong national commitment to supporting indigenous brands would accelerate industrialization, create thousands of new employment opportunities, boost exports and pave the way for a resilient, self-sustaining and prosperous economy.

Lahore: Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) continued its province-wide crackdown against quackery during June, sealing 646 illegal treatment centres across the province. PHC spokesperson said on Sunday, the action followed 2,837 inspections conducted by enforcement teams of the commission’s Anti-Quackery Department at various healthcare establishments. Lahore recorded the highest level of enforcement activity, with 457 visits resulting in the sealing of 142 illegal outlets operating without qualified medical professionals. In Faisalabad, PHC teams conducted 123 visits and sealed 32 illegal centres, while in Sargodha, 165 inspections led to the closure of 17 quack outlets. Significant action was also taken in Rajanpur, where 144 healthcare establishments were inspected and 27 illegal centres sealed. In Kasur, 96 facilities were visited and 43 quack outlets closed, while Gujranwala recorded 101 inspections and 23 sealings. Other districts witnessing notable enforcement included Multan, where 99 visits resulted
in seven closures; Bahawalpur, with 87 visits and 11 sealings; Muzaffargarh, with 85 inspections and 14 closures; Vehari, with 82 visits and 12 sealings; Pakpattan, with 70 visits and 21 sealing; and Sialkot, where 113 inspections led to the sealing of 23 illegal outlets. The anti-quackery drive also extended to semi-urban and rural areas, with districts such as Attock, Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Chiniot and Jhang recording multiple inspections and closures, reflecting the commission’s commitment to eliminating illegal medical practices across Punjab.

The spokesperson said that, in addition to sealing 646 illegal treatment centres, enforcement teams found 148 premises where quackery-related businesses had either ceased operations, shifted locations or been converted into other businesses following previous actions. Another 1,865 healthcare establishments, where qualified medical practitioners were present during inspections, have been placed under surveillance to ensure continued compliance with legal and professional standards. The PHC spokesperson added that sustained anti-quackery operations have significantly transformed Punjab’s healthcare sector. Since the launch of the campaign, the commission has conducted 252,186 inspections, sealed more than 72,700 illegal outlets, forced nearly 32,000 unqualified practitioners to abandon unsafe practices and placed over 45,500 establishments under surveillance.

Lahore: Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) Chairman Moazzam Iqbal Sapra has issued orders for the appointment and transfer of 19 officers. PRA spokesperson confirmed to the media here Sunday that transfers and postings include 14 Enforcement Officers and 05 Audit Officers. The reshuffle aims to further strengthen the Authority’s administrative capacity and improve operational efficiency. Officers have been assigned new responsibilities across various districts and field formations. The appointments and transfers were made on the basis of merit, professional experience, and administrative requirements. PRA Chairman Moazzam Iqbal Sapra said that the Authority would further strengthen its administrative capacity to achieve revenue collection targets and expand the tax net. He directed the officers to play an active role in enhancing field operations, monitoring, and the effective enforcement of tax laws.

Lahore: Punjab Food Authority (PFA) sealed three food businesses and imposed fines amounting to Rs 250,000 on two others during a crackdown against food safety violations in Shahdara, Park View, Railway Road and adjoining areas. PFA Director General Syed Musa Raza told the media on Sunday that enforcement teams carried out marathon inspections and discarded more than one maund of substandard meat and prohibited China salt during the operation. The authority sealed a breakfast restaurant, a sajji outlet and a murabba (preserves) production unit until they complied with food safety standards. A restaurant was also fined Rs 200,000 for failing to implement previously issued corrective measures and violating food safety regulations. DG Syed Musa Raza said inspection teams found open production areas, uncovered drains and unhygienic conditions at the premises.

A live frog and a large number of insects were also found in the production section, while food items were stored in fungus-infested, foul-smelling freezers. The teams also found stagnant contaminated water on damaged floors. He said food was being prepared in non-food-grade utensils, while mandatory purchase records, cooking oil replacement logs and water filtration records were unavailable.

The use of prohibited China salt in food preparation was also detected, posing a serious risk to public health. The DG urged food business operators to strictly comply with food safety regulations to ensure the provision of safe and hygienic food. He said the authority would continue taking strict legal action against all businesses violating food safety laws under its zero-tolerance policy. He also appealed to citizens to report food-related complaints through the PFA helpline 1223.