Category: Lahore

Lahore: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday recorded statements of seven prosecution witnesses against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers in four cases related to the May 9 riots, including the attack on Askari Tower.

ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill conducted the proceedings at Kot Lakhpat Jail, where incarcerated PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed were produced.

Several other accused individuals, who are currently out on bail, also appeared before the court.

During the hearing, the court recorded statements of three prosecution witnesses in the Shadman police station torching case. Additionally, one prosecution witness testified in the Askari Tower attack case, while three others provided statements in two cases involving the burning of police vehicles near Jinnah House and Mughalpura.

The court adjourned the proceedings till March 27 and summoned additional witnesses for the next hearing.

Lahore: Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, historic and fundamental steps are being taken to revolutionize the province's health sector.

He expressed these views while chairing the 93rd meeting of the Board of Directors of the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC) on Thursday.

During the meeting, the minister highlighted the significance of three key health programs introduced by the Punjab government: the Chief Minister's Dialysis Program, the Chief Minister's Special Initiative for Transplant Program, and the Chief Minister's Children's Heart Surgery Program. He stated that the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company has been designated as the executing agency for these flagship initiatives to ensure their effective implementation.

Khawaja Salman Rafique assured that the entire system governing these programs has been designed with complete transparency. He emphasized that the Punjab government launched these initiatives to provide free-of-cost treatment to patients who cannot afford expensive medical procedures. 'Every plan has been introduced with the sole aim of healing the wounds of suffering humanity,' he added.

During the meeting, multiple agenda points of PHIMC were discussed. The board approved the minutes of its 92nd meeting and conducted a detailed review of the three major health initiatives. Additionally, an IT contract with the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) for the Chief Minister's Children's Heart Surgery Program was approved. The board also sanctioned revisions to PHIMC's procurement manual.

A major decision taken in the meeting was the approval to hire consultancy services for the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research in Lahore. The information system developed by PITB was also reviewed.

Secretary of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department, Azmat Mahmood, participated in the meeting via video link. Other key attendees included CEO PHIMC Dr. Ali Razaq, CEO Punjab Healthcare Commission Dr. Saqib Aziz, Dr. Zahid Pervez, Dr. Shujaat Ali, Parveen Agha, Deputy Secretary Finance Department Bilal, and others. Additionally, Dr. Adnan Khan, Member Health P and D Shafaat Ali, Director PITB Nousheen Fayyaz, and several other officials joined the meeting virtually.

Lahore: The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Lahore will install another solar system with a capacity of 3.5 megawatt this year besides purchasing 200 new machinery units for improved service delivery. It was announced by Managing Director Ghufran Ahmed during a meeting chaired by Chairperson Punjab Chief Minister's Inspection, Surveillance, and Monitoring Directorate Brigadier (retd) Babar Alaud Din who visited the head office on Thursday. Ghufran Ahmad provided a comprehensive briefing on the ongoing projects under the Lahore Development Programme.

A detailed discussion was held regarding the WASA master plan, including the agency's revenue collection, complaint management system and solarization initiatives. Further updates were shared on the IT reforms within WASA Lahore, including the introduction of a rain dashboard, revenue dashboard, vehicle monitoring, generator monitoring and the 1334 Call Center dashboard. Under the Lahore Development Program, WASA Lahore is progressing with its projects in two phases. The first phase involves the laying of 443 km of sewage lines and 548 km of water supply lines. Work in this phase is progressing rapidly, with the second phase set to commence later this year.

Brigadier Babar Alaud Din directed the WASA officials to ensure the timely completion of development projects, emphasizing that no compromises should be made on quality while meeting modern infrastructure standards for efficient water drainage systems.

During the visit, the chairperson also visited the control room, accompanied by his team, including Staff Officer Abdul Jabbar Bhatti, Major (retd) Naveed Aslam , DMD Abdul Latif and all town directors

from WASA Lahore.

Lahore: Inspector General of Police Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar, has directed that security measures will be extremely tight on the occasion of the Martyrdom Day of Hazrat Ali (RA).

In continuation of this, more than 8,000 officers and personnel will be deployed in the provincial capital, Lahore, for the security of mourning processions and majalis. Security will remain highly stringent on the Martyrdom Day of Hazrat Ali (RA).

More than 26,000 police officers and personnel will be deployed across the province, including Lahore, for the security of mourning processions and majalis.

Punjab Police spokesperson, while providing details, said that 17,000 officers and personnel will be deployed for the security of 192 mourning processions, while over 9,000 officers and personnel will be performing duties at 955 majalis.

To ensure the security of participants in the processions and majalis, 1,971 metal detectors and 457 walk-through gates will be utilized. Continuous monitoring of mourning processions and majalis will be conducted with the assistance of Safe Cities Authority and district administration cameras.

Across Punjab, including Lahore, 27 mourning processions categorized as 'A' will be taken out, and 62 majalis will be held. All activities will be monitored from the Central Control and Monitoring Room established at the Central Police Office.

The IG Punjab said that police will remain on high alert and will ensure complete checking of participants in the mourning processions and majalis.

Female police officers will be deployed for the security checking of female mourners. Commandos in plain clothes will be present in the mourning processions, and snipers will be deployed on the rooftops along the routes. Special arrangements will be made to maintain smooth traffic flow through alternative routes across the province.

Dolphin Squad, PRU, Special Branch, CTD, and all field formations will adopt a joint strategy for security arrangements on the Martyrdom Day of Hazrat Ali (RA).

The IG Punjab further said that RPOs, CPOs, and DPOs should remain present in the field to inspect the security arrangements for processions and majalis in sensitive districts.

Lahore: Chairman Cabinet Committee on Law and Order and Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has directed authorities to ensure foolproof security arrangements for Youm Ali (RA) .

He was presiding over the 25th meeting of the Special Cabinet Committee on Law and Order (SCCLO) at the Home Department on Thursday.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed security measures for Youm Ali (RA) and the last ten days of Ramadan. It was emphasized that strict security arrangements should be implemented around mosques, especially during Qiyaam-ul-Layl. The committee also approved the extension of Rangers' deployment in Mianwali, DG Khan, and Attock to maintain law and order.

Khawaja Salman Rafique stated that the meeting conducted a comprehensive review of the latest law and order situation across the province. He reiterated that ensuring the safety of citizens remains the state's top priority. He also acknowledged the Punjab Home Department's coordination with all relevant institutions to ensure a peaceful Ramadan.

Additionally, the committee appreciated the efforts of employees and officers who performed their duties diligently during the ICC Champions Trophy series.

The Punjab government has assured citizens that all necessary measures are being taken to maintain peace and security during religious observances.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister for Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, who was present in person, and Provincial Minister for Transport Bilal Akbar Khan, who joined via video link. Punjab Home Secretary Noor ul Amin Mengal briefed the committee on the province's current law and order situation.

Senior officials, including Additional IG Punjab Chaudhry Sultan, Special Secretary Home Fazal ur Rehman, IG Prisons, CTD, and Special Branch representatives, also participated. Commissioners and RPOs from across Punjab attended the meeting via video link.

Lahore: On the instructions of Inspector General of Police Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar, the process of police employees' promotions continues uninterrupted.

In continuation of this, the process for the promotion of Senior Scale Stenographers to the post of Private Secretary has been initiated.

Punjab Police spokesperson said that for promotion to the post of Private Secretary in Grade 17, ACRs and service records of 18 Senior Scale Stenographers have been asked. A meeting of the Promotion Board will be held immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr to finalize the promotions for the Private Secretary post.

Senior Scale Stenographers who meet the criteria of merit, seniority, and rules and regulations will be promoted to the post of Private Secretary. AIG Admin and Security has issued a letter in this regard to CCPO Lahore, the Regional Police Officers (RPOs) of Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, and Faisalabad, Commandant PC, Additional IG of Special Branch, CTD, PHP, Investigation Branch Punjab, and IAB.