Category: Lahore

Lahore: The Punjab government has successfully addressed the long-standing issue of delayed honorarium payments for trainee doctors, nurses, and lady health visitors (LHVs) under the Department of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education (SHandME).

A high-level meeting was held on Saturday, chaired by the Secretary of SHandME and attended by the Managing Director of Punjab Health Foundation (PHF), representatives of trainee doctors, and officials from the Bank of Punjab. The meeting focused on reviewing the honorarium distribution process and implementing measures to ensure timely payments.

According to the SHandME spokesperson, more than Rs. 17 billion has been disbursed in honorariums over the past ten months, benefiting over 26,000 trainees across Punjab. The Punjab Health Foundation is now responsible for managing these payments, ensuring that trainees receive their honorariums directly in their bank accounts without unnecessary delays.

To further improve efficiency, medical colleges have been directed to upload the attendance of all trainees on the Punjab Health Foundation portal by the 15th of every month instead of the 25th. This adjustment aims to accelerate payment processing and prevent delays. The Punjab Assembly Standing Committee on Health has praised these improvements and assured full support for the initiative.

Since taking over the responsibility of honorarium payments in April 2024, the Punjab Health Foundation has introduced a modern digital portal to enhance transparency and efficiency. Previously, trainees had to visit multiple offices to receive their payments, but the new system allows them to receive their honorariums while sitting at home, a step particularly appreciated by female trainees.

The implementation of this digital payment system has also eliminated fraudulent practices such as ghost employees, double salaries, and fake jobs.

Lahore: DG Khan police achieved another major success and foiled the second major attack by Khawarji terrorists on Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border check post "Lakhani" this week.

Providing the details, the Punjab police spokesperson said that 15 to 20 Khawarji terrorists suddenly attacked the border post Lakhani at the time of Sehri. They attacked the check post in the form of small groups from all sides. They used rocket launchers and heavy weapons in the attack. Due to the alertness of the police personnel, the terrorists were identified from a distance using thermal image cameras. The police personnel promptly retaliated by firing machine guns and mortars. Due to the vigorous retaliatory action, the Khawarji terrorists failed to reach the check post and retreated.

There are reports of heavy casualties among the terrorists as a result of the effective retaliatory action.

It should be remembered that 6 days ago, another attack by the Khawarji terrorists on the check post was foiled. The operation against the terrorists was commanded by RPO DG Khan Captain (R) Sajjad Hassan Khan and backup teams of QRF under the command of DPO Dera Ghazi Khan Syed Ali immediately reached the spot. IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar has congratulated the police team who repelled the terrorist attack and said that Punjab Police has previously foiled 19 attacks by the Khawarji terrorists. Terrorists will be defeated on every front. Punjab Police will ensure the safety of the lives and properties of the people at all costs. The Punjab government has provided the border posts on the Punjab-KP border with the latest weapons. Due to the alertness of the police personnel the Khawarij terrorists could not succeed in their nefarious objectives, he said.

RPO Dera Ghazi Khan said that the police along with other agencies are conducting a search operation in the border areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Lahore: Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has reiterated that even one percent negligence in the treatment and care of patients in government hospitals will not be tolerated.

He made these remarks while chairing a meeting at the Department of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education on Friday, where service delivery at Mayo Hospital, Lahore, was reviewed in detail.

During the meeting, officials assessed various administrative matters, including the bulk purchase of medicines, stock balance, live dashboard monitoring, and clinic operations. The minister emphasized that, as per the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a 100 per cent supply of medicines would be ensured at the hospital.

Khawaja Salman highlighted that sufficient stock of syringes, cannulas, and other essential disposables is available for patients at Mayo Hospital. He directed the hospital administration to facilitate patients efficiently, stressing that billions of rupees are allocated to government hospitals solely to enhance healthcare services.

Expressing concern over complaints of medicine shortages despite sufficient stock, the minister ordered the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department to investigate the issue and ensure accountability.

Punjab Health Secretary Azmat Mahmood, Special Secretary Operations Tariq Mahmood Rehmani, Special Secretary Development Zeeshan Shabbir Rana, and other senior officials attended the meeting. Vice Chancellor of King Edward Medical University, Professor Mahmood Ayaz, along with other senior faculty members and the Board of Management of Mayo Hospital, participated via video link.

Lahore: Recommendations for 39 deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) eligible for promotion to the rank of SP have been finalised.

Inspector General of Police Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar forwarded the promotion recommendations to the Punjab government for approval.

Punjab Police spokesperson provided further details, that after final approval from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the official notification for promotions will be issued.

Promotion Board meeting for the promotion of DSPs to SP was held on Friday at the Central Police Office under the chairmanship of IG Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar.

A total of 133 DSP cases were reviewed during the meeting. 39 DSPs who met the merit criteria and regulations were deemed eligible for promotion. Among the officers eligible for promotion to the rank of SP is DSP Traffic, Riaz Ahmed. IG Punjab said that the next Promotion Board meeting for promotions to the rank of SP in the Crime Control Department and other units will be held after Eid. Punjab Police spokesperson further shared that the list of successful candidates for promotion includes DSPs Shahid Rasheed, Sajid Mehmood, Yousuf Haroon, Fawad Ahmad, Muneer Badar, Shafqat Nadeem, Kashif Abdullah, Ramiz Ahmed, Raza Ullah, Ali Akhtar, Shahid Shafiq, Amir Mushtaq, Shahid Nazir, Jan Muhammad, Muhammad Khan, Irfan Ul Haq, Babar Mumtaz, Saeed Ahmed, Mansoor Ul Hassan, Akhtar Ali, Atif Imran, Muhammad Saleem, Fayaz Ahmed, Jamshed Iqbal, Muhammad Tariq, Hassan Farooq, Nasrullah Khan, Khalid Saeed, Zafar Javed, Shahid Ikram, Asar Ali, Ghazi Muhammad Umar Farooq, Zulfiqar Ali, Mudassir Iqbal, Humayun Iftikhar, Moazz am Ali, Adil Rasheed, Saleem Ullah, and Riaz Ahmed.

Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif made surprise visits to various areas of Lahore to assess the pace and quality of ongoing development projects.

She reviewed the implementation of the mega project for Lahore's development and visited multiple zones under the historic Lahore Development Program.

During her inspection, the chief minister assessed the progress of ongoing projects and emphasised that development across all areas of Lahore should be uniform and of the highest quality, just like in the rest of Punjab.

Speaking to officials, she stated, "I want to establish a system that ensures such problems do not resurface and cause distress to the people. The Lahore Development Programme is designed to uplift the entire city, benefiting people from all socioeconomic backgrounds, including the poor, middle class and wealthy. Years of public grievances will be addressed through this initiative."

As part of the project, Lahore has been divided into nine zones to ensure that no area, neighborhood, or settlement is left out of the development process, she added and said the project will be executed in two phases: in the first phase, development work will be carried out in six zones, while the remaining three zones will be covered in the second phase. The designated zones include Gulberg, Data Ganj Bakhsh, Samanabad, Shalamar, Ravi, Aziz Bhatti, Nishtar, Wagah, and Allama Iqbal.

During a briefing, the CM was informed that out of a total of 450 development schemes planned for the first phase of the Lahore Development Programme, 252 projects fall under WASA (Water and Sanitation Agency), while 198 are under the Municipal Corporation Lahore. Construction work has been assigned for 433 schemes, and work has already begun on 411 projects.

Under the programme, various infrastructure improvements are underway, including pavement of streets, roads and intersections, as well as the installation of drainage and sewerage systems. For the first time, large-diameter sewer lines are being laid across all zones using modern engineering techniques to prevent future sewage blockages and drainage issues.

All project contracts have been digitised and integrated into the system. The quality and speed of development work are being closely monitored, with real-time updates uploaded in the form of pictures and videos through the Inspector App.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb also accompanied the CM during the visit.

Lahore: On the directives of DG Food Authority, food safety teams conducted a grand operation across Punjab to ensure safe and hygienic food during Ramazan.

A total of 3,330 food units were inspected, resulting in six cases being registered and one suspect arrested. Authorities sealed 15 Sehri and Iftar points, while 370 units were fined Rs. 5.389 million for violations.

During crackdown, 215 kg of counterfeit tea, 10,293 liters of substandard oil, 1,785 liters of adulterated milk and over 1,000 kg of Pakoras were confiscated and discarded. A counterfeit tea production unit in Nishtar was raided leading to arrest of its owner. Unit was involved in repackaging used tea leaves into fake branded packaging. Several renowned breakfast restaurants were also sealed due to poor hygiene standards.

Major violations included the absence of medical and training certificates for food handlers. Use of rotten vegetables and expired foul-smelling ingredients in Sehri preparations and unhygienic conditions such as fungus-infested freezers and contaminated water in processing areas.

DG Food Authority reaffirmed that there is zero tolerance for health hazards during Ramazan. Food safety teams are working round the clock to inspect Sehri and Iftar points, Ramazan Bazaars and street vendors. Ensuring safe and high-quality food for people of Punjab remains the top priority.