Category: Lahore

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare, Khawaja Imran Nazir, has reaffirmed the government's commitment to delivering top-quality healthcare services to the province's 125 million people under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

He expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation from the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP), led by Professor Khalid Masood Gondal, on Wednesday. The meeting focused on discussions regarding FCPS and MCPS training programs for doctors in the Primary and Secondary Healthcare sector.

Khawaja Imran Nazir emphasized that training doctors at District Headquarters Hospitals (DHQs) and Tehsil Headquarters Hospitals (THQs) would help address local healthcare challenges. "Providing modern medical facilities to the public is our mission and top priority," he said.

The minister stated that the Chief Minister would be consulted regarding the FCPS and MCPS training initiatives for DHQ and THQ doctors. He further noted that specialized training at divisional and tehsil levels would help overcome the shortage of consultants, reducing the patient burden on specialized hospitals in Lahore and other major cities.

Highlighting the government's healthcare strategy, he said, 'The Chief Minister is allocating the highest resources to the health department to ensure the provision of quality medical care across Punjab.' He added that revamping DHQs and THQs would provide modern healthcare facilities to remote areas.

'I am continuously visiting hospitals in various districts to ensure the availability of essential medical facilities,' the minister asserted.

Secretary of Primary and Secondary Health Nadia Saqib, Professor Mahmood Ayaz, Dr. Abrar Ashraf, and other officials were also present at the meeting.

Lahore: In an exchange of fire between the Organized Crime Unit City Kotwali and

the robbers, an accused involved in various cases was killed by the firing of his own accomplices.

The police said that the organized crime team was taking the accused to the Shahdara Town police station to recover weapons. Meanwhile, the unidentified accused opened indiscriminate fire on the officials. In retaliation, Zeeshan died due to firing of his own accomplices. According to police officials, the accused was involved in dozens of serious crimes

such as kidnapping and raping children and robbery.

Lahore: On the directions of Inspector General of Police Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar, security has been increased across Punjab in the context of the current national situation and ICC Champions Trophy semi-final. Intelligence-based search and sweep operations and mock exercises are ongoing across Punjab.

As many as 437 search and sweep operations were conducted across Punjab in the last 24 hours. During the search operations, 38 proclaimed offenders and 115 accused involved in heinous crimes were arrested, besides recovering 03 Kalashnikovs, 16 guns, 19 handguns and hundreds of bullets from the possession of the accused, while 24 kilograms of charas, 01 kilogram of heroin and other drugs were also recovered from the possession of the accused.

The IG Punjab said that mock exercises of Punjab Police are also underway to wipe out terrorists and criminal elements. Teams of Punjab Police, CTD, Special Branch, Elite Force and Rescue 1122 are participating in the mock exercises.

Dr. Usman Anwar further said that Punjab Police will continue preventive measures including search and sweep operations and mock exercises to protect the country and nation.

Lahore: At least 11 people were killed and 1,476 others injured in 1,311 road accidents in Punjab during the last 24 hours. As many as 631 people with serious injuries were shifted to different hospitals, while 845 with minor injuries were treated at the incident site by the rescue medical teams.

The data analysis showed that 883 drivers, 60 underage drivers, 173 pedestrians, and 431 passengers were among the victims of road crashes. The statistics showed that 274 accidents were reported in Lahore, which affected 334 people, placing the provincial capital at top of the list, followed by Faisalabad with 93 accidents and 105 victims, and at third Multan with 74 accidents and 84 victims.

According to the data, 1,259 motorbikes, 82 auto-rickshaws, 139 motorcars, 31 vans, 16 passenger buses, 30 trucks and 97 other types of vehicles and slow-moving carts were involved in the road accidents.

Lahore: Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (Punjab Zone) spokesman said here Wednesday that ex-mill price of sugar has not increased abnormally as it keeps fluctuating on the basis of demand and supply.

PSMA spokesman denied the news circulating in media that the industry is increasing the sugar prices. He explained that the price mechanism is dependent on market forces. Real beneficiaries of artificial price hike of sugar in retail market are Satta Mafia, hoarders and profiteers who after taking stock of the situation, spread rumours to influence the interplay of market forces to gain undue profits on sugar available with them, he claimed.

He mentioned that sugar mills are already providing sugar at a concessional rate of Rs. 130 in all districts and tehsils through Ramadan Package discount stalls during the holy month in collaboration with Federal/Provincial governments and District Administrations.

Moreover, he said, sugarcane rates have also gone up to Rs. 650 per maund in the current crushing season. Other factors of rising costs of production of sugar include increased taxation on sugar industry, expensive imported chemicals and wage increases.

It is an established fact that when expense on raw material increases, price of final product will ultimately rise for industry to survive and to recover the cost of production.

He further said that in the current crushing season rates of sugarcane have risen considerably due to effects of global warming and pest attacks on the sugarcane crop. At first, last year the summer temperatures went very high which damaged the sugarcane crop. Later, when farmers had to fertilise the cane crop heavy rains started in September and October which badly affected the crop. The sugar recovery and per acre yield of sugarcane drastically came down which has affected the farmers and sugar industry.

Lahore: Newly-appointed additional judges of the Lahore High Court (LHC) took the oath of office, here on Wednesday.

LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum administered the oath to four newly appointed judges in a simple but impressive ceremony held at the judges' lounge. LHC Registrar Amjad Iqbal Ranjha conducted the proceedings.

The additional judges include Justice Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Justice Tanveer Ahmad Sheikh, Justice Tariq Mehmood Bajwa, and Justice Abher Gul Khan, all of whom have been elevated from the district judiciary.

LHC judges, including Justice Shujaat Ali Khan, Justice Ali Baqir Najafi, and Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh, along with federal and provincial law officers, office bearers of the Lahore High Court Bar, senior lawyers, LHC officers, and the families and friends of the newly appointed judges, also attended the ceremony.

After the elevation of these judges, the number of judges at the LHC has reached 47.