Category: Lahore

Lahore: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday extended the interim bail of PTI leaders Musarrat Jamshed Cheema and her husband, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, until March 22 in multiple cases related to the May 9 riots, including the Jinnah House and Askari Tower attacks.

ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill presided over the hearing on the bail petitions of the couple, who also appeared before the court upon the expiry of their interim bail.

During the proceedings, police informed the court that investigations into the cases had been completed and that the couple's arrest was required.

However, the defence counsel requested additional time to present arguments, which the court accepted.

Subsequently, the court extended the couple's interim bail until March 22 and adjourned further proceedings.

Musarrat Jamshed Cheema and Jamshed Iqbal Cheema had filed pre-arrest bail petitions in several cases, including attacks on Jinnah House and Askari Tower, the torching of Shadman police station, and others.

Lahore: Punjab University (PU) signed an agreement with Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), for registration of working human capital and bridge the gap between potential employer and employee through an IT system.

In this regard, a ceremony to sign memorandum of understanding was held at PU VC's office here on Tuesday.

On this occasion, PU VC Prof Dr Muhammad Ali, Director IT Operations PITB Atif Husssain, PU Director Career Counseling and Placement Centre Dr Fouzia Hadi Ali, Director External Linkages Dr Yaamina Salman, and others were present.

According to MoU, Punjab University will provide the incoming flow of the students and will encourage them to get registered into Punjab Job Center Portal. PITB will support for integration of database with available data of current students and alumni. PU will inform PITB in case of any activity planned i.e job fairs, talent hunt programs etc. As per MoU, PU will publicize Punjab Job Center within university premises. PITB will also provide necessary information to students regarding registration and its benefits; ensure the secrecy of data provided.

PITB shall oversee and ensure timely execution of project activities and maintaining project reports and record keeping of project activities. Both the institutions are united by common interests and objectives, and they shall establish channels of communication and co-operation that will promote and advance their respective operations. The institutions will keep each other informed of potential opportunities and shall share all information that may be relevant to secure additional opportunities for one another.

PU VC Dr Muhammad Ali said that MoU will bring opportunities for students. He said that in Pakistan a number of IT graduates of Punjab University are working in key-positions, which is a matter of pride.

Lahore: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari fired off a scathing critique of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, dismissing its claim of launching 625 projects in just 365 days as nothing more than a farce.

She challenged the KP administration's ability to manage even its basic educational budget, questioning how a province struggling with funding for universities could claim such grand achievements. Azma added that the 625 projects of the Gandapur government will be as plentiful as one billion trees. 'Khyber Pakhtunkhwa isn't advancing; it is instead taking the lead in lawlessness, terrorism and corruption,' she declared in response to Barrister Safe's statement.

She accused the Gandapur-led government of prioritizing empty promises over addressing rampant lawlessness, terrorism and corruption in the region. 'We haven't seen any minister or even the chief minister of KP inaugurate a new project even for a single day throughout the year. In a year, the minister hasn't even come to the Chief Minister's office 685 times. Were these projects started by proxies?' she questioned.

"In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, government employees protest every week for their salaries and municipal representatives demonstrate over funds." The information minister noted that in Gandapur's priorities, it is not the poor masses of the province that matter-but rather, those kept as 'prisoners of the court.'

She accused that corruption in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reached its peak, with members of the accountability committee themselves implicated. 'The accountability committee-responsible for issues ranging from watches and rings to the 190-million-rupees robbery-is itself answerable,' she said.

Azma Bokhari concluded by added that the funds Khyber Pakhtunkhwa receives from the federal government are being used only for rallies, sit-ins and wasteful expenditures. 'The federal government should audit the funds allocated to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,' she asserted.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif formally launched the 'Chief Minister Punjab Free Solar Panel Scheme' by conducting a digital balloting here on Monday.

She conducted an automatic digital balloting of the 'Chief Minister Free Solar Panel Scheme' by giving different numbers and congratulated the lucky users who succeeded in the scheme.

The CM directed to complete the solar panel installation process as soon as possible. She said, 'We want to provide maximum relief to the people from expensive electricity and there should be no delay int this regard. The free solar panel scheme should be completed at the earliest.'

On this occasion, it was informed that after physical verification, the installation of solar systems will start across the province by the end of March. The first phase of the free solar panel scheme installation will be completed by the end of July.

The Secretary Energy gave a detailed briefing to the CM about the scheme. The secretary said that 94,483 solar systems will be installed in the first phase. Solar systems will be installed free of charge for consumers consuming up to 200 units per month in the province. Over 861,000 consumers have applied for the scheme. The entire process was completed through end-to-end digitization. It was further informed that 47,182 systems of 0.55 kW and 47,301 systems of 1.1 kW will be installed. Consumers using 100 units per month and up to 200 units per month will be given free solar systems. Verification will be done using the reference number and CNIC number listed on the consumer's monthly bill. A helpline has also been set up to assist and facilitate the consumers who receive free solar panels.

The solar panels and inverter will be linked to the consumer's computerized identity card to protect them from theft. It was apprised in the briefing that installing 100,000 solar systems in Punjab will reduce carbon emissions by 57,000 tonnes. The scheme will also reduce the burden of subsidy on the federal government.

Lahore: Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has said that lifting the ICC Champions Trophy 2006 and 2009 editions is the high watermark of his career and the tournament left lasting imprints on his game.

Reminiscing on his journey as a cricketer and coach with the ICC Media Zone on Monday, Watson credits Champions Trophy as the stage which helped him achieve great deal of success as far as personal and team milestones were concerned, adding that Champions Trophy 2002 was his first tournament in the baggy green. Shane Watson was player of the match (POTM) for Australia in both the Champions Trophy finals 2006 in India and South Africa 2009 while his contribution in the 2009 semi-final was also excellent. He shared the journey to glory in the Champions Trophy 2006 and 2009 in detail and described this tournament was close to his heart. As the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Pakistan enters the last week of action, he believes the love for cricket echoes throughout Pakistan and he witnessed people's immense passion for cricket for the past two weeks though their country did not fare well this year. 'I could not represent my country in Pakistan but was lucky to play franchise cricket in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the year 2019 and these were most memorable weeks of my life with Quetta Gladiators,' Shane Watson added. Watson said that the group stages provided some excellent cricket but it's the knock-out matches that really count, and this week is going to be brilliant, adding that Pakistan will be ready for the off the filed to watch some spectacular cricketing action in the Champions Trophy. 'I was always a confident person, all athletes are, but it was in 2006 that I really knew I had the skill to perform for my country and help them win and that is a different confidence, it is a different feeling,' he reminisced. 'When I started, I was just trying to contribute here and there because the team was so strong. We had Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, the list just goes on. Most of those guys were still there in 2006 and delivering in that team, opening the batting with Adam Gilchrist and scoring an unbeaten 57 in the final, just proved to me I belonged,' Watson said, adding, "It was the start of me being at my best as a fast-bowling all-rounder and to have that opportunity to bat with Adam and bowl the overs that I did was immense." Recalling the presence of the greats in Australian set-up in 2006, he said, 'I was brought into an all-time great team at the absolute peak of their powers and a lot of them were some of the best players that have ever played the game, so I was intimidated by their skill. I knew I had a lot of work to do before I could get my skills to a point where I felt I could come close to matching them and being where my team needed me, not just contribute a little bit. 2006 was that year'. Recalling the Champions Trophy 2009 as a standout tournament for him, he shared he didn't get off to a good start, and neither did the team. The team scraped to a couple of wins but things just clicked for us in that semi-final against England. They set us 258 to win and Ricky and I just knocked them off. I scored 136 not out and it was one of my favorite innings - not just because of how I di d but also the occasion and batting with one of my heroes growing up. Ricky was a great leader and he backed me all the way from the age of 19,' he shared. "In the final, we played New Zealand and I had this magical moment, where I hit a six to complete my century and also win the tournament. They are the moments you dream of. He said that he had a couple of really nice trophies from those days but his personal favorite was the watch he got for being man-of-the-match in the final," adding 'it is one of the most special things I have in my house. It brings back so many special memories. I have a painting of the 2015 World Cup celebrations, of me and Steve Smith in the middle when we hit the winning runs, but that watch is amazing - they are probably one of my two most prized possessions." One of the greatest white-ball all-rounders for Australia said, "The last two weeks have reminded us how special this tournament is and I hope that, in the years to come, those who have featured in it look back on it as fondl y as I do now."

Lahore: The provincial capital on Monday morning received drizzle bringing a pleasant weather, causing temperatures to drop. According to the Met office, mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country. However, rain-wind/thunderstorm (with snowfalls over hills) is likely at isolated places in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, Potohar region and Islamabad during the next 24 hours. The minimum temperature in the city was recorded 11 degrees celsius while the maximum remained 21 degrees celsius on Monday.