Category: Lahore

Lahore: A meeting chaired by Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq reviewed matters related to Lahore Parking Company on Friday and ordered for developing new parking sites in the city.

Lahore Parking Company Chief Executive Officer Naveed-ul-Islam Virk briefed the minister about various ongoing and future development plans. The minister sought suggestions on outsourcing of on-road parking, and ordered for regularising private parking matters. He ordered for making the mechanism more effective for preventing overcharging in terms of parking fees. He said that Lahore Parking Company had the potential to collect revenue. "I am happy to know that Lahore Parking Company has increased its revenue through its measures," he said.

The parking company CEO said strict action was being taken against overcharging at parking sites. After the warning, FIRs were also registered. He assured that as per the instructions of the provincial minister, a survey for the preparation of new parking sites will be started soon.

Lahore: A heavy downpour halted the Australia-Afghanistan fixture in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Gaddafi Stadium on late Friday evening.

Earlier, Afghanistan scored 273-10 in their innings and set Australia a target of 274 runs to secure a place in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy. Australia are 109-1 in 12.5 overs.

The DLS par score is 56 and Australia are 53 runs ahead of Afghanistan. The team must play at least 20 overs in the innings to make DLS effective.

The rain has dampened hopes of Afghanistan to make to the maiden semi-final of an ICC event.

Lahore: The Punjab government decided to shift all 43 prisons in the province to solar energy and in this regard the home department had submitted the complete plan, along with a survey report, to the chief minister Punjab for approval.

Punjab home department spokesperson said here on Friday that an initial survey of all prisons was conducted with the assistance of the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC).

According to the survey findings,Punjab's prisons can be converted to solar energy at a cost of Rs 4.35 billion,the spokesperson said and added that the phased implementation of the proposed green energy solution would reduce electricity bills by 60%. The transition to solar energy will not only ensure a return on investment within three years but also provide long-term financial relief. By adopting solar power, Punjab's prisons will become energy self-sufficient, reducing the financial burden on the provincial treasury.

The decision to shift to green energy was made in response to the record increase in electricity and gas bills over the past years.

The Punjab home department requested the provincial cabinet to review the plan for approval and recommended to allocate Rs 2 billion for the project in the current financial year, added spokesperson.

The spokesperson said, the shift to solar energy was part of the government's strategy to reduce the financial burden on the provincial treasury.

Lahore: The Punjab University Officers Welfare Association (PUOWA) organised its general body meeting, here on Friday.

PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Muhammad Ali, Pro-VC Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood, Registrar Dr Ahmad Islam, Controller of Examinations Muhammad Rauf Nawaz, Treasure Tasneem Kamran, RO-I Col (retd) Khalid Umer, President PUOWA Dr Toqeer Ali, General Secretary Rana Muzaffar Ali and officers were present.

In the meeting, the names of two officers including Zubair Nawaz Awan and Muhammad Shahid were drawn for a complete package of Umrah.

In his address, PU VC Dr Muhammad Ali appreciated the officers association for the initiative. He hoped that the officer's community will continue to perform their duties for PU. President PUOWA Dr Toqeer Ali congratulated the lucky officers nominated for performing Umrah. He thanked the VC Dr Muhammad Ali for the cooperation.Dr Toqeer assured that PUOWA will continue to play its role for the betterment of PU officers. He said that we would try to give Umrah tickets to four officers next year. Later, PU VC distributed shields among the retired officers in recognition of their services towards PU.

Lahore: The Pakistan Railways administration has announced revised working hours for reservation offices across the country during the holy month of Ramazan.

According to a notification issued on Friday, the morning shift will operate from 7: 30 AM to 12: 30 PM, while the evening shift will function from 12: 30 PM to 5: 30 PM. Additionally, on Fridays, there will be a break for Juma prayers from 12: 30 PM to 2: 00 PM.

However, reservation offices that operate on a single shift will continue with their existing working hours.

The new timings will remain in effect until the 15th of Ramazan, after which all reservation offices will revert to their previous schedules.

This adjustment aims to facilitate passengers and staff during the fasting month, ensuring smooth operations while accommodating Ramazan routines.

Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday directed the authorities concerned to submit a traffic management plan for school hours.

Justice Shahid Karim passed the directions while hearing a set of petitions, filed by Haroon Farooq and others against ineffective measures to control smog.

During the hearing, the court highlighted the importance of innovative solutions for traffic management, urging the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to encourage its engineers to propose new ideas for resolving traffic issues.

The court further observed that traffic congestion persists due to the failure to enforce a one-way system on service lanes. To address this, it suggested imposing a Rs 10,000 fine on violators and recommended installing surveillance cameras to ensure compliance.

Justice Shahid Karim stressed that proper traffic engineering could significantly alleviate congestion, adding that while people worldwide follow similar traffic rules, enforcement remains a challenge in Pakistan.

The court also instructed the Home and Finance Departments to expedite decisions on improving the working conditions of traffic wardens, while commending the traffic police for their efforts in managing traffic during major events, such as sports matches.

Expressing concern over environmental hazards, the court noted that toxic gases from drains not only damage electronic devices but also pose serious health risks to citizens. It emphasized the need for public awareness and responsibility, stating that the government alone cannot resolve all issues.

The hearing has been adjourned until March 7.