Category: Lahore

Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday dismissed a petition challenging the announcement of the 2025 Central Superior Services (CSS) exam schedule before the release of the 2024 exam results.

A single bench, comprising Justice Shahid Karim, heard the petition filed by Hamza Arif and others.

Advocate Nabeel Javed Kahloon represented the petitioners and argued that the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) had announced the 2025 CSS exam schedule without declaring the 2024 results. He contended that proceeding with a new exam before releasing the previous results was unfair. He urged the court to order the immediate release of the 2024 CSS results and to suspend the 2025 exam until the results were announced. He also requested directives to ensure the timely declaration of results in the future.

However, Deputy Attorney General Asad Ali Bajwa filed a reply on behalf of the FPSC, and stated that the 2024 exam results would be announced in April. He informed the court that preparations for the 2025 exam were already complete, with 18,139 candidates across the country having received their roll number slips. He submitted that, under Rule 16, candidates are eligible to participate in the next examination without waiting for the previous results. He also noted that the Islamabad High Court had previously rejected a similar petition.

At this, the court, addressing the petitioners' counsel, remarked that the entire examination process could not be halted based on their request.

After hearing the arguments, the court dismissed the petition to halt the examination.

Lahore: Uzbekistan Ambassador to Pakistan Alisher Tukhtaev called on Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan and discussed way to promote bilateral trade between the two countries during a meeting at the Governor's House here on Friday.

Political Advisor to Governro Punjab Rohail Ikram was also present in the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan said that Uzbekistan is our brotherly Islamic country and the two countries share many values, including religion, history and culture. He said that there is a need to further promote mutual relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan in various fields. The Governor Punjab said that Pakistan's textiles, leather products and medical equipment are of high quality.

He said that due to the positive policies of the current government, the country's economy and other sectors have started to stabilize . The Governor of Punjab said that imports and exports between Pakistan and Uzbekistan should increase. He said that exchanges of delegations of chambers and organizing expos between Pakistan and Uzbekistan are the need of the hour so that the trade of both countries can be improved. The Governor of Punjab further said that there should be maximum exchanges of business delegations between the two countries, which will further improve relations between the two countries in various sectors.

Uzbek Ambassador Alisher Takhtayev said that Pakistan and Uzbekistan have excellent and cordial relations. He reiterated the need to further expand bilateral relations between the two countries in trade and culture. On this occasion, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan also invited the Governor of Punjab to visit Uzbekistan.

Lahore: A performance review meeting of the Civil Lines and City divisions was held at the Capital City Police Headquarters on Saturday under the chairmanship of Lahore Police Chief Bilal Siddique Kamyana.

Addressing the meeting, the CCPO reaffirmed that the Police Department follows a zero-tolerance policy against corruption. He stated that departmental action would be taken against police personnel involved in corruption.

The CCPO Lahore issued strict orders to the SSP (Operations) to launch a crackdown against the beggar mafia. He emphasized that the Investigation Wing should ensure better coordination with the Prosecution Department to resolve pending challans promptly.

During his speech, the CCPO Lahore stated that making Lahore drug-free is his mission. He highlighted that ice (crystal meth) is a menace that acts as a deadly poison for society. Issuing directives to tighten the noose around individuals involved in drug trafficking, he stressed the need for strict monitoring of online drug sales.

On this occasion, Bilal Siddique Kamyana also ordered stringent action against those involved in the deadly trade of metallic kite strings and kites. He instructed law enforcement to conduct raids on hotspots where kites and metallic strings are manufactured. He further directed that proactive policing should be adopted to bring habitual kite flyers within the grip of the law.

The meeting was attended by DIG (Investigation) Zeeshan Raza, DIG (Operations) Faisal Kamran, SSP (Investigation) Muhammad Naveed, SSP (Operations) Tasawwur Iqbal, SPs of Civil Lines and City Divisions, ASPs, Circle Officers, SHOs, and Investigation Incharges.

Lahore: Punjab Health Minister and Chairman Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, Khawaja Salman Rafique, has stated that the successful and peaceful organization of international cricket series in Pakistan will project a positive image of the country on a global scale.

He made these remarks while presiding over the 22nd meeting of the Special Cabinet Committee on Law and Order (SCCLO) at the Punjab Home Department on Friday.

During the meeting, Secretary Punjab Home Department Noor ul Amin Mengal provided a comprehensive briefing on the province's latest law and order situation. The committee reviewed security arrangements for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy and directed authorities to implement foolproof security measures based on the joint security audit report of Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. To ensure maximum security, the committee approved the deployment of the Army and Rangers for the cricket series.

Additionally, the committee emphasized the need for stringent security measures for the annual Tablighi Ijtima in Raiwind. Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique underscored the significance of a peaceful environment for Pakistan's economy and assured that every effort is being made to allow the public to enjoy the cricket series safely.

"The protection of life and property of the public remains the top priority of the state," he asserted. He expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements made by the Punjab Home Department for the Champions Trophy and acknowledged that similar efforts have allowed the ongoing Horse and Cattle Show in Lahore to proceed peacefully.

The minister also paid tribute to the security personnel who have sacrificed their lives for the safety of the nation. The meeting was attended by Secretary Home Punjab Noor ul Amin Mengal, Special Secretary Home Fazlur Rehman, Chief Operating Officer of PCB Sameer Syed, Commissioner Lahore, Deputy Commissioner Lahore, and officials from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Special Branch, and other relevant institutions. Commissioner Rawalpindi Division participated in the meeting via video link.

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Minorities, Ramesh Singh Arora, presided over a steering committee meeting at his camp office to review the progress on verification of applications, distribution of minority cards, and the implementation of the Biometric Verification System (BVS).

The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including District Commissioners (DCs) from various districts of Punjab, who participated via video link. The meeting was aimed at ensuring smooth coordination and transparency in the distribution of minority cards, addressing any issues surrounding the verification of applications, and overseeing the deployment of the BVS, which will streamline the process and ensure accuracy in the delivery of services to the minority community. Among the attendees were representatives from the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), Punjab Bank, and the Social Welfare Department, Secretary HR and MA Ali Bahadur Qazi, Assistant Secretary Rizwana Naveed, were also in attendance, contributing to discussions on the technical and administrative aspects of the program.

Minister Arora opened the meeting by expressing his gratitude to all the participants for their hard work and dedication towards the success of the initiative. He also took the opportunity to commend the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, whose unwavering support for the minority community has been instrumental in advancing these initiatives.

He remarked, 'Under the leadership of CM Maryam Nawaz, the provincial government has shown a deep commitment to the upliftment and empowerment of minorities. Her vision has guided us in bringing these crucial programs to fruition, and we are thankful for her constant support.' Minister Arora reaffirmed the government's dedication to ensuring that every minority citizen receives their due rights. He stated, 'We are committed to making the process of receiving minority cards and other services as transparent and efficient as possible. Through initiatives like the BVS, we are not only securing the rights of the minorities but also making sure that our services reach them without any barriers.'

Looking ahead, Arora assured the attendees that the provincial government would continue to strengthen the systems in place, work on resolving challenges, and ensure that the minority communities are well-served. 'We will continue our efforts to address any obstacles, enhance communication at the district level, and provide all the necessary support to ensure the smooth distribution of minority cards and services,' he added.

The steering committee also discussed challenges related to the biometric verification process, application handling, and outreach efforts, as well as strategies for improving efficiency and ensuring that all eligible individuals receive their cards in a timely manner.

Lahore: Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana chaired a meeting at his office on Thursday to assess law-enforcement agencies' performance in Model Town and Cantonment divisions.

The meeting focused on intensifying efforts to dismantle drug networks, curb kite-flying hazards and combat street crimes.

The CCPO ordered a citywide crackdown on narcotics trafficking, stressing that 'no leniency will be shown to drug peddlers, particularly those targeting youth with lethal substances like ice and heroin.' He reiterated the police's zero-tolerance stance, directing officers to prioritize dismantling drug syndicates and ensuring prosecutions yield measurable outcomes. Supervisory officers were directed to delegate clear anti-narcotics responsibilities to their field teams and daily monitor the progress.

In parallel, Kamyana mandated sustained raids on kite-manufacturers and sellers ahead of the spring festival, warning against lax enforcement.

To address motorcycle theft and snatching, he called for intelligence-led identification of crime hotspots, personally supervised raids, and deployment of plainclothes staff for decoy operations.

Emphasizing modernization, the CCPO urged expanded use of tech tools like the Hotel Eye surveillance system and data analytics to preempt criminal activities. 'Adopt proactive, intelligence-driven policing to stay ahead of evolving crime trends,' he asserted.

The meeting was attended by senior officials including DIG (Investigation) Zeeshan Raza, DIG (Operations) Faisal Kamran, SSP (Investigation) Muhammad Naveed, SSP (Operations) Tassawar Iqbal, divisional SPs, ASPs, and station house officers.