Category: Lahore

Lahore: Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) in its 62nd meeting of the current fiscal year (2024-25) here Tuesday approved four development schemes amounting to Rs 24.918 billion.

Presided over by P and D Board Chairman Barrister Nabeel Ahmad Awan, the meeting approved the following schemes:

1) Construction of a dual carriageway from G.T. Road (Benazir Chowk) to Lahore-Sialkot Motorway (Wahndo Interchange), Length = 15.20 km, District Gujranwala, at a cost of Rs 9,970 million.

2) Reconstruction/rehabilitation of G.T. Road from Quaid-i-Azam Interchange (Lahore Ring Road) to Wagah Border, District Lahore, at a cost of Rs 5,600 million.

3) Construction of a flyover at Nadirabad Phatak to Industrial Estate, Multan, at a cost of Rs 5,376 million.

4) Revamping Bansra Gali Zoological Garden, Murree, at a cost of Rs 3,972.759 million.

The meeting was also attended by P and D Board Secretary Dr. Asif Tufail, Chief Economist Masood Anwar, P and D Board members and other senior officers.

Lahore: Lahore Divisional Commissioner Zaid-bin-Maqsood, chairing a meeting at his office on Tuesday, reviewed the preparations for the upcoming Horse and Cattle Show.

The meeting focused on key aspects, including parking arrangements and traffic management plans, to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. The meeting also included briefings from the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) and traffic officers.

During the meeting, Additional DG PHA, Zeeshan Ranjha, provided an update on the arrangements for the Horse and Cattle Show programs under the PHA. He confirmed that the opening ceremony of the show will take place on February 9 at the Fortress Stadium, with various other events being held at Greater Iqbal Park, Jilani Park-Polo Ground, and Bagh-e-Jinnah. Additionally, teams from more than 10 countries will participate in events like Neza Bazi (traditional spear fighting) and archery. He mentioned that a full-dress rehearsal will be conducted at the Fortress Stadium, during which final arrangements will be reviewed.

Traffic police officers also briefed the meeting, outlining the traffic management plans. They assured that the traffic department is preparing a detailed plan in line with the Horse and Cattle Show schedule to ensure smooth traffic flow during the events.

The Commissioner directed the district administration to set up a control room at Fortress Stadium for coordination during the events. He emphasized the importance of organizing municipal and security arrangements for each event and directed that a clear traffic management and parking plan be developed and advertised for public convenience.

The meeting was attended by Lahore Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza, DG LDA Tahir Farooq, Additional Commissioner Abdul Salam Arif, Additional DG PHA Zeeshan Ranjha, SSP Security Abdul Wahab, CEO LWMC Babar Sahabuddin, along with officers from WASA, Rescue 1122, traffic police, and other relevant departments.

Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday ordered the federal government to appoint a regular managing director (MD) for Pakistan Television (PTV).

Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh issued the order while disposing of a petition filed by Amjad Ali Shah, a retired PTV employee, who questioned the absence of a permanent appointment.

The petitioner argued that PTV had been operating without a regular MD since 2021. He highlighted that the government had repeatedly assigned the additional charge of MD to various officers on a temporary basis. He submitted that this practice not only violated the provisions of Section 186 of the Companies Act 2017 but also contravened the Public Sector Companies Rules 2012. He pleaded with the court to direct the government to appoint a regular MD for PTV in accordance with the law.

Lahore: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday extended the interim bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Khan Swati until February 12 in five cases related to the May 9 riots.

ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill conducted proceedings on Swati's pre-arrest bail applications. However, the PTI leader did not appear in court despite the expiry of his interim bail.

A counsel representing Swati submitted an exemption application, stating that his client was ill and admitted to a hospital in Mansehra for treatment. He further informed the court that Swati was unable to travel due to his illness and requested a one-day exemption from personal appearance.

Upon this, the court accepted the application and extended Azam Khan Swati's interim bail until February 12. However, the court emphasized that Swati must appear at the next hearing, warning that this was his last opportunity.

Lahore: An anti-corruption court on Tuesday once again delayed the indictment of the accused in the Punjab Assembly illegal recruitment case due to the absence of former chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.

At the start of the proceedings, a counsel representing Chaudhry Parvez Elahi submitted an exemption application, requesting the court to excuse his client from personal appearance for one day. He informed the court that doctors had restricted Parvez Elahi from walking due to his health condition.

At this, the court allowed Parvez Elahi's exemption application and adjourned further hearing till February 18. The court also directed all the accused to ensure their appearance at the next hearing for indictment.

Anti-Corruption Court Judge Sardar Muhammad Iqbal Dogar presided over the session, during which co-accused Muhammad Khan Bhatti and others appeared and marked their attendance.

The indictment of the accused in the case has been delayed for several months due to the repeated absence of Parvez Elahi at the hearings on medical grounds.

The case, registered by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab, accuses Parvez Elahi of making illegal appointments and accepting bribes to influence the recruitment process during his tenure as chief minister. According to ACE, qualified candidates were bypassed in favor of unqualified individuals who had not even taken the required exams.

Lahore: Provincial Ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique, Bilal Yasin and Sohail Shaukat Butt called on Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan at the Governor's House, here on Tuesday.

The provincial ministers informed the Governor in detail about the reforms introduced in the Health, Social Welfare and Baitul Mal, and Housing departments. They also briefed on progress of the development projects regarding departmental performance.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan said that economic stability is impossible without political stability. He said, "The province is currently facing immense economic challenges for which we all have to work together." He said that the PPP took concrete steps for the welfare of the people in its previous tenures.

The Governor Punjab said that development of education and health sectors and providing relief to the people should be the priority of the government.

He said that provision of basic health facilities to the people and implementation of ongoing projects in this regard should be ensured. He said that provincial departments should also perform their duties under a coordinated strategy to solve the problems of the people of the province.

The Governor Punjab said the government's efforts are yielding positive results, with Pakistan's economy showing signs of improvement. This upward trajectory bodes well for the country's future.

Sardar Saleem Haider Khan further said that the young generation is the asset of the country and the nation and they should be provided with better opportunities to progress.