Category: Lahore

Lahore:Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari met with Shahid Mehmood Khokhar, Chairman of the Independent Media Workers' Union (ITNE) on Tuesday.

The minister warmly welcomed Khokhar on his visit to the Directorate General of Public Relations (DGPR). During the meeting, he presented his annual report and a souvenir to the minister.

The ITNE has successfully facilitated payments for 395 journalists over the past year, amounting to a total of Rs603.4 million. Azma Bukhari sought the chairman's input on implementing the Wage Award, with Khokhar providing detailed insights on its application.

Secretary Information, Syed Tahir Raza Hamdani, DGPR Saqib Shahid, Director Coordination Khurshid Jilani and ED Bilal Bhatti were also present at the meeting.

The minster emphasised that the Punjab government is considering legislative measures to address the timely payment of media workers' salaries. She stated that journalists should receive their salaries as per the 2019 Wage Award, underscoring that the government allocates advertisements to ensure these payments.

"We are preparing a comprehensive plan to guarantee the timely payment of salaries to journalists," Bukhari added. "We will also approach the federal government to discuss the implementation of the Wage Award and ensure that payments are made promptly."

She also made it clear that any form of injustice towards media representatives would not be tolerated, stating that a clear policy guideline will be introduced for institutions failing to pay their workers on time.

Lahore:An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday reserved its verdict on an application filed by underage driver Afnan and other accused involved in a car accident that resulted in the tragic death of six family members in Defence area, seeking the removal of sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) from the case.

The court reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from both parties on the application and indicated that it would announce the decision on February 7.

ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill conducted the proceedings of the case, during which the main accused, Afnan, and his father, Shafqat Awan, appeared and marked their attendance.

During the proceedings, the counsel for the accused argued that the police had wrongfully applied ATA sections to the case, as the circumstances did not justify their inclusion. He requested the court to remove the ATA sections and transfer the case to a sessions court for further hearing.

The Defence C police had registered the case based on a complaint filed by Rafaqat Ali, who lost his wife, Rukhsana Bibi (45); son, Husnain (25); daughter-in-law, Ayesha (23); son-in-law, Sajjad (30); four-month-old grandson, Huzaifa; and granddaughter, Anaya (4), in the tragic accident.

In addition to Afnan, the accused include his father, Shafqat Awan, and his friends Ali Abdullah, Muhammad Saad, and Muhammad Ibrahim. They were charged with multiple offenses in the police challan. The investigation report alleged that Afnan and his friends first harassed female passengers before colliding with their car. Shafqat, a real estate dealer, was accused of allowing his underage son to drive illegally.

Lahore:Punjab Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, under the special instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, held a comprehensive meeting with the elected representatives of the Lahore division here on Tuesday.

The meeting aimed to discuss constituency-specific issues and consult on effective solutions.

During the meeting, the MPAs presented detailed reports on challenges faced by their constituencies, covering key areas such as development projects, healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

The Finance Minister carefully noted these concerns and assured swift governmental action to address them.

Conveying the message of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman emphasized that resolving public grievances and ensuring equitable allocation of resources is the government's foremost priority. He added that the Chief Minister has directed all relevant departments to take immediate and effective steps to resolve these issues.

The Finance Minister reiterated the government's commitment to working closely with public representatives to complete development initiatives and uphold its mission of public service. The Punjab Finance Department remains dedicated to utilizing all available resources to resolve public issues and ensure the effective implementation of government policies for the welfare of the people, he added.

Lahore:Provincial Minister for Communication and Works (C and W) Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bharth has announced a major initiative to maintain a healthier environment.

He has instructed that water sprinklers be installed on every ongoing construction project to prevent dust from being released into the air.

The Minister has also directed officers from the highways and building sectors to take practical steps to control dust at construction sites. This decision was made due to the numerous ongoing projects in the province, including road construction, the development of new hospitals, the revamping of Basic Health Units BHUs, and other development projects.

Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bharth stated that, in addition to checking the progress on work, the installation of water sprinklers will also be monitored. He added that the Punjab government is committed to taking practical measures to provide a healthier environment for the people.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has expressed profound grief over the tragic loss of lives in the LPG container explosion at the Multan Industrial Estate.

The CM conveyed her heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families affected by this devastating incident. She instructed the relevant authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured. She emphasized the urgent need for strict enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent such accidents in the future.

Lahore: A grand wedding ceremony for 47 couples was organized in Sahiwal district under the Dhi Rani program, launched by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

The event was graced by Provincial Minister for Social Welfare Sohail Shaukat Butt and Member of National Assembly Pir Imran Ahmed Shah Wali as the special guests, said a handout issued here on Monday.

Provincial Assembly Members Malik Qasim Nadeem, Malik Muhammad Arshad, Naveed Aslam Khan Lodhi, Pir Wilayat Shah Khaga, Commissioner Sahiwal Shoaib Iqbal Syed, Deputy Commissioner Shahid Mehmood, DG Social Welfare Khawaja Zeeshan Sikandar, DPO Sahiwal Rana Tahir Rehman, Director Social Welfare Asma Noreen, and Deputy Director Muhammad Abbas were also present.

Each couple received gifts worth Rs200,000 and a special salami of Rs100,000.

Addressing the ceremony, Sohail Shaukat Butt highlighted the Dhi Rani program as a historic initiative aimed at promoting social welfare. He also conveyed the best wishes of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to all the newlyweds, saying that the Chief Minister has dedicated all available state resources to benefit the common people. The minister emphasized that the government has a responsibility to implement far-reaching measures for the welfare of society, noting that the Social Welfare Department is organizing similar events across the province.

Minister Sohail Shaukat Butt concluded his speech with the words, 'Thank you, Maryam Nawaz.'

The event was concluded with a vibrant jhomar performance, during which the chief guest, Pir Imran Ahmed Shah, awarded cash prizes to the jhomar party. The ceremony also featured a special prayer led by Pastor Naveed Kashif, with the special guests presenting an additional one hundred thousand rupees to all the married couples.