Category: Lahore

Lahore: Together with Punjab Information Technology Board and CODE Pakistan, the UNDP Pakistan held the 2nd provincial launch of its flagship Pakistan National Human Development Report (NHDR) 2024, 'Doing Digital for Development - Access, Adopt, Anticipate, Accelerate."

The UNDP was represented by Assistant Resident Representative (ARR) Ammara Durrani, with PITB represented by DG IT Waqar Naeem Qureshi and ADG PITB Qazi Afzal. UNDP's digital partner Jazz, and stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, students, and tech entrepreneurs attended the event.

'Digital technologies offer Pakistan the fastest path to improving its Human Development Index ranking,' highlighted UNDP ARR Ammara Durrani.

Earlier, UNDP launched the latest edition of NHDR 2024 in Islamabad on Doing Digital for Development: Access, Adopt, Anticipate, and Accelerate which focuses on the fact that in an increasingly interconnected world, the integration of digital technologies has the power to bridge gaps, empower communities, and drive economic growth. It furthermore argues that without equitable access to digital technology, Pakistan's human development outcomes will remain low and under-served. Now, in the post-launch phase, the NHDR aims to continue building momentum on Pakistan's digital development agenda by convening a national dialogue based on the Report's findings.

The event featured its signature "Tech Tales," moderated by Executive Director of CODE Pakistan, Mr. Dilawar Khan, along with women entrepreneurs who shared their journeys of using digital tools to elevate their businesses and their stories of 'persistence amidst resistance.'

'We need domain champions and 'man on the moon' resolve to achieve Pakistan's digital transformation,' said Punjab PITB DG IT Waqar Naeem Qureshi. 'NHDR is not just a report, it is hope for Pakistan,' added PITB ADG Qazi Afzal.

The event also featured "Digitalks" session with speakers from Managing Director Punjab Safe City Authority, Muhammad Ahsan Younis; Anoosha Shaigan, CEO, Courtning the Law;

Ali Fahad Ahmed, Head of Marketing Jazz; and Munizae Jahangir, Journalist and TV Anchor

showcasing digital platforms designed to connect citizens with services such as Safe City, Human Rights, Access To Justice, Digital Inclusion, and Financial Inclusion, all aimed at supporting vulnerable groups in remote areas.

The session explored the transformative potential of digitalizing the legal system to democratize justice. The benefits include increased access to legal information, enhanced efficiency in judicial processes, reduced costs, and making justice more affordable and accessible. Digital tools can also facilitate public participation and improve service delivery. Successful digitalization requires overcoming these obstacles to create a more transparent, efficient, and inclusive justice system. The session also covered how factors such as the digital divide, cyber security, privacy concerns, resistance to change, and robust regulatory frameworks need to be addressed to facilitate this process.

Lahore: Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has highlighted the close and friendly diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh during a luncheon held in honour of the delegation from the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) at a local hotel on Saturday.

Welcoming the delegation, the minister said that under the vision of Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the first female Chief Minister of Punjab, the government is striving to provide state-of-the-art healthcare facilities to the people. He shared details about ongoing health initiatives, including the construction of the 915-bed Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research in Lahore, the largest government-run facility of its kind in Pakistan's history.

He said that the visit shared commitment of Pakistan and Bangladesh to advancing medical education and healthcare, paving the way for strengthened collaboration in the health sector.

Additionally, he mentioned that modern Nawaz Sharif Institutes of Cardiology are being established in Lahore and Sargodha to improve access to cardiac care. The Chief Minister's flagship programs, such as the Children's Heart Surgery Program, the Transplant Initiative, and the Dialysis Program, were also highlighted as part of the government's commitment to public welfare.

Senior Vice President of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) and Vice Chancellor of Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Professor Khalid Masood Gondal, expressed gratitude to Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique for attending the event and congratulated the newly elected office bearers of BCPS.

During the luncheon, the delegation, led by BCPS President Professor Muhammad Shahidullah, discussed healthcare initiatives, modern reforms, and matters of mutual interest with the minister. The delegation also visited the Pakistan College of Physicians and Surgeons Lahore Center to review its educational activities, which they appreciated.

The event concluded with an exchange of gifts between the provincial health minister and the Bangladeshi delegation, symbolizing the goodwill between the two nations.

The luncheon was attended by prominent medical professionals, including Vice Chancellor of King Edward Medical University Professor Mahmood Ayaz, Professor Rashid Latif Khan, and other senior faculty members. The Bangladeshi delegation included Vice President Professor Kohinoor Begum, Secretary Professor Major General (Retd) Ali Mian, and council members Professor Tehmina Begum and Muhammad Kamal Hussain.

Lahore: The Punjab Institute of Neurosciences (PINS) has officially launched its website.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony on Saturday, Professor Asif Bashir, Executive Director of PINS, highlighted the importance of the step in introducing the institute to a global audience.

Professor Bashir emphasized that the website will soon feature additional functionalities, including links for scheduling patient appointments and accessing lab and radiological reports. He noted that these advancements will provide patients with improved treatment options and make medical information more accessible.

'PINS is performing complex neurosurgeries using state-of-the-art equipment, setting standards comparable to those of developing countries,' said Professor Bashir. He reiterated the institute's commitment to delivering the best medical care, aligned with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

The public can now visit the official PINS website at www.pins.org.pk or reach out via email at [email protected] for the latest updates on treatments and health services. This initiative is expected to enhance the overall healthcare experience, making it easier for patients to manage their health with modern tools and technologies.

Lahore: Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Finance and Planning Mudassar Nawaz, along with Assistant Commissioner Nishter Muhammad Saleem Aasi, Saturday reviewed the ongoing development initiatives in the city, working alongside the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) team.

Assistant Commissioner Nishter Muhammad Saleem Aasi also personally inspected the schemes in the Nishter zone to ensure the projects are on track.

In Model Town, Assistant Commissioner Sahibzada Muhammad Yousaf conducted an unannounced visit to check the development work. He instructed contractors to accelerate their efforts to meet deadlines. As part of the ongoing improvements, the installation of manhole covers and conduit grills has been completed, and the laying of tiles is set to finish today. The Stylus Street and Model Town Link Road are poised to become the first roads fully completed under this programme.

In the Cantt area, Assistant Commissioner Fatima Arshad also assessed the progress of various projects, particularly emphasizing the need for coordination between the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and Municipal Corporation Lahore (MCL) for improved efficiency. She directed that the designs for three new schemes be finalized within two days.

Assistant Commissioner Shalimar Dr. Anam Fatima visited Bajwa Road to inspect the work being carried out by MCL and NESPAK. She confirmed that work had commenced on 70 streets in the area, meeting the program's targets. Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Ravi, Tariq Shabbir, held a meeting with NESPAK representatives and zonal officers to discuss further developments under the program.

DC Syed Musa Raza highlighted that the ongoing efforts of the Lahore Development Program will greatly improve the city's infrastructure, making it more aesthetically pleasing and enhancing the quality of life for its residents.

Lahore: Capital City Police Officer Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana chaired a meeting at his office on Saturday to review the key performance indicators (KPIs), introduced by the Punjab chief minister to evaluate Police Department performance.

The meeting included a detailed assessment of all divisional performances within the provincial capital.

Strategies to eradicate the beggar mafias was discussed in collaboration with the line Departments.

CCPO emphasized the Chief Minister's vision of promptly resolving complaints of women and children. He expressed satisfaction over a 39 percent reduction in motorcycle thefts, attributing it to the effective actions of Lahore Police. Additionally, he stressed the importance of preventing kite-flying, aerial firing and one-wheeling while urging police to ensure optimal public relief in alignment with the Chief Minister's directives.

Highlighting public service as a key measure of police performance, the CCPO called on the Traffic Police to continue improving traffic discipline. He also emphasized the need to enhance the quality of investigation to provide better relief to the citizens.

The meeting was attended by senior officials, including CTO Athar Waheed, DIG (Investigation) Zeeshan Asghar, DIG (Operations) Imran Kishwar, DIG (OCU) Muhammad Faisal Kamran, SSP (Investigation) Muhammad Naveed, SSP (Admin) Atif Nazir and SSP (Operations) Tassawar Iqbal.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has expressed a deep sense of sorrow and grief over the sad demise of long-time Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) worker Syed Hassan Asghar, also known as Guddo Shah.

In a heartfelt message, the chief minister extended her condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family, sharing in their loss during this difficult time.