Category: Lahore

Lahore:A crackdown under the Punjab Agriculture Department is ongoing against fake pesticides and spurious fertilizers as per the direction of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

A spokesman for the Agriculture Department said here on Friday that as per the direction of Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, monitoring was underway to ensure availability of quality pesticides and fertilizers to the farmers. He said that those involved in business of selling fake pesticides and spurious fertilizers were being taken to task.

The spokesman said that the Agriculture Department had seized a truck carrying 300 sacks of spurious fertilizers from area Pul Muzaffarabad, Multan.

He further said that seized fertilizer worth Rs 8.5 million while three accused had also been arrested from the spot.

Samples of fertilizer had been sent to laboratory for examination, he added.

Lahore:The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has initiated measures to address a potential drought due to a significant reduction in rainfall this winter.

On Friday, PDMA Punjab issued a letter to commissioners, deputy commissioners, and relevant institutions across the province, highlighting concerns over the situation.

The letter cited a Meteorological Department report indicating a 40 per cent decrease in winter rainfall, raising concerns about its impact on Rabi season crops. Farmers fear potential losses, particularly in rice production, due to the expected water shortage.

Director General PDMA emphasized the need to inform farmers in advance about the possibility of water scarcity. He instructed authorities to make necessary arrangements, especially in water-scarce regions like Thal and Cholistan. The School Education Department has also been tasked with participating in awareness campaigns to educate communities on preventive measures to minimize damage to crops.

"Addressing the water shortage is a collective responsibility," the DG PDMA stated, urging all stakeholders to work together to mitigate the impact of the drought and safeguard the province's agricultural output.

Lahore:A mesmerising musical evening was held at the Alhamra Cultural Complex, wherein teachers and emerging artists from the Alhamra Academy of Performing Arts presented songs.

The event celebrated Pakistan's rich musical heritage and honoured the legendary artists whose contributions have elevated the country's status on the global cultural stage.

Executive Director Alhamra Tauqeer Haider Kazmi attended the event and commended the initiative, stating, 'Today's programme pays tribute to iconic figures such as Ustad Bare Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, Roshan Ara Begum, Mehdi Hassan Khan, Malika Pukhraj, Abida Parveen, Allan Fakir, Alam Lohar, Madam Noor Jehan, Zahida Parveen, Iqbal Bano, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Pathaney Khan, Reshma, Allah Rakha, and Ustad Fateh Ali Khan.'

He further highlighted Alhamra's commitment to fostering the arts: "Such programmes are vital for inspiring the younger generation and creating new opportunities and hopes for the future. The legacy of these legends is a guiding light for aspiring artists.'

The musical evening featured various performances, including folk songs, Sufi poetry, classical compositions, thumri, and ghazals, providing a diverse and enriching experience for the audience.

The Alhamra Academy of Performing Arts, which offers training in 12 fine arts disciplines, continues to play a pivotal role in nurturing young talent. Many of its alums have become renowned singers and musicians, contributing to the nation's cultural heritage and earning international acclaim.

This initiative by Alhamra underscores its dedication to preserving Pakistan's artistic legacy while cultivating the next generation of cultural ambassadors.

Lahore:Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar chaired a performance review meeting of Police Tahaffuz Center at the Central Police Office, here on Friday.

DIG Investigation Lahore Zeeshan Asghar, AIG Discipline Amara Athar and other officers were present in the meeting.

According to details, the performance of Tahaffuz centers of Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Mandi Bahauddin and Hafizabad was reviewed.

In-charge of Tahaffuz Centers, Victim Support Officers while giving a briefing on the facilities provided to the vulnerable sections of the society including transgenders said that last year, 23,777 people were provided services in Tahaffuz Center Gujranwala, more than 14,000 citizens in Rawalpindi. Similarly, 10,851 citizens were provided assistance in Tahaffuz Center Faisalabad, 21,158 in Mandi Bahauddin and 4,595 citizens in Hafizabad.

He appreciated the overall performance of Tahaffuz Centers.

He mentioned that MOUs have been signed with social and welfare organizations to provide support to the vulnerable sections, while priority services are being provided to women victims of child labor, domestic violence and social problems, elderly people, transgender community, homeless children and drug addicts.

He directed the DPOs to monitor the performance of Tahaffuz Centers themselves and further improve networking and coordination with other institutions.

Lahore:The Excise and Taxation (E and T) Department Punjab has issued a notification regarding reforms in the property tax system. According to E and T Director General Umer Sher Chattha, the notification had been implemented following approval from the provincial cabinet. The aim is to ensure transparency and uniformity in the property tax system. Under the new reforms, property tax will be determined based on the value specified in the DC Table. Residential homes and plots valued up to 5 million rupees will be exempt from the tax. Existing taxpayers will not be required to pay any additional taxes for the current financial year, while new taxpayers will only need to pay 25pc of their total tax liability for this year. The DG further clarified that a self-assessment facility will be provided to taxpayers, enabling them to estimate their dues based on the value of their property. This system will allow taxpayers to easily calculate their tax obligations. The revenue generated from property taxes will be s pent on providing essential services in the areas from which the taxes are collected. The E and T department's initiative is a significant step towards enhancing public convenience and improving the tax system.

Lahore:Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar has released another Rs 3.243 million for the treatment of employees and their families suffering from serious diseases.

While giving details, Punjab Police Spokesperson said that Rs 1.5 million was released for a cornea transplant to retired driver constable Asghar Ali, while Rs 1 million was given to Head Constable Sarfraz Ahmed for a kidney transplant. He further shared that Sub-Inspector Muhammad Ijaz was given Rs 200,000 for his treatment while ASI Muhammad Ramzan was given Rs 200,000. Similarly, constable Muhammad Irfan and Constable Sakhi Sarwar were given Rs 100,000 each for their treatment. Retired Private Secretary Shoukat Niaz, ASI Muhammad Bilal and Head Constable Muhammad Saeed were given a total of Rs 143,000 for their treatment.

The IGP, while approving the release of the fund after the scrutiny of the Medical Financial Assistance Committee, said that modern treatment facilities are also being provided to the employees under MoUs with various institution.