Category: Lahore

Lahore: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) is actively conserving historical monuments linked to religious minorities, aiming to promote tourism and safeguarding heritage.

These sites are being preserved to remain open and accessible to the public, with guided tours highlighting their cultural significance.

Recently WCLA's Key projects for minorities include the conservation of a Sikh-era temple (Naag Mandir) in Lahore Fort and the Loh Temple, supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP).

Additionally, the WCLA is restoring Haveli Kharak Singh inside Lahore fort and Haveli Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Gujranwala, along with St. Mary Magdalene Church in Lahore Cantonment. These initiatives reflect the rich cultural heritage of the region and the authority's commitment to preserving it.

Significant preservation projects of minorities have been formerly completed in previous years by the Walled City of Lahore Authority at various locations includes, the Presbyterian Church (Naulakha) on Nicholson Road, Cathedral Church on Mall Road, Sacred Heart, Cathedral Church on Lawrence Road, Catholic Church Saint Francis Asiaticus Saho Wala in Sialkot, Shivala Temple in Sialkot , Saint Mary De Virgin Cathedral Church in Multan Cantonment , and Christ Church on Jinnah Road, Rawalpindi Cantonment, Christ church Janjua Road Rawalpindi, Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Lal Kurti Rawalpindi and Christ Church ,Okara .

Najam u Saqib, Director Conservation and Planning, Walled City of Lahore Authority, said, 'For the Walled City of Lahore Authority, historical monuments of minorities are as important as others because they have been a significant element of our shared cultural and historical legacies. Therefore, the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has given utmost priority to the restoration of minorities' heritage sites.

Kamran Lashari, Director General, Walled City of Lahore Authority, also expressed his opinions on the restoration projects of heritage sites of minorities. He said, 'Historical and cultural heritage of any nation transcends the boundaries of religions. This is why old and historical monuments of Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity are also an important part of this region's history. Moreover, we also aim to aware the public about the national heritage extending it beyond the conventional heritage sites. We believe that the restoration of heritage sites of minorities will not only help in enhancing the scope of tourism but, it will create a soft and positive image of our country in the international diplomacy'.

Lahore: Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique Friday highlighted the critical role of religious scholars in guiding societies, stating that communities disregarding their advice face destruction.

He expressed these views as the chief guest at the 22nd annual 'Dai-e-Ittehad-e-Ummat' conference, held at Badshahi Masjid here on Friday. The event was organised to honour the legacy of the late Maulana Abdul Qadir Azad.

In his address, Khawaja Salman Rafique remarked, 'It is a blessing from Allah Almighty that He created humans as the most superior of all creations, and an even greater blessing is that we are the followers of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This conference is remarkable, attended by esteemed scholars whom I deeply respect.'

Highlighting the contributions of Maulana Abdul Qadir Azad, he added, 'Maulana Azad's uniqueness lies in the fact that many of his disciples are proficient in Arabic. It is an honor to visit the Badshahi Masjid, where the Poet of the East Allama Iqbal was laid to rest. Allama Azad always worked for the unity of the Muslim Ummah, and his efforts are evident today as people from all schools of thought are present on this stage.'

Khateeb Badshahi Masjid Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad also addressed the gathering, condemning Israel's atrocities in Gaza and Palestine. 'Israel will have to account for its actions. Every child in Pakistan stands in solidarity with Palestine. While we appreciate the peace agreement, we pay tribute to the sacrifices of the martyrs,' he said.

He also praised the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, saying, 'She is doing excellent work in Punjab. The cleanliness of Punjab, health initiatives, and numerous welfare projects for women are a testament to her performance. The nation stands with its military institutions, and those spreading discord will face failure. The entire nation is resolute against terrorism, and we will drive the final nail into the coffin of terrorism.'

The conference concluded with a message of unity among different schools of thought and a pledge to work together for peace and harmony.

Secretary Auqaf Tahir Raza Bukhari, renowned Ulema and Mashaikh also spoke on the occasion.

Lahore:A shooter was killed in an exchange of fire between the Organised Crime Unit City Kotwali and the robbers here on Thursday.

According to police officials, the police team was taking the accused Azam Ali to Gujjarpura police station to recover stolen goods and weapons. The accomplices of the accused opened indiscriminate fire on the police party to free their detained fellow shooter. As a result, the accused received serious bullet injuries and was being shifted to a hospital, but he died on-the-way.

The DSP said that the deceased accused was wanted in several cases of serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, terrorism, and drug smuggling. The deceased accused was considered a symbol of terror in Lahore and Sheikhupura.

Lahore:The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Lahore Zone, has successfully apprehended a notorious fugitive involved in the Libya boat tragedy, in a major operation against human traffickers.

According to an FIA spokesperson, the suspect, identified as Muhammad Hamas, was arrested in Gujranwala. The suspect was also found to be involved in illegally sending innocent citizens abroad, particularly through trafficking people by boat from Libya to Europe.

The accused had been evading arrest for the past two years and was a wanted individual in the FIA Lahore Zone.

Raids are being conducted to apprehend other accomplices involved in the illegal trafficking network, the spokesperson added.

Director Lahore Zone, Sarfraz Khan said that all available resources are being utilised to ensure the arrest of the accused. "We will not allow anyone to play with the lives of innocent people," said Sarfraz.

Lahore:The district administration has recovered stolen manhole covers from a company's warehouse located in the Bhama Jhuggian area.

The official teams sealed the warehouse and got registered a case. The warehouse manager was arrested. "The theft of manhole covers is a grave issue that endangers public safety and disrupts our city's infrastructure. The district administration is resolute in its efforts to eradicate this menace," stated the DC Lahore.

"We urge all citizens to report such incidents promptly to the DC Office control room at 03070002345," the DC Lahore reiterated.

Lahore:The University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore has conferred PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering on Ifrah Liaquat and Tehseen Elahi.

Ifrah Liaquat completed her doctoral thesis on 'Distributed Dynamics Optimization for Multi Agen Systems," while Tehseen Elahi's research focused on 'Ultra-Wideband Gap Material Power Devices Based High Power Fast Charging Stations Design and Performance Evaluation." Both candidates successfully completed their respective research projects, contributing significantly to their fields of study.