Category: Lahore

Lahore: The Punjab Home Department, during a crackdown, identified 19 fake weapon dealers and repairers across the province and imposed ban on them.

Acting under the Punjab Arms Ordinance of 1965, the department initiated legal action against the identified individuals. Cases have been filed against them, and steps have been taken to enforce the law.

In line with the instructions of Punjab Home Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal, the department released the names and addresses of the illegal weapon dealers and repairers. The listed counterfeit weapon dealers include:

National Rifles Company Johar Town Lahore, MS Moakil Arms Company Begum Kot Shahdara, English Arms Company Neela Gumbad Lahore, Outdoor Sports Arms and Ammunition Dealer, Mazang Chungi Lahore, Muhammad Akhtar Property Pak Arms Store Shahdara, Akhtar Brothers Arms and Ammunition Manawan Lahore, Ameen Brothers Arms and Ammunition Ravi Road Lahore, Ali Brothers and Company McLeod Road Lahore, MS Shahbaz Mohiuddin Arms and Ammunition Neela Gumbad, Lahore, Omega Enterprises and Company Boulevard Gulberg Lahore, Muhammad Zia Al-Mustafa Arms and Ammunition Gujrat and Ilyas and Company Bhimber Road Gujrat.

Additionally, fake arms repair workshops have been identified, including: AA Arms Repairing Workshop, Main Boulevard Gulberg Lahore, English Arms Company, Neela Gumbad, Lahore, Ameen Ali Zafar, Lower Mall, Lahore, Qasim Arms and Ammunition Dealers Repairing Workshop, GT Road, Shahdara, Lahore, Outdoor Sports Arms and Ammunition Dealer, Mazang Chungi, Lahore, Alee Brothers and Company Arms Repairing Workshop, McLeod Road, Lahore, Muhammad Sufyan Repairing Workshop, Sheikhupura Road, Sheikhupura.

In an appeal to the public, the Home Department urged citizens to report any involvement in the illegal arms trade. Information can be shared confidentially through the department's toll-free helpline at 080011111.

Lahore: Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has introduced a virtual blood bank facility on Punjab Emergency Helpline 15 on a trial basis. According to PSCA spokesman, the Safe City Emergency Virtual Blood Bank had been established under the special direction of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Citizens could easily access the Safe City Emergency Blood Bank by calling 15 and pressing 4. Upon receiving the call, a Safe City officer would connect the caller with a registered donor from the blood bank database via a conference call. Blood donor agencies, NGOs and blood banks of colleges and universities have been linked to the Safe City Blood Bank database. Citizens, students, and members of civil society could register themselves as blood donors by calling 15 or through the safe city website. Additionally, citizens could submit blood donation or request forms at the police facilitation counters set up in all government hospitals. They could also register themselves and request blood dona tions through the emergency helpline 15. Initially, officers and personnel of the Punjab police were getting registered themselves as donors. Over 10,000 personnel have registered blood donors in the Safe City Blood Bank. All citizens were urged to actively participate in the noble cause and donate blood to save lives and stay healthy.

Lahore: The newly-elected President Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Arif Saeed has vowed to gear up efforts for the revival of international sports in the country and improve country soft image globally though sports. Chairing the executive committee meeting of the POA here on Thursday, he stressed the need for restoring the trust of international sports community through consolidated efforts, adding that he would foster harmonious relations with all stake-holders including Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for revitalizing sports sector in the country. 'Pakistan held world titles in sports like cricket, hockey, snooker and squash during its heyday but ups and downs are natural part of sports as no one remains at the top forever,' President Arif Saeed remarked, adding continuous efforts were needed to improve.

He also emphasized his commitment to put up efforts so that sports and athletes get due recognition in the country. Urging the office bearers of various sports federations, the POA President invited proposals for promoting sports at national and international levels within the first 100 days, adding that their proposals would be key to outlining actionable steps for the advancement and development of sports in Pakistan. He said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was actively supporting well-being of athletes worldwide, and similarly, the POA and National Sports Federations (NSFs) should strive to do the same. He stressed the need for benefit from and learn from the programs offered by the IOC and International Sports Federations. The meeting was attended by POA Secretary General Muhammad Khalid Mahmood, Vice Presidents Maj (R) Majid Wasim and Andleeb Sandhu, Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Association of Pakistan Javed Lodhi, President of the Softball Federation of Pakistan Asif Azeem, and Secretary General of the Islamabad Olympic Association Rizwan ul Haq Razi.

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Health and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Disaster Management, Khawaja Salman Rafique, stated that all necessary resources have been provided to the Murree district administration to manage any weather-related challenges. The directives have been issued under the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

He, along with Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir and Minister for School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat, chaired a meeting on Thursday to assess the preparedness. Director General PDMA, Irfan Ali Kathia, presented a detailed briefing on a four-point agenda during the session.

The Health minister highlighted the establishment of 13 facilitation centers in Murree to assist tourists and directed the PDMA to provide advance alerts and awareness regarding weather conditions. The meeting also reviewed an integrated system for traffic management, monitoring, and reporting. Commissioner Rawalpindi and DC Murree briefed attendees on arrangements in the region.

The ministers later visited the PDMA control room to oversee the preparations. A grant of Rs 25 million was approved for strengthening and constructing protective embankments on Gashkori and Lala Creek in Layyah to prevent river erosion. Measures were also approved to combat river erosion in Basti Haveli Manik, Chak Chot, and Basti Makhdoom. Additionally, Rs 18 million was sanctioned for relief to 2023 flood victims in Kasur.

During the session, the Annual Winter Emergency Plan 2024 was carefully reviewed. In light of expected snowfall in Murree, a grant of Rs 10 million was allocated for emergency measures.

DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia emphasized raising awareness among tourists through print, electronic, and social media.

The meeting was attended by high-ranking officials, including the Additional Chief Secretary, Secretary Rescue Emergency Services, and commissioners from Rawalpindi, Kasur, Layyah, and Khushab, some via video link. Representatives from various departments, including Irrigation, Local Government, Housing and Urban Development, Livestock, and Emergency Services, also participated.

Lahore: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Gujranwala Zone claimed on Wednesday to have arrested four criminals including a notorious human trafficker for their alleged involvement in Libya boat tragedy. According to FIA spokesperson, the suspects- Imran Hussain aka Mani, Muhammad Ijaz, Imran Saqib and Rizwan Khadim, involved in illegally sending innocent citizens abroad were arrested from various parts of Gujranwala and Gujrat. Imran Hussain aka Mani, a key figure in the Libya boat tragedy, had been listed among the most wanted human traffickers in the FIA's Red Book. He was a member of an international human trafficking syndicate, with six cases registered against him at the Composite Circle Gujrat. The spokesperson added that Imran extorted Rs 2.4 million from each of six victims of the Libya boat tragedy. He sent them from Pakistan to Egypt, Dubai, and then Libya on visit visas. In Libya, the victims were held in safe houses before being sent to Europe by boat. Tragically, all the victims perished in the boat accident. Another trafficker Muhammad Ijaz extorted 900 Euros and Rs 900,000 from a citizen by promising a job in Italy. Imran Saqib received Rs 3.7 million from the complainant, promising jobs in Germany for the victim's sons, but instead he sent them to Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, the victims were subjected to torture, and the traffickers continued to demand huge amount of money. Rizwan Khadim, another trafficker extorted Rs 2.7 million from a victim to send him to Spain for employment but failed to fulfill the promise. He then went into hiding after taking the money. The arrested individuals are under investigation. Raids were being conducted to arrest other suspects involved in the racket, he added. Director Gujranwala Zone Abdul Qadir Qamar said that all available resources were being utilized to apprehend the suspects.