Category: Lahore

Lahore: A two-day meeting of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Railways, chaired by Chairman Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan, was held in Lahore on Thursday.

The meeting focused on reviewing performance and progress of Pakistan Railways and included comprehensive briefings, site visits, and discussions on improving railway operations.

On the first day, the committee was given detailed briefings on the functioning of various departments of Pakistan Railways. The sessions were held at the offices of the Divisional Superintendent Lahore and Divisional Superintendent Workshops Mughalpura. Divisional Superintendent Lahore Hanif Gul provided an in-depth overview of the division's performance, operational challenges, and achievements.

The committee members, led by Chairman Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan, also visited the Lahore Railway Station and the Old Diesel Locomotive Shed. They inspected the facilities provided at the railway station, lauding the Police Helpline Center and the newly established Executive Washroom, which was constructed under a public-private partnership. Chairman Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan emphasized the importance of ensuring the timely arrival and departure of trains and directed railway officials to take necessary measures in this regard.

During their visit to the Old Engine Shed Lahore, the members appreciated the installation of a modern fuel management system developed in collaboration with PSO.

The committee also attended a meeting at the Workshops Mughalpura, where Chairman Railways Syed Mazhar Ali Shah briefed them on various initiatives, including railway procurement, repair and maintenance operations, periodic overhauling of coaches, and the development of freight wagons equipped with modern technology. DS Mughalpura Kashif Farooq Butt also provided a detailed presentation on the structure and performance of the workshops.

The meeting was attended by members of the National Assembly Standing Committee, including Abrar Ahmed, Waseem Qadir, Zulfiqar Sattar Bachani, Ramesh Lal, Muhammad Ilyas Chaudhry, Syed Shah Ahad Ali Shah, Muhammad Jamal Ahsan Khan, and Shafqat Abbas. Senior officials from Pakistan Railways, including Chairman Railways Syed Mazhar Ali Shah and CEO Pakistan Railways Amir Ali Baloch, were also present.

Lahore: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) organised several guided tours in 2024 to promote tourism at heritage sites.

These tours were designed to provide an enjoyable experience to the tourists full of historical exploration.

Moreover, expert tourist guides of the Walled City of Lahore Authority informed the tourists about the historical significance of the monuments. In all guided tours, refreshment was also arranged for the tourists. The Walled City of Lahore Authority has received positive feedback regarding these tours from the tours who appreciated the new initiatives of tourism.

The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) continued the guided tours of Vekh Androon Lahore and History by Night in 2024. Moreover, History by Night tour was improved with addition of new performances such as Sufi dance, Kathak, Sikh and Mughal enacntments. On the other hand, the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) launched new guided tours in year 2024. These newly launched tours include Roshan Galiyan Tour, Tour of Hidden Places of Lahore Fort, 'Yatra' - a tour of Sikh Heritage Sites in Old Lahore, The Tales of Taxali Gate - A guided tour of Taxali Gate, Guided tour of Old Havelis in Androon Lahore, "Museum Mystery" - A Guided Tour of Galleries and Museums of Lahore, guided tours of Bhatti Gate and Lohari Gate and "Fort Fright' - A Horror Tour of Lahore Fort. These tours attracted so many tourists at heritage sites. As per records of WCLA, the number of national tourists at Lahore Fort was 5,325,847; Jahangir Tomb 774,304, Shalimar Garden 1,182,511 and Walled City Lahore 72,267. Similarly, the number of foreign tourists was Lahore Fort 80,070; Jahangir Tomb 6697, Shalimar Garden 4117 and Walled City Lahore 4236.

Asghar Hussain, Deputy Director Tourism, Walled City of Lahore Authority, said, 'We have taken commendable steps in 2024 to promote and enhance the scope of tourism at heritage sites. We have aimed to attract and inspire the public attention to historical monuments. Moreover, we have observed that through our guided tours, we have achieved greater participation and attendance at heritage sites. Registration charges were kept low so that people from all walks of society can come and explore these historical places. We are highly dedicated to not only continue these tours but also bring forth new ideas, strategies and initiatives to significantly increase the tourist engagement at our historical monuments'.

Kamran Lashari, Director General, Walled City of Lahore Authority, also expressed his opinions regarding the tours and said, 'This year has been the most successful for our organization. These tours were carefully designed to captivate a broad audience. As a result, we conducted engaging visits to old havelis, Sikh monuments, Lahore Fort, Royal Trails, museums, galleries, and the historical gates of Old Lahore. Our efforts aimed to foster a connection between the public and historical monuments, encouraging a deeper understanding of the historical significance of our shared cultural heritage. We are planning to introduce additional tourism projects to further promote and develop the tourism industry in our country'.

Lahore: The Alhamra Academy of Performing Arts was hosting a one-month-long Punjabi Comedy Theater workshop featuring the prominent comedian Iftikhar Thakur and the famous writer-director Qaiser Javed.

The workshop, which will conclude on January 11, aimed to equip budding artists with the skills to carve a successful career in Punjabi theater comedy.

The workshop had garnered significant participation from young artists eager to excel in the genre. It provides them invaluable opportunities to master the art of comedy under the expert guidance of industry veterans.

Highlighting the initiative's significance, Alhamra's Executive Director, Tauqeer Haider Kazmi, underscored the value of quality comedy, said, 'Humor of high caliber profoundly influences human disposition. Comedy plays hold immense appeal among audiences, and the workshop addresses a critical need for structured training in the genre. The remarkable contributions of Iftikhar Thakur and Qaiser Javed set a benchmark for excellence in this endeavour.'

Qaiser Javed elaborated on the workshop's focus, highlighting the rigorous training in body language, voice modulation and other essential skills imparted to participants. He noted that young artists adopt these techniques with remarkable enthusiasm and dedication.

Adding to the workshop's vibrancy, Iftikhar Thakur remarked, 'Comedy is an art that entertains and connects hearts. It is heartening to see the passion and talent of these young artists; they truly are the future of Punjabi theater.'

The workshop continues to build a promising foundation for emerging talent, ensuring that the rich tradition of Punjabi theater comedy thrives for generations to come.

Lahore: The Lahore Police arrested 10,566 individuals for drug-related offenses and registered 10,251 cases against them in the last year, 2024.

A spokesman for Lahore Police said that substantial quantities of narcotics were seized during the year, including 7,805-kg hashish, 436-kg opium, 285-kg heroin, 176-kg ice and 77,190 litres of liquor. In addition, 5,065 suspects were detained for gambling-related activities, resulting in 1,212 cases being registered and the recovery of over Rs. 18.9 million in cash from the offenders.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced the launch of the 'Chief Minister Punjab Solarization for Agricultural Tubewells' programme.

The program would help convert 8,000 agricultural tubewells in Punjab to solar energy, promoting sustainability and easing the financial burden on farmers.

The Punjab government will provide a substantial subsidy of Rs. 9 billion for the solarization of tube wells. The subsidy amounts are Rs. 500,000 for up to 10 kW, Rs. 750,000 for up to 15 kW, Rs. 1 million for up to 20 kW. Farmers owning at least one acre of agricultural land are eligible to apply for this solarization program. The application process has been made simple and can be completed online at cmstp.punjab.gov.pk. Additionally, the application form can be downloaded from www.agripunjab.gov.pk.

The date for submitting applications has been extended to allow more farmers to benefit from this program.

CM Maryam Nawaz emphasized that every promise made to the farmers will be fulfilled. This solarization project will provide relief from inflated electricity bills, ensuring that farmers can fully participate in the progress and development of Punjab. 'Whenever the PML-N government is in power, the prosperity of farmers is guaranteed,' she said.

Lahore: Punjab Women Protection Authority, Chairperson Hina Parvez Butt, visited the Anti-Rape Crisis Cell set up at the Services Hospital, here on Thursday and reviewed the medical, legal, and psychological services provided there. On the occasion, Hina Parvez Butt stated that a Safe Punjab was the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, and they were working tirelessly to advance this vision. The establishment of Anti-Rape Crisis Cell was a significant milestone by the Punjab government for the protection of women and children. At the cell, victims were provided medical examination, legal guidance, and psychological services under one roof to ensure immediate assistance and justice, she added. Hina Parvez Butt further stated that this model needs to be extended across Punjab so that every victim could receive timely help. Stressing the need for special courts and strict punishment for perpetrators, she said that timely provision of justice was the government's top priority. "My dream is that every woman and girl in Punjab can live her life without fear. Even if a girl steps out at 2 AM, no one should dare to look at her inappropriately. This mission could not be achieved alone; every individual in society must play their role", she observed. Hina Butt appealed to the public to immediately report such incidents to the relevant authorities so that perpetrators could be brought to justice. She reaffirmed her commitment to taking all possible measures for the protection of women and assured that no negligence would be tolerated in this regard.