Category: Lahore

Lahore: All-rounder Salman Ali Agha has said that the Pakistan cricket team was confident of beating South Africa in the second and last test of the two-match series in Newlands, Cape Town starting from January 3 (Friday).

Talking to the journalists prior to a practice session in Newlands, Cape Town on Wednesday, he said the team lost the first test match in Johannesburg by a whisker, adding that the first test match was 'anyone's game' which the Proteas won due to tenacity of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.

'Team's morale is very high as we lost by a close margin in the first test while we beat the Proteas in the three-match ODI series convincingly,' Salman said, expressing the hope that the second test match will be a 'cracker' of a contest.

He further said that the team has the belief that it can beat South Africa at their home soil, adding that they beat the Proteas in the ODI series but were a bit short in the first test match in Johannesburg.

To a question he said that the team was in good stead and no conclusions could be made about the pitch in Newlands, adding it looked a different strip from what team played on in Johannesburg with less amount of grass on the pitch.

About inclusion of a specialist spinner in the squad at Newlands, Salman Ali Agha, who is himself a spinner, said the team management will decide on it after having a look at the pitch tomorrow, adding that the statistics favour inclusion of a spinner at the Newlands.

'I just looked at the pitch and I thought I will bowl in this test match because I have not bowled during the past the three test matches I have played,' he responded to a question, adding his role will be important in the test match as an all-rounder.

About Muhammad Abbas, the all-rounder said 'Muhammad Abbas is very accurate and I have not seen anyone like him as he knows his job.' He was a bit rusty in the first innings of the Johannesburg test but he was outstanding in the second innings, adding it was Muhammad Abbas who brought us back in the game by claiming six scalps after Aiden Markram and Bavuma looked to finish easily. He further said it was amazing to see a quick bowl the whole first session on the fourth day of first test match in Johannesburg.

About the South African team in the WTC final, the all-rounder said that the Proteas are a formidable side with strong batting and bowling line-up, adding that their qualification for the WTC final speaks volumes about the quality of their cricketing skills.

Lahore: As per vision of the Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Air Ambulance Service and Motorway Ambulance Service were started during 2024 for shifting of critically ill patients from far flung areas of Punjab to specialized healthcare facilities and emergency services on all 76 motorways interchanges and 1588 km running through Punjab.

Likewise, the prestigious certification by United Nations INSARAG of Pakistan Rescue Team enabled to host two historic events of International Rescue Challenge and United Nations INSARAG Asia Pacific Exercise in Lahore, which brought 274 international delegates from 23 countries and 30 organizations in Pakistan that is great honor for the country.

These views were expressed by the Secretary Emergency Services Department Dr. Rizwan Naseer during Annual Performance Review Meeting chaired at Emergency Services Headquarters, which was attended by the all Heads of Wings of Emergency Services Headquarters and Academy in person and Divisional and District Emergency Officers through video link.

Secretary Emergency Services, Dr. Rizwan Naseer said that Rescue 1122 rescued over 2.2 million emergency victims during the year 2024 while maintaining its average response time of 8 minutes in all districts of Punjab. The data showed 22.7 percent increase in the number of emergencies as compared to previous year 2023.

He was presiding over an Annual Performance-2024 Review meeting, which was held at Emergency Services Headquarters here on Wednesday. The Secretary was briefed about rescue operations during 2024 which include 1.5 million medical emergencies, 467,561 road traffic crashes, 56,260 delivery cases, 55,589 fall from height/ slip, 45,857 crime, 28,018 fire incidents, 23,088 occupational injuries, 12,860 electric shock, 12,689 animal rescue operations, 4,528 burn cases, 1,150 drowning, 691 structural collapse and 50,032 others miscellaneous emergencies.

At this occasion, Provincial Monitoring Cell briefed Secretary Emergency Services that 467,561 Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) took place across the Punjab in 2024, whereas 420,387 RTCs were reported in 2023 with an increase of 11.2 percent. Similarly, 28,018 fire incidents were reported in all districts of Punjab in 2024 whereas 20,665 cases of fires were reported in 2023 with increase of 35.6 percent. Rescue 1122 managed 1.5 million medical emergencies in 2024, whereas the Service responded to 1.17 million medical emergencies in 2023 with increase of 29.1 percent. Furthermore, the Punjab Emergency Service responded to 45,857 crime emergencies in 2024, as compared to 43,302 in 2023 with increase of 5.9 percent cases.

Provincial Monitoring Cell further briefed that during last year 131,773 victims were provided Patients Transfer Services free of cost from primary healthcare facility to specialized advance healthcare facility and 47 critically ill patients shifted from far flung areas of Punjab to specialized healthcare facilities through Air Ambulance Service. Besides that, Motorbike Rescue Service responded over 1 million emergencies with average response time of 4 minutes in all districts of Punjab in 2024.

Lahore: A farewell ceremony was held on the retirement of Registrar Central Police Office, Deputy Director Ghulam Mustafa.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar and senior officers paid tribute to Registrar CPO Ghulam Mustafa for his valuable services.

IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar remarked that Deputy Director Ghulam Mustafa's services for the police department would always be remembered, adding that through Deputy Director Ghulam Mustafa's consistent follow-up, administrative affairs were carried out in the best manner.

He further mentioned that Ghulam Mustafa is a kind-hearted person and retired with dignity and honor.

Deputy Director Ghulam Mustafa thanked IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar and all officers for their encouragement.

The IG Punjab and other officers presented Deputy Director Ghulam Mustafa with commemorative souvenirs, flowers, and gifts. Punjab Police Spokesperson shared that during his 34-year service, Deputy Director Ghulam Mustafa held key positions. Additional IGs, DIGs, MD Safe Cities Authority, and AIGs, along with senior officers of the Central Police Office, attended the ceremony.

Lahore: Hindu pilgrims from India will arrive Pakistan via Wagah Border on January 5 to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Satguru Sant Swami Shadaram, the founder of historic Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi in Mirpur Mathelo, Sindh. The pilgrims will be warmly welcomed by Additional Secretary Shrines, Saifullah Khokhar, Deputy Secretary Umer Javed Awan, and member of the Pakistan Hindu Mandir Management Committee, Amit Shadani. Under the guidance of federal government and Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board, Syed Ata-ur-Rehman, comprehensive arrangements, including foolproof security, have been finalized for their visit. After their arrival, the pilgrims will head directly to Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi, where central religious ceremonies and rituals will take place. During their stay, they will also visit several sacred sites in Sindh, including Yog Mata Mandir in Aqilpur, Ghotki, Pano Aqil, and historic Sadhu Bela Mandir in Sukkur. On January 14, the pilgrims will spend a day in Nankana Sahib before concluding their journey. The famous Shadani Darbar in Ghotki is known for its annual birth anniversary celebrations of Sant Shadaram. The Hindu pilgrims will return to India on January 15 after completing their spiritual journey.

Lahore: The air quality in Lahore remained hazardous, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 214 and peak readings surpassing 400.

Data from IQAir indicated that the city's PM2.5 concentration was 27.8 times higher than the World Health Organization's annual guideline.

The most polluted areas in Lahore included: US Consulate: AQI 493; Phase 8, DHA: AQI 383; Pine Avenue: AQI 322; Near Ada Plot, Raiwind Road: AQI 304; University of Management and Technology: AQI 304; Bedian Road: AQI 290; Polo Ground Cantt: AQI 284; Askari 10: AQI 266 and Ghazi Road Interchange: AQI 242.

Lahore: Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique announced on Wednesday that the ongoing revamping projects in government teaching hospitals are progressing rapidly and will significantly enhance patient care and treatment facilities once completed.

Chairing a meeting alongside Provincial Minister for Communication and Works (C and W) Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharath at the C and W Department, the ministers reviewed progress on the extensive revamping efforts across the province.

During the meeting, detailed progress reports on the revamping of various government teaching hospitals were discussed. These included Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital Gujrat, Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital Sialkot, Punjab Dental Hospital Lahore, Services Hospital Lahore, Nawaz Sharif Yaki Gate Hospital Lahore, Mian Munshi Teaching Hospital Lahore, Lady Aitchison Hospital Lahore, Sardar Begum Teaching Hospital Sialkot, Ghulam Muhammad Hospital Faisalabad, Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital DG Khan, Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur, Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, Nishtar Hospital Multan, Children's Hospital Multan, Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi, Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi, DHQ Hospitals in Gujranwala, Rahim Yar Khan, and Sargodha, Allied Hospital Faisalabad, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore, Mayo Hospital Lahore, Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital Lahore, Jinnah Hospital Lahore, General Hospital Lahore, Children's Hospital Lahore, and the Punjab Institute of Cardiology.

Speaking at the meeting, Khawaja Salman Rafique emphasized the importance of timely completion of revamping projects and assured that 100 percent transparency is being maintained throughout the process. He stressed that negligence would not be tolerated in the revamping projects and reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring world-class healthcare facilities in Punjab's teaching hospitals.

Provincial Minister for Communication and Works Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharath added that 90 percent of the work has been completed in most hospitals, and directives have been issued to complete the remaining tasks promptly. The Secretary of the C and W Department has been tasked with ensuring adherence to the timeline.

The meeting was attended by Punjab Health Secretary Azmat Mahmood, Secretary C and W Lt. (R) Sohail Ashraf, Special Secretary Development of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Syed Wajid Ali Shah, Additional Secretary Dr. Waheed Asghar, Chief Planning Officer Abdul Haq Bhatti, and other C and W officers. Hospital principals, medical superintendents, and engineers from the concerned teaching hospitals also participated via video link.