Category: Lahore

Lahore: Punjab Food Safety and Consumer Protection Secretary Dr Kiran Khurshid said on Friday that a crackdown on profiteering, overcharging and hoarding had been further intensified across the province in line with the directives of the Punjab government.

In this regard, Consumer Protection Punjab had released the performance report of the price control magistrates, according to which emergency operations were being carried out across Punjab to provide relief to the public, said a handout issued here.

Dr Kiran said that 1,635 price control magistrates were currently active in the field across the province and were performing their duties. During the past two weeks, these magistrates conducted raids at a total of 1,030,918 locations in all districts of Punjab. The secretary said that 5,395 shopkeepers and store owners were issued heavy fines, warnings and strict notices for failing to display official price lists at prominent places.

She further stated that strict legal action was taken against 50,283 individuals found guilty of overcharging and fines exceeding Rs 29.418 million were imposed. She said that in cases involving serious violations, 71 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against profiteers, while 1,746 individuals were arrested.

In addition, 209 shops and warehouses involved in profiteering, hoarding and other serious offences were sealed.

The secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment and said that protecting consumers’ rights and ensuring the uninterrupted supply of quality food items at reasonable prices was the top priority of the Punjab government.

Action against profiteers and those creating artificial inflation would continue without interruption under the government’s zero-tolerance policy, she added.

She said that no one would be allowed to exploit the public.

Lahore: Millat Park Police on Friday arrested a man for allegedly displaying a firearm on social media and recovered an illegal pistol, ammunition and two magazines from his possession

According to police, the suspect, identified as Abdullah, was arrested near Arif Chowk during an operation after police traced photographs he had uploaded on social media showing him holding a pistol.

Police said the suspect could be seen carrying the weapon in multiple photographs posted online. During the operation, police recovered a pistol, bullets and two magazines from his possession.

A case has been registered against the accused, who has been handed over to the investigation wing for further legal proceedings.

Iqbal Town Division Superintendent of Police Sidra Khan appreciated the performance of Millat Park Police for the successful operation and said the display of firearms on social media was a punishable offence under the law.

She warned that strict legal action would continue against individuals involved in displaying weapons and promoting unlawful activities on social media.

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari on Friday said the provincial government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, was introducing historic and transformative reforms in the education, healthcare and public transport sectors to ensure that the benefits of development reached every city and every segment of society across Punjab.

She said the Punjab government was investing in the future of the youth by providing laptops, scholarships and electric bikes to students. She added that the Nawaz Sharif School of Eminence project would usher in a new era of academic excellence by promoting quality education and providing talented students with world-class learning opportunities.

Azma Bokhari said significant progress had also been made in the healthcare sector, adding that the Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital in Lahore and the Cardiology Hospital in Sargodha had been completed. She said patients at government hospitals across Punjab were receiving free medicines and essential diagnostic tests at no cost, ensuring access to quality healthcare for all citizens.

The minister said the Punjab government was expanding the network of green electric buses from district headquarters to tehsil level to provide modern, safe and environmentally friendly public transport. She added that the air-conditioned electric buses had become a major source of comfort and convenience for commuters during the ongoing summer heat.

Azma Bokhari said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had ensured that government resources and public services reached every corner of Punjab. She said that unlike the past, when people had to visit multiple government offices for assistance, the government was now delivering services at citizens’ doorsteps. She added that the government’s commitment to public welfare, effective governance and service delivery distinguished it from previous administrations.

Lahore: A sessions court on Friday issued notice to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for July 21 on a post-arrest bail petition filed by YouTuber Rehan Tariq in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code relating to allegations of raising sensitive and controversial sectarian issues.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Nusrat Ali Siddiqui heard the petition.

During the proceedings, defence counsel Advocate Mian Dawood argued that his client was implicated in a false case. He contended that this was the first case in which post-arrest bail had been refused even though the alleged offences did not fall within the prohibitory clause. The counsel further submitted that the investigation had been completed and all recoveries had been made, yet the judicial magistrate had still rejected the bail application.

The defence requested the court to grant post-arrest bail to Rehan Tariq.

After hearing the preliminary arguments, the court issued notice to the NCCIA and adjourned further proceedings until July 21.

According to the FIR registered on June 25, the NCCIA booked Tariq under Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, and Sections 153-A, 295-A and 298 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The FIR alleges that Tariq hosted a podcast featuring a religious scholar in which highly sensitive and controversial sectarian issues were discussed, allegedly inciting controversy among followers of different sects.

Lahore: The World Wildlife Fund (WWF-USA), the world’s largest non-governmental environmental conservation organisation, has lauded Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for achieving a significant milestone in the protection of the endangered Indus River dolphin.

The WWF-USA described the establishment of the Panjnad Indus River Dolphin Sanctuary as a historic initiative aimed at conserving and increasing the population of the rare freshwater species. It welcomed the establishment of Punjab’s first protected natural habitat dedicated to the conservation of the Indus River dolphin.

The project to declare the sanctuary a protected area was initiated by Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The sanctuary covers approximately 123 miles of the Indus River and includes the historic confluence where Punjab’s five rivers meet. The habitat of the Indus River dolphin has been shrinking steadily, placing the species at serious risk of extinction. Experts attribute the threats to increasing river pollution and alterations to the natural river system.

According to experts, only about 2,000 Indus River dolphins remain worldwide. Nearly 80 percent of their natural habitat has been lost over the past century due to the construction of dams and barrages. Punjab is currently home to approximately 660 Indus River dolphins, with more than 600 recorded in the province and nearly two-thirds of them found within the sanctuary area.

The new sanctuary will also be connected to the existing protected area in Sindh, creating a legally protected continuous river habitat stretching approximately 249 miles. Conservationists emphasize that such protected river corridors are vital for the survival, movement, feeding, and breeding of dolphin populations fragmented by dams and barrages.

Lahore: The Punjab government has decided to convert all unmanned railway level crossings across the province into manned crossings, allocating Rs9.7 billion to upgrade 177 level crossings in a major initiative aimed at improving railway safety and public transportation.

The decision was discussed during a meeting between Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi on Friday. The two sides held detailed discussions on strengthening cooperation between the Punjab government and Pakistan Railways to provide better travel facilities to the people of the province.

During the meeting, it was decided to prepare an implementation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the operation of Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) on eight railway routes across Punjab. Survey work for the project has already begun, with teams from the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) completing the survey of the Shahdara-Narowal railway section.

Under the proposed MoU, both sides will undertake measures to improve and modernise railway infrastructure across Punjab. The provincial government has also allocated funds for the development of 40 parks along the railway track from Shahdara to Raiwind as part of efforts to improve the railway environment.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was a visionary leader with a strong commitment to public welfare. He said converting unmanned level crossings into manned crossings would significantly reduce railway accidents, while the introduction of DMUs would make public transport across Punjab faster, safer and more convenient.

Hanif Abbasi also appreciated the Punjab government’s support for Pakistan Railways, expressing confidence that the joint initiatives would contribute to the modernisation of the railway network and improve travel facilities for the public.