Category: Lahore

Lahore: The significant drop in gold prices in the global bullion market also affected the local market, where a major decline was recorded in the prices of both gold and silver.

The price of gold per ounce in the international market fell by $36 to $3,994, after which a decline in the prices of precious metals was also seen in Pakistan.

In the local bullion market, the price of gold per tola fell by Rs3,600 to Rs421,836, while the price of 10 grams of gold fell by Rs3,086 to Rs361,656.

On the other hand, silver prices also continued to decline. Silver per tola fell by Rs 126 to Rs 6,029, while the price of 10 grams of silver fell by Rs 108 to Rs 5,168.

Lahore: Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi has chaired an important meeting at the National Hockey Stadium on Friday regarding the upcoming CM Punjab Champions League.

Deputy Director Sports Zahoor Ahmed attended the meeting in person while Vice President Pakistan Railways Sports Board Hamdan Nazir joined the meeting online.

The meeting reviewed organisational arrangements, team composition and the competition format for the league, which is scheduled to be held in the last week of July with the collaboration of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Pakistan Railway and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

Addressing the meeting, Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi informed that the tournament would be played in four pools. Pool A will comprise teams from Bahawalpur, Lahore and Sargodha divisions, while Pool B will feature DG Khan, Lahore Green and Faisalabad. Pool C will include Multan, Lahore Blue and Gujranwala, whereas Pool D will consist of Sahiwal, Gujrat and Rawalpindi teams.

Qureshi said that the league would also feature four women’s teams, highlighting the commitment to promoting cricket among female athletes across Punjab.

‘The best performers emerging from the CM Punjab Champions League would be selected for the Punjab team, which will participate in the Pakistan Cup,’ he added.

The Director General Sports added that the competition would provide a valuable platform for talented cricketers to showcase their skills and earn higher-level opportunities. ‘The tournament would feature both national and international cricketers, making it a highly competitive event’.

Deputy Director Sports Zahoor Ahmed attended the meeting in person while Vice President Pakistan Railways Sports Board Hamdan Nazir joined the meeting online.

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.