Category: Lahore

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.

Lahore: Lahore Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Abdul Raheem Shirazi on Friday visited Alkhidmat Foundation, where both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation to curb professional begging, dismantle organised begging networks and rehabilitate deserving individuals.

During the visit, the CTO met volunteers of the Foundation’s Bano Qabil project and discussed a joint strategy to address the growing challenge of professional begging in the provincial capital.

According to a Lahore Traffic Police spokesperson, volunteers of the Bano Qabil project will assist Lahore Traffic Police in the mapping, research and profiling of beggars to help identify handlers and organised networks involved in professional begging.

The CTO said legal action would be taken against such elements under the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018 and other relevant laws.

He said eliminating begging required not only strict legal action but also the rehabilitation of deserving individuals. In collaboration with welfare organisations, women, children and transgender persons would be provided vocational training, including beauty, tailoring and other technical skills, to help them secure dignified employment.

The meeting also agreed to establish “Jhuggi Schools” in informal settlements across Lahore to provide education to underprivileged children and protect them from being pushed into begging.

Abdul Raheem Shirazi said the increasing number of beggars had become a serious social challenge that required coordinated efforts by government institutions, welfare organisations and citizens. He urged the public to extend assistance to deserving people through credible charitable organisations instead of encouraging professional beggars.

The spokesperson said Lahore Traffic Police had taken action against more than 3,500 beggars so far this year. Begging children, men and women had been shifted to Social Beggars Homes, Edhi centres and the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, while 726 cases had also been registered with the assistance of Lahore Police.

Director of the Bano Qabil project Shahid Iqbal appreciated the efforts of Traffic Police and assured full cooperation in the campaign against professional begging and the rehabilitation of deserving individuals.

Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday restrained the authorities from demolishing shops in Sheikh Hindi Market, Bhati Gate, and issued notices to the Punjab government and the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA), seeking their responses.

Justice Khalid Ishaq passed the order while hearing petitions filed by Mian Waqar Saeed and other shopkeepers. Advocate Mian Irfan Akram represented the petitioners.

The petitioners’ counsel contended that the Para Force and the assistant commissioner had directed shopkeepers to vacate their premises for the demolition of shops in Sheikh Hindi Market. However, he argued that no written notice had been served, and the administration had merely issued verbal directions to vacate the shops.

He further stated that the shops are built on privately owned land and that the petitioners have been conducting business there for more than three decades. He maintained that the properties belong to the shopkeepers and are not government-owned.

He requested the court to restrain the authorities from demolishing or sealing the shops.

After hearing the arguments, the court ordered an immediate halt to the demolition and issued notices to the respondents, directing them to submit their replies.

Lahore: Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) Director General (DG) Najmus Saqib on Friday visited various ongoing conservation and rehabilitation projects across Lahore to review the quality of work, monitor progress and issue directions for their timely completion.

The visit started from Shalimar Gardens, where the DG inspected conservation and maintenance activities and emphasized preserving the site’s historical authenticity.

The Director General then visited the Spice Market Revitalization Project, where he inspected the removal of old electricity poles following the replacement of the conventional electrical distribution system with the Aerial Bundled Cable (ABC) system.

He also reviewed the ongoing work to cover the open drains in front of Akbari Mandi and inspected the anti-encroachment measures, including the pushback of buildings along Gur Mandi Road, directing the project team to maintain the pace of work while ensuring quality and adherence to approved conservation standards.

The DG also inspected restoration works at Zakki Gate before holding a review meeting at the DG Office.

Later, he visited Chuna Mandi Girls College to assess the ongoing rehabilitation works and instructed the concerned officers to maintain quality and expedite progress.

The final inspection was carried out at the Anarkali Tomb, where the DG reviewed the ongoing conservation work and appreciated the efforts of the technical team while stressing the importance of preserving the monument’s historical significance.

Speaking on the occasion, Najmus Saqib said that ”The Punjab government is committed to protecting the province’s rich cultural heritage through scientific conservation and restoration. He emphasized that regular field inspections help ensure transparency, maintain quality standards and facilitate the timely completion of heritage projects.”

Lahore: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) enforcement teams inspected 22 food points and production units, sealed two food units, registered two FIRs and imposed Rs. 456,000 fine on 18 food business operators.

The teams also discarded 1,550 litres of substandard oil, 200kg of unsafe meat and other prohibited food ingredients.

Food safety teams recovered substandard meat from a haveli (livestock holding) at Bakra Mandi and registered an FIR over food fraud. Another FIR was lodged after the inspection of an oil warehouse on Samsani Road due to serious food safety violations. A renowned restaurant on GT Road and another food unit in Ghora Shah were also sealed for violating PFA regulations.

DG PFA Raja Mansoor Ahmad said that poor sanitation and multiple violations of food safety laws were observed during the inspections. Used cooking oil was stored uncovered in containers and tins, while mandatory records and traceability documents were unavailable. Inspectors also found utensils being washed with non-food-grade detergent in violation of food safety regulations.

He said that food handlers lacked mandatory medical screening and food safety training certificates, while unhygienic freezers and foul-smelling conditions were found at the inspected premises.

He has requested all food business operators to strictly comply with the Punjab Food Authority regulations. He further stated that protecting public health remains the PFA’s top priority and that a zero-tolerance policy against food adulteration will continue.