Category: Lahore

Lahore: Two Pakistani nationals who had reportedly gone missing in Iran safely reached the Pakistan Embassy in Tehran following coordinated efforts by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), officials said on Wednesday.

According to FIA officials on Wednesday, the development came as a result of the timely intervention and coordinated efforts of FIA Director General Dr. Usman Anwar and the FIA Link Office in Iran.

The two individuals, identified as Talha and Shehzad, belong to Pasin village Jallo Mor in Lahore.

The recovered citizens expressed gratitude to DG FIA Dr. Usman Anwar, the FIA Link Office in Iran and other FIA officials for their prompt assistance and continuous efforts in ensuring their safe return to the Pakistan Embassy in Tehran.

Further necessary arrangements are being made in coordination with the relevant authorities, FIA officials added.

Lahore: Acting on the directions of Director General Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Tahir Farooq,

the LDA Town Planning Wing has sealed 84 properties during a series of enforcement actions.

LDA teams conducted operations in Gulberg, Faisal Town, Canal Road, Gulshan Ravi, and Mustafa Town against properties involved in unauthorized commercial use and commercial fee defaulters.

During the operation, 28 properties in Gulberg and Faisal Town and 36 properties along Canal Road and in Gulshan Ravi were sealed for illegal commercial use. In a separate recovery operation, LDA teams sealed 20 additional properties in Mustafa Town.

The sealed properties included private schools, grocery stores, cafés, restaurants, food outlets, bakeries, beauty salons, clinics, workshops, shops, offices, and other establishments found to be operating in violation of LDA regulations.

The operation was carried out under the supervision of Chief Town Planner-I Asad Uz Zaman.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to ensure the prompt resolution of public issues raised by lawmakers from Mandi Bahauddin during a meeting held to review constituency matters and the prevailing political situation.

Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) Khalid Mehmood Ranjha and Chaudhry Akhtar Abbas Bosal called on the chief minister and briefed her on the needs and concerns of residents of provincial constituencies PP-42 and PP-43. They also discussed matters of mutual interest and the overall political situation.

The chief minister instructed the relevant departments to take immediate steps to address the public issues highlighted by the legislators, reaffirming her government’s commitment to responsive and people-centric governance.

The lawmakers appreciated the launch of the electric bus service in Mandi Bahauddin and commended the chief minister’s initiatives for the beautification of major and smaller cities across Punjab.

CM Maryam Nawaz said that additional electric buses would be introduced not only in Mandi Bahauddin but also in other districts of the province to provide modern, environmentally friendly and affordable public transport facilities. She said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had always honoured the commitments made to the people with the blessings of Almighty Allah.

The CM said the construction and expansion of more than 32,000 kilometres of roads across Punjab would significantly boost economic and commercial activity by improving connectivity and facilitating trade. She added that the international recognition earned by the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar programme, the Safe City initiative and the Suthra Punjab campaign reflected the Punjab government’s commitment to effective governance, public welfare and sustainable development.

Lahore: Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan Wednesday chaired a high-level consultative meeting to explore practical measures for improving access to finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The meeting was arranged by Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA). Over 70 SME-based chambers and industry associations from across Pakistan attended the meeting online. Federal Secretary for Industries and Production Saif Anjum, Additional Secretary Ms. Humaira Zia Mufti, SMEDA General Manager Hassanain Javed and other senior officials were also present.

Addressing the participants, Haroon Akhtar Khan said that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is committed to making bank financing more accessible for SMEs. On the Prime Minister’s instructions, he added, a working group comprising representatives of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has been constituted to review and simplify the SME lending process.

He further stated that Ministry of Industries and Production, through SMEDA, is also conducting a comprehensive review of the key barriers preventing SMEs from obtaining bank financing. He revealed that the Prime Minister has sought a list of companies whose loan applications were recently rejected by banks.

The SAPM urged representatives of the participating trade bodies to submit, at the earliest, details of SMEs whose loan applications had been declined. He expressed confidence that under the leadership of Prime Minister and through the collaborative efforts of the State Bank of Pakistan, the Ministry of Industries and Production, and SMEDA, the process of obtaining bank financing for SMEs would soon become simpler, transparent, and more efficient.

Haroon Akhtar Khan said, the government would also obtain records of rejected loan applications from banks to analyze the reasons behind their rejection and take appropriate measures to address those issues.

Speaking on the occasion, SMEDA Chief Executive Officer Ms. Nadia Jahangir Seth informed the participants that SMEDA has established an SME Registration Portal through which all SMEs are being registered free of charge. She explained that the objective of this initiative is to enable SMEs to benefit from government support programmes, including improved access to finance and other public sector facilitation services.

During the meeting, representatives of more than 70 chambers of commerce and SME associations from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan highlighted the challenges faced by SMEs in obtaining financing and presented a range of practical recommendations to overcome these obstacles.

Concluding the session, SMEDA CEO assured the participants that all recommendations received during the consultation would be consolidated and conveyed to the Prime Minister through the SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan, for consideration.

Lahore: Punjab Police continued its disciplinary accountability process as Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Abdul Kareem awarded punishments to 20 deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) in various orderly room proceedings.

According to a Punjab Police spokesperson, during an orderly room chaired by the IGP on July 9, major penalties were imposed on three DSPs. One officer was dismissed from service, another was demoted to the rank of senior traffic warden, while the third officer was awarded another major disciplinary penalty.

The spokesperson said that in earlier orderly room proceedings, disciplinary action had also been taken against 17 DSPs. Among them, two officers were dismissed from service, one was demoted in rank, two received reduction in pay, while 12 others were awarded various disciplinary penalties.

IGP Abdul Kareem said the process of accountability within Punjab Police would continue to ensure discipline, professionalism and efficient public service delivery, the spokesperson added.

Lahore: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) presents significant opportunities for strengthening healthcare cooperation, scientific research, and pharmaceutical innovation between Pakistan and China.

Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) Commercial Ambassador Adeel Munawar stated this in a meeting held here at PCJCCI Secretariat on Wednesday.

He highlighted that establishment of Sino-Pakistan Cooperation Center on Traditional Chinese Medicine (SPCCTCM) at Hunan University of Medicine in Huaihua, China, and the University of Karachi reflects the growing collaboration between the two countries in the fields of medical sciences, research, education, and public health.

Adeel Munawar said that such centers serve as a comprehensive platform for joint research and development of herbal medicines, health and nutritional products, academic exchanges, medical treatment, industrial collaboration, and capacity building. He noted that initiative would encourage knowledge transfer and create new opportunities for researchers, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare professionals, and academic institutions in both countries.

He stated that Traditional Chinese Medicine gained global recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic, when China shared treatment protocols, herbal formulations, and clinical expertise with numerous countries, including Pakistan. This cooperation demonstrated the importance of international collaboration in addressing public health challenges and advancing medical research.

Adeel Munawar further stated that SPCCTCM will bring together leading experts from Pakistan and China to undertake collaborative research in medicinal plant cultivation, botanical identification, phytochemistry, quality assurance, efficacy and safety evaluation, clinical research, and the development of innovative herbal medicines.

The center will also facilitate the registration and commercialization of herbal products in both countries, paving the way for increased bilateral investment in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.

He added that Pakistan possesses enormous potential in medicinal plant cultivation and herbal medicine production, while China’s advanced expertise in Traditional Chinese Medicine offers valuable opportunities for technology transfer, research collaboration, and industrial development. By combining their respective strengths, both countries can develop internationally competitive herbal healthcare products and contribute to improving public health.

Adeel Munawar was confident that Sino-Pakistan Cooperation Center on Traditional Chinese Medicine would become a flagship platform for scientific cooperation under the Pakistan-China strategic partnership. He said the initiative would deepen people-to-people connectivity, strengthen bilateral healthcare systems, promote innovation in traditional medicine, and further reinforce the enduring friendship between the two iron brother nations.