15,000+ free heart surgeries completed under Punjab CM’s Programme

Multan Commissioner Aamir Karim Khan has said the Punjab government is taking a keen interest in the development of Multan and other parts of southern Punjab, stressing that the government, administration, business community and journalists must work together to address public issues and promote regional development. He made these remarks while speaking to journalists during a session titled “Guftagu” at the Multan Press Club. He also responded to questions regarding development projects, civic problems and other issues faced by citizens. The commissioner said the responsibility of government officers was not limited to sitting in offices. Officials must visit the field, assess public problems and take practical steps to resolve them. He said public service required officials to move beyond their comfort zones and remain connected with citizens. Aamir Karim Khan appreciated the Punjab government’s focus on Multan and southern Punjab, saying several major development projects were currently underway in the city. He stressed that timely availability of funds, proper engineering designs and other technical requirements were essential for completing development schemes. He said major sewerage projects in Multan were particularly important for the city and would provide significant relief to residents once completed. Work was also continuing on several major roads and development schemes, although some projects had faced delays because of land acquisition and other legal and administrative procedures. The commissioner said projects in areas including Eidgah Road and Shah Shams Park were being completed in phases. He added that a proposal worth around Rs6 billion had been sent to the Punjab government for improving roads from Delhi Gate to Daulat Gate and removing encroachments. Work on the project would begin once funds were made available. He said the preservation of Multan’s historic heritage, improvement of ancient gates and beautification of the city were among the administration’s priorities, along with the provision of basic civic facilities. He said action against encroachments on graveyards was continuing. Encroachments had been removed from a graveyard in Hassan Parwana, while similar operations would be carried out at other graveyards. The administration was also considering the renovation of smaller graveyards and provision of basic facilities there. The commissioner said a “Multan Enforcement Management Squad” had been established to tackle encroachments. The squad comprises officials from different departments and has been provided with motorcycles. It will monitor the city around the clock and identify encroachments. Its formal operations will begin on September 1. If the initiative proves successful, it will be expanded to other areas. Speaking about special education, Aamir Karim Khan said nearly 3,000 hearing-impaired children had been screened across 14 tehsils of the Multan Division. Around 320 children were identified as requiring hearing devices. With support from the business community, hearing aids had already been provided to 175 children. He said efforts were also underway to improve the speaking abilities of these children. The commissioner added that the Punjab government had been requested to introduce legislation making hearing screening mandatory for every child within six months of birth. Early diagnosis, he said, could significantly improve children’s education and future prospects. Regarding Jalalpur Public School, the commissioner said authorities had taken notice of the low number of students and were working with relevant departments to improve its functioning. He said the Punjab government was also working on a new public-private partnership scheme under which inactive government schools could be handed over to the private sector for better management. Aamir Karim Khan highlighted the important role of journalists in resolving civic problems. He urged journalists to use their observation, reporting and writing skills to identify public issues and contribute to social improvement. He said constructive criticism and highlighting genuine problems could help guide the administration. He also said direct communication with journalists would be strengthened so their concerns could be addressed more effectively. On cleanliness, the commissioner said maintaining a clean environment was a shared responsibility of the government and citizens. He urged shopkeepers to keep areas outside their businesses clean and residents to ensure cleanliness around their homes. During the meeting, Press Club President Shakeel Anjum briefed the commissioner about issues faced by the journalist community, particularly problems concerning the journalists’ colony. He stressed the need for their early resolution. The commissioner assured the journalists that he would contact the Director General of the Multan Development Authority regarding the issues and take steps for further progress. He said genuine concerns of the journalist community would be addressed on a priority basis. Aamir Karim Khan also answered journalists’ questions on various issues and assured them that practical measures would be taken to resolve public problems. He said the development of Multan was a collective responsibility and all stakeholders would have to work together to achieve this goal.

Punjab Police suspended 78 officials of Lahore’s Ghaziabad Police Station after an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a mentally challenged young woman inside the police station. The action followed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the accused under rape provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code and relevant sections of the Police Order 2002. Senior police authorities immediately took notice of the incident and ordered the arrest of the suspect. According to the complaint filed by the victim’s father, his 19 to 20-year-old daughter, who has a mental disability, left home on Sunday afternoon and did not return for some time. During the search, a local resident allegedly informed the family that a policeman in plain clothes had taken the girl away. The complainant said he rushed to the Ghaziabad Police Station, where he was told that his daughter had already been sent home. After returning home, he found her in distress. He alleged that she told him a police official had taken her to the station and sexually assaulted her. Following the complaint, police registered a case and arrested the accused ASI. Authorities also launched both criminal and departmental investigations into the matter. As part of disciplinary action, 78 police personnel, including the station house officer (SHO), sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, front desk officials and other staff members, were suspended over alleged negligence, poor supervision and failure to maintain discipline at the police station. All suspended officials have been directed to report to Police Lines until further orders. Police officials said maintaining discipline and ensuring a safe environment at police stations is the responsibility of every officer. They warned that negligence or irresponsible conduct would not be tolerated and pledged strict accountability at the police station level. A new SHO has been appointed to take charge of Ghaziabad Police Station while the investigation continues. Punjab Women Protection Authority Chairperson Hina Parvez Butt strongly condemned the incident, describing it as deeply disturbing and calling for strict legal action against those responsible. Police said further legal and departmental proceedings will be carried out after the investigation is completed.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders detained at Kot Lakhpat Jail have expressed support for Jamaat-e-Islami’s ongoing sit-in. A letter from the imprisoned PTI leaders was read out during the Jamaat-e-Islami protest. The letter was signed by senior PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Sarfraz Cheema, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry and Mahmood-ur-Rasheed. In their letter, the detained leaders appealed to the public to participate in the Jamaat-e-Islami sit-in. They urged citizens to support the protest and raise their voices on political and public issues. The support from the imprisoned PTI leaders comes as Jamaat-e-Islami continues its protest and demands action on issues highlighted by the party. The letter was presented to participants at the sit-in, conveying the PTI leaders’ position despite their detention at Kot Lakhpat Jail. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore has called for the release of all political prisoners. The party has also specifically demanded the release of PTI founder Imran Khan. Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore maintained that political prisoners should be released and called for political issues to be addressed through democratic and legal means.