Shan Masood resumes batting ahead of England Tests

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed authorities to intensify sanitation efforts across the province, ordering daily early-morning washing of major roads and improved cleanliness in housing societies, markets and residential areas. Chairing a review meeting on the Suthra Punjab programme, the chief minister instructed officials to ensure effective waste management in both cooperative and private housing societies. She also directed the introduction of uniform dustbins and garbage bags in commercial areas, along with fixed schedules for waste removal. Maryam ordered the daily washing and cleaning of main roads at 5am and stressed that sanitation efforts must extend beyond major thoroughfares to streets, neighbourhoods and vacant plots. Authorities were also told to ensure door-to-door garbage collection across Punjab. The chief minister directed that Suthra Punjab workers receive their salaries by the fifth of every month and called for monthly reports to verify timely payments. She also ordered the early clearance of contractors’ outstanding dues and warned of immediate action if delays in workers’ salaries occurred. Special attention was ordered for areas surrounding schools, colleges, universities and hospitals, as well as parks and green belts. Officials were directed to remove discarded bottles, juice boxes and other waste from these locations. Maryam further instructed authorities to improve sanitation around railway tracks in urban areas and ensure that the entry and exit points of cities are cleaned regularly. Deputy commissioners were asked to maintain close coordination with contractors and the managing directors of Water and Sanitation Authorities to monitor progress. The chief minister also called for uniform standards for field monitoring officers and directed that their motorcycles carry proper branding. Standard operating procedures are to be developed to evaluate sanitation performance at every level, from field workers to senior officers, with particular attention to cleanliness in fruit and vegetable markets. She directed that contractors violating sanitation standards should initially be given 24 hours to correct shortcomings before any financial penalty is imposed. “Imposing fines is not our objective; the focus should be on ensuring cleanliness,” she said, while calling for zero tolerance against persistent negligence. The chief minister also ordered regular cleaning of Suthra Punjab vehicles, waste containers and collection points. She praised sanitation efforts in Lahore, Khanewal, Okara, Attock, Kasur and Murree but directed teams in Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sheikhupura and other areas to improve their performance. Maryam Nawaz said the next review meeting would be held the following week to evaluate implementation of the directives and measure progress under the province-wide cleanliness campaign.

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has warned Pakistan’s rulers and decision-makers to “open their eyes” before September 27, saying the situation could become increasingly difficult to control if justice, constitutional supremacy and the rule of law are not restored. Speaking to reporters while attending a protest outside the Supreme Court, Afridi also expressed concern over reports about the health of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. The chief minister said serious concerns were emerging about Khan’s health and called for the matter to be treated with urgency. He said neither he nor Khan had attempted to use the former prime minister’s health for political relief. Afridi demanded that Khan’s family be allowed to be present and that his treatment be conducted under the supervision of his personal doctors. The KP chief minister referred to the treatment of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during Imran Khan’s government. He said Khan had allowed Sharif to travel abroad for medical treatment on humanitarian grounds, despite questions that had been raised at the time regarding medical certificates. According to Afridi, Khan was now being deprived of basic human rights and justice, which he described as a matter of serious concern. Afridi also criticized what he described as politically motivated cases against Khan. He alleged that his political opponents had themselves faced corruption allegations and accused them of misusing national resources. These claims represent Afridi’s political position and were not independently established in his remarks. The KP chief minister also spoke about the judiciary, saying Pakistan’s justice system was facing a major test. He urged judges to stand up for justice and said that one judge taking a principled position could encourage others to do the same. Afridi argued that the public was looking toward the judiciary for relief and justice. He questioned where citizens would turn if judges failed to perform their constitutional responsibilities. The chief minister further warned about growing anger among young people, saying he could see what he described as a “revolution” in the eyes of the country’s youth. He cautioned that continued injustice and rising hatred could eventually create a situation in which even Imran Khan might struggle to persuade people to respond with affection or restraint. Afridi urged the rulers and decision-makers to understand the seriousness of the situation before September 27 and move the country toward justice, constitutional supremacy and the rule of law. He warned that failure to address these concerns could make the situation increasingly difficult to manage, adding another strong political message to the ongoing tensions surrounding Imran Khan and his supporters.