تازہ ترین

Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora has said that the painful memories of August 16 are still fresh. He described the Jaranwala tragedy as a deep wound on the hearts of the affected families and communities. In a statement, Arora said the Punjab government stood with all victims of the tragedy. He said Chief Minister Punjab and the provincial government were committed to protecting the rights of religious minorities. Arora said the Punjab government had adopted an effective strategy to ensure the safety of minority communities. He added that security measures had been strengthened to protect people from violence and discrimination. The provincial minister said the protection of religious minorities was a priority for the government. He claimed that the government had taken steps to ensure that such an incident would not happen again. Arora warned that no individual or group would be allowed to take the law into their own hands. He said violations of the rights of religious minorities would not be tolerated. He stressed that every citizen had the right to live in safety and with dignity. He said the government was responsible for protecting the lives and property of all citizens, regardless of their religious background. The minister also said religious minorities in Punjab were being provided with all possible facilities. He said the government was working to address their concerns and improve their overall security. Arora said the Punjab government would continue taking measures to create a peaceful environment for all communities. He added that protection of minorities was essential for maintaining harmony and stability in the province. The minister’s statement came on August 16, the anniversary of the Jaranwala incident. The episode remains a painful memory for the Christian community and has continued to raise concerns about the protection of religious minorities. Arora said the government was determined to learn from the tragedy and prevent similar incidents in the future. He reiterated that no one would be permitted to violate the law or target minority communities.

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that Sialkot urgently needed a medical city. He said the project would help improve healthcare facilities for people in the city and nearby areas. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Sialkot Medical City, Khawaja Asif praised the business community for supporting the project. He also appreciated the role of the Sialkot Chamber in making the initiative possible. The minister said Sialkot had been facing a major healthcare gap. He said patients often had to travel to Lahore when serious medical emergencies occurred in the city. According to Khawaja Asif, the new medical city will help reduce the need for patients to travel to Lahore. It will also provide better healthcare services closer to the people of Sialkot. He said the project was an important development for the city. He hoped that the medical facilities would further improve the quality of healthcare available to local residents. Khawaja Asif also spoke about major road projects in the region. He said another lane would be added to the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway. He said the Kharian Motorway would be completed before the other project. He added that better road links would further improve connectivity between Sialkot and other parts of Punjab. The defence minister recalled that he had received a positive response when the motorway proposal was presented. He said major road networks had connected several cities and towns with each other. He said the route from Shahdara to Rawat had created stronger links between different urban centres. Such projects, he added, were important for trade, travel and economic activity. Khawaja Asif also highlighted the growing importance of Sialkot International Airport. He said the airport was no longer serving only the people of Sialkot. He said people from Jhelum and Gujrat were also using the airport. Residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir were also travelling through the facility, he added. The minister credited Sialkot’s business community for many of the city’s major development projects. He said local traders and industrialists had made significant contributions to the city’s growth. Khawaja Asif said the Sialkot business community had established high standards. He added that these standards were recognised internationally. He said the success of Sialkot showed what could be achieved through cooperation between the business community and public institutions. He stressed that continued development could further strengthen the city’s position as an important economic and industrial centre.

Women parliamentarians in Balochistan have strongly condemned the killing of a mother and daughter in Nushki. The victims were reportedly killed after militants entered their home. The lawmakers described the incident as deeply tragic. They said the attack was also against Baloch traditions and social values. They expressed concern over the targeting of civilians, especially women. Speaking at a press conference in Quetta, Balochistan government adviser Meena Majeed said the victims were identified as Bibi Hanifa and Hafsa. She alleged that the two women were killed by militants linked to what the authorities describe as Fitna al-Hindustan. Majeed questioned why the mother and daughter were targeted. She asked what their crime was. She said ordinary Baloch citizens were now facing threats from militants. She also expressed concern about the targeting of women. Majeed said the government and security forces were continuing operations against militants in the province. She assured that those involved in the Nushki attack would be identified and brought before the law. She said the government would continue efforts to protect civilians. Balochistan Assembly Deputy Speaker Ghazala also condemned the incident. She said women parliamentarians would not remain silent over the killing of the mother and daughter. Ghazala stressed that women must be protected everywhere. She said their safety should remain a priority under all circumstances. Provincial Education Minister Raheela Durrani also expressed strong concern over the incident. Durrani questioned the message being sent about Balochistan when women were targeted and killed. She said such incidents damage the image of the province and create fear among local communities. The women lawmakers said violence against civilians could not be tolerated. They called for effective action against those responsible for the killings. They also stressed the need for stronger security measures to protect women and other vulnerable citizens. The lawmakers expressed solidarity with the victims’ families. They said the government and security institutions must ensure that those responsible for the attack face justice.

Goods transporters have announced a 40-day postponement of their nationwide strike following talks with government representatives in Karachi. The negotiations were held at the Governor House in Karachi. Sindh Governor Nihal Hashmi, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and All Pakistan Goods Transporters Association President Malik Shahzad attended the meeting. Speaking at a press conference after the talks, Malik Shahzad said transporters had decided to postpone the strike after receiving assurances from the government. He said the transporters had been on a nationwide strike for the past nine days. According to him, the Sindh government assured them that the parking issue would be addressed. Shahzad said the government had also sought 15 days to review the mechanism for determining petroleum prices. The issue of whether fuel prices should be revised every 15 days or once a month would be examined, he added. He said Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan had assured the transporters that a committee would be formed to review toll taxes and consider reducing the charges. The transporters were also assured that 10-wheeler vehicles would be allowed to carry an appropriate weight, Shahzad said. He added that the federal and provincial governments had already resolved some of their concerns. Other issues require decisions at the cabinet level, he said. Shahzad said meetings of the relevant committees would continue. He expressed hope that the government would fulfil its commitments. He clarified that the transporters were not ending their strike permanently. Instead, they were postponing it for 40 days. He warned that the transporters could resume protests if the government failed to implement the assurances given during the negotiations. Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan said the government had addressed the transporters’ issues that could be resolved immediately. He said some demands required formal procedures, which the government would complete. Several committees had been formed to work on the remaining issues, he added. Aleem Khan also criticised the condition of the Karachi-Hyderabad road. He said the existing road could not properly be described as a motorway. He announced that work on a new motorway from Sukkur to Hyderabad and onward to Karachi would begin this year. The minister said the government wanted to avoid decisions that could create unnecessary disputes. Sindh Governor Nihal Hashmi said the regional situation was currently unusual and had significant economic implications. He said the economic effects of conflicts were being felt not only in Pakistan but across the world. He added that the prime minister and the field marshal were making efforts to ensure that the impact on the public remained manageable. Hashmi said the government and transporters had listened to each other during the negotiations. Both sides, he added, agreed that they were prepared to make sacrifices for the country. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said the authorities had spent the entire day trying to resolve the issues raised by transporters. He said the Sindh government would take action on matters falling under its jurisdiction. Wahab stressed that the authorities wanted to resolve disputes through dialogue rather than confrontation.