National

  • | |

    Heavy rain disrupts traffic, floods low-lying area…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Heavy rainfall disrupted routine life across Lahore on Saturday, leaving several roads, underpasses and low-lying neighbourhoods inundated and causing difficulties for motorists and pedestrians. The downpour led to significant water accumulation in different parts of the city, slowing traffic and making several routes difficult to navigate. Residents in low-lying areas faced particular inconvenience as rainwater gathered on streets and roads. According to rainfall figures recorded by the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), Lahore received an average of 24.6 millimetres of rain. The highest rainfall was recorded at Lahore Airport, where 104mm was reported. Kahna received 75.6mm, while 62.6mm was recorded at Hadiara Defence Road and 58.6mm at Manawan. Rainfall was also recorded in Tajpura, Mughalpura, Shadipura, Defence Phase-VI, Farrukhabad, Saggian, Lakshmi Chowk, Chowk Nakhuda and other areas. Although the rain provided relief from the prevailing heat and brought cooler weather, waterlogging created problems for commuters and once again highlighted the challenges faced by Lahore’s low-lying areas during heavy showers. Wasa Lahore mobilised field teams and heavy machinery to remove accumulated water from affected locations. Officials continued drainage operations at several underpasses, major roads and low-lying points across the city. Wasa Managing Director Ghufran Ahmed inspected drainage activities at several key locations, including Mubeen Shaheed Underpass, Noor Jehan Road, MM Alam Road, Main Boulevard Gulberg, Qaddafi Stadium and Liberty Chowk. He also reviewed operations at Kalma Chowk Underpass and other emergency drainage facilities. Officials said disposal stations in areas affected by power outages were being operated with generators to ensure that drainage work continued without interruption. Wasa Vice Chairman Chaudhry Shehbaz Ahmed also inspected water drainage arrangements at several locations, including Shalimar Link Road, Bhagwanpura, UET and nearby areas. Meanwhile, Chief Traffic Officer Abdul Rahim Shirazi directed traffic officials to remain present in the field and closely monitor traffic flow and vulnerable points during the rainfall. Traffic police coordinated with Wasa teams to facilitate the removal of standing water and advised motorists to drive carefully on slippery roads. Drivers were urged to maintain a safe distance, avoid sudden braking and reduce speed. Motorcyclists were advised to wear helmets and avoid unnecessary overtaking. Citizens were also warned against entering roads where floodwater appeared deep or unsafe.

  • Lahore Metro Bus Service to suspend operations from August 11

    ByJustpaste.in

    LAHORE – VEDA, the private company operating the Lahore Metro Bus Service has announced the suspension of its operations. VEDA has issued a final notice to the Punjab Masstransit Authority (PMA) regarding the suspension of the Metro Bus Service. The company stated that its financial resources have been exhausted and that it is no longer possible to continue operations. The final notice said that the decision to suspend operations was taken due to the lack of an uninterrupted fuel supply for the Metro Bus Service. According to the company, the Punjab Masstransit Authority has failed to resolve the fuel supply issue. VEDA has informed the authorities that it will suspend all Metro Bus operations in Lahore from August 11. The private company said that it would not be able to continue the service unless the supply of fuel is ensured in accordance with the court order.

  • | |

    Pakistan, Saudi Arabia landmarks lit up after defe…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Major landmarks in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were illuminated with the national flags of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye following the signing of a landmark defence agreement between the three countries. The agreement was signed in Makkah a day earlier by the leaders of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, marking a significant development in defence cooperation among the three countries. In Islamabad, key government buildings, including the President’s House, Prime Minister’s House and Parliament House, were decorated with the flags of the three nations to mark the agreement. The flags of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye were also displayed along major roads across the federal capital. Welcome banners highlighting the Makkah defence agreement were placed at prominent locations across the city. The celebrations extended to Saudi Arabia, where major landmarks and towers in Riyadh and other cities were illuminated and decorated with the flags of all three countries. The coordinated displays reflected the close ties and growing strategic cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye following the signing of the defence pact.

  • |

    SBP orders same-day settlement for Premium Prize Bond sales

    ByJustpaste.in

    Karachi – The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has introduced a new system for the sale of Premium Prize Bonds and issued important instructions to commercial banks. According to details, the State Bank of Pakistan has directed all commercial banks to settle the proceeds from the sale of Premium Prize Bonds on the same day. In a circular issued by the SBP, it was stated that the new system has been introduced after reviewing the existing mechanism for reporting transactions related to the sale of Premium Prize Bonds. Under the new procedure, banks will report details of Premium Prize Bond sales through the Data Acquisition Portal within the prescribed time. The State Bank Banking Services Corporation will then deduct the reported sales amount from the relevant bank account on a daily basis. The State Bank has clarified that if a bank fails to settle the sales proceeds on the same day, it will have to pay charges for using the funds during the delay. These charges will be imposed for each day of delay at the SBP’s overnight reverse repo selling rate. The circular further stated that the calculation and recovery of these charges will be carried out by the SBP Karachi Office. The amount will be deducted from the relevant bank account and deposited into the Central (Non-Food) Account. The State Bank also clarified that if profit or prize money is incorrectly paid due to inaccurate, delayed or incomplete reporting of sales, encashment or transfer transactions, the concerned bank will be fully responsible. However, where applicable, adjustments will be made to the income tax amount.

  • Pakistan Tourism faces tough questions as Senate reviews PTDC’s future

    ByJustpaste.in

    Islamabad: The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) came under scrutiny as the Senate Standing Committee on Inter Provincial Coordination raised concerns over its performance, financial situation and the condition of tourism facilities across the country. The Committee questioned the current position of PTDC while reviewing tourism related matters during a meeting held at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Dilawar Khan. Members stressed the need for better management of tourism facilities and demanded a clearer picture of the condition of government owned tourism properties. The meeting focused on development projects and public issues in Chitral, including tourism, roads, electricity, telecommunications and transportation matters. Senator Dilawar Khan chaired the meeting, which was attended by Senator Aimal Wali Khan, Senator Syed Kazim Ali Shah, Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir, Senator Naseema Ehsan, Senator Saifullah Abro and senior officials from relevant departments. During discussions, the Committee reviewed PTDC’s performance and financial situation and examined the condition of tourism facilities and government buildings in Chitral. Members expressed concern over the condition of public properties linked with tourism and requested a detailed report regarding damaged government buildings. The Committee directed the concerned authorities to provide complete information about the damaged properties so that their condition, maintenance requirements and future use could be properly reviewed. Senators emphasized that tourism has significant potential for economic growth, especially in areas like Chitral where natural beauty attracts visitors from across Pakistan and abroad. However, they stressed that proper facilities, better management and timely development work are necessary to increase tourism opportunities. The Committee also reviewed other development challenges affecting Chitral. Officials from the National Highway Authority briefed members about progress on the Lowari Tunnel and nearby road projects. The Committee expressed concern over delays, funding issues and safety arrangements, directing that these important projects should be completed within the required timeframe. NHA officials assured the Committee that details regarding Korean financial assistance for related projects would be presented in the next meeting. The Committee also discussed delays in the feasibility study for the Chakdara Road project and called for early action to improve road safety and reduce future costs. Apart from tourism and roads, the Committee reviewed electricity and telecommunications issues in Chitral. Officials provided updates on the fibre optic project, electricity supply and load shedding problems. The Committee decided to invite officials from the Power Division and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority in the next meeting to discuss solutions for uninterrupted mobile services. The Committee also discussed transportation issues related to wheat supply between Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Members stressed that unnecessary barriers to inter provincial trade should be avoided. The Rawalpindi District Police Officer informed the Committee that police action is only taken against vehicles violating legal requirements. However, the Committee sought records of complaints related to check posts and directed that action should be taken against any officials found involved in corruption. Officials from the Punjab Food Department informed the Committee that there was no ban on the transportation of wheat from Punjab, while the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Department explained the province’s wheat requirements and supply situation. Chairman Senator Dilawar Khan directed all relevant departments to submit progress reports on previous committee decisions before the next meeting. He reaffirmed that public projects must be completed on time with transparency, proper coordination and improved services for citizens.

  • | |

    Jamaat-e-Islami announces nationwide sit-ins on Au…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced that his party will hold simultaneous sit-ins across all four provinces on August 16, as part of its campaign against what he described as injustice and oppressive policies. Speaking about the planned demonstrations, Naeemur Rehman said a sit-in would be held outside the Punjab Chief Minister’s House in Lahore. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan, party workers will stage protests outside the respective Governor Houses. The Jamaat-e-Islami chief said the demonstrations would be held at the same time across the country. He called on the rulers to stop what he termed oppression and injustice, saying the government must pay attention to the concerns of the people. Naeemur Rehman said his party would continue raising its voice on issues affecting citizens. He maintained that the government should take practical steps to address public grievances instead of ignoring them. The announcement comes as Jamaat-e-Islami continues its political activities and prepares to mobilise workers in different parts of the country. The party is expected to organise demonstrations in provincial capitals and other major areas as part of its campaign. The JI chief also welcomed the recent defence agreement signed by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. He described the agreement as a positive development and said stronger cooperation among the three countries could contribute to regional security and closer ties.

  • | | |

    Initial report suggests Mir Raza Ali was shot from…

    ByJustpaste.in

    KARACHI: An initial medical report has reportedly indicated that businessman Mir Raza Ali sustained a gunshot wound from behind, while several signs of physical violence were also found on his body following his exhumation for a fresh post-mortem examination. According to investigation sources, the preliminary report has addressed all 14 questions raised by police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed during the medical examination. The findings reportedly include a gunshot injury to the rear of the body, fractured ribs and multiple injuries to Ali’s head and face. The report also noted marks of violence on different parts of the deceased’s body. However, investigators have yet to officially receive the medical findings. SSP SIU Samiullah Somroo, who is leading the police investigation, said the investigation team had not been informed about the report or its findings. The exhumation process lasted around three hours and was conducted under the supervision of forensic experts. During the procedure, 17 samples were collected from the body for further examination. Four samples were preserved for DNA testing, while the remaining samples were collected for chemical analysis. Two additional reference samples were obtained from Ali’s parents to assist with DNA matching. Investigators said the collected samples have been preserved and will be submitted to the forensic laboratory at the University of Karachi on Monday. The chemical and DNA examination reports are expected to be available within three to four days. Ali’s body was exhumed earlier as part of efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding his death. After the medical examination was completed, his remains were reburied at a graveyard near Tariq Road. Ali, an IBA graduate and businessman, had returned home from his shop on the night of July 28. He later left the house again, telling his family that he would return within 10 minutes. He did not return, and his body was subsequently recovered from Gulistan-e-Jauhar. His father, Mir Hussain, has maintained that his son was murdered and rejected suggestions that he died by suicide. During the latest proceedings, members of the medical board collected various samples from Ali’s grave as part of the renewed examination. His family members and their lawyer, Jibran Nasir, were present at the graveyard, while a heavy police contingent was deployed to maintain security. The authorities had restored the original eight-member medical board responsible for supervising the exhumation after the family objected to the replacement of the panel with a five-member board. The disagreement had earlier prevented officials from carrying out the scheduled exhumation. Mir Hussain later said he was satisfied with the latest proceedings. He expressed hope that the fresh examination would provide clarity about what happened to his son. The family has also alleged that a fake audio recording attributed to Ali was circulated in an attempt to influence the case and create confusion around the circumstances of his death. The family’s lawyer had earlier raised concerns about changes to the medical board and questioned the decision to replace the original panel. He later said the family was satisfied with the renewed proceedings, which were conducted in the presence of the judicial magistrate, investigation officer and members of the medical team.

  • | | |

    Gold rally continues as prices jump Rs5,100 per to…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Gold prices continued their upward momentum on Friday, extending gains for a third straight session as both international and domestic bullion markets witnessed a sharp rise. According to the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the price of 24-karat gold in Pakistan surged by Rs5,100 per tola, reaching Rs454,336. The price of 10 grams of gold also climbed by Rs4,372 to settle at Rs389,519. The increase followed a strong performance in the international bullion market, where gold advanced by $51 per ounce to $4,319, providing fresh support to local prices. Silver also posted notable gains in the domestic market. The price of silver rose by Rs280 per tola to Rs6,939, while the rate for 10 grams increased by Rs240 to Rs5,949. The latest rise comes after substantial increases recorded earlier in the week. On Thursday, gold prices jumped by Rs11,300 per tola, while Wednesday saw another sharp increase of Rs10,000 per tola, reflecting sustained strength in global bullion markets and continued investor demand for the precious metal. Earlier in the week, however, gold prices had briefly softened. On Tuesday, the per-tola price slipped by Rs500 before rebounding strongly over the following days. Despite that temporary dip, the overall trend this week has remained firmly upward, pushing gold to fresh record levels in Pakistan.

  • | |

    PAAM finalizes policy draft for independent altern…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Lahore: An important consultative meeting of the Core Committee of the Pakistan Association of Alternative Medicine (PAAM) was held, in which the “Policy Draft and Working Paper” was finalized to make the country’s alternative medicine sector namely Homeopathy, Herbal, and Unani economically self-reliant and to transform it into an international industry. During this meeting, PAAM Core Committee members Dr. Tariq Mahmood Chaudhry and former Director of Homeopathy at the Punjab Health Department, Dr. Jamil Akhtar Ghauri, met with PAAM President Kashif Aslam Malik and held deep consultations on the framework of the proposed federal ministry. According to the text of the policy draft, more than 80 percent of the world’s population relies on alternative and natural methods of treatment. China earns an annual export profit of 60 billion dollars from this sector, and India earns over 5 billion dollars in valuable foreign exchange. In contrast, despite having abundant natural resources and hundreds of thousands of qualified doctors, Pakistan accounts for less than 0.5 percent of the global market due to the lack of an independent federal ministry. The working paper prepared by PAAM highlights that establishing an autonomous federal ministry could be the fastest way to pull Pakistan out of its economic crisis and boost exports. The PAAM leadership has presented three-year economic targets to the government and parliament, setting the export target at 200 million dollars for the first year, 500 million dollars for the second year, and aiming to exceed 1.5 billion dollars in the third year through international trade agreements and Business-to-Business (B2B) partnerships. Another key feature of this policy draft is that commercial herb farming will be initiated nationwide under the new ministry, directly benefiting the rural economy and local farmers. Furthermore, this initiative aims to eliminate Pakistan’s reliance on expensive imported raw materials for the allopathic industry, making the country truly economically independent. During the meeting, the PAAM leadership emphasized that the alternative medicine sector is facing a severe crisis due to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan’s (DRAP) hyper-focus on allopathic brands and bureaucratic red tape. They noted that introducing a one-window operation under an autonomous ministry would ensure medicine quality complies with World Health Organization (WHO) and International Herb Pharmacopeia standards, while also reducing public healthcare expenditures at the government level by up to 50 percent through the provision of affordable alternative medicines. Following the completion of the policy draft, PAAM has demanded a joint emergency meeting of the Senate and National Assembly Standing Committees on Health and Commerce, the formation of a dedicated task force, and a special export package for alternative medicine manufacturers. The Chairman and Core Committee of PAAM reaffirmed their commitment to presenting this policy paper to the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Federal Cabinet very soon to make the country self-sufficient on both economic and medical fronts.

  • | |

    Directorate of Youth Affairs launches citizen comp…

    ByJustpaste.in

    PESHAWAR: The Directorate of Youth Affairs, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has launched the “Ikhtiyar Awam Ka” Complaint Cell across all districts of the province, providing citizens with a dedicated platform to register complaints, submit suggestions and seek information regarding youth-related services through their respective District Youth Offices. The initiative has been introduced to promote transparency, accountability and effective public engagement while ensuring timely redressal of complaints related to youth affairs and government services. Director Youth Affairs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Abbas Khan Afridi said the establishment of the complaint cell reflects the government’s commitment to responsive governance and citizen-centric service delivery. “The Directorate of Youth Affairs is committed to ensuring that every citizen has direct access to our services. The ‘Ikhtiyar Awam Ka’ Complaint Cell will strengthen communication between the public and the Directorate, enabling us to address complaints promptly and improve the quality of services through public feedback,” Mr Afridi said. He said citizens from every district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could contact their respective District Youth Offices through the designated helpline numbers to register complaints, report issues, share recommendations and obtain information about youth development programmes. Mr Afridi added that every complaint received through the complaint cell would be handled with transparency, responsibility and within a defined timeframe to ensure accountability and public confidence. The complaint cell has been established in all district youth offices across Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Swat, Buner, Shangla, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Malakand, Chitral Upper, Chitral Lower, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, North Waziristan, South Waziristan Upper, South Waziristan Lower, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Karak, Kohat, Hangu, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Haripur, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar, Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas Kohistan, where citizens can connect through the officially designated helplines. Officials said the initiative would strengthen public trust, improve institutional accountability and ensure efficient delivery of youth-related services across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.