पंजाब

LAHORE: The Punjab government has ordered a province-wide crackdown against organized professional begging networks, with Lahore set to become the first “Beggar-Free City” under a coordinated enforcement campaign. The decision came during a meeting chaired by Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi at the Home Department. Authorities directed relevant departments to develop a joint strategy to identify professional beggars, expose the networks operating behind them, and take action against those who force vulnerable people into begging. The Punjab Safe Cities Authority and traffic police have received special assignments to help identify and dismantle the begging mafia’s network. Officials will use modern technology, surveillance tools and human intelligence to locate key hotspots and track repeat offenders. Dr Qazi stressed that authorities must take strict action against handlers who exploit children, women and elderly people for begging. He said the government had introduced legal amendments to increase penalties and fines and discourage organized begging networks. Under the amended Punjab Vagrancy Ordinance 1958, forcing someone to beg constitutes a non-bailable offence. The home secretary directed authorities to ensure strong prosecution of arrested members of the begging mafia so that cases result in effective convictions. The meeting also called for the creation of a centralized database of professional beggars who face repeated arrests. Officials will also maintain updated records of needy and destitute people who seek assistance at welfare homes. Dr Qazi instructed authorities to identify begging hotspots across Lahore and conduct targeted operations at these locations. He further emphasized the need for close coordination among all relevant departments to eliminate organized begging networks. The government also plans to strengthen welfare homes and turn them into support centers for vulnerable members of society. Officials will improve arrangements for food, healthcare and accommodation while providing education to children staying at these facilities. The welfare homes will also offer vocational training to help deserving individuals develop skills and achieve financial independence instead of relying on begging. Dr Qazi urged civil society organizations to play an active role in supporting vulnerable communities. The home secretary appealed to citizens to report professional begging networks to police at 15. He assured the public that the authorities would keep the identities of informants confidential. The meeting was attended by Social Welfare Secretary Saira Umar, Special Secretary Home Zainab Khan, Director General Social Welfare Dr Shahenshah Faisal, Director General Probation and Parole Shahid Iqbal, Additional Secretary Prisons Roman Burana, Additional Secretary Judicial Abdul Rauf, Lahore Chief Traffic Officer Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi, AIG Sarfraz Warak, Deputy Prosecutor General Dr Usman Iqbal, Civil Defence Director Tasneem Ali Khan, along with officials from the Punjab Safe Cities Authority, FIA, School Education Department and Health Department.

LAHORE: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has partnered with the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts & Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) as a strategic partner for the 21st Pakistan Auto Parts Show (PAPS) 2026. The three-day exhibition will take place from September 18 to 20 at the Expo Centre Lahore, bringing together stakeholders from Pakistan’s automotive and engineering sectors as well as potential international business partners. The partnership reflects SMEDA’s continued efforts to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in line with the policy direction of the Ministry of Industries and Production and the SMEDA Board of Directors. The initiative aims to help local businesses expand their market reach, develop new partnerships and become part of regional and global industrial supply chains. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan chaired a meeting on SMEDA’s collaboration with PAAPAM. Secretary of Industries and Production Saif Anjum, SMEDA Board members, CEO Nadia Jahangir Seth, Pak Suzuki head Hiroshi Kawamura and representatives of PAAPAM attended the meeting. Haroon Akhtar Khan said the government wanted to transform Pakistan into a competitive manufacturing hub by empowering MSMEs and strengthening domestic industrial value chains. He highlighted the resilience and growth potential of Pakistan’s automotive sector, saying events such as the Pakistan Auto Show could help promote local manufacturing, encourage innovation and attract investment. The SAPM called for the 2026 exhibition to become a major international platform with a strong focus on business-to-business engagement, memorandums of understanding and joint ventures. He also ordered the formation of a private-sector-led committee to prepare a comprehensive plan for making the event a landmark occasion. Khan further directed SMEDA to provide full support to PAAPAM and engage with foreign embassies and local MSMEs to facilitate effective business matchmaking during the exhibition. He said the government wanted to give MSMEs better access to markets, stronger commercial connections and greater opportunities to join regional and international value chains. Secretary MoI&P Saif Anjum said the event should help local auto parts manufacturers gain greater exposure and establish business links with international competitors. He called for SMEDA, PAAPAM, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Engineering Development Board (EDB) to work together to achieve the exhibition’s objectives. SMEDA CEO Nadia Jahangir Seth described the automotive sector as one of Pakistan’s most dynamic industries, with significant potential for SME-driven growth. She said numerous MSMEs play a key role in the country’s auto parts and engineering ecosystem. Through its partnership with PAAPAM, SMEDA aims to help these businesses present their capabilities, establish strategic alliances, adopt modern technologies and explore new opportunities in domestic and international markets. PAPS 2026 Convener Salman Saleem welcomed SMEDA’s participation, saying the partnership would strengthen efforts to present Pakistan’s automotive industry to the global market. He said SMEDA’s support would increase SME participation and reinforce efforts to promote local manufacturing under the “Make in Pakistan” vision. A symposium will also take place on September 19 alongside the exhibition. Organisers expect the session to contribute to discussions on the future of Pakistan’s automotive industry and help develop a roadmap for further growth and collaboration.

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday formally inaugurated the Punjab Integrated Safe City Network, describing it as a major step towards protecting citizens and reducing crime across the province. Punjab has become the first province in the country to establish an integrated Safe City network covering all 41 districts and two tehsils. Officials said coordinated efforts by the police, Crime Control Department (CCD) and Safe Cities Authority had contributed to an estimated 80 per cent decline in crime. Safe Cities Authority Managing Director Ahsan Younas briefed the chief minister on the province-wide smart surveillance system. He said artificial intelligence (AI) was strengthening monitoring and enabling authorities to respond more quickly to potential threats. The network combines intelligent surveillance, Emergency Helpline 15, traffic management, real-time command and control, and predictive policing. It also offers services through the Virtual Women Police Station, Child Safety Centre and Blood Bank, along with traffic and environmental monitoring facilities. The government plans to install another 1,500 panic buttons across Punjab and equip every police station with the facility. Smart screens will also be installed at public locations. AI-powered cameras will support facial identification and weapon detection, helping law-enforcement agencies improve surveillance and respond to security threats. Maryam Nawaz said the government would expand the Safe Smart Cities project to every union council in Punjab. She said the province had made significant progress in technology, smart policing and predictive policing. The chief minister said the government had transformed every district into a Safe City within the past two and a half years. She termed the ability to monitor the entire province through a single system a major achievement. She said AI-based surveillance and predictive policing were helping authorities identify developments early and take timely action. Speaking about the security situation, Maryam Nawaz said more than 70 areas of Punjab had previously been considered no-go zones, where people avoided travelling after sunset. She claimed that the government had now eliminated such areas across the province, including the riverine belt. She added that the riverine region had recorded no serious crime or kidnapping for ransom for nearly 10 months. The administration also recently organised a cricket tournament there, which she described as a sign of improving law and order. The chief minister said the provincial government would spend Rs30 billion on development projects in the riverine belt, including healthcare and other facilities, with the aim of bringing the area closer to the development standards of Punjab’s cities.

  A youth-led dialogue on climate action and greater youth participation in policymaking brought together parliamentarians, policymakers, environmental experts, civil society representatives and young people in Punjab. Pak Mission Society and Forman Christian College University jointly organised the event, where participants discussed climate policy, legislation and the role of young people in shaping environmental decisions. Parliamentary Secretary for Environment Kanwal Liaqat said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had identified climate change as a major priority after assuming office. She said the provincial government had since introduced several measures to address environmental challenges. Liaqat said brick kilns across Punjab must use zigzag technology to operate, while women environmental inspectors were helping strengthen monitoring and enforcement. She added that authorities were taking action against industries that pollute the air and water and were working to improve the condition of canals, streams and rivers. The dialogue also examined gaps in Punjab’s climate laws and policies. Members of Green Clubs presented five climate demands developed by children and young people, urging the government to give youth a stronger role in climate governance and policymaking. The event also featured a session titled “From Dreams to Reality: Advancing Youth-Led Climate Action in Pakistan,” moderated by environmental law expert Ahmed Rafi Alam. The concluding discussion focused on practical measures to address young people’s concerns and develop a roadmap for youth-led climate action in Pakistan. Participants included Rabia Chaudhry, Waqil Ahmed Khan, Dur-e-Shahwar, Dr Younas Zahid, Ahmed Rafi Alam, Hafiz Usman, Dr Abdul Qadir, Khurram Tauqeer and Shakeela Firdous.

LAHORE: District agencies of the Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) have launched a range of Independence Day activities across Punjab, including fireworks, green-and-white illuminations, cultural programmes and plantation drives. Lahore, Murree, Jhelum and Faisalabad welcomed August 14 with fireworks late Wednesday night. Authorities also decorated major roads, parks and public spaces with lights and national flags in the colours of the Pakistani flag. In Lahore, the agency organised midnight fireworks at five locations, including Greater Iqbal Park, Liberty Roundabout and Gulshan Iqbal Park. It also installed decorative crescents, stars and traditional lamps at several sites and arranged a musical night. Faisalabad hosted an entertainment programme at Bagh-i-Jinnah, featuring fireworks, family activities, magic shows and musical performances. The agency also decorated several parts of the city with illuminated structures. Murree held a fireworks display and planned a cake-cutting ceremony after the flag-hoisting. Officials decorated Kuldana Road, Bagh-i-Shaheedan, View Forth Road, Jhika Gali, Kashmir Point and Pindi Point. In Jhelum, fireworks took place at Akram Shaheed Park, which also received decorative lighting. Officials installed flags along the green belt on Old GT Road and placed streamers in several parks. Rawalpindi will combine Independence Day celebrations with a plantation initiative at Allama Iqbal Park, where officials will distribute plants after the flag-hoisting ceremony. The agency has also decorated several major roads with lights. Other districts, including Khushab, Nankana Sahib, Multan, Gujranwala, Dera Ghazi Khan and Okara, have arranged similar activities. Multan will distribute saplings at several parks, while Okara plans to plant 1,000 saplings and decorate nine major parks. Dera Ghazi Khan has organised a musical night and will hold a rally in coordination with the deputy commissioner’s office. Gujranwala is promoting Independence Day through digital campaigns and decorations in parks. The PHA said its celebrations also highlight environmental responsibility. District agencies are continuing monsoon plantation campaigns across Punjab to increase green cover and expand parks in urban areas. A PHA spokesperson said Independence Day provides an opportunity to remember the sacrifices behind Pakistan’s creation while renewing the commitment to the country’s future and environmental well-being.

All nine educational boards across Punjab have approved a new Digital Result Card System to modernise examination records and make student services more accessible. Under the new system, boards will stop issuing traditional printed result cards to students. Instead, candidates will receive digital result cards through newly developed online result portals. Students will be able to download and print their certificates from home or use commercial printing facilities when needed. The move will also end the Rs550 fee that boards currently collect from each candidate for issuing conventional result cards at the time of admission. As a result, the boards are expected to lose a significant source of revenue. The first phase of the system will cover Class IX and First Year annual examination results. Class X and Second Year students will join the digital system in the second phase. However, students whose results were scheduled for announcement on August 6 will continue to receive printed result cards under the existing system. Board officials said digital result cards for both regular and private candidates will become available online immediately after results are announced. Regular students will access their certificates through their institutions’ online portals, while private candidates will download them directly from their respective board websites. The new certificates will carry QR codes and other security features to prevent tampering and allow educational institutions and employers to verify them electronically. Officials have also confirmed that digital result cards will have the same legal and official status as conventional certificates. They will remain valid for university admissions, employment, scholarships, equivalence certificates, document verification and other academic and official requirements. The initiative marks a major shift towards paperless examination services and is expected to make the process faster, more convenient and easier for students across Punjab.

A senior doctor at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) has asked to step down from her responsibilities amid controversy surrounding the death of a 65-year-old patient who was shifted from the hospital’s emergency department to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) on July 28. Dr Sanobar Sikandar, JPMC’s only senior emergency medicine specialist, submitted a request to the hospital’s Executive Director seeking relief from her duties as an assistant professor of medicine. She cited mounting professional pressure, internal interference and what she described as an unhealthy working environment. Dr Sanobar said the hospital administration criticised her after asking her to explain the circumstances surrounding the patient’s death. She said the situation had made it increasingly difficult for her to continue managing her medical, teaching and administrative responsibilities effectively. In her application, she highlighted what she described as a lack of professional respect in the emergency department, political interference and inappropriate conduct by some junior doctors. She said these issues had caused her severe mental stress and made it difficult to continue working under the prevailing conditions. The Young Doctors Association (YDA) Sindh has backed Dr Sanobar and urged the JPMC administration to address the dispute immediately. YDA Sindh Chairman Dr Mehboob Noonari said Dr Sanobar is the hospital’s only FCPS assistant professor in emergency medicine. He noted that she also serves as faculty for the FCPS programme and supervises trainee doctors. Dr Noonari warned that her departure could seriously disrupt emergency medicine training at JPMC and may even put the FCPS programme at risk of closure. He also alleged that the administration was pressuring Dr Sanobar to protect the doctor who was in charge of the night shift when the incident occurred. He questioned why the night-shift in-charge was being shielded and demanded that hospital authorities clarify the matter. The YDA chairman further claimed that senior doctors had questioned Dr Sanobar over her decision to issue an explanation regarding the patient’s death, raising concerns about the handling of the case within the hospital.