K-Electric GM assures Ghouri Arcade residents of relief

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced a nationwide strike on September 3, saying he will visit different cities to persuade traders to join the party’s ongoing protest movement. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Hafiz Naeem said the party would hold a major public gathering in Faisalabad on Friday, followed by another gathering in Lahore and then Peshawar. He said he would also meet industrialists and traders in Faisalabad to discuss their concerns and encourage them to participate in the movement. He announced that sit-ins would also begin in Quetta from the following day. Hafiz Naeem said the protests and sit-ins would continue until the government accepted the party’s demands. He added that consultations were under way over a possible call for a march towards Islamabad. The Jamaat chief said the party was not yet formally announcing a wheel-jam strike, but expressed the view that the September 3 strike could eventually turn into a complete shutdown. He strongly criticised prolonged power outages across the country and questioned who would be held responsible for the situation. He said ending load-shedding was among the key demands of the protest movement. He also demanded the withdrawal of fixed charges imposed on electricity bills and called for the immediate termination of agreements with independent power producers. Hafiz Naeem accused the government of burdening citizens with rising fuel and electricity costs. He said gas shortages had also reached alarming levels, despite consumers paying high prices for the commodity. Criticising the government’s taxation policies, he alleged that authorities were focused on collecting taxes while businesses were being pushed towards closure. He accused government officials of enjoying expensive facilities at the expense of ordinary citizens. The Jamaat chief warned that if the levy and so-called “bhatta tax” were not withdrawn, no one would be able to stop a mass public movement. He further alleged that the government had been formed through what he described as a “Form 47” mandate and claimed that the party’s protests had exposed irregularities involving diesel pricing. According to Hafiz Naeem, additional refinery charges were being imposed on locally produced diesel, further increasing the burden on consumers and businesses. He also raised questions over the deaths of 14 children in the fire at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), demanding accountability over the incident and criticising the hospital’s administration. The Jamaat chief also accused the country’s three major political parties of engaging in what he described as a political “noora kushti”, alleging that they were creating the appearance of confrontation while avoiding substantive action. Hafiz Naeem said Jamaat-e-Islami would continue its campaign until its demands were addressed and urged traders, industrialists and citizens to join the protest movement.

LAHORE: Schools across Punjab are set to reopen on August 24 following the summer vacation, with the provincial government directing education authorities to complete all necessary arrangements before students return to classrooms. Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has instructed relevant departments and school administrations to ensure that educational institutions are clean, secure and fully prepared for the new academic session. The minister directed school administrations to pay particular attention to the cleanliness of classrooms, washrooms, playgrounds and other areas of school premises. He also stressed the need to ensure the availability of safe and clean drinking water for students and staff. In view of the ongoing monsoon season, authorities have been asked to inspect and clean water tanks and school rooftops and ensure proper disinfection. Drainage systems should also be checked to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water, which can increase the risk of mosquito breeding and dengue fever. The education minister ordered school administrations to strictly follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) aimed at preventing dengue outbreaks. Officials have been directed to identify and remove potential mosquito breeding sites from school premises and ensure that no stagnant water remains in or around the institutions. Security arrangements have also been made a priority ahead of the reopening. The minister directed both government and private schools to ensure full compliance with prescribed security SOPs and make certain that CCTV cameras and other security equipment are operational before students arrive. Schools where construction or repair work is underway have been instructed to install proper barriers and restrict students’ access to potentially hazardous areas. The authorities have also been directed to inspect electrical installations throughout school buildings. School heads must ensure that fans, lights, switches, electrical sockets and wiring are in safe working condition to prevent accidents. Rana Sikandar Hayat further instructed heads of educational institutions to conduct a final inspection of their respective schools before reopening. He warned that negligence, delays or failure to comply with the government’s instructions would not be tolerated and could result in action against those responsible. The minister emphasized that all arrangements must be completed before August 24 so that students can return to school in a clean, safe and healthy environment.

KARACHI: An armed robbery took place at an Edhi Centre in Karachi’s Sohrab Goth area, with four suspects fleeing with Rs6.5 million in cash. According to the centre’s spokesperson, the money had been withdrawn from a bank to pay employees’ salaries when the robbers targeted the staff. Police said four armed men riding two motorcycles carried out the robbery and escaped with the cash. Initial information is being obtained from employees who were present at the centre. According to their statements, all four suspects were wearing helmets during the robbery. Police said efforts were underway to obtain CCTV footage from the area to identify the suspects. An investigation into the incident is also continuing. Sindh Chief Minister has sought a report from the Inspector General of Police over the robbery. The chief minister said the Edhi Centre serves as a major source of support for poor and abandoned people. He directed the police to investigate the incident immediately and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. He added that protecting the lives and property of citizens remains the government’s top priority.