Punjab approves Sports Action Plan for schools, Rs. 500,000 prize announced

Pakistan has taken a significant step toward joining the global lithium supply chain after the discovery of high-grade lithium in Sindh’s Khairpur district, a development that could pave the way for the country’s first domestic lithium industry and strengthen its ambitions in clean energy and advanced manufacturing. The breakthrough comes as the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) signed a strategic agreement with the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH) to develop technology capable of extracting lithium from geothermal brine on a commercial scale. The agreement follows the successful identification of high-quality lithium in water produced from a well in Khairpur, raising hopes that Pakistan could eventually reduce its dependence on imported battery materials while creating a new high-value industrial sector. Officials familiar with the project said the collaboration will focus on designing an efficient and commercially viable extraction process. If successful, the initiative could lay the foundation for a local lithium value chain, supporting industries involved in electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy storage systems, and other high-tech applications. The discovery is also expected to attract interest from investors looking to capitalize on the rapidly growing global demand for lithium, a critical mineral used in rechargeable batteries that power electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops, and grid-scale energy storage systems. In another major development, authorities have expanded lithium exploration across Sindh. Plans are underway to investigate eight to ten additional wells in search of further lithium-rich geothermal brine deposits, increasing the likelihood of identifying commercially viable reserves. Energy experts believe Pakistan’s emerging lithium potential could diversify the country’s mineral resources, generate export opportunities, and create skilled employment if exploration results continue to be positive and commercial production becomes feasible. While further scientific studies and economic assessments are still required before large-scale production begins, the Khairpur discovery marks a milestone in Pakistan’s pursuit of critical minerals. Industry observers say sustained investment in research, technology, and infrastructure will be essential to transform the discovery into a competitive domestic lithium industry capable of supporting the country’s long-term energy transition and industrial growth.

Lahore: The Punjab Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department has ordered an inquiry against five medical superintendents over the issuance of handwritten Medico-Legal Certificates (MLCs) and Post-Mortem Reports (PMRs), despite mandatory procedures requiring the documents to be generated through a computerized system. The action follows serious concerns raised by a Lahore High Court Division Bench regarding the continued issuance of handwritten medico-legal documents at several teaching hospitals across Punjab. According to an official departmental order issued on August 2, 2026, a meeting was held at the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department on July 8 to examine the issue. The meeting reviewed records showing that several hospitals had issued handwritten MLCs and PMRs during the preceding months in violation of established standard operating procedures. The hospitals identified in the departmental record include Nishtar Hospital Multan, Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital Sialkot, Dr Faisal Masood Teaching Hospital Sargodha, Services Hospital Lahore and Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital Dera Ghazi Khan. The highest number of handwritten MLCs was reported at Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital Sialkot, where 1,243 such certificates were issued, along with 43 handwritten PMRs. Nishtar Hospital Multan reportedly issued 816 handwritten MLCs and 182 handwritten PMRs. Dr Faisal Masood Teaching Hospital Sargodha recorded 735 handwritten MLCs and 48 PMRs, while Services Hospital Lahore issued 680 handwritten MLCs. At Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital Dera Ghazi Khan, the record showed 768 handwritten MLCs and 10 handwritten PMRs. The department said the available record provided sufficient grounds for proceedings against the concerned officers under Section 3 of the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act, 2006. The allegations relate to alleged misconduct and inefficiency in the discharge of official responsibilities. Among the officers facing inquiry is Dr Rao Amjad Ali Khan, former Medical Superintendent of Nishtar Hospital Multan. The issue has also raised questions about the responsibility of officials and staff working in forensic and medico-legal departments. Questions have emerged over how handwritten reports continued to be issued despite the availability of a mandatory computerized system. Computerization of MLCs and PMRs was introduced to improve transparency, maintain reliable records and reduce the possibility of alteration or manipulation of sensitive medico-legal documents. Such reports can play an important role in criminal investigations and court proceedings. The inquiry is expected to establish why the prescribed digital system was bypassed, identify officials responsible for the violations and determine whether disciplinary action is warranted. The department will also examine the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the handwritten reports and the role of the relevant hospital administrations.

MULTAN: In a significant development in a cryptocurrency fraud case, the Lahore High Court’s Multan Bench has granted interim bail to Hammad Ali and other co-petitioners, observing that the prosecution has, at this stage, failed to produce sufficient material linking them to the alleged electronic fraud or the freezing of the complainant’s cryptocurrency accounts. Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh issued the detailed 15-page judgment while hearing the interim bail petitions, emphasizing that the investigation remains underway and that the available record does not disclose prima facie evidence of cheating, fraud, or forgery against the petitioners. According to the judgment, the allegations contained in the First Information Report (FIR) do not appear, at first glance, to establish the offences alleged against the accused. The court noted that no evidence had been placed on record demonstrating the petitioners’ involvement in electronic fraud or showing that they played any role in freezing the complainant’s cryptocurrency accounts. The court further observed that it is the responsibility of the investigating officer to independently examine the role of each individual account holder before reaching any conclusion regarding criminal liability. The judgment stressed that investigations must be conducted impartially and based on verifiable evidence rather than assumptions. Justice Sheikh also noted that the petitioners had already provided the investigating officer with the records requested during the course of the investigation. The investigating officer, the court said, remains free to obtain additional documents from relevant financial institutions or other authorities if further verification is required. The judgment also outlines the complainant’s version of events. According to court records, the complainant initially invested Rs5 million in cryptocurrency. He claimed that a subsequent crash in the cryptocurrency market caused him heavy financial losses. The complainant further alleged that, in an effort to recover those losses, he sold household belongings, his vehicle, and gold jewellery to make additional investments in cryptocurrency. He later claimed that his cryptocurrency accounts were frozen, preventing him from accessing his digital assets. According to the FIR, the complainant then began withdrawing funds through the cryptocurrency accounts of friends. He alleged that the accused obtained cryptocurrency through bank accounts but failed to return the corresponding amount owed to him. After reviewing the available material, the Lahore High Court concluded that there was currently insufficient prima facie evidence directly implicating the petitioners in the alleged offences. On that basis, the court allowed their interim bail petitions while making it clear that the investigation would continue in accordance with the law. The ruling highlights the judiciary’s emphasis on evidence-based investigations in complex financial and cryptocurrency-related disputes, while leaving the final determination of criminal responsibility to the outcome of the ongoing investigation.