punjab launches 1st
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Punjab launches 1st overseas digital land registry

ByJustpaste.in

LAHORE: In a landmark move aimed at simplifying property transactions for overseas Pakistanis, the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA), in collaboration with the Board of Revenue Punjab, has successfully completed the province’s first fully digital land registration through the Pakistan High Commission in London.

The initiative marks a significant step toward modernizing land services, allowing Pakistanis living abroad to buy, sell, and transfer property in Punjab without the need to travel back to the country. By introducing a secure digital process, the system is designed to make property transactions faster, more transparent, and better protected against fraud.

The first transaction under the new framework involved a Pakistani citizen based in London who transferred ownership of land located in Dina, Punjab, to a buyer in Pakistan. The seller’s statement was recorded remotely through a secure digital link, while the entire legal registration process was completed electronically in accordance with official procedures.

Director General of the Punjab Land Records Authority, Ikram-ul-Haq, described the successful registration as a major milestone in strengthening the confidence of overseas Pakistanis and improving transparency in land dealings. He said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to delivering international-standard public services through technology while promoting efficient and citizen-friendly governance.

According to the PLRA, the service is currently available to Pakistanis residing in the United Kingdom. Authorities plan to expand the facility to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates within the next 30 days through continued collaboration between the Punjab Land Records Authority and Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Officials believe the digital registration system will make property ownership and transfers significantly more convenient for overseas Pakistanis while reinforcing trust in Pakistan’s land administration through secure and technology-driven services.

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    AJK election first phase concludes, vote counting …

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    Polling for the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections concluded on Monday, with vote counting now underway across 13 constituencies in Mirpur Division. The first phase covered three districts — Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber. Polling was initially scheduled to end at 5pm but was extended by one hour. Voting continued until 6pm to provide voters with additional time to cast their ballots. More than 1.4 million registered voters were eligible to participate in the first phase. The Election Commission had established 2,454 polling stations across the three districts. Of these, 597 polling stations were set up across four constituencies in Mirpur district. Kotli had 1,107 polling stations across six constituencies, while 608 polling stations were established in three constituencies of Bhimber. A total of 296 candidates, including nominees from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party and independent candidates, contested the 13 seats. Polling disrupted at some stations Although polling remained largely peaceful, some polling stations reported disruptions. In Kotli’s Aghaar Colony, voting continued at Polling Station 38. However, polling could not begin at Stations 36 and 37 because voters did not arrive. PPP AJK Election Cell in-charge Sardar Abdul Shakoor claimed that disturbances occurred at polling stations 119, 120 and 121 in LA-5 Barnala. He said polling was affected for some time. According to Shakoor, voting resumed after security forces reached the area. However, he said the polling process remained slow. The PPP also established a central election monitoring cell in Islamabad. Senior party leaders, including Sherry Rehman, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Shazia Marri, Sharjeel Memon and Saeed Ghani, monitored developments and remained in contact with election officials, district administrations and party candidates. Former National Assembly speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf expressed concern over alleged irregularities at different polling stations. He called for additional security personnel at sensitive locations, including Gulpur, Thurochi and Muhajir Camp. He urged the Election Commission to immediately and impartially investigate all complaints and ensure free, fair and transparent elections. Political leaders urge voters to participate PML-N candidate Chaudhry Tariq Farooq cast his vote at Polling Station 161 in Bhimber’s LA-7 constituency. Speaking after voting, Farooq said voter turnout was expected to be higher in rural areas than in cities. He also expressed confidence in the security and election arrangements in Bhimber. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, accompanied by his sister Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, appealed to voters in Mirpur to participate in the elections. In a video message, Bilawal urged people to leave their homes and exercise their right to vote if they wanted Kashmir’s future to be decided by its people. He also asked voters to support PPP candidates. PPP Karachi Division President Saeed Ghani described the election as a contest between the genuine issues of Kashmiris and what he called false promises. Ghani said Kashmiris needed political rights, ownership rights and employment opportunities. He criticised the focus on providing a limited number of buses, saying development should address wider public needs. PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan also raised concerns about alleged federal interference and the use of government resources during the elections. He demanded that the polls remain free, fair and transparent. He also called on the federal government to avoid any involvement that could influence the electoral process. PPP spokesperson Shazia Marri said the people of Kashmir would deliver their verdict through their votes. She said the party’s election symbol, the arrow, represented hope for the people of Mirpur. Police praise peaceful polling AJK police said the first phase of polling remained peaceful across Mirpur Division. A spokesperson for the AJK police chief said voters had rejected calls for unrest and instead chose to exercise their democratic right. Voters began arriving at polling stations soon after voting opened at 8am. AJK Inspector General of Police Liaquat Ali Malik thanked residents for cooperating with law enforcement agencies and helping maintain peace during the election. He warned that no individual, including political workers, would be allowed to take the law into their own hands. Mirpur Commissioner Raja Tahir Mumtaz and DIG Kamran Ali also visited Ward 16/17 in LA-3 to review the polling arrangements. The commissioner said polling had remained peaceful across Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber. He urged voters to come out without fear and assured them that the administration had made arrangements for a secure environment. Security arrangements strengthened Authorities made extensive security arrangements for the elections. AJK Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said legal action would be taken against anyone attempting to disrupt the voting process. AJK Chief Secretary Khushal Khan said state institutions were fully prepared to maintain peace during the elections. He said the people had rejected attempts to create disorder and demonstrated confidence in the democratic process.

  • 32 dead as gas blast rips through Quetta coal mine

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    Afghan man married to Pakistani woman granted bail…

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    Sam Asghari reveals future family plans with girlf…

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    Germany’s delayed lignite review fuels debate over coal exit

    ByJustpaste.in

    BERLIN: Germany’s decision to postpone an interim assessment of its planned lignite phase-out in North Rhine-Westphalia has raised speculation that some coal-fired power plants could remain available for longer than originally scheduled to protect the country’s electricity supply. The German government had been expected to publish an interim report by August 15 examining the consequences of the planned early shutdown of lignite-fired generation in the country’s largest state. However, the economy ministry has delayed the assessment while it awaits the outcome of tenders for new gas-fired power plants being conducted this year. The development has attracted attention because the report is expected to play an important role in determining whether Germany can maintain electricity security while moving ahead with its ambitious coal-exit strategy. Agreement with RWE Under an agreement reached in 2022 between the German government and energy company RWE, lignite-fired electricity generation in North Rhine-Westphalia is scheduled to end by March 2030. The timetable brought forward the shutdown of several lignite plants by eight years compared with Germany’s broader national coal phase-out target. Lignite, commonly known as brown coal, is among the most carbon-intensive fossil fuels and has long been a major target of Germany’s efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The government nevertheless retained the possibility of reassessing the situation by 2026. If the review finds that electricity supplies could be threatened, some RWE facilities could potentially remain available until 2033. Delay raises market expectations The postponement of the interim report has prompted speculation in energy markets that Berlin may eventually use the security provisions included in the agreement. Market expectations have centred on around 3.6 gigawatts (GW) of RWE’s lignite-fired capacity potentially being placed into a so-called security standby arrangement. Under such a mechanism, plants could remain available to operate if the electricity system faces supply shortages, potentially extending their role through the end of 2033. The government, however, has not announced any decision to extend the operating life of the plants. RWE Chief Executive Markus Krebber said on Thursday that the company had not been informed of any change to the agreed 2030 shutdown date. He also indicated that the government had not approached RWE about extending the plants’ operations. Gas power becomes increasingly important The delay comes as Germany seeks to strengthen its electricity system with additional gas-fired generation. Germany has approximately 266 GW of installed electricity-generation capacity, but a substantial portion comes from solar and wind power. While renewable energy has expanded rapidly, both technologies are weather-dependent and cannot independently guarantee continuous electricity production around the clock. That has intensified concerns about how the country will maintain reliable power supplies as coal-fired generation is gradually removed from the system. Gas-fired plants are increasingly being considered as a flexible source of electricity that can support the grid when renewable generation is insufficient. The government’s current tenders for new gas capacity are therefore closely linked to the broader debate over how quickly Germany can retire coal-fired plants without creating supply risks. Security of supply remains a key concern Germany’s energy transition has faced a difficult balancing act between climate objectives and electricity reliability. The country wants to expand renewable generation while reducing its reliance on fossil fuels, but the retirement of conventional power plants removes generation capacity that can be dispatched when required. The issue became particularly sensitive following the country’s decision to phase out nuclear power, leaving policymakers with fewer sources of low-carbon, dispatchable electricity. Supporters of a rapid coal exit argue that expanding renewable generation, electricity storage, grid infrastructure and flexible gas capacity can compensate for the closure of coal plants. Critics maintain that Germany could face periods of tight supply unless sufficient backup generation is available. AfD presses for reversal The issue has also become politically contentious. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), currently the country’s largest opposition party and leading nationwide opinion polls, has strongly opposed Germany’s coal and nuclear phase-out policies. The party has called for a reversal of the energy-exit strategy, arguing that the closure of conventional power stations could increase the risk of electricity shortages and potentially lead to blackouts. The government, meanwhile, faces the challenge of ensuring that its climate commitments do not undermine electricity security.

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    North West apologises to fans after debut Kimokawa…

    ByJustpaste.in

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