Punjab | Pakistan

Report finds 1,956 cases in early 2025, most reported from Punjab

In a landmark achievement under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s “Suthra Punjab – Waste to Value Project,” Punjab has successfully produced biogas from animal waste for the first time.

Widespread flooding triggered by overflowing rivers and persistent monsoon rains has devastated multiple districts across Punjab, prompting emergency alerts and large-scale rescue efforts.

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the concerned authorities to utilize Safe City cameras to monitor sanitation conditions across the province as part of the ongoing ‘Suthra (Clean) Punjab’ Program.

LAHORE: A major controversy has emerged over the methodology used by the Crop Reporting Centre (CRC) Punjab in determining provincial cotton output, with serious allegations of inflated and misleading statistics surfacing. It has been revealed that CRC Punjab is allegedly estimating total cotton production using hypothetical calculations — extrapolating yields based on the number of bolls per plant across an acre or, in some districts, from small sample plots as small as eight feet by six feet. This has exposed a long-standing discrepancy between the figures reported by CRC Punjab and those of the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), with the former consistently reporting significantly higher production. Ihsan-ul-Haq, Chairman of the Cotton Ginners Forum, stated that this variance has long complicated decision-making for stakeholders in the cotton industry. He noted that while some attribute the CRC’s inflated figures to unrecorded lint sales by certain ginners, the presence of two conflicting national...

• CM Gulbar says region lacks funds to tackle flood damage • Seven districts affected; Diamer worst hit by daily flash floods • Villagers flee Rajanpur, Bhakkar, Layyah, Muzaffargarh as low-lying districts in Punjab submerged GILGIT / LAHORE / DERA GHAZI KHAN: Gilgit-Balti­stan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan on Saturday appe­aled to the federal government for Rs7 billion in emergency funds to deal with climate-induced disasters that have caused damages exceeding Rs20bn across the region. Speaking at a press conference at the CM House in Gilgit, the chief minister said the GB government lacks the financial capacity to handle the unprecedented disasters. CM Khan was accompanied by GB Home Minister Shams Lone, GB Assembly member Jamil Ahmed, Special Assi­stant on Infor­mation Eman Shah and Special Assistant on GB Disaster Management Auth­ority Muhammad Ali Quaid. He said unprecedented floods had impacted seven districts, with Diamer being the worst affected. “People in GB are facing daily flood events. At least...

LAHORE: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab on Saturday issued a flood warning for the Chenab and Jhelum rivers and their adjoining tributaries, forecasting possible low to medium-level flooding from July 28 to 31. PDMA warned of an unusual rise in water levels and urges authorities to take preemptive measures. The alert has been […]

A medium-level flood in the Indus River at Taunsa has submerged over 20 villages, causing severe damage to homes and standing crops, as the flood situation across southern Punjab continues to worsen.

LAHORE: The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has published a public notice urging individuals to confirm e-challan verification on purchase of used vehicles across the province. People frequently buy and sell used cars across Pakistan, as this is an affordable and convenient practice. However, PSCA warns that neglecting traffic fines during the sale or purchase […]

The educational boards across Punjab have announced the position holders for the Matric Annual Examinations 2025, celebrating outstanding academic performances in various districts.

LAHORE - Punjab has once again taken the lead by launching Pakistan’s first provincial Counter Narcotics Force (CNF), a specialized force dedicated to eliminating the growing menace of drugs across the province.

LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Monday raised alarm over political dysfunction and rising injustices in Punjab. The HRCP held a press conference to highlight the human rights situation in Punjab as recorded in its report, State of Human Rights in 2024, launched earlier. While voter registration and total votes cast was reportedly increased in the 2024 general elections, the turnout declined. Women’s representation in the assemblies more than doubled, but the Punjab Assembly remained plagued by disruptions, a tendency to ignore input from the opposition, and hurried legislation. Assembly proceedings in 2024 were dominated by chaos. Women MPAs staged a walkout over inappropriate gestures in the House and the allocation of reserved seats for women and minorities faced legal setbacks. The Punjab Defamation Act 2024, hurriedly approved in June, was widely criticised by human rights networks for stifling free speech. The law was subsequently challenged in the Lahore High Court as unconstit...

LAHORE: Punjab has launched its first Counter Narcotics Force (CNF) to combat the menace of drugs. A passing-out ceremony was held here on Tuesday in which Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz handed over the flag to the CNF. She also met the CNF personnel and inspected vehicles and equipment. CNF DG Brig Mazhar Iqbal gave briefing about the formation and work of the force to the CM. Some 866 personnel have been recruited in the first phase in the CNF. It has been made functional in all divisions. In the first phase, CNF stations and regional directorates have been established in each division of Punjab. In the second phase, the scope of CNF will be expanded to the district level. The CM was informed that the CNF officers and personnel were given 12 weeks of professional training at the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Academy, Rawalpindi. Speaking on the occasion, CM Maryam said the future of Punjab was bright with the formation of the CNF. With the establishment of the CNF, she said the menace of drugs would soon be eradi...

Punjab government launched Punjab Counter Narcotics Force on Tuesday.

In response to recent terrorist attacks targeting passengers in Balochistan, the government has imposed a night travel ban on all transport from Punjab to Balochistan.

After a brief hiatus, the fourth spell of monsoon rains is set to begin across Punjab from today, with heavy rainfall expected in various districts, including Lahore.

• KP’s Malakand and Hazara divisions, parts of Punjab, Sindh likely to receive rain today • PDMA says 135 killed in Punjab • Medium to high-level flow expected in rivers from tomorrow ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Authorities are bracing for another spell of rain and thunderstorms, which are expected to hit many parts of the country from today (Monday). According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the Malakand and Hazara divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the southern parts of Punjab and Sindh, eastern Balochistan and parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are likely to receive rain and thunderstorms with strong winds. According to the PMD’s detailed national forecast, Islamabad may receive rain and thunderstorms at night. In KP, while most districts will stay hot and humid, scattered rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds are expected in Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Kurram, and Waziristan. Rain and thunderstorms are forecast for urban centres of Punjab in the south, such as Bahawalpur...

Indus River at Kalabagh facing medium-level flood while low-level flooding observed at Tarbela Dam, Chashma Barrage and Guddu and Sukkur barrages National death toll reaches 193 with 63 in Punjab alone amid continued rescue and relief operations in affected districts Warnings issued for more rain spell from July.

LAHORE: Rescue workers move the body of a person killed after the roof of a house collapsed due to heavy rainfall in the Railway Colony area.—PPI • PDMA data shows 123 deaths across province since June 25; more than half of which occurred in just past two days • Flooding alert issued for River Indus at Kalabagh, Chashma; Met Office predicts another five-day spell will hit many parts of the country tomorrow • Officials claim to have rescued over 1,000 stuck in flooded areas across badly-hit Potohar region LAHORE / RAWALPINDI: After ten more people lost their lives across Punjab on Friday, it emerged that more than half of all rain-related deaths in the province have occurred in just the last 48 hours. So far, 123 people have been killed and 462 injured since June 25 as the province received record rainfall, triggering urban flooding which inundated residential areas, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said. Of these, 71 deaths were reported in the past two days alone, and there will be no resp...

LAHORE:  Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has expressed heartfelt honour to Constable Haider Ali, who sacrificed his life while evacuating the citizens from floodwaters in the administration of Chotala Police Station, Pind Dadan Khan, ARY News reported. In her official statement, CM Maryam Nawaz extended heartfelt condolences to the grieving family and lauded Haider Ali’s […]