Punjab | Pakistan

LAHORE: Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Sunday that the provincial government has decided to take legal action against those involved in a “malicious campaign” targeting it over the use of an official jet. Last month, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz faced severe criticism from the opposition and some journalists regarding the government’s purchase of the aircraft. The Gulfstream 19-seater jet is estimated to be worth between $38 million and $42m (over Rs10bn) and was acquired for the CM’s use. More recently, there have been claims and speculation on social media about Maryam’s son, Junaid Safdar, using the jet to travel to Europe for his honeymoon. In a post on X, the senior minister took note of a “deliberate malicious campaign of lies and fabricated stories about the use of the official plane of the Punjab government”, which she said was being run by “known pathological liars and peddlers of fake news”. The minister shared that the government had decided to take legal action against “ev...

Officials from Punjab and Uzbekistan have started preparations for a joint agreement aimed at strengthening trade, exports, and investment links between the two sides.

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the province’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Roadmap, setting an ambitious goal to transform Punjab into South Asia’s leading AI-driven region by 2029.

Moderate to heavy rainfall lashed the provincial metropolis and several districts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday night, bringing pleasant weather and relief from the recent spell of heat.

Educational institutions throughout Punjab will remain physically closed until March 31, according to an announcement by Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat.

Punjab and Balochistan close schools

The governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Balochistan announced fuel-saving measures on Monday, including the closure of educational institutions and a reduction in fuel allowances for official vehicles. The decisions to implement these measures come amid the global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran. KP govt’s decisions The KP government decided to implement the measures for a period of two months, cutting the allowance for official vehicles by 25 per cent. According to an official handout, the provincial cabinet met and approved the “Fuel Conservation and Responsible Governance Initiative”. The statement quoted Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Shafi Jan as saying that the fuel conservation measures would be implemented for two months on the instructions of KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. He said it was decided that the provincial government would continue to monitor the situation to see if the measures could be extended. According to Jan, t...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has established a provincial Economic Transformation Committee aimed at driving sector-wise development and strengthening the economy of Punjab.

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the launch of Punjab’s first-ever major project to build 358 underground water storage tanks across the province, aimed at improving rainwater drainage and recharging groundwater.

The government of Punjab has decided to establish “Anti-Drone Units” in all districts as part of efforts to enhance security and strengthen aerial surveillance across the province.

Punjab will establish “anti-drone units” in all districts of Punjab, said a statement from the provincial home department on Friday. The launch of an anti-drone unit was approved by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz last week. Emphasising a proactive approach, she said that instead of only reacting to terrorist incidents, authorities must adopt a policy of taking preemptive measures. According to the statement, the unit will conduct aerial surveillance of the district with the help of special drone fleets. An “anti-drone system” will also be provided in each district under the leadership of their district police officer (DPOs). Surveillance drones and anti-drone systems will be provided as per the needs of each district. “The anti-drone system will disable the drones of the enemy and miscreants with the help of jammers,” the statement added. The statement, quoting the home department spokesperson, stated that the decision was taken to meet modern-day counter-terrorism requirements and maintain an atmosphere ...

LAHORE - The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday reserved its verdict on a petition seeking permission to celebrate Basant festival across Punjab.

The Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, has approved the ‘Rehman Card’ scheme aimed at providing financial assistance to widows and orphans across the province.

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday approved the establishment of the province’s first cybercrime investigation unit and made e-tagging mandatory for all vehicles, including motorcycles. According to an official press release, during a special meeting to crack down on digital terrorism and bring cyber networks under strict surveillance, the Punjab CM said the state’s surveillance across Punjab would be significantly intensified in the coming days. She also directed the establishment of a “micro security iron shield” within seven days. Further, CM Maryam also gave the go-ahead for the establishment of a “Punjab Cybercrime Investigation Unit (CCIU)” and also approved the appointment of its head, the handout said. Further, she also approved a special protection cell for women affected by cybercrime. She also approved district-level cybercrime centres across Punjab, saying that no “safe routes” would be allowed for criminal groups in the province, it added. During the meeting, the Punjab CM said ...

Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed authorities to step up security arrangements throughout Punjab in response to ongoing security challenges.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has dissolved three election tribunals in Punjab that were hearing cases related to the 2024 general elections, officials confirmed on Sunday.

UNMARKED boxes can be used to violate rules on safe charity.—Dawn • Experts warn unregulated funds being channelled through anonymous collection boxes undermine NAP objectives • Official says ‘owners’ will be identified once seminaries registered with home department LAHORE: Despite the Punjab home department’s crackdown on illicit charities and the listing of 89 banned organisations, so-called “nameless donation boxes” continue to proliferate on street corners and electric poles, with their anonymous collectors leaving donors wondering who is really behind the appeals. These “nameless donation boxes”, physically secured with heavy chains and locks, can be spotted at road intersections, markets, shopping malls and banks across Punjab. Experts say billions of rupees in unregulated funds are being siphoned off under the guise of piety. They warn that this system has bypassed the core objectives of the National Action Plan, which was intended to dismantle the financial networks that fuel instability. When contac...

Security was placed on high alert across Punjab and Karachi on Friday following Pakistan’s launch of “Ghazab Lil Haq”, an operation initiated in response to what officials described as unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban forces at multiple points along the border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said a five-year constitutional term was too short to accomplish the scale of public service required in Punjab, as she formally launched the country’s first E-Taxi Scheme and unveiled a broader roadmap for green and inclusive transport across the province.

In view of the prevailing national security situation, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab, has directed authorities to further strengthen security arrangements across the province.