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Tag: Multan

  • Punjab imposes partial smart lockdown for four days

    Punjab imposes partial smart lockdown for four days

    The Government of Punjab, after approval from the Chief Minister, has ordered “restricted movement” in some areas of Punjab to combat smog. 

    The areas of Lahore Division (District Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Kasur), District Gujranwala, District Hafizabad, and District Narowal, have the worst Air Quality Index (AQI), becoming potential hotspots for Conjunctivitis, and will go under lockdown.

    From Thursday to Sunday i.e., November 9, 2023, to November 12, 2023, all markets, shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas, gymnasiums, schools

    (public and private), and offices (public and private) will remain closed in these areas.

    Also, movement of people will be limited to and from these areas by public and private transport.

    The following will be exempted from closure:

    •           Pharmacies/ Medical Stores

    •           Medical Facilities and Vaccination Centers

    •           Petrol Pumps

    •           Oil Depots

    •           Tandoors

    •           Bakeries,

    •           Grocery / Karyana stores

    •           Milk / Dairy Shops

    •           Sweet Shops,

    •           Vegetable / Fruit Shops

    •           Chicken / Meat Shops

    •           E-commerce 

    •           Postal / Courier Services

    •           Utility Services (Electricity, Natural Gas, Internet, Cellular Networks /Telecom.

    Large departmental stores will only keep their grocery /pharmacy sections open while all other sections will remain closed.

    It has been suggested by the government that people buy groceries and medicines within the vicinity of their residence.

  • Female staff being harassed by seniors in Multan Development Agency for not following illegal orders

    Female staff being harassed by seniors in Multan Development Agency for not following illegal orders

    Journalist Salman Qureshi has filed a detailed report about the discriminatory system and exploitation of the Multan Development Authority.

    According to the details filed in Daily Express, the Director General of Multan Development Agency (MDA) has started harassing women officers who did not obey illegal orders.

    A senior female officer at Multan Development Authority refused to work under a junior officer. The Director General MDA, in response, rejected her request for leave.

    According to the details, the Director General, Dr. Zahid Ikram, removed the director of town planning, Anaiza Hira, and gave the charge of the directorship to a junior officer, Ali Raza.

    As a result, senior officers, including Dr. Anaiza Hira, refused to work under the junior officer.

    Dr. Hira then submitted a leave application after being removed from her post, but Dr. Ikram did not accept her request and kept it hanging for days, directing administration officers to do likewise.

    It is also being reported that the female officers have been reprimanded. Under these circumstances, reports of the female officers fainting have also come to light. One female officer who fainted was given the required treatment within the office premises after calling the dispenser.

    In another case, assistant director of the town planning department, Sanbla Mumtaz, was called to the office and reprimanded for carrying out a task. Out of tension and under stress, she fell unconscious.

    Female employees were called to pick her up who then shifted her to another room and called the dispenser to provide first aid in the office.

    This was followed by a wave of anxiety among other women officers who no longer feel safe.

  • SNGPL cracks down on gas theft, imposing Rs3 crore in fines

    SNGPL cracks down on gas theft, imposing Rs3 crore in fines

    In an ongoing endeavour to combat gas theft, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has successfully identified and addressed 55 instances of unauthorised gas connections, resulting in the imposition of fines amounting to Rs30 million.  

    According to APP, these concerted efforts have been executed across various regions of Pakistan. 

    According to a company spokesperson, within the city of Lahore, the local SNGPL team has taken decisive action by discontinuing 15 gas connections due to unlawful gas consumption, in addition to two connections linked to the unauthorised use of compressors.  

    Furthermore, 47 cases of underbilling have been meticulously scrutinised, leading to the initiation of a First Information Report (FIR) against the offenders. 

    In Bahawalpur, the SNGPL team has demonstrated their commitment by disconnecting seven connections attributed to compressor usage and 16 connections associated with unauthorised gas consumption.  

    Additionally, 17 cases of underbilling have been diligently processed. The company has levied a fine of Rs40,000 on those engaged in pilfering gas. 

    In Multan, 11 connections have been severed due to illegal gas consumption, while nine have been disconnected for compressor usage. Six instances of underbilling have undergone rigorous examination, resulting in the imposition of appropriate fines. 

    In Sheikhupura, one connection has been disconnected due to compressor usage, and a comprehensive review of 63 underbilling cases has been undertaken.  

    In both Peshawar and Karak, 44 gas connections have been terminated owing to direct gas consumption and the presence of illicit connections. Additionally, two FIRs have been filed against those involved in gas theft. 

    In Rawalpindi, six gas connections have been discontinued due to direct and unauthorised gas consumption, with one connection linked to the use of compressors. 

  • 15,105 pink eye cases reported in 24 hours in Punjab

    15,105 pink eye cases reported in 24 hours in Punjab

    Conjunctivitis infections are increasing in Punjab with 15,105 new cases reported during the last 24 hours.

    According to Primary Health Punjab, 3 lakh 79 thousand 690 cases of conjunctivitis were reported this year.

    Moreover, 22,481 cases were reported in Lahore this year, while 916 new patients were reported in the past 24 hours.

    Whereas in Multan and Faisalabad, 1217 and 1827 cases were reported respect yesterday.

    Due to the outbreak of conjunctivitis, schools across Punjab will remain closed until Monday.

  • Wet autumn or dry winter? The forecast is here

    Wet autumn or dry winter? The forecast is here

    Last week’s spell of rain helped bid farewell to summers. So, what’s next? Will we have more rains to make autumn a wet one? Or are we heading for our traditional dry winters?

    Read on for details.

    One last spell of monsoon is about to hit the upper parts of Pakistan and will likely impact the entire country.
    A weather advisory issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that the westerly rain-producing wave is likely to enter upper regions of the country on the evening or night of Thursday, September 28.

    Under the system, moderate to heavy rains with wind and thunderstorms is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, areas of Kashmir including Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur, and areas of Gilgit Baltistan including Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar from September 28 to 30.

    Isolated spells of rain and thunderstorm with hailstorms are also expected in Kohat, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Haripur, Kurram, Waziristan, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, and Sheikhupura between September 28 and 29.

    Meanwhile, Zhob, Barkhan, Layyah, Bhakkar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Okara, Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar are also expected to witness similar weather conditions during the said period.
    Moreover, snowfall is expected over the high mountains of the upper areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan during this period.

    Under the possible impacts, the Met Office has also predicted a significant drop in the temperature in the areas affected by the spell.
    PMD advised farmers and tourists to manage their crop activities and remain cautious to avoid any untoward situation during the period, respectively.

    Meanwhile, the general public has been advised to stay at safe places during windstorms, lightning, and downpours as loose structures like electric poles, solar panels, billboards etc. may be damaged by the gusts.

  • New tax to be imposed on citizens soon

    New tax to be imposed on citizens soon

    The local government has unveiled a new tax that has drawn mixed reactions from citizens. 

    This latest tax, to be imposed in lieu of garbage collection, will be collected from households, shops, petrol pumps, and industrial units on a monthly basis.

    Starting from October, Multan and its neighboring areas will see this sanitation tax in effect. The tax rates are set at Rs50 for houses, Rs200 for shops, Rs1,000 for petrol pumps, and Rs2,000 for industrial unit owners on a monthly basis. 

    The government anticipates an annual revenue boost of approximately Rs4.28 billion through this tax initiative. However, the move has not been met with unanimous approval among citizens, many of whom have criticised it. 

    Meanwhile, amid ongoing discussions concerning the surging costs of electricity production in Pakistan, the Kot Addu Power Company has submitted an application to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), seeking approval for what could potentially become the country’s most expensive electricity generation tariff.

    The proposal suggests an electricity tariff of Rs77.31 per unit, a significant increase from the current rate of twenty-eight rupees per unit. The power company attributes this substantial hike to rising production costs.

    Notably, the Kot Addu Power Company recently secured a sixteen-month extension during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration. However, this extension has not escaped controversy, as the Senate Power Committee has declared it illegal, further fueling the debate over electricity tariffs in the country.

  • CM orders treatment for baby born with heart outside chest

    CM orders treatment for baby born with heart outside chest

    A baby boy born at the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, Muzaffargarh had the rare congenital defect of having his heart outside of the chest.

    According to Pakistan Observer, surgeons confirmed that the baby’s heart was located outside the chest cavity, and had a congenital heart defect with a hole.

    24 News has confirmed that on the instructions of Punjab’s Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the baby, named Abdulllah, will be shifted to Lahore’s Children’s Hospital on Tuesday for treatment.

    Before being taken to Lahore for further treatment, the child was admitted to Children’s Hospital, Multan.

    The chief minister also gave instructions for special arrangements to be made for the child’s treatment.

    The baby’s congenital defect is referred to as Ectopia Cardis, an extremely rare condition in which the heart develops outside of the chest wall.

    The condition, often accompanied by other birth defects such as cleft palate or a curved spine, can be fatal if left untreated.

  • England beat Pakistan by 26 runs to win second Test

    England beat Pakistan by 26 runs to win second Test

    On their first tour since 2005, England defeated Pakistan in the Test series, winning the second Test match in Multan by a score of 26 runs. Since winning a Test series in Pakistan in 2000, England hadn’t won a Test series in the country in 22 years.

    This marks the third Test series victory for England against Pakistan.

    The England team led by Nasser Hussain defeated Pakistan 1-0 over the course of a three-match series in 2000. Pakistan eventually defeated England 2-0 in the subsequent Test series there in 2005.

    Since then, Pakistan has played its home games in the United Arab Emirates, where they have never lost to England in two Test tours in 2012 and 2015.

    Pakistan lost the first two games of the three-match series because they had no response against a powerful English team. Despite a valiant effort on the part of Saud Shakeel, Imam-ul-Haq, and Mohammad Nawaz, the Men in Green were unable to successfully chase down a target of 355 runs during the Multan Test.

    As they held Pakistan to 328 in the last innings of the second Test, English bowlers struck frequently. When the two teams square off in the final Test match at Karachi on December 17, the Three Lions will be looking to sweep the series.

  • England hires chef ahead of Pakistan tour to maintain the quality of food served

    England hires chef ahead of Pakistan tour to maintain the quality of food served

    In the early stages of Brendon McCullum’s time as head coach, the England Test team has been letting go of support personnel. A chef, however, has been added to the group for their impending visit to Pakistan.

    The appointment follows a recap of the limited-overs team’s seven-match T20I series experiences in the country. Players and support personnel said that the cuisine, especially at match locations, was not that good, and a few experienced stomachaches at various points during the tour.

    The difficulties experienced were by no means severe; nobody fell ill for a protracted length of time, and England went on to win the thrilling series 4-3. But given the demands of a Test match, not to mention the back-to-back format of the three-match series over 21 days in three different cities (Rawalpindi, Multan, and Karachi), having someone oversee food preparation and customise menus in accordance with specific needs and preferences felt necessary to control.

    While on the T20 trip, Moeen Ali, playing the role of interim captain, made light of the rivalry between Lahore and Karachi’s culinary traditions “I’ve been a little let down by Lahore’s cuisine. Karachi was quite pleasant.” Those who want to try the regional cuisines may relax knowing that Lahore is not on the schedule this time around and Karachi will host the third Test.

    According to ESPNcricinfo, Omar Meziane, who served in a comparable capacity with the England men’s football team at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020, will fill the position.

    The change by the Test squad will satisfy picky diners while also putting Jack Leach at rest. The left-arm spinner has Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, and must follow a rigorous diet in addition to taking immunosuppressant medicine to treat his condition.

    Leach experienced serious food illness on a visit of New Zealand in November 2019, which led to his hospitalisation and sepsis. Despite being able to go for the next South African Test tour, he was unable to participate in any of the activities due to the consequences of the earlier sickness and had to leave the trip early.

    The ECB has previously provided food when travelling, even though this may be the first time they have deliberately hired a chef for a trip. The Sydney Morning Herald obtained a file titled “Test catering criteria” that was provided to all hosting venues prior to the dismal 2013–14 Ashes.

    The 82 pages, which included 194 recipes for everything from protein-rich “banana and peanut bars” to Moroccan spiced griddled chicken fillets with lime and coriander mayo, were dubbed “modern pretentious” by the Herald. It didn’t help England in their humiliating 5-0 loss.

  • ‘Was four bodies but were in pieces so looked like more’, Nishtar Hospital clarification doesn’t make sense

    ‘Was four bodies but were in pieces so looked like more’, Nishtar Hospital clarification doesn’t make sense

    Nishtar Medical University’s (NMU) Head of Anatomy Department, Dr Mariam Ashraf, appeared on Geo News’s programme Ajj Shahzeb Khanzadan Kay Saath on Friday night in which she said that the facility does not keep bodies only for research purposes but also has to keep corpses for safekeeping that are given by rescue and police officials.

    In the show she also claimed that there were only 4 bodies on the rooftop. However, the videos that are circulating on social media show a large number of bodies piled up in a semi enclosed space on the roof.
    “Edhi Foundation has not been picking up bodies from our hospital since they do not have burial space in their graveyard,” she said.
    “The only reason for keeping bodies on the roof is that their influx is huge and they aren’t being returned back to police stations in the numbers that they should,” she said.

    According to Ashraf, the bodies that the police give to the hospital are kept in the morgue for a month and then sent back to the police for burial if no one comes forward to claim them.
    “Usually, the abandoned bodies that we receive have already decayed to an increased extent. We follow all our SOPs, we do not refuse to take decayed bodies as well.”