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Tag: Punjab

  • NDMA warns of potential high level of flooding in Sutlej

    NDMA warns of potential high level of flooding in Sutlej

    The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a warning stating that the Ganda Singhwala area along the Sutlej River may experience a medium to high level of flooding within the next 24 to 48 hours, Dawn has reported.

    The NDMA advised the administration of flood-prone areas, particularly in the Trimmu area of the river Chenab and Jassar area of the river Ravi, to remain vigilant until July 20.

    In a weather advisory released on Wednesday, it is predicted that scattered thunderstorms and light to moderate rainfall may occur in Islamabad and Punjab, including the upper catchments of the major rivers in the Indus River System. These weather conditions could potentially lead to medium to high-level flooding in the Sutlej River at Ganda Singhwala.

    The period from July 14 to 16 is expected to bring scattered to widespread thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in isolated areas within the upper catchments of the major rivers in the Indus River System, added the report.

  • Heart surgeries on health cards at private hospitals halted in Punjab

    Heart surgeries on health cards at private hospitals halted in Punjab

    Heart surgeries, including the insertion of stents, on health cards at private hospitals in Punjab have been put on hold indefinitely until it is established who is deserving and in need.

    A notice stating that private institutions in the province will not provide care to heart patients with health cards has been issued.

    The Punjab government has suggested charging 30% of the cost of therapy for all cardiac patients.

    Cardiovascular services listed on the health card won’t be made available until Punjab’s deserving residents are identified.

    The warning clarified that any private hospital providing care for cardiac conditions after July 1 would not be compensated.

  • Unidentified persons attack Latif Khosa’s Lahore residence

    Unidentified persons attack Latif Khosa’s Lahore residence

    On Thursday night, unidentified persons attacked the residence of former Governor of Punjab, Latif Khosa, in the Defense area of Lahore.

    According to sources of Dunya news, Latif Khosa is safe while his driver got injured.

    The attacker managed to run away from the spot after firing but police have said that attackers will be in the custody of police very soon.

    Police further added that attackers can be identified through CCTV footage.

    Latif Khosa told the media that the attack on his residence was very intense, adding that the bullets pierced the main gate and hit the cars parked inside the house.
    On the other hand, Owais Shafique, SP Cantt reached the residence of the former Governor with the police.

  • The Guardian ranks ‘Joyland’ among best films of 2023

    The Guardian ranks ‘Joyland’ among best films of 2023

    British newspaper Guardian released an article on some of the best films of 2023 so far, ranging from horror to thrillers and animated comedy films like ‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On”.

    On the 15th place is Pakistani writer and director Saim Sadiq’s debut film ‘Joyland’ which starred Ali Juenjo and transgender model Alina Khan.

    Discussion the significance of the film, the article described it as “a movie about people who find their inner lives and sense of themselves don’t match up to what is expected of them. Their feeling of wrongness is part of what they have to suppress, from day to day.”

    The film, which was banned in Punjab last year just 24 hours after it got a certificate of approval from CBFC, had aired in India in March, receiving positive remarks from watchers who described their experience as ‘magical’:

    One user wrote:

    “Still can’t get over the experience of watching Joyland on big screen. I’ve never seen the crowd get this hyped, laugh and cry together for a movie before, magical experience.”

    Another user wrote:

    “Joyland is fantastic, heartbreaking and beautifully made – the experience of watching it amongst an engaged enthusiastic audience last night at the Habitat center film festival was exhilarating. Also what about this poster by Salman toor!”

  • Board awards student of Nawabshah College, Principal says he wasn’t enrolled there

    The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) had awarded a student, Saif Ahmed from Government College Nawabshah, for receiving first place in the Intermediate Pre-engineering Examinations. However, the college’s principal has revealed that the student is not even enrolled in their school.

    According to The News, the board had notified the school that Ahmed received a total of 1200 marks, and had gifted him a gallantry sheild. But the principal confirmed to the newspaper that no boy with this name is in the college’s record of attendance, nor had he appeared in the examinations.

    It was also revealed that Saif’s father, Altaf Pirzada, was an influential man who was the head of security at Bilawal House.

    A college staff member also revealed to the newspaper that despite there being no mention of Saif’s name in the college enrollment or exams, the administration was being threatened by powerful members to cover up the fraud.

    The issue came to light when during a ceremony held at Darbar Hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where the Comissioner Aleem Lashari, Deputy Commissioner Shaharyar Gul Memon and BISE Chairman Dr Farooq Matti were present as special guests on the occasion. When Saif’s name was announced, the principal of the college came to collect the shield and revealed that the aforementioned student was not a member of his school.

  • Kahaan baarish horehi hai? Apple, why are you doing this to us

    Kahaan baarish horehi hai? Apple, why are you doing this to us

    Despite a pleasant first week, this May is not being kind to Lahoris, with the temperature currently at 42°C which has left us without no option but to stay inside with ACs on 24/7.

    But, this is not the case as per the weather App on our iPhones. According to the application, while all of us are burning in this garmi, a thunderstorm is happening. We have just one question. Where are the rainy clouds?

    Social media users have also taken to Twitter to express their frustration.

    https://twitter.com/Xxrishrana/status/1660516708954828802?s=20

    According to a report, a searing heat wave that gripped parts of South Asia in April this year was made at least 30 times more likely by climate change.

    The climate change-fueled heat caused deaths, widespread hospitalizations, damaged roads, sparked fires and led to school closures in the region.

  • Lahore, do you know what the biggest pollutant in your city is?

    Lahore, do you know what the biggest pollutant in your city is?

    The Urban Unit of the Planning and Development Department of Punjab has released a report revealing that over 80 per cent of Lahore’s pollution originates from the transport sector.

    Titled “Sectoral emission inventory of Lahore,” the report represents the first comprehensive attempt in the Punjab province to assess atmospheric pollutants resulting from human activities across six developmental sectors.

    The report identifies various primary sources of pollution in Lahore. Transportation accounts for 83 per cent of the emissions, making it a significant contributor. The increasing number of registered vehicles in Lahore, including a notable rise in two-stroke vehicles such as motorbikes, scooters, and auto-rickshaws, is a cause for concern.

    However, it is worth noting that vehicle figures may be inflated as anecdotal evidence suggests that many vehicles in the Punjab province are registered in Lahore.

    In addition to transportation, the burning of crop residues contributes 3.9 per cent to the pollution levels, while waste burning—a common practice in the outskirts of Lahore—accounts for 3.6 per cent.

    Furthermore, the report highlights that emissions from the industrial (9 per cent), domestic (0.11 per cent), and commercial (0.14 per cent) sectors primarily result from the consumption of inefficient fuels like coal and diesel oil.

    The report also examines the health impact of the pollution in Lahore. The concentration of pollutants in the city’s ambient air exceeds the defined limits of Pollutant Equivalent Quantities (PEQs). Air pollution is currently the most severe form of pollution affecting the residents of Lahore.

    Citing the Air Quality Life Index Fact Sheet for Pakistan, the report reveals that if the World Health Organization’s guidelines for an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 5µg/m3 are met, the average life expectancy of Lahore residents could increase by 6.8 years. Moreover, the rising pollution in the city has led to an increase in respiratory diseases.

    The report emphasises the broader challenge of air pollution in Pakistan and the subsequent problems it causes. Pakistan’s air quality performance, as assessed by the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) published by Yale University in 2022, ranks 176th out of 180 countries with a score of 5.7 in air quality points. This indicates a decrease of -0.3 compared to the previous report. The World Air Quality Report (2021) by IQAir also ranks Pakistan as the third-most polluted country in terms of air quality.

    Additionally, the report highlights the country’s high climate vulnerability and environmental degradation. Rapid urbanization is exacerbating exposure to pollution within Pakistani cities. Urban areas, while significant centers of energy production and atmospheric emissions globally, are particularly susceptible to climate-related disasters.

    Major urban centers in Pakistan face challenges such as inadequate waste management, rapid urban sprawl, air pollution, poor access to water and sanitation, and congestion.

  • Punjab police allocates Rs400 million for police force healthcare

    Punjab police allocates Rs400 million for police force healthcare

    Inspector General Police Punjab, Dr Usman Anwar, announced that an estimated amount of Rs300 to 400 million will be allocated towards the healthcare welfare of the police force. This funding will cover all essential medical tests and treatments for conditions such as heart diseases, kidney ailments, and other vital organ disorders.

    Dr Anwar conveyed this message through a video addressed to the police force on Monday, emphasizing the importance of health screening and the provision of medical facilities. He informed that 50 per cent of the constabulary has already undergone health screening, with certain districts achieving 100 per cent completion. The Inspector General commended the District Police Officers (DPOs) responsible for ensuring the health screening of the constabulary in their respective districts.

    During the health screening process, employees were made aware of previously undetected diseases, including hepatitis B and C. Dr Anwar assured that a treatment for Hepatitis C has been discovered, and the department will provide free treatment to all affected employees suffering from the disease.

    Regarding hepatitis B, he mentioned that a permanent cure has not yet been found, but supportive treatment options are available to benefit affected employees. In order to safeguard the remaining police force and their families from this disease, it has been decided to administer vaccinations. The police department will bear all expenses associated with this initiative.

    Dr Anwar highlighted the safety of the vaccine, stating that he will personally receive the vaccination as a testament to its reliability. These measures are being taken to prioritize the health, well-being, and treatment of police personnel. He urged the police force to stand united as an impenetrable barrier against criminals, oppressors, and terrorists. The primary duty of the police force, as stated by the Inspector General, is to protect the lives, properties, and dignity of Pakistani citizens.

    In a separate development, a sum of Rs200,000 has been allocated from the welfare fund of Punjab Police for the medical treatment of the mothers of two martyrs from the Lahore Police, Constable Ghulam Murtaza and Constable Ali Raza. Additionally, a medical grant of Rs100,000 has been approved for ASI Qadeer Akhtar of Multan Police to cover the expenses of his brain surgery.

    Furthermore, the Inspector General has authorized an honorarium for the staff working in training colleges and schools throughout the province. An amount of Rs1.25 crore will be distributed among the staff members in training institutes located in Lahore, Sihala, Multan, Rawalpindi, Farooqabad, and Sargodha.

  • Chief Justice asks govt and PTI to sit together again on elections matter

    Chief Justice asks govt and PTI to sit together again on elections matter

    While hearing the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) plea to revisit its April 4 order on Punjab polls, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Umar Ata Bandial, said on Monday that both government and Pakistan Tehreeke-e-Insaf (PTI) should resume talks.

    Justice Bandial said that the constitution guaranteed political rights. “We don’t want to get into political matters and we don’t want to hear anything. We hope that negotiations will start anew and a solution will be reached.”

    The hearing is now adjourned till next Tuesday.

    On April 4, the SC said that Punjab polls will be held on May 14, however, the date has passed without elections taking place.

    It is pertinent to mention that prior to this govt and PTI tried to talk this matter out but no consensus took place.

  • Bye bye Buzdar? Elahi says Khan has promised him the CM seat

    Bye bye Buzdar? Elahi says Khan has promised him the CM seat

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Pervaiz Elahi has claimed that party chief Imran Khan has “promised” to give him the chief minister’s post once again if their party wins the election in Punjab.

    Discussing the current political crisis, Elahi said that when he agreed to dissolve the assembly, Khan offered him the post of the central president of the party and promised him that he or his son Moonis Elahi would be the next CM of the province.

    When asked that Imran has said that Punjab dissolution took place on former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s directives, Elahi said that he had “no discussion with him over this issue.”

    He clarfied that PTI respects the real establishment, however, there are some intruders, so the party cannot side with them.

    He admitted that Khan’s fight was with Bajwa, adding that now that the former army chief is gone, new people had come in, so Khan doesn’t want more fights.

    About the raid at his homes in Lahore and Gujrat last week, the PTI leader chose not to name who he thinks are responsible, saying “Everyone knows who they are”.

    Last month, PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry said that the senior leadership of the party, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Hammad Azhar, and himself didn’t get party tickets for the upcoming Punjab election although it was widely speculated that they wanted one for the CM seat. Meanwhile, both former CMs of Punjab, Pervaiz Elahi and Usman Buzdar were given a ticket.