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Tag: Punjab

  • Punjab government announces summer vacations for schools

    Punjab government announces summer vacations for schools

    The Punjab government has announced the dates of annual summer vacations in public and private schools in the province, Geo reported on Friday.

    As per the notification issued by the government, vacations will be observed from June 1 to August 14 in the entire province.

    Similarly, Punjab government has also reduced school timings due to scorching temperature in multiple cities of the country.

    According to the new timings, schools will open at 7am and close at 11:30am from Monday to Thursday; however, on Friday school will open at 7am to close at 10:30am.

    The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that a heatwave is expected to hit most parts of the country, especially Punjab and Sindh, starting May 21, due to high pressure in the upper atmosphere.

  • Punjab Cabinet says ‘undue interference’ by institutions unacceptable

    Punjab Cabinet says ‘undue interference’ by institutions unacceptable

    The Punjab cabinet, on Tuesday, made a strong statement that it would not accept any ‘undue interference’ in the government’s authority by another institution.

    Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz presided over the meeting and made it clear that the Punjab government believes in harmony between state institutions, but unfair interference in the executive authority was unacceptable.

    This statement came after the Lahore High Court passed a ruling to extend the stay order against the distribution of electric motorcycles by Maryam Nawaz among students.

    “It is the responsibility of all of us to uphold the sanctity of our office by exercising our powers within the constitutional limits,” Maryam Nawaz said while addressing the cabinet.

  • Seven Punjabi barbers killed in Gwadar

    Seven Punjabi barbers killed in Gwadar

    Seven people belonging to Punjab have been killed and one injured in an attack by unknown armed men in the Gwadar district of Balochistan.

    Police said that the unfortunate incident took place in the Sarbandar area of Gwadar. The dead and injured were barbers and belonged to Khanewal district of Punjab.

    The bodies have been sent for autopsy while the injured person has been shifted to Gwadar Hospital for medical assistance, the police told BBC.

    Sarbandar is a fishing village which is located approximately 25 kilometers east of Gwadar city towards Karachi. Gwadar district bordering Iran is a coastal district of Balochistan and since the deterioration of the situation in Balochistan, incidents of this kind of unrest have been happening in Gwadar as well.

    No one has yet accepted responsibility for this incident and SHO Mohsin Baloch informed BBC that an investigation is going on into various aspects of the incident.

    Earlier on April 13, 11 people, including nine people from Punjab, were killed and five were injured when Balochistan Liberation Army militants fired on a bus in the Nushki district of Balochistan.

    In the past, like other areas of Balochistan, Gwadar also witnessed attacks on workers and security forces and other incidents of unrest. In March this year, a major attack was carried out on the Gwadar Port Authority complex in Gwadar. The Majeed Brigade of the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack.

    Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti and Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Longo have condemned the killings in Gwadar and said that the killing of innocent labourers in Gwadar is terrorism.

  • Controversy around Bushra Ansari’s dialogue in punjabi web series, sparks gender debate

    Controversy around Bushra Ansari’s dialogue in punjabi web series, sparks gender debate


    Veteran actor Bushra Ansari is facing social media backlash for her dialogue in an international Web Series “Our Big Punjabi Family”.
    Although the web series was released last year, recently, a social media clip from the web series featuring Ansari’s dialogue has gone viral. In the clip, Ansari refers to a transgender girl, who is in the kitchen when another character in the show asks Ansari why she is being so nice to the girl. Ansari says, “call her “they”or “them,” referring to pronouns that people can select for themselves.

    . The dialogue sparked a debate among fans, with some criticising Ansari for ‘clearly promoting an LGBTQ agenda by working in LGBTQ pro-content’. Some Pakistani fans are expressing their anger while others are applauding Ansari for taking on the role and promoting tolerance, with some fans saying ‘Love this and its about time’.

  • Imtiaz Ali was advised against casting Shahid Kareena in ‘Jab We Met’

    Imtiaz Ali was advised against casting Shahid Kareena in ‘Jab We Met’

    Bollywood filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has revealed quite shockingly, that he was advised against casting A-listers Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor in his cult hit film ‘Jab We Met.’
    Director Imtiaz Ali, who recently made a biopic film on Indian Punjabi singer ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, said in a recent interview that he defied suggestions and cast Shahid and Kareena Kapoor in ‘Jab We Met’. The film proved to be a pivotal moment in their careers, achieving cult status over time.


    Imtiaz Ali said, “Fortunately, I have had different opportunities in my career with the supposed success of, or the position of stars, to put it that way.”
    He also said “I remember Shahid and Kareena visiting Jab We Met once. They were not doing well at the time. But it was very successful. You know, people really love that movie, don’t they? So, as a filmmaker, I believe I shouldn’t treat the film industry like the stock market,” said the filmmaker. “Making guesses isn’t what a film director, filmmaker, or producer should be focused on. Instead, we should recognize the potential of each actor for the roles we offer them.”

    He concluded, “A film works when you cast the actor who is most appropriate for that part, not just whoever might be popular at the time. I believe that’s what I’ve learned from my experience.”

  • Heatwave expected in Punjab soon

    Heatwave expected in Punjab soon

    The Meteorological Department has predicted that Punjab is likely to be hit by a heatwave from May 12 onwards, with temperatures expected to surge past 40 degrees.


    Dr Zulfiqar told Geo News that like Sindh, a heatwave is expected in Punjab from the second week of the ongoing month.


    The expert advised people to avoid stepping outdoors unnecessarily and stay indoors to avoid heatstroke.


    El-Nino effect


    Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in its monthly outlook for May stated that the neutral phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is expected to persist during the forecast of this month.


    Considering the climatic outlook, the PMD added, overall a tendency for near-normal rainfall is expected in most parts of the country, however, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northern Balochistan, northern Punjab, and Azad Kashmir may get slightly above normal rainfall.


    Daytime maximum temperatures are expected to remain slightly above normal over northern and southern parts of the country, however, the central parts comprising most parts of Punjab and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa may experience normal to slightly below normal maximum temperature.


    Above-normal precipitation in May is expected to benefit agriculture in Pakistan but precautions should be taken to prevent damage to standing wheat crops during the harvesting stage from hailstorms and windstorms in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Photohar region and Gilgit-Baltistan.


    Anticipated higher temperatures in high-altitude regions are expected to accelerate snowmelt in the northern areas, offering opportunities for irrigation and power generation, it concluded.

  • ‘People were standing outside just to welcome me’; Aamir Khan on Punjab’s hospitality during Dangal shoot

    ‘People were standing outside just to welcome me’; Aamir Khan on Punjab’s hospitality during Dangal shoot

    Bollywood’s perfectionist Aamir Khan is grateful for the hospitality of the people of Indian Punjab while he was shooting ‘Dangal’ in 2016. Aamir Khan attended the Great Indian Couple Show where he said that during his stay in a Punjab village, he was touched by the locals’ simple yet profound gestures of respect.

    Aamir Khan said, “When I went to Punjab for the shooting of ‘Rang De Basanti,’ I was overwhelmed by the immense love and warmth received from the locals.”

    The Bollywood actor said that during the shooting of ‘Dangal,’ they were in a small village in Punjab. “I observed that in the mornings, people would stand outside their homes and greet the team with folded hands, while in the evenings, they would bid farewell with kind words.”

    He said, “The people there never bothered me nor did they stand in front of my car, they just greeted from a distance, and this had a great impact on me.”

    Aamir khan said, “I belong to a Muslim family, so I was not folding hands and saying Namaste. I am used to raising my hand and bowing my head, the way Muslims greet each other.”

  • Appeal against Maryam Nawaz for wearing police uniform not heard

    Appeal against Maryam Nawaz for wearing police uniform not heard

    A sessions court in Lahore has not proceeded with a request to file a case against Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for wearing a police uniform.

    The hearing was adjourned till tomorrow as Additional Sessions Judge Muzaffar Nawaz was on leave.

    The court has sought a front desk report from the petitioner.

    Lawyer Waqar Shah had filed a request to register a case against Maryam Nawaz, arguing that the Chief Minister has violated the rules by wearing a police uniform.

    Lawyer Aftab Bajwa has also filed a plea against the CM for similar reasons.

  • What are the 50 places in Lahore where WiFi is free?

    What are the 50 places in Lahore where WiFi is free?

    The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has initiated a pilot project to provide free WiFi services at 50 spots in Lahore. The project aims to promote connectivity by giving citizens access to the internet.

    “Free WiFi started at the following (50 spots) in Lahore. Rest of Lahore is being done too. Alhamdolillah! We promise, we deliver,” CM Maryam said in an X (formerly Twitter) post. 

    During a high-level meeting with Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) officials held in March, the chief minister approved the launch of the free WiFi pilot project in Lahore.

    Maryam Nawaz directed the IT department officials to begin offering free WiFi service, focusing on educational institutions, airports, railway stations, and bus stands. In Lahore, the Punjab government will provide free WiFi at 516 locations in total.

  • Maryam Nawaz wants more women in police department

    Maryam Nawaz wants more women in police department

    Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Maryam Nawaz addressed the passing-out parade ceremony at Chuhng Police Training College, giving in a speech in which she said that the government wants more women in the police department.

    “I salute you all. I am happy the first sword of honour has been awarded to a woman police officer. I am proud of you. I was waiting for this event since taking the oath as chief minister,” she remarked.

    She stated that she is happy to see 530 women passing out, adding that “When I wore the police uniform for the first time, I realised it is a big responsibility.”

    The newly elected chief minister also said that right now, 7,000 women police officials are performing their duties in Punjab.

    “I want to increase women’s participation in Punjab police. Lady cops are superhuman. Women are softhearted, so they forgive,” she added.