Author: Faizan Khan

By Faizan Khan LAHORE: Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz has issued a forceful challenge to her political opponents, saying no one could prove “even a single rupee” of corruption in the provincial government’s multitrillion-rupee development projects. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Gujranwala mass transit system, she said the program reflected the continuity of Nawaz Sharif’s development vision in the province. She told the audience that the upcoming Faisalabad metro system, along with the Gujranwala project, would further expand the network started under previous PML-N governments. Maryam said every major development scheme in Punjab carried the imprint of Nawaz…

By Faizan Khan LAHORE: Punjab’s chief minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has approved what officials are calling the province’s first “revolutionary phase” of district-level public transport, unveiling plans to build more than a thousand modern bus shelters across the region. Chairing a high-level meeting in Lahore, Maryam set a firm deadline for the construction of 1,362 “modern, sustainable and aesthetically designed” bus shelters in 19 districts. The shelters, she said, would provide passengers — particularly elderly citizens, women and daily commuters — a dignified and comfortable space to wait, instead of standing in the scorching heat or harsh winter cold. Authorities…

By Faizan Khan LAHORE: The Punjab government approved a new ordinance on Wednesday aimed at tightening enforcement of traffic regulations and significantly increasing fines for violations, in what officials described as a major push to improve road safety and reduce accidents across the province. Under the ordinance, penalties for traffic offences have been sharply revised, with fines now ranging from Rs2,000 to Rs20,000 depending on the severity of the violation. Motorcyclists caught speeding face a fine of Rs2,000, while car owners are liable to pay Rs5,000. Running red lights will carry fines of Rs2,000 for motorcycles, Rs3,000 for three-wheelers, Rs5,000…

By Faizan Khan LAHORE: A police officer in Lahore has been suspended and a case registered following allegations that he assaulted a Pakistani-Australian citizen, prompting an internal inquiry into police conduct. The suspension was confirmed by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Operations, who also directed the City Superintendent of Police (SP) to investigate the incident thoroughly. In addition, the Station House Officer (SHO) of the police station where the officers are posted is being held accountable for the alleged misconduct of his staff. The allegations came to light after Khawaja Zeeshan, a dual Pakistani-Australian national, lodged a formal complaint…

By Faizan Khan LAHORE: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Punjab has declared 72 tehsils across 27 districts as disaster-hit following the recent floods, marking the start of a large-scale relief and rehabilitation campaign across the province. According to an official notification jointly issued by the Board of Revenue Punjab and the PDMA, the designation applies to villages where more than half of the area has sustained damage. The declaration, made under the Punjab National Calamities Prevention and Relief Act of 1958, directs district administrations to accelerate rescue and relief operations, ensuring that emergency assistance reaches those most affected.…

By Faizan Khan LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has launched a major compensation program for families affected by recent floods, pledging to restore the dignity of victims while insisting the provincial government managed the crisis independently, without seeking external aid. Speaking at a ceremony in Okara to distribute relief cheques and pre-loaded debit cards, she said the government had allocated 100 billion rupees to cover damages caused by what she described as the worst floods in the region’s history. “The restoration of flood victims begins in earnest today,” Nawaz said, adding, “I had promised that I would not rest…

By Faizn Khan LAHORE: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday announced the establishment of an Imperial College London campus at the Nawaz Sharif IT City in Lahore, marking a major milestone in Punjab’s ambition to position itself as a regional education and technology hub. The announcement came during a special meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to review progress on the Nawaz Sharif IT City, Central Business District (CBD), and Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) projects. Officials briefed the meeting that the foundation stone of the Imperial College London campus would be laid in November this…

By Faizan Khan LAHORE: In a move to foster religious harmony, senior administrative and police officials in Punjab held a consultative meeting with prominent scholars of the Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat in Lahore on Monday. According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Home Department, the meeting served as a platform for detailed discussions on the regulation and upkeep of madrassas and mosques across the province. The government sought to allay a key concern, with the spokesperson stating, “The clerics were informed that the Punjab government has no intention of closing any mosque in the province.” The delegation of religious scholars, which…

By Faizan Khan LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari questioned how a ceasefire could be hoped for while, she said, opponents continued to use incendiary language. Her remarks came as a brisk rebuttal to comments from leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party. Bukhari said Sindh was not the private fief of any landlord and criticized what she described as a double standard. “On one hand they talk about a ceasefire, and on the other they break into gunfire every hour,” she told reporters. She accused some political figures of grandstanding, saying many left their homes after quick preparations, positioned themselves…