Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced on X (former Twitter) that Punjab schools will have a 15-day long winter break, as per the winter vacation schedule.
Late on Thursday night, Naqvi posted that vacations will start on December 18, 2023, in public and private schools across the province and continue till January 1, 2024.
“We held a meeting with experts and govt officials today addressing the SMOG challenge in Punjab. With an improved Air Quality Index (AQI), no restrictions are planned for the upcoming weekend. Additionally, winter vacations for children will commence from Dec 18, 2023 to Jan 1, 2024,” the CM wrote on his official handle of Twitter.
We held a meeting with experts and govt officials today addressing the SMOG challenge in Punjab. With an improved Air Quality Index (AQI), no restrictions are planned for the upcoming weekend. Additionally, winter vacations for children will commence from Dec 18 , 2023 to Jan…
The Punjab government provided assurances to the Lahore High Court on Wednesday, that the image of the caretaker chief minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, would not be utilized in advertisement campaigns promoting development projects.
Justice Sultan Tanvir Ahmad presided over the proceedings, which involved a petition challenging the promotion of the caretaker CM in ads related to the construction of flyovers and underpasses in Lahore.
Additional advocate general represented the government and made a commitment to the court that the image of the caretaker CM would not be incorporated into any official campaign from now on.
Acknowledging the government’s undertaking, Justice Ahmad resolved the petition while cautioning against a recurrence of such practices in the future.
The judge emphasized the importance of responsible use of public funds, stating that individuals using public money for self-promotion would be held accountable.
A citizen, Hafiz Israrul Haq, filed a writ petition on November 17, challenging the promotion of the caretaker chief minister on the construction of flyovers in the city.
The judge declared that those who promoted themselves with public money would be held accountable.
The petition stated, “The Govt. of Punjab designed a plan in order to construct a flyover at Shahdara Chowk to facilitate the public and started to construct the Fly over at Shahdara Chowk Lahore to make smooth flow of traffic as it is the duty of the Govt. to create easiness in the life of the inhabitants and to facilitate them but the Govt. of Punjab after completion of Construction of project of Fly Over started to advertise on electronic, Print Media and by displaying flexes/ sign board to make publicity with the name and style of “MUHSIN SPEED” which they are not authorized as if they have completed the work before time it is not permitted to advertise the same from the public exchequer rather they may advertise for publicity from their pockets not form the public money.”
The Lahore High Court on Monday expressed concerns about the utilization of public funds in advertisement campaigns showcasing caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi for various development projects.
Justice Sultan Tanvir Ahmad, while presiding over the case, voiced concerns that taxes collected from the public should be spent judiciously and not misused for self-promotion.
A citizen, Hafiz Israrul Haq, filed a writ petition on November 17, challenging the actions taken to promote the caretaker chief minister on the construction of flyovers in the city.
The judge declared that those who promoted themselves with public money would be held accountable.
The petition stated, “The Govt. of Punjab designed a plan in order to construct a flyover at Shahdara Chowk to facilitate the public and started to construct the Fly over at Shahdara Chowk Lahore to make smooth flow of traffic as it is the duty of the Govt. to create easiness in the life of the inhabitants and to facilitate them but the Govt. of Punjab after completion of Construction of project of Fly Over started to advertise on electronic, Print Media and by displaying flexes/ sign board to make publicity with the name and style of “MUHSIN SPEED” which they are not authorized as if they have completed the work before time it is not permitted to advertise the same from the public exchequer rather they may advertise for publicity from their pockets not form the public money.”
Shahdara Flyover is now open, completed in less than 6 months, providing a seamless route for city traffic going out and miving inside the city. This transformative project is set to elevate Shahdara, drawing comparisons to posh neighborhoods in Lahore. Ravi Bridge work is… pic.twitter.com/EBGymgGZh6
The judge summoned a complete record of the expenses incurred for an advertisement campaign for the construction of flyovers featuring the caretaker chief minister.
Additionally, the Court directed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to present a thorough record of the construction of the flyovers at the upcoming hearing.
The move underscores the court’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the expenditure of public funds.
#MohsinNaqviSpeed کےثمرات مسلسل دوروں اور فالو اپ کے حیرت انگیز نتائج
A similar issue arose in 2018 when then Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar, took suo motu notice against media advertisements by the provincial government featuring images of then Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the lead-up to the general elections.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court ordered Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to reimburse the national exchequer Rs5.5 million on March 8, 2018.
A Punjab government newspaper advertisement carrying his photograph was displayed in court during the hearing.
Caretaker Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi has said in a press conference that he has given a “free hand” to the police to establish the writ of the state in the province.
“We told the policemen this morning that you can do what you want to do to establish the writ of the government. If anyone challenges the police, they will break their hand,” warned Naqvi in the press conference.
Naqvi said he had given the provincial police chief full powers so that he could do what he deemed appropriate. “I won’t interfere,” he added.
He further said that no political party reacted the way Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did during its protest. “In every condition, we have to establish the writ of the government.”
Criticising PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s conduct, Naqvi said that if he did not trust the police, the security that is provided could be withdrawn.
Naqvi added that police personnel could not offer protection to someone who verbally abuses them at night and expects the same force to safeguard them.
“I assured them that if anyone resorts to violence, they will get a stern reply. Political activity is your right but no one can react this aggressively,” he said while referring to the protesters.
He added that the “terrorism” PTI was doing is not something that political workers do.
“They are terrorists. A joint investigation team will be formed and a notification will be issued by evening,” said the CM. He also added that the caretaker government is writing a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan sharing details about what had been happening in the province.
