Tag: Lahore

  • Rawalpindi: Transporters continue to overcharge ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr

    Rawalpindi: Transporters continue to overcharge ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr

    The transporters have doubled fares ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, as they do every year, causing trouble to travellers who are heading to their hometowns to spend Eid with their loved ones and family.

    A massive influx of passengers was observed at all bus terminals as well as the Rawalpindi Railway Station. On May 1, both bus and wagon stations, as well as the railway station, were packed with folks heading back to their hometowns to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their families.

    Transporters at the Pirwadhai, Faizabad, Rawat, Humrahi and Soan Bus/Wagon Terminals were majorly involved in overcharging customers.

    Passengers were spotted frantically sprinting from one bus stop to the next in search of tickets, while transporters took advantage of the situation and asked for higher charges.

    Read more: City Traffic Police Lahore to check overcharging, overloading by transporters on Eid

    Long-distance transporters, on the other hand, were blatantly plundering poor travellers by demanding increased fares in addition to luggage charges.

  • No more load shedding in Pakistan from today: Ministry of Energy

    No more load shedding in Pakistan from today: Ministry of Energy

    After long hours of power outages across Pakistan in the month of Ramzan, the Ministry of Energy has announced that power load-shedding has been reduced to zero from 5am today (Monday).

    In a tweet, the ministry said, “As per the promise made by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, load shedding in the country has been reduced to zero from 5am on May 1. The ministry has worked hard to add more than 2500 Megawatt of additional power to the national grid system.”

    “The ministry is constantly striving for uninterrupted power supply during the Eid holidays and beyond”, the tweet further said.

    In April, PM Shehbaz took notice of the situation and directed the concerned departments to reduce power outages by May 1. He said until the problem is resolved, he would not leave for China and would not allow anyone to relax.

    Last month, due to higher demand and reduced generation due to fuel shortages and reduced gas supplies to power plants, Pakistan experienced 6-10 hours of electricity load-shedding in various areas.

    As of April 25, generation was 17,976 Megawatt (MW), compared to the demand of almost 21,000 MW, indicating a significant discrepancy between demand and generation.

  • PCB finalises schedule for PSL8 without consulting franchises

    PCB finalises schedule for PSL8 without consulting franchises

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalised the eighth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) schedule without consulting the franchises, states Geo News’ sources.

    “There was no discussion between franchises and the PSL management regarding the schedule but despite that, it was finalised,” the franchises were quoted as saying by the sources.

    PSL8 will be held between February 15 and March 31, 2023. The venue has also been finalised as the tournament will take place in four cities of Pakistan — Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi.

    Before the start of the league, international cricket teams — New Zealand and West Indies will visit Pakistan in January 2023.

    It is pertinent to mention that some media reports suggest that the new federal government decided to remove the current Chairman of PCB Ramiz Raja from his position.

  • Open market: Lemon being sold at Rs1,100 per kg in Lahore

    Open market: Lemon being sold at Rs1,100 per kg in Lahore

    The local price of lemon increased by Rs105 per kg, to Rs770 to 775 per kg, and was sold at an unbelievable price of Rs1,100 per kg in open markets and a few online stores with available stock.

    Due to the district administration’s inability to impose official rates at Ramazan bazaars, consumers are unable to get relief from overbilling and skyrocketing rates of fruits and vegetables in Lahore. 

    High prices of perishable commodities are massively affecting the urban population due to rising production costs and transportation costs from rural production centers to urban areas.

    Read more: Shopkeepers fined in Islamabad for not adhering to DC rates

    Senior administrators and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid surprise visits to Ramazan bazaars, but shoppers were not relieved. Containing volatility and successfully administering official rate lists to bring inflation relief to the public is a task for the new government.

  • DIG Bilal Siddique Kamyana appointed as new CCPO Lahore

    DIG Bilal Siddique Kamyana appointed as new CCPO Lahore

    DIG Bilal Siddique Kamyana has been appointed as the new Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore. He took over for the former Fayyaz Ahmad Dev, who was transferred from the position a few days ago.

    Kamyana is the sixth City Police Chief to be appointed since the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) came to power in 2018. The decision was made on the same day that the Punjab Assembly convened for a critical session.

    Bilal Siddique Kamyana, an ex Ravian from Sahiwal, is regarded as a trustworthy, skilled, and crime-fighting police officer.

    He is a part of Pakistan’s 24th Common Police Service who served in significant positions such as RPO Faisalabad and Sheikhupura areas, CPO Rawalpindi, DPO Sialkot, Narowal, and Okara, DIG R&D CPO, DIG SPU, SSP CTD, and other high levels of the Police Department’s headquarters and district sections.

    Read more: City Traffic Police Lahore to check overcharging, overloading by transporters on Eid

    Kamyana held an initial meeting with the sectional heads of the various branches of Capital City Police Headquarters shortly after taking over. He has vowed to resolve citizens’ issues by delivering justice.

  • PTA to take action against advertising of illegal housing societies on social media

    PTA to take action against advertising of illegal housing societies on social media

    The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) instructed housing societies that do not have a legal No Object Certificate (NOC) to refrain from advertising unauthorized businesses on social media platforms.

    According to a news release, the PTA has been approached by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) in response to a direction given by the Lahore High Court in a writ case on March 30, 2022, with regard to banning advertisements of illegal housing societies on digital and social media.

    All non-approved housing societies that operate without valid NOC from the concerned authorities are encouraged to desist from publicising the unlawful business on social media platforms, or else the PTA will take action in accordance with its legal mandate.

  • City Traffic Police Lahore to check overcharging, overloading by transporters on Eid

    City Traffic Police Lahore to check overcharging, overloading by transporters on Eid

    The Lahore Traffic Police have declared a crackdown on transport company owners who overcharge and overload passengers during the Eid holidays.

    According to Lahore’s Chief Traffic Officer (CTO), Muntazir Mehdi, thousands of people depart for their hometowns to celebrate Eid with their loved ones. It’s terrible that dishonest transportation owners take advantage of them, he says. Mehdi stated that police had developed a thorough plan to combat exploitation this year. He announced the deployment of at least 84 wardens at Lorry Adda, Badamibagh, Babu Sabu, Niazi Chowk, Thokar Niaz Beg, Shahdara Chowk, Begum Kot Chowk, Gajjumatta, and other key bus stations.

    The traffic police have also issued orders to transportation companies to display fare information prominently on their vehicles. Those who charge high rates to commuters deserve no concessions, according to the CTO, who directed all circle officers to speak with transporter owners in their respective zones. He announced the impoundment of vehicles found overcharging or overloading.

    Police is taking precautions against overcrowding to ensure safe travelling, according to Mehdi, who also stated that additional police officers have been stationed at the city’s entry and exit points. He asked people to phone Police Helpline 15 if they needed assistance or had a complaint. He also stated that people who overload their buses will face consequences.

    Read more: Shopkeepers fined in Islamabad for not adhering to DC rates

    The CTO stated that transportation owners and drivers are required to charge a fixed rate and display a fare list prominently on the vehicle. According to Mehdi, automobiles should be seized if their owners are proven to be overcharging and overloading. Traffic teams have been dispatched to ten locations to investigate overcharging and overloading.

  • Severe heatwave hits Pakistan

    Severe heatwave hits Pakistan

    The extreme temperature has been recorded in the month of April in Pakistan and India while the temperature of Lahore exceeded over 40 degrees Celsius on Thursday.

    The severe heatwave has threatened and puts lives of millions of people at risk. In view the imminent temperature, the Pakistani Government has issued a health advisory, asking people to strictly follow precautionary measures to deal with the situation.

    Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman said, “A heatwave has hit South Asia with the temperature predicted to soar up to 49-50 degrees C. Precautionary measures must immediately be taken to prevent casualties and injuries from heat.”

    According to the Ministry of Climate Change, this year’s March was the hottest month since 1961.

  • This 8-year-old started driving two years ago

    This 8-year-old started driving two years ago

    We have previously heard or seen 13-year-olds driving confidently on Pakistani roads, but this time a YouTube video of an 8-year-old boy driving a full-fledged Toyota SUV with his 10-year-old sister has stunned everyone.

    The video posted on the internet was shot by his own father, who owns the white Toyota Fortuner. The boy claimed in the video that he has been driving since he was six years old, which is even more surprising given that he is struggling to look out the window, confirming that he is unable to obtain a clear view of the road.

    In the comments section, the majority of viewers critiqued the video for encouraging underage driving and putting others’ lives at risk, while others applauded the boy’s driving skills. It is worth adding that this is not the first time a video of this kind has gone viral. Earlier, a kid who seemed to be 11–12 years old was recorded months ago driving a Toyota Land Cruiser on a busy road.

    Read more: This Mercedes has a smaller engine than the Honda Pridor

    Promoting underage driving is becoming a worrisome trend in Pakistan, which the government must address promptly.

  • ‘Eid Shopping Festival’ will take place in Lahore from April 28 – May 2

    ‘Eid Shopping Festival’ will take place in Lahore from April 28 – May 2

    From April 28 to May 2, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP), and the Commissioner’s Office will jointly host “Eid Shopping Festival” in Lahore.

    LCCI President Mian Nauman Kabir announced the Eid Shopping Festival programme at a press conference held on April 26 at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

    He told the media that the LCCI-TDCP major event’s main goal is to not only help revitalise trade and economic activity but also to highlight the country’s positive image.

    Kabir claimed that the event was planned in such a way that it would send a strong message to the international community.

    On the occasion, Senior Vice-President Mian Rehman Aziz Chan, Commissioner Lahore Capt (retd) M Usman, Secretary TDCP Asadullah Faiz, Mardan Ali Zaidi, Ashraf Bhatti, Sohail Butt, Mian Zahid Jawed, representatives from the district government, traffic police, and city markets spoke.

    The ‘Eid Shopping Festival,’ according to the LCCI President, includes a variety of economic and cultural activities such as Shopping Rides, Discounts on Shopping in Anarkali, Liberty, Mall Road, and other city markets, Special Gift Coupons, City Sighting at Night, Qawwali night, and other events.

    Read more: ‘Sasta Ramzan Bazaar’ fails to provide relief in third Ashra

    Commissioner Lahore expressed gratitude to the business community for their support to such initiatives. He stated that the project would continue and that further markets would be added in the future.

    Asadullah Faiz, the Secretary of the TDCP, stated that the TDCP is bringing new trends in the tourist and hospitality industries. He wished for the ‘Eid Shopping Festival’ to be a huge success.