Tag: Punjab government

  • Does CM Buzdar consider himself Sher Shah Suri or Wasim Akram? Here’s what he has to say…

    Does CM Buzdar consider himself Sher Shah Suri or Wasim Akram? Here’s what he has to say…

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar, when asked during an interview if he considers himself Wasim Akram or Sher Shah Suri, has said people can see for themselves what he is.

    Buzdar was called “Wasim Akram Plus” by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan when he anointed him, and Suri Empire founder “Sher Shah Suri” by his colleague and Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hasan Chohan amid criticism over “inability to run the province” and “not being the right choice”.

    Speaking to Geo, the provincial chief executive of Punjab also said those spreading rumours about his expulsion from the office want to destabilise the province and the country at large.

    Dismissing the same, he said he enjoys full trust of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, which some people do not like at all.

    When asked why he seems to avoid the media so much, he said that liking for him still existed in the media.

    Replying to a question about the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), he said that fixing anybody on political grounds was quite an inappropriate act.

    CM Buzdar also said that the government was not bothered by the opposition even if it took to streets.

  • NAB launches new investigation into contracts awarded by Buzdar govt

    NAB launches new investigation into contracts awarded by Buzdar govt

    National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday launched an investigation into contracts allotted during the tenure of current Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar.

    According to sources, the anti-graft watchdog has sought records from Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (TEPA), and other departments in this regard.

    The bureau has also directed the concerned authorities to submit details of key development projects’ contracts, in a move some elements claim is aimed at getting rid of the provincial chief executive despite NAB’s repeated reminders that it is an autonomous institution.

    Earlier, CM Buzdar had appeared before NAB Lahore office in a case of allegedly issuing a liquor licence to a hotel in violation of the law.

    Buzdar handed over all the documents regarding the issuance of a liquor license to the anti-corruption bureau and said, “I do not know anything as I am not prepared. Give me time to think and answer these questions”.

    Meanwhile, former director-general (DG) of Excise Akram Ashraf Gondal also recorded his statement and claimed he had informed Chief Minister Office that issuance of the liquor license will be against the policy and rules as NOCs were not complete.

    However, he approved the license on the request of then principal secretary to chief minister Raheel Ahmed Siddiqui.

    Former Excise DG Akram Ashraf Gondal had also submitted an application to become an approver in the case.

  • Punjab govt revised working hours again; 8 am to 10 pm

    Punjab govt revised working hours again; 8 am to 10 pm

    Punjab government has again revised working hours for business operations in the province to curb the surge of COVID-19 cases.

    All businesses in Punjab will be allowed to operate all week long from 8 am to 10 pm every day.

    Other essential businesses such as medical stores, clinics, grocery stores, petrol pumps will be permitted to operate 24/7.

    The minister has directed all district administrations to ensure the wearing of face maks in markets all over Punjab.

    It was decided in a high-level meeting held yesterday in Lahore chaired by the provincial Law Minister, Raja Basharat. The meeting discussed the Coronavirus situation across Punjab and adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to stop the transmission of the viral infection.

    It must be noted that the Punjab government had allowed all businesses to operate 24/7 after a steady decline in Coronavirus cases across the province.

    In the last 24 hours, Punjab has reported 158 new cases and 2 deaths due to Coronavirus.

  • Did a sniper really take shots at Maryam Nawaz in Lahore? IG answers

    Did a sniper really take shots at Maryam Nawaz in Lahore? IG answers

    Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shoaib Dastgir has dismissed reports of bullets being fired at the vehicle of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz last week when she was to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Lahore.

    Many police officials were injured when a scuffle broke out last week between policemen and PML-N workers ahead of Maryam’s appearance. Footage of the incident suggested that workers had brought bags full of stones which were pelted at police and security officials.

    READ: Safdar for police case against Imran over ‘assassination attempt’ on wife Maryam

    Former senator Sajid Mir, after meeting Maryam on Sunday, claimed she had been targeted by some sniper during her appearance, saying the windscreen of her bullet-proof vehicle could not be smashed by a stone.

    Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Dastgir said no evidence was offered to back up claims asserted through reports and social media.

    He also said the institution of police is an independent one and has no tussle with any political party. However, he warned, those who took the law into their hands will be punished.

  • Double-decker bus makes trial drive between twin cities

    Double-decker bus makes trial drive between twin cities

    A test trial of double Decker bus service was conducted in Rawalpindi and Islamabad on the special orders of Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar.

    According to details, the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation with the coordination of Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) initiated a test drive of double-decker bus service on the occasion of Independence Day, celebrated across Pakistan yesterday.

    The bus service is expected to start next week in twin cities. The goal of the service is to promote tourism, to invite local and foreign tourists to enjoy the culture and scenery of the twin cities.

    Advisor to CM Punjab for Horticulture and Tourism Asif Mehmood said, “The Tourism Development Corporation Punjab (TDCP) will operate the buses,” adding the construction work of the main terminal at Allama Iqbal Park double road is now in the final stage.

    At first, two buses will be operated and local people can benefit from this plan, he added.

    In Islamabad, the tourists can visit different tourist spots including Faisal Mosque, Marghrzar Zoo, Daman-e-Koh, Constitution Avenue, Lok Virsa, Pakistan Museum of Natural History and Shakarparian through this bus service.

  • KYA BOLA? (Aug 11): ‘Usman Buzdar ki tabdeeli’, ‘Wazire azam k ladlay totay’, ‘National Assembly mein classroom wali harkatein’

    KYA BOLA? (Aug 11): ‘Usman Buzdar ki tabdeeli’, ‘Wazire azam k ladlay totay’, ‘National Assembly mein classroom wali harkatein’

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on August 11, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘Usman Buzdar Ki Tabdeeli’

    It has been reported by Daily Jang that senior journalist and analyst Suhail Warraich has said, “Imran Khan k paas Usman Buzdar ko tabdeel krnay k ilawa koi option nahi.”

    His remarks come at a time when rumours regarding the removal of Punjab chief minister (CM) have gone rife yet again.

    ‘Wazire Azam K Ladlay Totay‘

    In his column, Suhail Warraich has said, “Special assistant to prime minister mein aksar tadaad inn ladlay toton ki hai jo Tehreek-e-Insaf ki siyasi jad-o-jehad mein shaamil naa thay aur naa he unhon ney koi qurbaani di… iss ka bawajood qaabina ka hisa ban bethay… parlimaan k log faisla saazi mein shareek nahi hain magar yeh ghair muntakhib eham tareen mulki faislon mein shareek hotay hain jo k sarasar ghalat riwayat hai.”

    ‘National Assembly Mein Classroom Wali Harkatein’

    According to Daily Jang, PML-N leader and former National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said all lawmakers must play their role in improving the environment of the assembly. “My grandchildren told me, ‘Aap log jo kuch assembly mein kartay ho, hum school k classroom mein kr sakty hain’.”

  • Lockdown order withdrawn; Punjab returns to ‘pre-coronavirus’ routine with a few exceptions

    The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department has allowed resumption of “pre-COVID-19 practices subject to the adoption of social distancing guidelines” as it withdrew the government’s lockdown order.

    According to the notification dated August 9, all sectors barring marriage halls and marquees and educational institutions have been allowed to resume operations from Monday (August 10), with timings and weekly holidays “reverted to pre-COVID-19 practice”.

    According to Dawn, religious congregations will only be held after approval from the administration and will be bound to follow the standard operating procedures laid out by the government. Operators of public transport — that has been allowed to resume function — will also have to ensure that preventive measures are being observed by passengers.

    The notification was issued three days after the federal government announced it was lifting restrictions on the tourism sector, restaurants and public transport, after months of suspension.

    The decisions were made in a meeting of the National Coordination Committee, which was presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan and attended by representatives of all the provinces. The meeting participants also decided to lift restrictions on railways, airlines and metro buses.

    While the restrictions are being eased as government boasts of having successfully tackled the pandemic, it is worth mentioning that a sudden spike has been recorded in coronavirus infections over the past week. The number of per day fatalities, however, on Sunday dropped to single digits for the first time in over 110 days.

  • KYA BOLA? (Aug 10): ‘Sir, NAB k khilaaf nahi bolna’ to Bilawal getting a Peshawar BRT card

    KYA BOLA? (Aug 10): ‘Sir, NAB k khilaaf nahi bolna’ to Bilawal getting a Peshawar BRT card

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on August 10, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘Sir, NAB K Khilaaf Nahi Bolna’
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_FSz7_9I4o

    It has been reported by Daily Jang that Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hasan Chohan was spotted telling his boss, Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar, to not speak against the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in response to a journalist’s question during a press conference.

    “NAB k khilaaf nahi bolna,” he was quoted as saying.

    ‘Pakistan Ki Shanaakht Tabah Ho Rahi Hai’

    Daily Jang has quoted Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman as saying that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is ruining Pakistan’s image. “Hukmaraan Pakistan ki shandar shanaakht tabah kr rahay hain,” he reportedly said.

    Bilawal Gets Peshawar BRT Card

    It has been reported by Daily Dunya that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Transport Minister Shah Muhammad Wazir has sent a travel card for Peshawar metro to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari over his criticism against the delays that the project faced amid rising costs. “Umeed hai Sindh hakoomat bhi Green Bus ka aik card mujhe bheje gi,” the minister said further.

  • Coronavirus in Pakistan: A July-August diary

    Since the beginning of July, there has been a decline in new coronavirus cases and the number of recovered patients has also increased. By the time this report was filed, there were 26,834 active COVID-19 cases in the country.

    While Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, as well as members of his team and other experts, repeatedly urged people to follow social distancing guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) on Eidul Azha in order to avoid a June-like surge in coronavirus cases in the days to come, people were seen flaunting the same not only over the Eid weekend but also during rallies protesting illegal Indian annexation of held Kashmir on August 5.

    It was reported by Gulf News that the upper class of Karachi completely ignored Sindh government directives by sacrificing animals wherever they wished to despite 500 sites being designated by the provincial administration for the purpose. “Residents in the most expensive and posh neighbourhoods of the city were no exception… officials didn’t make any effort to ensure the people followed the law,” the report said.

    Meanwhile, the Punjab government on August 3 announced to lift the smart lockdown two days ahead of the scheduled date. The government announced to lift all restrictions on the third day of Eid because of a “significant” reduction in coronavirus cases.

    While Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar expressed satisfaction over the observance of SOPs on Eidul Azha, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar announced on Thursday that restrictions on the hospitality and recreational sectors, put in place nearly five months ago to curb the spread of the coronavirus, would be lifted by August 10.

    Dine-in restaurants, parks, cinemas, tourist spots and salons would be re-opened while marriage halls would remain closed at least until September 15 and the decision to re-open educational institutes would be looked into during the first week of September, he said.

    However, just a day after the announcement, Punjab witnessed a sudden increase in the number of new coronavirus cases. The everyday cases that had on an average dropped to below 100 during the past one month after reaching a new high in June, once again increased to around 300.

    Although some medical experts were not perturbed and declared it a routine surge, others believed that it might be a signal for the beginning of the second wave of the outbreak. Punjab reported 277 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 besides five deaths during the last 24 hours against 235 a day earlier, Dawn reported.

    Besides the lifting of lockdown restrictions for the economy’s sake in July, the surge is also being attributed to the fact that next to none social distancing guidelines were followed during the preparations and hosting of seminars and rallies to mark ‘Youme Istehsal [Exploitation Day]’ on the first anniversary of Narendra Modi-led India’s annexation of occupied Kashmir.

    Even though the coronavirus situation in Pakistan is getting better on paper, how the pandemic turns out over the next few days is subject to the behaviour of the masses and the policies of the government.

  • NAB summons Buzdar for ‘issuing illegal liquor licences’

    NAB summons Buzdar for ‘issuing illegal liquor licences’

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar on August 12 for what it says was illegal issuance of liquor licences.

    The anti-graft watchdog has accused the provincial chief executive of illegally using powers of Excise director general (DG) and issuing liquor permits to a private hotel in Lahore.

    The hotel in question is the same as the one in regard to which reports had falsely claimed that a local company was setting up a “liquor bar” at the Allama Iqbal International Airport after approval from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led Punjab government.

    “A section of local media wrongly reported that the provincial government has granted a license to a company to sell liquor at the airport,” then spokesperson to the CM, Dr Shahbaz Gill, had said in a video message in January last year.

    He had further said that an under-construction five-star hotel near the airport had sought permission, which was duly granted after all the legal requirements were fulfilled.

    “This is not something new and all the major hotels in the country are permitted under the laws,” Gill said.

    However, the issuance has reportedly landed the Punjab CM in hot water.

    Earlier, on May 24, in view of the threat of sale of poisonous liquor on the occasion of Eidul Fitr, Punjab Excise and Taxation DG Hafiz Ziaul Mustafa issued a letter to stop the sale of illegal liquor and take necessary steps, The Express Tribune reported.

    Some unscrupulous elements use clinical alcohol, sedative tablets and juices of rotten fruits to brew liquor which is then sold in bottles of local and foreign brands. In the past scores of people have died and many more have gone blind from this locally brewed concoction.

    The DG also directed to pay special attention to liquor license holders on the occasion of Eid. A letter issued from the office of the DG said that several people have been affected by drinking toxic liquor in recent years which has embarrassed the government.

    Bootleggers making this toxic moonshine were likely to bring out their product on the festive occasion of Eid to grab the merriment mood of poor people who could not afford a pint of legally sold liquor available from licenced excise shops.