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Business Recorder
12 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
DWMD leads Eidul Adha waste management drive
LAHORE: This year's Eid ul Adha marked the first major public sanitation campaign following the Government of Punjab's strategic outsourcing of waste management operations across the province. The occasion served as an important test for the new operational model and its capacity to deliver large-scale, citizen-focused services. The results have been both encouraging and promising. The leading contractor, Daewoo Waste Management Division (DWMD) has been at work in 22 Tehsils in Punjab which include diverse locations like Mandi Bahauddin, Lodhran, Jhang, Muzaffargarh and even far-flung areas like Karor Lal and Kot Chutta. The private contractors like Daewoo are working in collaboration with the local companies like DG Khan Waste Management Company (DWMC), Gujranwala Waste Management Company (GWMC), Multan Waste Management Company (MWMC), and Faisalabad Waste Management Company (FWMC). From pre-Eid preparations to swift post-Eid clean-up, operations were carried out systematically across all districts to ensure that cities and towns remained clean, safe, and hygienic throughout the festive period. This province-wide effort stands as one of Punjab's most extensive Eid sanitation drives to date. District-level waste management companies, working alongside local authorities and contractors, delivered notable results across key cities and towns. In Dera Ghazi Khan, 16,198 tons of waste was collected and 375,473 waste bags were distributed among citizens. The local teams successfully resolved 90 percent of registered complaints, ensuring timely response to public needs. In Faisalabad, 37,768 tons of waste was removed from across the district. More than 2 million waste bags were distributed to the public, facilitating safe disposal of animal waste. The field teams maintained an excellent record of complaint resolution. Multan reported the collection of 30,970 tons of waste. Nearly 1.85 million waste bags were distributed, with strong public cooperation throughout the operation. The teams addressed and resolved a large number of citizen complaints during the campaign. In Gujranwala, 23,085 tons of waste was cleared, and 590,000 waste bags were distributed to support community-level waste management. Local teams worked actively to resolve citizen complaints and ensured smooth execution of field operations. Across all districts, the operation included the setup of thousands of Urban Camps at UC level to distribute waste bags and provide information to the public. Significant quantities of lime, phenyl, and rose water were applied at Qurban Gahs, congregation points, waste sites, and public areas to maintain hygienic conditions. The campaign mobilized large field forces supported by additional vehicles and equipment to deliver an effective and citizen-focused operation. These district-level achievements reflect the strength of the collaborative framework established under the province-wide campaign. The roads, Qurban Gahs and other areas were washes with rosewater and phenyl after the sacrifice. The offal and remains of sacrificed animals were transported to dumpsite and were disposed of in environment-friendly manner. The local private contractors worked in close coordination with the public bodies. Thus, the complaints were resolved efficaciously and waste was lifted timely. Political workers stayed in their constituencies and helped expedite the waste management services. The checks and balances in the system ensured that the local contractors leave no lapse and ensure 100% compliance. Saira Afzal Tarar, Coordinator to the Chief Minister Punjab, personally visited the streets of Hafizabad during 3 days of Eid. She said, "I witnessed a remarkable cleanliness across the city. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Chief Minister, the local government teams, Daewoo and the citizens of Hafizabad for their cooperation in making this project a success." Praising the new model of public private partnership, Rana Muhammad Shahid Nadeem, CEO of DG Khan Waste Management Company, commented, 'The partnership with the contractor enabled us to deliver an efficient and effective service to the citizens of DG Khan during this critical period.' Days prior to Eid, speaking at a seminar, Member Punjab Assembly Hanif Pitafi said, 'Owing to Maryam Nawaz's Suthra Punjab initiative, the same level of waste management services are being provided by Daewoo in Dera Ghazi Khan that are being enjoyed the residents of Lahore.' The local contractors too seemed content with the system, Khalid Majeed, President of Daewoo Waste Management Division, remarked, "This successful operation would not have been possible without the extensive support we received from the Government of Punjab, political representatives, city district governments, local influencers and general public. It was inspiring to see all stakeholders actively stepping into the field to ensure the success of this project. Their hands-on involvement truly made a difference. 'Daewoo's performance during this year's Eid ul Adha reflects its strong commitment to the vision of a cleaner Punjab. Moving forward, DWMD and its partners will continue to strengthen operational capacity, engage communities, and deliver year-round excellence in waste management.' Sohail Anwar Malik, General Manager Operations Daewoo added, "This Eid ul Adha operation was a true test of our limits and capabilities, and I am proud to say we emerged successful. The credit for this achievement goes to the exceptional cooperation we received from the field teams, particularly our District and Tehsil Managers, as well as every single member of government teams who worked with unwavering dedication and provided us unflinching support." The current public- private partnership model of Punjab is proving to be a success in various ways. The customized plans have been tailored for each Tehsil ensuring that services meet the need of the area. Moreover, the local private companies have come forward to provide services in waste management sector. This is not only a welcome development for economy but will also help develop a class of professionals as well as companies which will lead the future endeavours for waste management in particular and environment in general. The public too responded positively to the initiative, with active participation in cleanliness efforts across the province and strong community cooperation with local teams. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
'Andheray Kay Roop' shines at drama festival
On the twelfth day of the ongoing Regional Drama Festival organised by the Punjab Council of the Arts, Rawalpindi, the stage play "Andheray Kay Roop" was performed. The play featured outstanding performances by renowned artists including Shazia Sheikh, Dr Waqar Azeem, Sania, and others, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience. The story revolves around a blind girl battling loneliness, the shadows of her past, and her inner conflicts. Isolated from the world, she interacts with a single male character who represents her memories, fears, hopes, and dreams. This character appears in multiple forms — sometimes as a friend, sometimes an enemy, and sometimes a romantic figure — symbolising her emotional journey. The performance drew a large audience, including city dignitaries, media representatives, families, officials, and members of literary and cultural circles, all of whom praised the cast's exceptional performances. Dr Afshan Malik, a renowned poet, and PML-N President Raja Naseer were the special guests. They lauded the Government of Punjab's Family Theatre initiative, noting that the drama festival is not only delivering wholesome, high-quality entertainment but also preserving and promoting cultural heritage.
Express Tribune
30-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Punjab government bans stray dog killings, enforces animal birth control policy
Listen to article In a landmark decision, the Lahore High Court has declared the killing of stray dogs through shooting, poisoning, or other inhumane methods as illegal and unconstitutional across Punjab. The judgment, delivered on May 22, 2025, in the case Eiraj Hassan & Others vs Government of Punjab, prompted the provincial government to formally implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Policy 2021. The policy lays out a comprehensive framework to humanely manage the stray dog population through vaccination, sterilization, tagging, registration, and rehabilitation. Advocates Eiraj Hassan and Altamush Saeed filed the petition, arguing that the widespread culling of stray dogs was a violation of animal welfare principles and basic human compassion. The court, in its ruling, emphasized that killing stray animals is in stark contradiction to constitutional rights, ethical standards, and international norms. Notably, incidents of inhumane dog killings were frequently reported from upscale housing societies and certain municipal jurisdictions, where even government personnel were found complicit. Despite the ruling, concerns remain over the lack of institutional response mechanisms. There is currently no centralized helpline to report stray dog concerns, and the Police Animal Rescue Centre remains largely inactive. The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) also faces serious challenges due to limited staff and resources. Advocate Altamush Saeed hailed the court's decision as a major success for animal rights in Pakistan. He pointed out that the Animal Rescue Centre was summoned to court but failed to appear. Nevertheless, departments including Livestock & Dairy Development and Local Government assured the court of full implementation of the ABC Policy. Under the new policy, stray dogs will be captured safely and non-violently and taken to animal shelters. Here, they will undergo vaccination and sterilization. Once deemed healthy, they will be tagged and released back into the same locality. Dogs that are terminally ill or severely injured will be euthanized humanely under veterinary supervision using sodium pentothal, a painless euthanasia drug. The policy also envisions the establishment of shelter homes in every tehsil, to be operated in collaboration with private welfare organizations or under government oversight. Monitoring committees at the district, tehsil, and provincial levels will ensure strict implementation. Experts note that while the court's ruling effectively bans cruel culling, on-ground enforcement of sterilization and the construction of shelters remain slow. Dr. Haider Ali Khan, spokesperson for the Livestock and Dairy Development Department, explained that municipal staff will be tasked with capturing dogs and transporting them to veterinary centers for sterilization, after which the animals will be returned to their localities. Veterinary hospitals across Punjab have been notified and prepared to participate. Although the policy offers a progressive and humane framework, its success hinges on inter-agency coordination, sustained community involvement, and adequate budgetary support. The government has committed to allocating dedicated funds for ABC implementation in the upcoming fiscal year. As Punjab shifts toward a more humane and scientific approach to managing stray dogs, civil society and local governments must now play a vital role in ensuring the policy is more than just ink on paper.
NDTV
08-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Punjab Government Orders Complete Blackout In Gurdaspur From 9:00 PM To 5:00 AM
Gurdaspur: The Government of India and the Punjab Government have issued directives under the Civil Defence Act, 1968, to enforce a complete blackout in the Gurdaspur district from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM, effective from May 8, 2025, until further orders. The statement released reads, "Due to a sensitive environment on the Indo-Pak border, guidelines of the Government of India and the Government of Punjab. According to this, further orders will be issued from 08.05.2025 to deal with the emergency situation under the Civil Defense Act 1968. From 9.00 pm to 5.00 am the next day, there will be complete "black out" in district Gurdaspur. This order will not be applicable in Central Jail Gurdaspur and hospitals. Though, the windows of Gurdaspur jail and hospitals will be closed every day from 9.00 pm to 5.00 am the next day." The measure is in response to a sensitive environment along the Indo-Pakistan border and aims to address any potential emergency situation. The blackout order exempts Central Jail Gurdaspur and hospitals. However, these institutions must keep their windows closed and securely covered during the specified hours to ensure no light escapes. After India executed Operation Sindoor, in which nine terror sites deep inside Pakistan were destroyed, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets on the night of May 7. The military targets were engaged in Northern and Western India, including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks. Indian Air Force S-400 Sudarshan Chakra air defence missile systems were fired on Wednesday night against targets moving towards India. The targets were successfully neutralised in the operation, multiple domain experts told ANI. An official Government confirmation is awaited. On Thursday morning, the Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at several locations in Pakistan. The Indian response has been in the same domain with the same intensity as Pakistan's. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised. Sources said that over 100 terrorists were eliminated with a series of precision strikes launched in the early hours of Wednesday. The operation, aimed at avenging the Pahalgam terror attack, remains underway, making it challenging to provide an exact casualty count of the terrorists at this stage, sources further stated.
Express Tribune
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
LHC blocks plot to get land fraudulently
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has rejected the appeal of a man who, while transferring a piece of property to his nephews, declared himself as their father in the tamleek deed and later gave his own sons the same names as his nephews in an attempt to acquire the property through deception. There were two real bothersthe petitioner Muhammad Nawaz and Muhammad Aslam. Nawaz gave 400-kanal property in 1975 to two minors namelyMuhammad Farrukh and Muhammad Mohsin alias Nijal, who were the sons of Muhammad Aslam. However, he fraudulently showed himself as their father in the registered deeds. Subsequently, he tried to manipulate the situation to favour his own sons by giving them similar names. This arrangement continued undisputed for years during Muhammad Aslam's life. Years later, the doneesFarrukh and Mohsin, Aslam's sonsinstituted a civil suit against Nawaz and his sons as well as the Government of Punjab. The trial court handed in a decision in favor of the real sons of Muhammad Aslam. The petitioners challenged this order but the appellate court also upheld the trial court's decision. The petitioners including Muhammad Nawaz later moved the LHC Multan Bench where Justice Anwaar Hussain dismissing his plea also upheld the decisions of the district courts. Farrukh and Mohsinsons of Aslamclaimed that total property measuring 818 kanal17 marlasof land was purchased by their uncle (Nawaz) and their late father (Muhammad Aslam) jointly. However, it was purchased in the name of Nawaz as their father was a government employee. Nawaz, later on, transferred the suit property measuring 400 kanal, out of the total land purchased, in their favour as an acknowledgment that the suit property was purchased with the funds of the late Muhammad Aslam. However, Nawaz fraudulently showed himself as their father in the registered deeds and subsequently, manipulated the situation to favour his own sons by giving them same names with the intent to misappropriate the suit property. It was stated that registered deeds attested in pursuance to the tamleek deeds, to the extent of parentage of the Farrukh and Moshin are against the law as well as Shariah and are based on mala fide. The petitionersNawaz and his sonstook the defence that the suit property was purchased with funds remitted by Nawaz from the United Kingdom. They contended that the transfer of the suit property through tamleek deeds was always intended for his own sons. After framing of issues and recording of evidence, the trial court through judgment on March 28, 2013 decreed the suit of the respondentsthe sons of Aslam.
