Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Pakistan Railways achieves major savings with power reforms

Pakistan Railways

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways has recorded impressive savings—amounting to billions of rupees in electricity costs over the past eight months—thanks to initiatives such as solarisation, meterization, and strict measures to curb electricity pilferage. These developments were shared during a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi. The meeting was told that Pakistan Railways … Read more

Punjab Govt announces holidays for smog hit-districts of province    

Smog holidays in Punjab: Educational institutions will remain close on Saturday
  • The smog-hit districts of the province would observe a four-day holiday.
  • Govt will notify business holiday for offices and schools on Nov 10 in Lahore.
  • The bakeries and pharmacies, restaurants, and transport will remain open.

LAHORE: Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that smog-hit districts of the province would observe a four-day holiday.

The holidays will be from Thursday (Iqbal Day) through Sunday, he said.

“Today, we will notify business holiday for offices and schools on November 10 in Lahore division, Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Kasur, Nankana Sahib districts, and Hafizabad while November 9 has already been declared a public holiday,” CM Naqvi said in a press conference.

Smog has made Lahore the most polluted city in the world, Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi announced a holiday on Friday, November 10 in all districts of Lahore Division, Gujranwala, Wazirabad and Hafizabad were given smog.

The Chief Minister said that marriage halls will remain open on Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays while parks will remain closed. The bakeries and pharmacies, take-away restaurants, and public transport will remain open.

Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab said that the factories are not being closed. It is half a day, the markets will be closed on Saturday and the traders will close on Friday if they consider it suitable.

Mohsin Naqvi said that the entire impact of crop residues being burnt in India is coming to Pakistani Punjab.

The caretaker chief minister said that the aim is to bring down the smog as it is not possible to eliminate it. He said rain will also affect the smog.

He said that in India, schools were also closed in New Delhi and the Indian government also had to make tough decisions. He said the Punjab government is monitoring those cities where there is heavy smog. He said, “If you want to stay in Lahore for these three or four days, then stay at home”.

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Sehat Card facility now fully available in Lahore division: Fawad Ch

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Sunday said Sehat Card facility had become fully available in Lahore Division. “All families residing in Punjab will be eligible for availing medical treatment annually up to Rs1 million in next 45 days,” Chaudhry Fawad said in a tweet. Read more: Only time will tell … Read more