Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed to establish Provincial Enforcement Authority in Punjab, while chairing a special meeting to review the implementation of various Government policies in the Province.

She said, “Enforcement authorities will also be established in every district and tehsil of Punjab.” She added, “Provincial Enforcement Authority will be headed by Chief Secretary, supported by a DG; District Enforcement Authority will be headed by Deputy Commissioner; while Tehsil Enforcement Authority will be headed by the respective AC”

Enforcement authorities would have the powers to take action against price hike, encroachment of government lands and hoarding, besides performing other special tasks assigned by the Government from time to time, including seizures of state properties.

The CM directed to make these enforcement authorities functional in 6 months, and to immediately start legislation for the purpose. She approved a proposal to amend 11 laws, rules and ordinances in this regard.

The CM said, “A police station and a special force will be established at tehsil level under the supervision of Tehsil Enforcement Authority. Authority in-charge, investigation officers, enforcement officers and constables will be appointed in a Tehsil Enforcement Authority, which will have the powers to register cases, investigate them and to make arrests in addition to the enforcement of law.

She said that Offices of Provincial and District Enforcement Authorities will also be established to ensure effective monitoring.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Provincial Minister for Food Bilal Yasin, Minister for Information and Culture Azma Zahid Bukhari, Minister for Agriculture Muhammad Ashiq Hussain, MPA Sania Ashiq, Chief Secretary, Secretaries Agriculture, Finance and other relevant officers attended the meeting.

Lahore:  Abbottabad and Rawalpindi will host 24 matches of the 50-over-a-side President’s Cup, in which seven leading departments of the country will participate from 24 April to 12 May. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), the winner of the four-day first-class President’s Trophy, will aim to conclude the 2023-24 season with another trophy.

Apart from SNGPL, the other six teams participating in the tournament are Pakistan Television (PTV), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), Higher Education Commission (HEC), and Ghani Glass.

The seven teams will compete in a single round-robin format, with the top four sides after 21 league matches qualifying for the semi-finals. While Shoaib Akhtar Stadium, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and Abbottabad Cricket Stadium will be used for the league matches, venues of the three knock-out matches will be confirmed closer to the matches.

Ahmed Shehzad will captain WAPDA, Usman Salahuddin will lead SBP, Rohail Nazir will lead KRL, Moeez Ghani will captain Ghani Glass, Mohammad Huraira will lead HEC, while Shamyl Hussain and Saud Shakeel will captain PTV and SNGPL, respectively.

The tournament carries a total prize money of PKR 2.5 million, with the winning side receiving a cheque of PKR 1.5 million along with the trophy.

Abdullah Khurram Niazi, Director of Domestic Cricket Operations: “Following the successful staging of the first-class tournament, the upcoming limited overs tournament marks a positive step in the smooth return and rehabilitation of departmental cricket, which should be welcomed by everyone.

“The return of department cricket aligns with the PCB Chairman’s policy of reinvigorating domestic cricket across the country, which will lead to more opportunities for younger players and a greater likelihood of new talent emerging.”

Fixtures for Wednesday: SNGPL vs Ghani Glass, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium; PTV vs SBP, Abbottabad Cricket Stadium; KRL vs WAPDA, Shoaib Akhtar Stadium

Fixtures for Friday: WAPDA vs Ghani Glass, Shoaib Akhtar Stadium; KRL vs PTV, Abbottabad Cricket Stadium; SBP vs HEC, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

Karachi: The President of Iran Dr. Ebrahim Raisi reached Karachi along with his delegations on the last leg of his tour of Pakistan.

The visiting President was accorded warm welcome at the airport by Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and other dignitaries.

Later, the Iranian President visited Mazar of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi.

The visiting dignitary laid floral wreath at the Mazar, offered fateha and paid tribute to the great leader of Pakistan for his leadership skills.

While addressing students and faculty at Government College University in Lahore, Iranian President Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi said Pakistan and Iran are keen to develop centers of arts and learning besides promotion of arts and sciences.

The Iran president said it is need of the hour to pay special attention to arts, sciences and technology to shine among the comity of nations.

President Raisi said that universities should be centers of learning and research and a comprehensive strategy in the education sector may pay dividends.

On Allama Iqbal, the Iranian President said the poetry of Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal enjoys special acceptance in Iran.

He said Pakistan and Iran maintain the same stance on Palestine issue.

Dr Raisi said Iran would further enhance its cooperation with Pakistan in the energy and other sectors.

The Iranian President thanked Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif for the cordial hospitality during his visit.