All articles tagged with #lahore
Punjab lifts the Basant ban, allowing a regulated three-day Basant festival in Lahore for the first time since 2007, with government-registered kite sellers (QR codes), a restricted flying window, and bans on dangerous strings; while crowds celebrate, officials cite safety concerns from past fatalities and impose penalties up to five years’ imprisonment for violators, as other Punjab cities pursue unofficial celebrations.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz praised Lahore residents for following safety SOPs as Basant resumed after a 19-year ban, with a three-day festival backed by police and hospitals on alert, QR-tracked kites, and confiscation of glass-coated strings; officials said the “safe Basant” concept could be rolled out to other cities amid broader concerns following a recent mosque bombing in Islamabad and ongoing safety enforcement by authorities.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced that Basant celebrations in Lahore will extend to 5am on Monday, praising the disciplined, safe festivities and continuing the pilot scheme. Basant was reintroduced with strict rules after a 2007 ban, including limits on materials and imagery. Despite safety measures, the first two days recorded 118 Basant-related accidents and six deaths, mostly from rooftop falls and twine injuries.
Violent clashes erupted in Lahore, Pakistan, as police attempted to prevent thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators from marching to Islamabad to protest outside the U.S. Embassy, resulting in injuries, disruptions, and a heavy security response amid tensions following a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
Lahore, Pakistan, is experiencing severe smog, prompting a 'green lockdown' to combat the hazardous air quality, which has reached unprecedented levels. The smog, visible from space, has shut down schools and public spaces, affecting millions, especially children. Environmental lawyer Ahmad Rafay Alam expresses frustration over the government's inadequate response to the crisis, which is exacerbated by local emissions and cross-border crop burning. Despite the challenges, Alam and other activists continue to push for policy changes and regional cooperation to address the pollution.
The Punjab government has proposed a three-month ban on weddings during November, December, and January as part of a long-term plan to combat severe smog in the region. This measure is part of a broader smog mitigation policy that includes shutting schools, shifting public office work online, and banning heavy vehicles. Lahore, the provincial capital, currently has the most polluted air globally, posing significant health risks, especially to children. The smog crisis is exacerbated by agricultural burning, coal plants, and traffic, with Lahore and Multan heavily affected.
Hundreds of people in Lahore, Pakistan, have been hospitalized due to severe smog, prompting the government to close primary schools and establish a crisis management center to address the pollution emergency.
Lahore, Pakistan, is experiencing unprecedented air pollution levels, prompting authorities to close primary schools and implement work-from-home mandates. The city recorded its highest-ever pollution reading, leading to emergency measures such as banning rickshaws and halting construction in certain areas. The government attributes the smog crisis to pollution from India and plans to initiate talks with the neighboring country. Citizens are advised to stay indoors, and hospitals have been equipped with smog counters.
Lahore, Pakistan's second most populous city, has shut down schools, public parks, malls, and offices as pollution levels reach hazardous levels, with an air quality index (AQI) exceeding 400. The Punjab province has declared an environmental and health emergency in three cities, including Lahore, affecting over 15 million people. This comes after New Delhi, India, experienced severe smog due to crop burning and industrial pollution. Other major Indian cities, including Kolkata and Mumbai, also ranked among the world's most polluted cities. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, also faces high pollution levels. The PM2.5 levels in these cities far exceed WHO limits, posing significant health risks. Efforts to address the issue, such as restricting transport and construction, have had limited long-term impact.
Punjab Police have taken complete control of the area surrounding Imran Khan's residence in Lahore, months after his supporters started camping there to foil his arrest in the Toshakhana corruption case. Police met with Khan to arrest "terrorists" reportedly hiding there and handed him a list of 2,200 suspects involved in the May 9 protests that targeted military installations and government buildings. The only thing that remains is conducting a raid of Khan's premises. Khan has maintained that he has no qualms with the security agencies conducting a search operation on his residence but asserted that it should be done as per the guidelines set by the Lahore High Court.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has refused police permission to search his Lahore home for suspects involved in this month's attacks on state and army buildings and laid out his own terms for any such operation. Khan has denied sheltering anyone involved in the violence and said a search could only be conducted by a panel set up by a high court, with members from both the government and his party - and on the condition that a female officer accompanies them. The standoff is the latest in a tussle between former cricket star Khan, 70, and the powerful military that has deepened political instability in the South Asian nation of 220 million.
Tension is high in Lahore as police prepare to search the home of former Prime Minister Imran Khan for suspects who attacked government and military installations last week. The search operation could trigger more violence in Pakistan, which is grappling with political and economic instability. Khan denies sheltering anyone involved in the violence and has criticized the "unprecedented crackdown" on his party and supporters. The country is facing its worst-ever economic crisis, with critical IMF funding needed to avert a balance of payment crisis delayed for months.
Imran Khan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, has claimed that the country's military establishment has planned to keep him in jail for the next 10 years under sedition charges. He further stated that the military is using violence and controlling the media to instill fear in the public and prevent any reaction to his arrest. Khan has been on bail in over 100 cases and returned to his Lahore home on Saturday after locking himself in the Islamabad High Court premises for hours due to fear of re-arrest. His arrest last Tuesday triggered unrest in Pakistan that continued till Friday and led to several deaths and destruction of military and state installations by protesters.
A Pakistani court has rejected former Prime Minister Imran Khan's plea to suspend an arrest warrant issued against him over charges that he unlawfully sold state gifts given to him by foreign dignitaries when he was prime minister from 2018 to 2022. The arrest warrant was issued when Khan failed to appear before the court. Khan denies the charges. His supporters had surrounded his home in Lahore and fought pitched battles with security forces attempting to arrest him. The violence raised fears of a new political stand-off in Pakistan, which is already grappling with an economic crisis.
Police halt operation to arrest former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for failing to turn up to court on corruption charges, to allow a cricket match to be played as scheduled. The Pakistan Super League (PSL) cricket tournament is being held in Lahore, and cricket fans expressed their delight when PSL confirmed that Wednesday’s match will be played as planned. The PSL is Pakistan's premier domestic cricket competition, which also attracts international cricketers to the country. The operation to arrest Khan will be halted until 10am on Thursday, nearly 12 hours after the PSL match in Lahore.