Punjab: Renovation work of Baba Deep Singh Memorial Gurdwara Shaheed Bunga commences

With Pakistan facing the impact of the crisis in West Asia, the Chief Minister of the country's Punjab province, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has announced a series of measures "to protect the public and manage resources responsibly".

Fruit and vegetable prices in Punjab surged during Ramazan, exceeding official rate lists and straining consumers. Vendors cite higher wholesale costs, while farmers face rising production expenses. Weak enforcement and supply-demand pressures continue to challenge Pakistan's price control system.

Farmers in South Punjab and Sindh face rising taxes, high input costs, and market uncertainty ahead of the cotton sowing season. Agricultural groups are urging the government to remove GST on cottonseed products, warning that continued financial pressure could further reduce cotton cultivation in Pakistan.

The order, which excludes indoor use and law enforcement, follows Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's approval of a new anti-drone unit to combat potential security threats.

Rana Muhammad Tayyib, President of the Punjab Pulses Importers Association and Chairman of the Grain Market, stated that before 1998, Pakistan was among the top exporters of pulses. However, the export ban introduced during the Musharraf period discouraged growers, as pulses turned into a low-profit crop. He further noted that the country's yearly consumption demand is about 1.62 million tons, out of which nearly 1.07 million tons are brought in through imports. This, he said, reflects the weak performance of the Federal Seed Corporation, which has not succeeded in developing heat-tolerant and resilient pulse seed varieties, according to TET.

Following the shutdown of the Utility Stores Corporation network, financially vulnerable households across Punjab are grappling with mounting difficulties in securing subsidised food items ahead of Ramazan. As prices of essential commodities continue to rise, concerns over managing Sehri and Iftar expenses have deepened, particularly among daily wage earners and widows, as reported by The Express Tribune.

The protest was organised by the Rawalpindi Central Traders Association in response to what shopkeepers described as relentless crackdowns by multiple provincial and district authorities, as reported by Dawn.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has accused Punjab's Crime Control Department of institutionalising staged police encounters. The report recorded over 900 deaths in 2025, alleging systemic extrajudicial killings and a lack of mandatory investigations. HRCP has called for an immediate moratorium and independent oversight into these operations.

A coalition of public servants continued its protest for a third consecutive day on Thursday, deepening embarrassment for a provincial setup already accused of moving slowly on employee welfare. The Grand Alliance, an umbrella platform of teachers and workers from several departments has refused to budge without legally binding notifications. Demonstrators began gathering early in the day at the main entrance, waving placards and chanting against recent policy decisions. Though the agitation stayed non-violent, heavy policing and diversions choked traffic around the administrative zone, as reported by The Express Tribune.

The UAE reopened the Sheikh Zayed Child Care Complex in Istanbul after renovation, strengthening humanitarian ties with Turkiye. Rebuilt by Zayed Charitable Foundation, the facility now supports about 700 children with healthcare, education, and social services, reflecting the UAE's people-first development vision.