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LHC orders timely implementation of motorway and Multan plantation projects
The Lahore High Court has directed authorities to continue implementing approved and proposed plantation projects along the M-3 Motorway and major roads in Multan, and to complete pending approvals and procurement processes on time.
The court ruled that the success of plantation initiatives should be measured not merely by the number of trees planted, but also by their survival, healthy growth and proper maintenance.
Justice Jawad Hassan reviewed implementation reports submitted by relevant government departments while hearing a petition filed by Muhammad Tahir Jamal and a connected application.
During the hearing, the additional advocate general of Punjab informed the court that plantation activities were underway along the M-3 Motorway and various roads in Multan. Meetings of a consultative committee had also been held to reduce environmental risks and increase green cover.
The court was informed that 5,280 plants had been planted at service areas and rest areas along the M-3 Motorway in October 2026. Procurement was underway to plant fruit-bearing trees along a 36-kilometre stretch of the motorway, while estimates for planting new trees and maintaining existing ones along other sections were awaiting approval.
National Highway Authority officials said additional signboards identifying service areas had also been installed at intervals of approximately 10 kilometres to facilitate travellers.
Officials further informed the court that a plan had been prepared to plant a total of 28,215 saplings along major roads in Multan district during the 2026-27 financial year.
Under the plan, 19,140 saplings will be planted along Multan-Vehari Road, 4,125 along Khanewal Road and 990 along Head Muhammad Wala Road. Another 1,980 saplings are planned at Sher Shah Toll Plaza on Muzaffargarh Road, with an additional 1,980 at the Sher Shah Road intersection. The plantation work will cover various stretches spanning a combined 85.5 kilometres.
Authorities said the plantation project for Multan-Vehari Road had been approved, while the other three projects were awaiting approval. The saplings would be maintained and cared for over four years after implementation, they added.
The Forest Department has also introduced a system to record the geographical locations of plantation sites, photographs, plant species and survival rates to monitor project progress and outcomes.
The court appreciated the efforts made by the Multan divisional commissioner, National Highway Authority, Forest Department, Higher Education Department and other relevant authorities.
Justice Jawad Hassan also described the “One Student, One Plant” initiative as a positive step towards raising environmental awareness among students.
The court directed authorities to ensure that plantation projects were not limited to beautifying roads and public spaces. It said planning should also take into account local climate, soil conditions, water availability, biodiversity and the protection of wild pollinators, including honeybees.
The court called for durable, dense and shade-providing trees to be planted at suitable locations, suggesting consideration of neem, shisham, peepal and varieties of acacia suited to the local environment.
Justice Jawad Hassan clarified that the final selection of tree species should be made by relevant technical experts after assessing local conditions and compatibility with existing infrastructure.
Authorities were also directed to ensure adequate watering, protection of saplings, replacement of dead or damaged plants and regular monitoring to secure lasting environmental benefits.
The court ordered the relevant authorities to continue implementing approved and proposed projects in accordance with the law and complete pending approvals and procurement procedures within the prescribed time.
It emphasised that the true measure of plantation projects would be the survival of trees, proper maintenance and their lasting positive impact on the environment.
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Pakistan begins issuing e-passports at diplomatic missions worldwide
Director General Immigration and Passports said that Pakistan has started issuing electronic passports (e-passports) at Pakistani diplomatic missions across the world, a major milestone achieved under the vision of the prime minister and orders of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
This launch was accomplished due to the ongoing effort of the team of Directorate General of Immigration and Passports.
The e-passport is equipped with state-of-the-art security measures and constructed according to international standards and is a step forward in modernising the passport services in Pakistan.
The director general said machine-readable passports currently issued would stay valid until their expiry dates, and e-passports would be issued to anyone applying for new passports.
The effort has been termed as a key step in modernising Pakistan’s passport services in line with the vision of “One Nation, One Passport, One Identity”.
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Interior Minister Naqvi warns against online fraud, cybercrime and blackmail
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has warned the residents about the increasing hazards of online fraud, cybercrime and blackmail and advised them not to post personal images and videos with unconnected persons.
New types of online fraud were coming to light, including situations where women and girls were coaxed into revealing their images and videos and later blackmailed, Naqvi said during a press briefing on cyber crime in the province capital.
He warned people, especially women, to be very careful about sharing personal images, as some people use pictures and films to blackmail. He made a special appeal to moms and sisters to keep their private images private.
The interior ministry also warned individuals not to transfer money online without verification, even if someone claimed to be sick and asked for financial help online, to avoid falling victim to online financial scam. He called on people to check the names of those who asked for money and to beware of bogus accounts.
Fraudsters impersonated residents on social media with bogus identities, Naqvi added. He said the cyber police are being mobilised to check cybercrime and measures are being taken to provide assistance to the victims in time.
He said he will start a public awareness campaign to educate individuals about online fraud, phoney identities and extortion. He also committed his complete support to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
The interior minister stated the NCCIA was getting the largest number of instances of harassment of girls. He said he encountered three girls who tried to commit suicide.
“It is important to prevent online harassment and blackmail, protect victims and provide timely assistance,” Naqvi said when talking about the occurrences.
He appealed to residents to be careful when using the internet and social media and to avoid unnecessarily sharing personal information and images and to report the proper authorities if they came across any suspicious online behaviour.
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German defence ministry accords guard of honour to President Zardari
A magnificent celebration was hosted in honour of President Asif Ali Zardari at the Ministry of Defence in Germany. Additionally, a guard of honour was presented to him at this event.
Upon President Zardari’s arrival at the German Ministry of Defence, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier extended a warm welcome to him. The ceremony included the playing of the national anthems of both countries, as well as the presentation of a guard of honour to the president of Pakistan.
In response to President Steinmeier’s invitation, President Zardari is currently taking a trip to Germany. Due to the fact that this is the first time in almost 23 years that a Pakistani head of state has travelled to Germany, the visit is of great significance.
During this year, Pakistan and Germany are also commemorating the 75th anniversary of the foundation of their diplomatic relations with one another.
During the course of his tour, President Zardari will meet with his German counterpart as well as senior officials from the German government. He will also be accompanied by a high-level team.
The topics that will be discussed include bilateral ties, events in the area and the world as a whole, and strategies to improve economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
Pakistan and Germany are expected to deepen their collaboration in a variety of fields as a result of President Zardari’s visit, which is likely to add new momentum to the bilateral relations between the two countries.
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