Anti-encroachment operation enters 4th day

LAHORE : In an effort to clear Lahore of encroachments, the district administration’s anti-encroachment operations are underway at various hotspots areas of the provincial capital on the fourth consecutive day here on Saturday.

During the operation conducted on College Road to BarkatChowk, Township and Shah Alam Market to Circular Road, 28 encroachers were arrested; 25 shops were sealed; 35 signboards were removed, and three truck-loads of confiscated items were shifted to the junkyard.

Deputy Commissioner RafiaHaider told media on Saturday that anti-encroachment operations were carried out at four various points of the city while 98 individuals were arrested and 70 shops, restaurants were sealed during Friday’s operation. Three truck-loads of material including four hand carts were impounded.Various sheds and makeshift structures were demolished with the help of heavy machinery. Municipal Corporation Lahore (MCL), police and other departments are also taking part in the cleanup operation. RafiaHaider said that as per instructions by the Punjab CM, the operation against encroachments would continue.The operation will ensure smooth traffic flow on busy roads and no leniency would be shown to those involved in encroachments, she warned. The DC appealed to the public to report encroachments in any area after the operation.She urged citizens and traders to cooperate with the authorities in this regard.

Christmas cake cutting ceremony

A cake-cutting ceremony heldto express solidarity with the Christian community in connection with Christmas Day at atNishtar Park Complex. Dr Asif Tufail cut a cake and wished merry Christmas to all Christian staffers on this occasion. He congratulated the Christian employees on this auspicious occasion. “Sports Board Punjab will continue to take appropriate measures for the welfare of Christian employees,” he added. He said the Christian community is an important part of our society and playing a key role in the development of the country.

He appreciated Christian community for rendering valuable contributions in their respective fields. “All the members of Christian community are very patriotic and they have a significant role in the progress of the country,” he added. All the Christian employees thanked Dr Asif Tufail for arranging and attending an impressive cake-cutting ceremony on Christmas Day. Director Youth Affairs Rana Nadeem Anjum, Director Sports Yasmeen Akhtar and Deputy Director Ataur Rahman, APCA Directorate General of Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Unit President Fiaz Ali, Assistant Directors Kamal ud Din and NabeelAkram were also present on this occasion. —Correspondent