Punjab

Rights activists and lawyers in Pakistan warn that the proposed Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, 2026, could lead to mass repression, preemptive punishment, and the targeting of dissenters, arguing it redefines criminality to include unproven accusations and challenges to state narratives.

The Pakistani budget provides tax relief for high-income salaried employees earning over Rs200,000 monthly but overlooks the majority of households earning less than Rs100,000. The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) allocates Rs838 billion, increasing quarterly payouts to Rs18,000 for 10 million low-income families, while power sector subsidies and education/health allocations remain insufficient for broader economic needs.

Jaswant Singh Khalra uncovered police brutality in Punjab, drawing attention to state violence against the youth during the 1990s. His efforts earned him reverence even today, though he paid a significant personal price for exposing these issues.

The movie 'Sutluj' has reignited controversy in Punjab over militancy issues, with former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar warning that banning the film could be counterproductive, potentially increasing radicalization.

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) declared force majeure for three weeks due to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) supply to Punjab's power plants. This could cause power shortages, increased loadshedding, and higher reliance on costly spot markets. Qatar Energy, the supplier, cited unresolved regional conflicts and safety concerns as reasons for delayed LNG deliveries.

Russia has lifted its ban on potato imports from Pakistan's Punjab region, allowing 101 exporters to resume shipments after reviewing Pakistan’s phytosanitary control system. However, two Pakistani exporters were excluded for failing to meet phytosanitary standards, while three others were previously permitted. The decision aims to help Pakistan export surplus potatoes, stabilize domestic prices, and generate foreign exchange.

Authorities arrested members of India-based gangs in a crackdown following the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh nationalist leader from Punjab, at a temple in Surrey, British Columbia. The authorities attributed the murder to an India-based gang.

A World Bank report on the NFC Award post-18th Amendment highlights that 80% of provincial spending in health and education goes toward salaries, with minimal improvement in service indicators. Local government funding has declined significantly, and provinces have failed to establish fair distribution mechanisms, while political parties have entrenched power in their respective provinces through patronage systems.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts rain, thunderstorms, and windstorms across northern and central regions, with urban flooding concerns in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Moist currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, combined with a westerly wave, will affect multiple provinces from Monday night to Wednesday, while Sindh remains mostly dry with isolated storms.

A proposed Punjab bill targeting 'anti-social' behavior faces criticism for violating fundamental rights and echoing colonial-era laws like the Criminal Tribes Act and Habitual Offenders Act. The legislation is seen as part of a broader trend of centralizing executive control over social and governance aspects through new laws.

Pakistan faces a multidimensional security crisis marked by escalating urban crime, organized criminal syndicates, terrorism, and overlapping militant and criminal economies. The country's outdated colonial-era policing system, hindered by political interference and lack of reforms, relies on coercive legislation like the Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behavior Bill, 2026, instead of effective policing. Major cities now experience increased violent crime, extortion, and sporadic terrorist attacks, with kidnapping for ransom rising in Balochistan and KP, and similar trends in Sindh and Punjab.

Pakistan's unified agriculture income tax regime collected only Rs5.62bn, less than 2% of declared agricultural income, highlighting systemic failures due to political resistance and institutional weaknesses. Provincial governments, influenced by landed elites, failed to enforce the tax effectively despite IMF-backed reforms.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a ban on substandard syringes to prevent infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C. He directed the formation of a special committee, legal framework amendments, and collaboration with international partners to address the issue. Past HIV outbreaks in hospitals, including in Karachi and Punjab, highlighted the urgency of these measures.

An 'Orange' alert for rain was issued in Uttarakhand's Nainital and Bageshwar districts. A 'Monsoon war room' has been established in Punjab's Ludhiana to track monsoon activity.

Manish Tewari expressed feeling 'left in the cold' after the Congress party announced new working presidents and election panels for the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls. He shared The Hindu's report on the Congress's Punjab revamp, which highlighted his exclusion from the new leadership structure.

30% of National Assembly members (99 MNAs) attended all 15 sittings of the 28th budget session from June 10 to 24, while 2% (6 MNAs) skipped all sittings. The session saw 70% of MNAs skipping at least one sitting, with the highest attendance (75%) during the 13th sitting on budget-related votes. Female lawmakers recorded higher attendance than male colleagues.

AAP has fulfilled its final election promise by providing direct financial aid (Satkar Raashi) to women in Punjab. Women who register later will also receive the aid starting July 1, as announced by Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Two people were killed and nine injured in Punjab due to rain-related incidents, including collapsing walls, roofs, and a billboard. Rescue teams responded to the incidents, and the Pakistan Meteorological Department reported significant rainfall across the region, with Mandi Bahauddin recording the highest at 23mm. A fresh monsoon spell is expected to continue in July.

The Congress party in Punjab has appointed new working presidents and poll panels, with Amarinder Singh Raja Warring retaining his position as state chief. Former CM Charanjit Singh Channi will head the campaign committee, while three-term Lok Sabha member Manish Tewari is notably omitted.

The World Bank has approved a $70 million loan for Pakistan’s Connected Punjab Programme (CPP) to expand broadband internet access, improve digital service delivery, and promote cashless transactions in Punjab. The initiative aligns with Pakistan’s national digital agenda and aims to reduce regulatory barriers, boost private investment in broadband, and enhance AI-enabled public services for 28.9 million people by 2031.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) will establish a dedicated special cell in Punjab to expedite investigations into cybercrimes against women and children, including harassment, blackmail, and digital exploitation. The initiative aims to provide swift legal assistance and protection, with direct supervision to ensure efficiency. A 2025 Digital Rights Foundation report highlighted a 28% rise in cyber harassment cases involving minors, with Punjab accounting for 69.5% of reported incidents.

Omar Abdullah has requested Bhagwat Mann's intervention to address an unauthorized levy on livestock transport in Punjab. The J&K government is examining the issue through an internal committee under the Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs.

A scuffle broke out among Nihang Sikh groups at Punjab’s Sohana's Gurdwara during the celebration of the return of four Nihang Sikhs who were granted bail and brought back to Mohali.

The article discusses the neglect of local governance (LGs) in Pakistan, with political parties PPP and PML-N blaming each other for delays in holding local elections. It highlights structural gaps in governance, the need for constitutional clarity, and the importance of devolving power to local bodies for effective civic management.

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake from Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region caused tremors across Pakistan, while two quakes in Balochistan damaged homes and injured 18-19 people. The National Disaster Management Authority reported no fatalities, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed rescue operations.

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck Pakistan and Afghanistan, causing panic but no reported damage or casualties. The epicenter was in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region, and the quake was felt in multiple Pakistani provinces and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Emergency services confirmed no initial damage or injuries.

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the epicenter in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region. Tremors were felt in multiple Pakistani provinces, but no damage or casualties were reported. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 6.1.

Nihang Sikhs arrested in the Karnaprayag clash may seek bail from the court. If granted bail, the administration could permit their return to Punjab.

Residents, transporters, and traders along Punjab's border oppose Himachal Pradesh's vehicle entry tax, demanding its rollback. Nihang Sikhs have warned of reviving their 'Khalsa tax' protest against the policy.

Bhagwant Singh Mann emphasized village development as crucial for a prosperous Punjab. The article mentions that Sarpanches in India will receive a significant honorarium for the first time, with Arvind Kejriwal congratulating the CM for this decision.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann is involved in a fake video controversy. The Hindu details the reasons, new developments, Mann's defense, and the implications for AAP before the 2027 Assembly elections.

Nihang Sikhs breached barricades at the Uttarakhand border to head toward Hemkund Sahib. The protesters vowed not to return to Punjab until four Nihang members arrested in the Karnprayag incident are released.

PPP announced local government elections in Sindh will be held in 2027, sparking a dispute with PML-N over election patterns in Punjab and Islamabad. PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari challenged PML-N to hold local polls in 90 days, while PML-N's Saad Rafique opposed adopting Sindh's model. PPP emphasized its past success in Sindh's local governance.

The article discusses the controversy surrounding Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's alleged sacrilege video, a warehouse roof collapse in Kolkata resulting in at least three deaths, criticism of Maharashtra's RTI rules amendments, and findings from a UN inquiry on Gaza.

A farmer group in Punjab is protesting a proposed India-U.S. deal, citing a lack of consultation with dairy farmers, agricultural workers, and small traders affected by the agreement. Senior Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher criticized the absence of discussions with impacted sectors.

Punjab has implemented a 5% cap on annual fee hikes for private schools. The measure aims to control arbitrary increases and protect students and parents.

BJP president Nabin criticized the Punjab government over law and order, drugs, gangsterism, and youth migration during a three-day visit to the state ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls.

Punjab's 2024 budget introduces PIVOT, a three-year economic strategy with Rs2 trillion in public and private investments aimed at boosting sectors like agriculture, industry, and technology to create 162,000 jobs and increase exports by $6.8 billion. Unlike previous budgets, PIVOT focuses on capturing economic value through targeted industrial financing and private-sector collaboration.

BJP president Nitin Nabin is on a three-day visit to Punjab and highlights the state's struggle with drug menace, emphasizing the need for a unified crusade against drug abuse.

Nitin Nabin begins a three-day Punjab tour ahead of the 2027 Assembly election. BJP leaders assessed the political situation, focusing on expanding grassroots presence and improving coordination between state leadership and booth-level workers.