SAHIWAL: The second phase of Punjab Dhee Rani Programme was launched in the Sahiwal division with a mass wedding ceremony of 80 couples in a private marquee.

Punjab Minister for Social Welfare and Baitul Maal Sohail Shoukat Butt, along with local PML-N parliamentarians, attended the ceremony and gave Rs222,000 Salami (wedding gift) to the newlyweds. Out of total, 50 couples were selected from district Sahiwal and 30 from district Pakapttan.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said an online portal would be launched from July and all deserving families would apply through the portal. He added that Dhee Rani Programme, initiated by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, had now started across Punjab and it was landmark achievement of social welfare initiative.

He emphasized that earlier mass weddings was done by private philanthropists but never such a large-scale mass wedding programme had never been organised by a public department before.

He said the programme would benefitting not only the Muslim families but also the couples from other religious communities.

Malik Qasim, Pir Walayat Shah Khagga, Rana Riaz, Motia Khalid, PML-N provincial assembly members and divisional and district heads were also present.

ENCOUNTER: Noor Shah police arrested a robber who was injured in a shootout last night.

The captured suspect was identified as Nadeem Shah who was allegedly involved in one dozen street crime incidents, including snatching a motorcycle and shooting a citizen, Nizaam.

On Thursday night, two suspects took away Rs7,000 and a mobile phone from one Zahoor Ahmed, a resident of Chak 73/4-R. An emergency call on 15 told the police that the robbers escaped towards Chak 74/4-R. Noor Shah police intercepted them near the village and the encounter started that continued for 15 minutes.

Later, police captured an injured suspect of the suspects while his accomplice escaped in the dark. The wounded suspect was identified as Nadeem Shah who was shifted to Sahiwal Teaching Hospital.

Police registered a case on complaint of SHO Umer Daraz.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2025