LAHORE: In a major crackdown on the passengers travelling without a ticket, a team of the Pakistan Railways (PR) Lahore division captured as many as 176 persons from a train departing from Lahore for Rawalpindi.

According to the PR officials, the team led by Divisional Commercial Officer Abdullah Arshad checked the Subak Raftar train between Lahore-Gujrat section and found 176 passengers travelling to various destinations without a ticket.

The team imposed heavy fines on such passengers, besides receiving fares amounting to Rs127,440. “Free travelling by such a large number of passengers in 101-up (Subak Raftar) train is a matter of grave concern. So the PR authorities must intensify their efforts to control ticketless travelling in all passenger trains,” an official source told Dawn on Sunday.

The team also inspected cleanliness, food quality etc for the passengers during their journey and directed the officers concerned to do more in this regard. It further sought conduction of raids in all trains running from Lahore to various parts of the country.

The team also imposed Rs2,000 fine each on two stall vendors for not following the SOPs.

POWER THEFT: A Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) northern circle team detected massive power theft on Sunday at a plastic manufacturing factory on Bund Road.

The team led by Bund Road SDO raided the factory on Sunday morning and found power theft by the owners through bogus meters and underground power cable laid covertly by the owners. “During the raid, the accused also resorted to aerial firing to harass the team. But the officials seized all cables, meters and other material used in theft on the spot,” an official says.

During the raid, the team also got two power thieves arrested, besides issuing a detection bill amounting to Rs5.5 million.

OPEN COURT: During an open court held in his constituency, Provincial Minister for Housing & Urban Development Bilal Yasin heard public complaints and issued on-the-spot orders for relief.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister stated that the chief minister has spent billions of rupees to enhance the beauty and accessibility of Lahore’s Walled City. “By gifting Basant festival to people, the CM has won the hearts of the Lahorites,” he said, adding that organising facilitation bazaars and food festivals before Ramazan is providing relief to people.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2026