Day: November 3, 2020

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SWIT chairman calls on Sindh Governor

KARACHI:Governor Sindh Imran Ismail has said that Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating in various fields of social sector are extended arm of government as they help in providing basic amenities of life to masses.

 

This he said while talking to Maulana Bashir Farooqui, Chairman Saylani Welfare International Trust (SWIT) at Governor House here Tuesday. Advisor to Chairman Saylani Trust Afzal Chamadia was also present on the occasion.

 

Various welfare projects of Saylani Trust and progress on establishment of free meal centers (Langar Khanas) at different places of the province were discussed during the meeting.

 

Governor Sindh Imran Ismail said that Saylani Welfare International Trust was playing a vital role in provision of various facilities to masses and assistance of the Trust in establishment of Langar Khanas was laudable.

 

“People of Pakistan take active part in Philanthropic activities while Karachiites also love to contribute in supporting a just cause and they never hesitate to donate,” he observed.

 

He said that welfare of masses was the top priority of Prime Minister Imran Khan and to implement his vision for his countrymen he started Ehsaas programme, which is unprecedented in the history of Pakistan. Provision of cash to people affected by lock down during Covid-19 pandemic was also carried out under this programme, he added.

 

He said that free meal centers (Langar Khanas) would be established at various places in the province with the help of Sylani Welfare Trust. Farooqi briefed Governor Sindh about the activities of SWIT in various fields and informed him about the progress made so far.

 

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Two real brothers killed in attack near Sultankot

SHIKARPUR:Two real brothers were killed in a clash near Dost Wah within the limit of Sultankot police station on Tuesday.

 

According to rescue report, Brohi clan’s armed men attacked their rival group men with automatic weapons near Dost Wah in Sultankot area. As a result, two brothers identified as Abdul Rahman alias Baboo Brohi, aged 40, and his younger brother Shah Muhammad Brohi, aged 35, were seriously injured.

 

Area police shifted the injured to RBUT Civil Hospital Shikarpur where they succumbed to the injuries. The bodies were handed over to their heirs after conducting postmortem examination. According to police, the cause behind the killings was said to be an ongoing old enmity between two cousins of same tribe.

 

As per Sultankot police, the assailants escaped with their family members while leaving house and police were busy conducting raids at various spots in search of the murderers. Neither FIR was registered no arrest of culprits were reported till late evening.

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PPMA wants only DRAP should deal with drug industry issues

KARACHI:Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PPMA) has appealed to the federal government that its Ministry of Commerce, rather than the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), should deal with all the purely business-related affairs of the drug industry to ensure its upgrading and expansion in accordance with the international standards.

 

This was stated by PPMA Chairman Tauqeer Ul Haq as he led a delegation of his association to meet Sindh Governor Imran Ismail here at Governor House. The PPMA Chairman informed the Governor that owing to unjust acts of the DRAP the pharmaceutical industry could not make progress in the manner it was supposed to do.

 

He said the Commerce Ministry should deal with all the business-related issues of the drug industry including pricing for increasing exports of medicines from Pakistan.

 

He said the DRAP was incapable of dealing with the business affairs of the pharmaceutical industry. Former PPMA chairman Dr Kaiser Waheed informed the Governor that one year had passed since the government had issued the notification to constitute the Pharma Export Council of Pakistan, with Commerce Adviser to Prime Minister Abdul Razzak Dawood as its chairman, but it was yet to be formed.

 

He said that the constitution of this council would be helpful in utilizing billions of rupees deposited in the Health Ministry’s Central Research Fund by the pharmaceutical industry for its expansion and advancement. Sindh Governor assured the delegation that he would personally meet the relevant authorities and officials to remove the hurdles in the way of increasing Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports.

 

He said that a meeting would soon be arranged between PPMA office-bearers and Special Assistant to PM on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan and National Health Services Secretary Aamir PPMA wants only DRAP should deal with drug industry issuesAshraf Khawaja here at Governor House to resolve the issues of the pharmaceutical industry.

 

The governor appreciated the generous donation by the PPMA of personal protective equipment and medicines to the field isolation centres and other health facilities during the coronavirus emergency.

 

The delegation comprised of former PPMA Chairman Zahid Saeed, Zonal Chairman South Dr Mahwash Khan, Najeeb ur Rehman, Saboor Ahmed, Jalaluddin Zafar, Asadullah, Taimur Ahmed, and Naveed Hakim.

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COVID-19 claims six more lives, infects 521 others

KARACHI:Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that six more patients of COVID-19 lost their lives lifting the death toll to 2639 while 521 new cases emerged when 7880 samples were tested.

 

This he disclosed in a statement issued here from CM House on Tuesday. He said that six more patients lost their lives, lifting the death toll to 2,639 that constituted 1.8 percent death rate.

 

The CM said that 7,889 samples were tested which diagnosed 521 new cases of coronavirus that constituted 6.6 percent current detection rate. He added that so far 1,672,427 tests have been conducted against which 147,295 cases were detected, of them 95 percent or 139,276 have recovered, including 302 overnight.

 

Shah said that currently 5,380 patients were under treatment, of them 5,092 were in home isolation, two at isolation centers and 286 at different hospitals. He added that the condition of 191 patients was stated to critical, including 27 shifted to ventilators.

 

According to the statement, out of 521 new cases, 379 have been detected from Karachi, including 143 East, 118 South, 70 Central, 23 korangi, 19 Malir, and West six. Hyderabad 28, Kambar 11, Jamshoro eight, Umerkot six, Ghotki, Mirpurkhas and Sujawal seven each, Shikarpur and Jacobabad five each, Sukkur and Tando Allahayar four each, Badin three, Matiari, Naushehroferoze, Shaheed Benazirabad and Thatta two each, Khairpur and Larkana one each. The chief minister said that the cases were increasing day by day, therefore everyone has to take strict care while going out and meeting people.

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Removal of wall chalking from industrial area ordered

Karachi:“People come to industrial areas to earn bread, whether they are factory owners, managers, supervisors or general workers. Industrial areas are not meant for political activities. As such, all sorts of wall chalking and flags are not acceptable in the SITE area and must be removed within a week.

 

This was stated by DIG Police, West Zone, Karachi Capt. (retd) Asim Khan, while addressing the industrialists at SITE Association of Industry. He was accompanied by high officials of his department.

 

DIG West Zone suggested that SITE Limited should appoint a team to remove wall chalking on a regular basis which will give a better look to the area. He said that to control street crimes, every factory should install at least 2 CCTV cameras, one on the Main Gate and the other at a location that covers at least 50-meters alongside the boundary walls.

 

Likewise, banks should install cameras to identify each person entering bank premises and appoint a ‘Vigilance Officer’ to focus on vigilance and give security related suggestions/advice.

 

Welcoming the guests, SITE President Abdul Hadi gave an introduction of the SITE area and briefed the DIG West Zone about the law and order situation. He said that incidents of kidnapping for ransom, extortion etc. have, by the grace of Almighty Allah, come to an end and the overall graph of street crimes has also decreased, for which the efforts of police are commendable.

 

President SITE Association Abdul Hadi drew attention of DIG West Zone towards police contingent deputed at SITE Crime Monitoring Cell which currently stands at 49, and requested to restore earlier strength, to which, the DIG West Zone announced to increase police manpower to 60 and issued directives on the spot.

 

DIG West also directed to appoint an officer in place of former SIP Zameer and added that SHO and SDPO are the key police officials to deal with all law and order related matters of their jurisdiction. He offered to provide 2 out of order police mobiles to SITE Association of Industry for its Crime Monitoring Cell and asked President SITE to get them in order by paying one-time maintenance cost, to which President SITE agreed.

 

SVP Riaz Uddin drew the attention of DIG West Zone towards encroachments, illegal truck stands, roadside stall, etc. in SITE area and suggested to remove them, to which, DIG West Zone issued directives to SP to take joint action in collaboration with Traffic Police.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Patron Zubair Motiwala thanked the DIG West Zone for sparing time to visit SITE Association and stressed continuity of long-term action plans. Motiwala drew the attention of the DIG West towards decrease in patrolling by police and requested to increase the same.

 

Motiwala briefed the DIG West Zone about the efforts of the Association being made for the repair of roads in SITE area and requested him to send letter to concerned authorities from the polices department stating the fact that broken roads are reason behind increase in street crimes which will be a help to SITE Association from Police department.

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Educate homeless children: SHC

KARACHI:The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday expressed anger at the Secretary of the social welfare department of Sindh government and rejected the report submitted by him pertaining to the implementation of laws related to children’s rights and protection in Sindh.

 

A SHC bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, heard a petition filed by Natasha Lakhani against non-implementation of law related to children’s rights and protection in Sindh.

 

During the hearing, Justice Mazhar lashed out at the secretary welfare department and said what they have written is just a eyewash. “What steps have you taken for orphaned children at a cost of Rs. 15 million,” the court asked.

 

The court remarked whether the department spent money on children’s education or on something else, it should be told to us. The court sought a progress report from the Social Welfare Department at the next hearing.

 

“No one knows what steps have been taken to protect children since 2014,” Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said. In practice, the officers of the Child Protection Authority only receive salaries and benefits. Their work is not visible, the court said. The Additional Advocate General argued with the court and informed that more shelter homes will be set up in collaboration with 26 NGOs.

 

The court remarked shelter homes for children in Karachi Central, Hyderabad and Sukkur were also claimed to be built but it is not known when they will be built. “Don’t make children hardened criminals,” the court observed. Don’t compel children begging on the streets a permanent malefactor, the court remarked. “Educate homeless children, teach them a skill so that they can live a better life,” said Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar.

 

He asked what is being done for children who are caught and imprisoned for a crime. He asked where the Rs150 million fund received by the Child Protection Authority went. The court sought details pertaining to the funds whether spent on education of needy children and teaching skills to beggar children. The Child Protection Authority has done practically nothing in the province, the court said during the hearing.

 

AAG Sindh Shehryar Mahar argued that 29 units are being set up across the province. He said SO Villages and Shelter Homes are being set up with the help of NGOs. The Secretary Social Welfare said children living in prisons do not come under their department. The Child Protection Authority has been established to protect children begging on the streets, Secretary Social Welfare said.

 

Barrister Shehryar Mahar, said the government was working on various projects in Sindh. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked it is written in the report that a project is about to be completed in Karachi, it has not been stated when it will be completed. “What practical steps has the Child Protection Authority taken to protect children from 2014 to 2020?” The court asked.

 

The petitioner stated there are more than 50,000 children on the streets of Karachi. “Many children became criminals due to carelessness,” she said. She requested the court to enforce child rights laws in Sindh.