Day: September 8, 2021

Karachi, September 08, 2021 (PPI-OT): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali chaired a meeting to resolve the disputes between Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Karachi Development Authority (KDA) over parking lots and directed them to withdraw their cases from the courts. The meeting was attended by Local Govt Minister Nasir Shah, Administrator KMC Murtaza Wahab, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, Special Secretary Local Government Khalid Chachar, DG KDA Asif Memon and Director KDA Khalid Masroor.

Administrator KMC Murtaza Wahab told the meeting that a dispute between KMC and KDA was going on in the court over the ownership of a parking lot at Bara-Dari which has been rented out to a local [PC] hotel for Rs3.5 million annually. Local government Nasir Shah said that the plot belonged to the KMC and the defunct city district government had constructed the underground parking lot. He added that in those days the KDA was a part of the city government. Now the matter is in court from last many years and the rent was being deposited in the court. At this the chief minister decided that the land on which underground parking has been developed belonged to the KMC, therefore the area should be taken over by KMC.

Murtaza Wahab said that another dispute between the KMC and KDA was over the ownership of Parking Plaza at Saddar. Local Government Minister Nasir Shah said that the land on which Parking Plaza has been constructed belonged to KDA and expenditures incurred on the constructions were taken out from the city government funds. At this the chief minister decided that the owner of the land was the KDA, therefore the parking Plaza should be given to the KDA.

The chief minister said that both the organizations, KMC and KDA belonged to the people of Karachi, therefore they should work for the betterment of people instead of indulging into legal battles. Another matter which came under discussion was the allotment of advertisement spots and their revenue collection. The KMC and DMCs have disputes on such issues. At this the chief minister said that there was a massive pilferage in the advertisement revenues. He suggested the local government department to constitute a central organization to deal with advertisement and then share the collection as per the share of the DMCs.

It was pointed out that the Urban Design Department of KDA has been working in SBCA. The chief minister directed the KDA to de-notify them and ask them to report back to the KDA. Local Government Minister Nasir Shah pointed out that the parks of KMC and DMCs were in dilapidated condition. He added that those which have been restored were facing ownership issues. At this the chief minister decided that the parks of the local bodies should be outsourced for their maintenance and ownership.

The chief minister on the request of the local government minister vowed to give a grant to the KDA to bail it out of the present financial crisis. He added that he had given a Rs 500 million grant to KDA last year. Mr Shah directed KDA to remove encroachments from its lands and develop their projects in the public interest and in its financial interest.

For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Chief Minister House, Sindh
Tel: +92-21-99202019 (Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk

Karachi, September 08, 2021 (PPI-OT): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presiding over a joint meeting of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and K-Electric decided to evolve a mechanism to collect two of the KMC taxes through electricity bills so that recovery could be ensured. The meeting was attended by Minister Energy Imtiaz Shaikh, Administrator KMC Murtaza Wahab, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary Energy Abu Bakar, CEO KE Monis Alvi, Director KE Haris Jamil and other concerned.

Administrator KMC Murtaza Wahab briefing the chief minister said that the KMC has 13 taxes to collect from the people of the city living in KMC limits. “Out of 13 taxes, the KE may collect only two taxes Fire Tax and Conservancy tax through its bills,” he said and disclosed that the KMC hardly collected Rs220 million annually from both the taxes.

The KMC administrator proposed that the KE may collect Rs100 to Rs200 as Fire Tax and Conservancy Tax from 2.5 million consumers through its electricity bills every month. He added that this would help the KMC to generate around Rs9 billion annually. The chief minister said that he was working to strengthen the local bodies of Karachi financially stable so that they could serve the citizens from their own resources. “The KMC used to be a well-off organization but from last one decade it has crippled financially,” he said.

The KE chief, Moonis Alvi said that they have no objection to collect the taxes on behalf of the KMC but he would have to seek permission from the federal government. At this the chief minister said that he would get him [KE] necessary permission from the federal government. “This is a government work and aimed at improving the performance of the KMC and I am sure they [fed govt] would support us,” he said. The chief minister directed Minister Energy Imtiaz Shaikh to get the paperwork done for the federal government permission.

For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Chief Minister House, Sindh
Tel: +92-21-99202019 (Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk

Islamabad, September 08, 2021 (PPI-OT): Pakistan Navy Ship ALAMGIR participated in trilateral maritime exercise with American ship USS SHILOH and German Navy ship FGS BAYERN in North Arabian Sea. Earlier to this trilateral exercise, PNS ALAMGIR participated in a separate exercise with US Navy ship.

The exercises were aimed to enhance interoperability, mutual learning and experience sharing among participating navies. The exercise proved to be mutually rewarding in strengthen navy to navy relations. Pakistan Navy has always remained committed in maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond. Trilateral and bilateral exercises were a testimony of PN resolve in maintain good order at sea for regional peace and maintain close naval ties with other navies.

For more information, contact:
Directorate of Public Relations,
Pakistan Navy
Naval Headquarters, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-20062326
Cell: +92-300-8506486
Website: www.paknavy.gov.pk

Karachi, September 08, 2021 (PPI-OT): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah appreciating the performance of the provincial police for busting leading gangs of drug dealers and smugglers directed the department to comb out black sheep from their ranks. “I have reports that some of the policemen are allegedly working as facilitators to the drug dealers and their presence in the police is detrimental for the reputation of the police service, therefore they must be combed out and brought to book.”

He issued these directives while presiding over a meeting on law and order here at CM House. The meeting was attended by acting Chief Secretary Qazi Shahid Pervez, IG Police Mushtaq Maher, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, Adl IG CTD Ghulam Nabi Maher, Adl IG Karachi Imran Minhas, DIGs Umer Shahid, Saqib Ismail, Akbar Riaz, Pir M. Shah, Nauman Siddiqui and Adl Secretary to CM Fayaz Jatoi.

The chief minister, apart from overall maintenance of law and order, has given special tasks to the police to conduct operations against drug dealers and curb crime against women, children and minorities. The IG Police briefing the chief minister said that during the last 10 days, August 21 to 31, 2021 over all five cases were registered against crime against minorities, 22 cases of offense against women, nine cases against crime against children, 198 cases against trade in contrabands and 798 cases against drug mafia.

The chief minister was told that 798 cases of drug trafficking were registered against which 879 accused were arrested. The recovery was huge in terms of quantity, the IG said and added 547.851 kg charas, 19.3 kg Ice, 10.65 kg heroin, 2.82 kg opium and 17307 litres of liquor have been recovered. The chief minister was told that two major gangs of drug trafficking have been busted by arresting their leaders and gangsters. One of the gangsters was a Afghani and the other belonged to Balochistan.

The chief minister appreciated the police for its performance in operation against the drug mafia and said it would also eliminate street crime as most of the street criminals were from the drug mafia. He added that he has some intelligence reports that some of the policemen were working for drug mafia and some others have become their facilitators. Mr Shah gave a task to the IG police, Adl IG Karachi and DIGs of the Zones/Ranges to start high level secret inquiries against such policemen and bring them to book.

The IG said that overall, 1961 cases of street crime were reported in Karachi, of them 236 in South Zone, 1070 East and 655 West Zone. Mr Shah directed the IG police to ask his DIGs to hold meetings with their SHOs and task them for curbing crime against minorities, women, children and drug mafia and maintain overall law and order in their respective areas effectively.

For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Chief Minister House, Sindh
Tel: +92-21-99202019 (Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk

Karachi, September 08, 2021 (PPI-OT): As many as 43 more patients of Coronavirus died overnight lifting the death toll to 7,073 and 1,210 new cases emerged when 19,945 tests were conducted. This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in a statement issued here on Wednesday. He added that 43 more patients of COVID-19 lost their lives lifting the death toll to 7,073 that constituted 1.6 percent death rate.

Mr. Shah said that 19,945 samples were tested which detected 1,210 cases that constituted 6 percent current detection rate. He added that so far 5,680,000 tests have been conducted against which 440,980 cases were diagnosed, of them 87.4 percent or 385,495 patients have recovered, including 1,126 overnight. The CM said that currently 48,412 patients were under treatment, of them 47,554 were in home isolation, 43 at isolation centres and 815 at different hospitals. He added that the condition of 718 patients was stated to be critical, including 65 shifted to ventilators.

According to the statement, out of 1,210 new cases, 617 have been detected from Karachi, including 239 from East, 168 South, 84 Central, 56 Malir, 36 West and 34 Korangi. Hyderabad has 173, Badin 50, Thatta 47, Matiari 36, Shaheed Benazirabad 33, Tharparkar 31, Tando Muhammad Khan 30, Umerkot 27, Dadu 24, Mirpurkhas 21, Tando Allahyar 17, Jamshoro 15, Sukkur 10, Ghotki and Kashmore nine each, Larkana 5, Khairpur and Sanghar two each and Naushero Feroze and Shikarpur one each. Murad Ali Shah urged people to abide by the SOPs issued by the government.

For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Chief Minister House, Sindh
Tel: +92-21-99202019 (Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk

Karachi, September 08, 2021 (PPI-OT): Pakistan Navy celebrated ‘Navy Day’ to honour heroic achievements of our Ghazis and Shuhadas who fought gallantly against a much bigger adversary with absolute courage and profound faith in Allah SWT. The Navy Day is a glorious reminiscence of daring operation ‘SOMNATH’, when Pakistan Navy Warships destroyed important shore installations and inflicted irreparable damage to the Indian pride. Pakistan Navy lone Submarine Ghazi reigned and remained unchallenged at sea throughout the war.

In his message on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi said that 8th September, marks a golden chapter in our rich naval history and rekindles hope and pride in our new generation. On this day, Pakistan Navy acknowledges the sacrifices and spirit of our Naval heroes who epitomized grit, courage and valour during the 1965 War.

Today, Pakistan Navy being potent naval force in the region is alive to its growing responsibilities and role to vigilantly guard country’s maritime interests. The Naval Chief also underlined that all ranks of Pakistan Navy reiterate solidarity with their Kashmiri brethren and denounce the blatant annexation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

The day dawned with special prayers offered in all Naval mosques for peace and prosperity of the country and particularly for the success of Kashmir struggle. Quran Khawani was arranged for eternal peace of Shuhada of the 1965 war. Flag hoisting ceremonies were held at all Naval units and establishments. More than 500 ration bags were distributed by Pakistan Navy Women Association (PNWA) among deserving families of Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. In connection to Navy Day Celebrations Pakistan Navy also organized “Pakistan Navy COMWEST Cricket Cup” at Gwadar, 24 local teams are participating in the event. Final match of the event will be played on 23rd September.

For more information, contact:
Directorate of Public Relations,
Pakistan Navy
Naval Headquarters, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-20062326
Cell: +92-300-8506486
Website: www.paknavy.gov.pk

Lahore, September 08, 2021 (PPI-OT): Maurizio Nardozza, CEO of Italian Company Studio Legale, visited the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade to explore investment opportunities in Electrical Vehicle Eco System and discuss business opportunities in Punjab. CEO Dr. Erfa Iqbal said that PBIT is determined to facilitate potential investors and assured Mr. Maurizio Nardozza of all possible facilitation/assistance to make their investment journey in Punjab as smooth as possible.

For more information, contact:
Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT)
23-Aikman Road, GOR-I, Lahore
Tel: +92-42-99205201-06
Fax: +92-42-99205171
Email: info@pbit.gop.pk
Website: www.pbit.gop.pk