Category: Karachi

KARACHI:Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for Polio in Sindh has launched the last polio campaign of 2018 in all districts of Sindh including Karachi wherein Minister for Health Sindh, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho has inaugurated anti-polio campaign at Hilal-e-Ahmer Hospital.

A total target population for this campaign is approximately 8.9 million children under 5 years of age out of which approximately 2.3 million children reside in the metropolis of Karachi. The drive would be conducted from Dec 10 to Dec16 in Karachi and Dec 10 to Dec 13th in the rest of Sindh districts, respectively.

More than 50,000 front line workers are participating in this campaign, this includes team members and area in charges. In Karachi alone there are more than 9,000 community health workers supported by 2,300 plus area in-charges who will go door to door to give polio drops to children. Around 5,000 law enforcement agency officials have been deputed for security of teams.

This is an extremely important campaign. If figures remain the same, Sindh will report its lowest polio case count in history as the province has reported just 1 polio case in 2018 which is from Gadap in Karachi. This is in compared to 2 in 2017, 8 in 2016, 12 in 2015 and 30 in 2014.

Coordinator EOC Sindh Umer Farooq Bullo said that “The district polio control rooms, health officials of the government of Sindh and polio teams have done a fantastic job to bring the case count down but our goal is to reach zero hence we must continue to work hard and focus on the areas where the virus springs up such as UC 4 Gadap. We have established a model EPI center in this area to increase routine immunization and will implement other programs there in order improve health care delivery for its residents.”

There has been a 99% reduction on polio cases across the country since 2014 and the total case count for Pakistan in 2018 is 8, in 2017 it was 8, in 2016 it was 20, in 2015 it was 54 and in 2014 it was 306.

The Pakistan Pediatric Association and medical experts recommend that every child must take two drops of the vaccine every time it is offered. In order to save their children from polio, parents must vaccinate them with two drops of the polio vaccine during every campaign.

Meanwhile, religious scholars from all sects of Islam too have endorsed the polio programme and given fat was asking the masses to vaccinate their children to protect them from life long disability.

KARACHI:Final match and prize distribution ceremony of 13th Chief of the Naval Staff International Squash Championship was held at Roshan Khan Jahangir Khan Squash Complex, Karachi. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

The Final match of the tournament was played between Youssef Ibrahim from Egypt and Farhan Mehboob of Pakistan. After a sensational and thrilling competition Youssef Ibrahim won the match and was declared the champion of 13th Chief of the Naval Staff International Squash Championship 2018.

While addressing the ceremony the Tournament Director, Commodore Habib ur Rehman said that game of Squash has a glorious past in Pakistan, it has always brought laurels to the country. There is still a huge talent of Squash in the country and Pakistan Navy is committed to provide them a platform in order to keep the legacy alive. The tournament director said that holding of events like CNS Squash Championship on regular basis is indicative of PN’s commitment towards the game. The tournament director expressed his gratitude to Professional Squash Association, Pakistan Squash Federation, all the sponsors and participants for their support in successful conduct of 13th CNS International Squash Championship 2018 without which the event would not have been possible.

Later, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi gave away the prizes to the winners of different categories and congratulated them for their hard work and valued achievements.

Besides the primary mission of safeguarding the maritime frontiers of the country, Pakistan Navy has significantly contributed in organizing International and National sports events in the country. Organizing sports events like Golf, Hockey, Shooting, Squash and Sailing regatta are some of the hallmarks of Pakistan Navy in promoting healthy sports culture in the country.

The ceremony was attended by a large number of civil and military dignitaries, sponsors and senior players of squash.

KARACHI:On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, the Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh (VPMS), along with the families of missing persons, on Monday took out a rally from Gora Qabristan to Karachi Press Club (KPC) against non-recovery of missing persons in Sindh.

A large number of people, including women and children joined the rally. They, carrying placards, banners and portraits of missing men, were chanting slogans for their recovery. The rally was led by VPMS Convenor Sorath Lohar, Sassui Lohar, Tanveer Areejo, Shazia Chandio and Taj Joyo.

The rally was also participated by Sindh United Party (SUP) leader Aijaz Samtio, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Muhaz-Aresar (JSQM-A) leader Ameer Pahnwar and Abdul Khaliq Junejo.

The families of missing men, including Khadim Hussain Areejo, Hidayat Lohar, Sabir Hussain Chandio, Aqib Chandio, also participated in the rally.

Addressing the rally, outside KPC, Ameer Pahnwar said that it was very shameful action to harass the protesters of the VMPS who took out rally for Malir Press Club. He said families of missing persons had been protesting for a long time but there was no response from the government.

He said peaceful political activists of Sindh, who raised voice for rights of Sindh, were made missing. He urged the authorities to recover the missing persons of Sindh as soon as possible.

Khaliq Junejo said it seemed that the government was afraid of teachers and writers in Sindh. ‘’When women of any country take to streets for their rights, they could not be stopped from progress,’’ he said.

He said that people of Sindh had rejected new planned dams on Indus River. Sorath Lohar said that they had been struggling for the recovery of missing persons for long time, but there was no clue yet to their whereabouts. She said they would continue their struggle for recovery of all missing persons.

The victim families appealed to the Chief Justice, Chief of Army Staff and Prime Minister to help recover their missing persons.

KARACHI:Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the success story of Karachi operation was so candid that today we were discussing street crime, socio-development and making the peace sustainable in the apex committee otherwise we used to discuss terrorism, mafias and gangs operation.

This he said while presiding over 23rdApex Committee meeting here at the CM House. The meeting was attended by Corps Commander Karachi Lt. General Humayun Saeed, Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Mumtaz Shah, Minister for Works Syed Nasir Shah, CM Advisor on law Murtaza Wahab, Advocate General Sindh, DG Rangers Major General Mohammad Saeed, IG Sindh Dr Kaleem Imam, Home Secretary Kazi Kabir, Prosecutor General Sindh, Adl IG CTD and provincial heads of intelligence agencies.

The agenda of the meeting was to review implementation status of 22ndApex Committee meeting, briefing on current security situation, review of National Action Plan, discussion on the investigation and prosecution of Anti-terrorism cases. The meeting started at 10 am and concluded at 2pm. In this four hour long meeting important discussions and decisions were taken.

In the meeting Home Secretary Kazi Kabir gave presentation on national Action Plan and implementation of Apex Committee decisions, the IG Police gave presentation on overall law and order situation and DG Rangers briefed the meeting on targeted operation.

The meeting was unique in the sense that instead of discussing terrorism incidents, except Chinese Consulate attack and blast at Quaidabad socio uplift was discussed threadbare.

Home secretary Kazi Kabir briefed the meeting about overall Apex Committee decisions and implementation. His presentation was on the points as follows:

Madaris: On the decision of drafting law for registration and regulation of Madaris, the meeting was told that in pursuant of the directions of federal government a `Provincial Working Group’ has been constituted under the chairmanship of Home Secretary and comprising of head and representatives of the relevant departments such as social welfare, Industries, Religious Affairs, school and college education, Member Board of Revenue, Adl IG Special Branch, DIG CTD, Joint Director of IB. The group has been tasked to regulate registration and conduct inspection of not only Madaris but also regulate and inspect NGOs/NPOs.

Corps Commander Karachi Lt General Humayun Aziz said that scrutiny of all the educational institutions operating under public and private sector must be conducted. He said that the regulation and inspection of funds, their utilization and curriculum be conducted. “We have to scrutinize from where they {educational institutions] are getting funds and where and how they are utilizing, how many foreign students are enrolled there and what are their credentials and what is the quality of their curriculum? ”he asked and added “we have to ensure best curriculum and proper usage of funds and enrolment of genuine foreign students ,” he said.

The meeting decided that the audit, inspection and registration of all private institution would be made.

The meeting also decided that the madaris constructed on the main roads would be requested to relocate them away from the main arteries. However, no new NOC would be issued for new madras proposed to be constructed on the main road.

The Apex was told that geo tagging of all the 10,033 madaris have been completed. It was pointed out that out of 10,033 madaris, 2309 were closed and 7724 functional where 547,695 students were enrolled, including 818 foreigners.

Karachi Safe City: In the last Apex Committee meeting a decision was taken to re-start the Karachi Safe City (KSC) Project afresh by hiring a consultant for the project. The chief secretary told the meeting that KSC project has been terminated from Public Private Partnership (PPP) modality in the 26thmeeting of PPP Policy Board held on October 10, 2018. Therefore, an Advisory Committee and Core Committee have been constituted comprising of members from amongst all relevant government departments, Law Enforcement Agencies, representatives of civil society for devising a mechanism to stream line the KSC project.

DG Rangers Major General Mohammad Saeed said that the Safe City Project should be not mere installation of cameras but there should be proper system be made in place. Corps Commander Lt General Humayun Aziz said that when a safe city project was launched cyber security was ensured. Therefore, cyber security must be kept in mind while handing over the safe city project to any operator.

The chief minister said that the safe city was the name of a project in which monitoring through HD CCTV cameras and rapid response to the eventualities was made. Therefore, in this project there would be police, traffic police, ambulance, medical aid responses would be ensured.

The meeting decided that safe City Project would be launched within a specified area such as Red Zone, Shahrah-i-Faisal and entry and exit points of the city on pilot basis and then it would be expanded.

The Home Department was given go ahead to start the project by inviting interest from NADRA, Pakistan Army and Chinese firms. “We would hand over the work on merit to the best offer,” the chief minister said.

Street Crime: The last apex committee had decided to introduce law reforms to control street crime. In the light of that decision a law has been drafted and submitted to the law department for vetting and review. “The government is committed to eliminate street crime as it has busted gangs,” the chief minister said and added that targeted operation against the drug mafia, land mafia and their patrons was going on in the city at its full pace.

DG Rangers Major General Mohammad Saeed giving presentation on street crime said that since January 2017 3641 criminals have been arrested. He gave interesting overview that 43 percent of the street criminals were under matric, 38 percent illiterate. He said that 2851 street criminals were habitual criminal, 648 drug peddlers, 92 pickpocketers and 50 gamblers.

The DG rangers, talking about operations and apprehensions said that since 2013 15,611 operations have been conducted 11490 persons were apprehended and handed over to the police.

The meeting decided to divide the street criminals in two separate groups, those who use pistol/gun in the crime and those who do the crime without gun. Those who use weapons would be tried in a court like ATC while the others would be tried by a special magistrate.

The chief minister directed the IG police to take extra ordinary measure to control street crime. “I satisfied that today we are discussing street crime in Apex Committee, otherwise we used to discuss terrorist incidents,” he said but this is not something to be pride of,” he said and added this must be controlled.

Non-CPEC Projects: In the light of last Apex Committee meeting an SOP for Non-CPEC projects has been notified. There are 93 non-CPEC projects with a-952 workforce of foreigners. The law enforcement agencies have deployed a force of 2878 personnel which include district police, army, rangers, FC and private security guards.

CPEC: There are 10 CPEC projects in progress in Sindh where 2878 Chinese are working. On their security 2843 security personnel have been deployed on their security. Apart from government security the CPEC projects have been provided 843 private security guards.

Security Audit of CPEC: The meeting was told that the Special Branch carried out security audit of CPEC projects. The audit report says the projects have not hired private security guards matching in numbers with persons of LEAs, District Police, SPU, Army, Rangers and FC which court 2829. They have hired only 843. Despite a lapse of three years, still there were discrepancies and deficiencies at almost all the CPEC project camps as far as security enablers were concerned. Similarly, ambulances and first aid kits were not available at various project camps.

The apex committee decided to emphasizes the management of all the CPEC projects to overcome the deficiencies regarding security equipment and security enablers.

Appeals: In the light of last apex committee meeting it was decided that the appeals against the acquittals of hardened criminals/terrorists appeals would be filed. The meeting decided that three persons have been acquitted, therefore appeals would be filed against them. Onward, there would be a close coordination between the prosecutor, investigators of terrorist incidents so that the acquittal could be controlled. The chief minister also directed the Prosecutor general to conduct training of the new prosecutors and develop close coordination with the Rangers prosecutor.

Border Force: Inspector General of Police Dr Kaleem Imam told the meeting that a police station with 69 checks posts have been established along Sindh-Balochistan border where a force of 381 police personnel were deployed. They have been provided 10 mobiles and bikes to patrol on the border. The chief Minister directed IG police to provide them latest equipment and increase the force, if necessary.

Nomenclature Change: The Apex Committee was informed that the names of 62 institutes or buildings named after Altaf Hussain or his family members have been changed.

Security of Shrines: Home secretary Kazi Kabir said that the security audit of all 1899 shrines/dargahs/churches/Temples/Jamaat Khanas and Gurdwaras have been conducted. Where there were some security weaknesses have been pointed out to the home and Auqaf departments. The chief minister said that he has already released Rs270 million for purchase of necessary equipment and construction of the compound walls wherever they were required. He directed the P and D department to approve its PC-I so that work could be started. Otherwise, security arrangements of important shrines, churches, temples etc have been beefed.

He also directed the chief secretary to that commissioners and deputy commissioners should once against be sensitized on the issue of the security of dargahs etc and be asked to invoke the provision of The Sindh Security of Vulnerable Establishments Act 2015 for security of such shrines.

Katcha Area: IG Police Dr Kaleem Imam told the meeting that in order improve law and order in katcha area some 110 police stations and 50 check posts have been established there with a force of 3112 policemen. These police stations have been provided 87 mobiles and 33 motorcycles. It was decided that these police stations would further be equipped.

On the advice of Corps Commander Karachi Lt General Humayun Aziz the chief minister approved a plan to develop connectivity of katcha area with pacca areas by constructing roads, bridges and providing them necessary facilities such as hospital, schools. The chief minister on the advice of the Apex Committee decided that rehabilitation and development works would be started wherever operations against criminals have been conducted. This socio uplift would not only be made in the katcha area but it would be made in the city of Karachi.

NAP: The implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) was also discussed and disclosed that out of 119 terrorists, the Military and Anti-Terrorism Courts have awarded death penalty to 23 and two have been awarded life imprisonment. The meeting was told that 16 terrorists have been executed so far while 137 appeals including 18 of military courts and 119 of ATC were pending in the high court. It was also disclosed that 150 cases have been recommended for Military courts, of them 61 cases of 41 accused were being tried there.

IG Police Dr Kaleem Imam said that 27957 cases were under trial in Anti-Terrorism courts of Sindh, of them 24871 were old cases and 468 were fresh cases instituted between January 1 to 31 October 2018. He said that 2618 cases have been transferred from other courts to ATC. He said that 313 accused have been convicted and 1643 acquitted, 124 dismissed.

The IG said that 2080 cases have been disposed of and 690 transferred to other courts and 25187 were still pending there.

The meeting also decided that there would be a crackdown on the purchase/sell of stolen or snatched mobiles, two-wheelers and four wheelers. A mechanism was being devised to purchase or sell a mobile so that genuine business could not be affected.

Cm Advisor on Information Murtaza Wahab briefed the media about the decisions of the apex committee meeting.

Karachi:Nashra Sundhu bowled brilliantly to help PCB Dynamites record a convincing seven-wicket victory against PCB Challengers in the opening match of the Triangular One Day Women’s Cricket Championship here Monday at SBP Sports Complex.

PCB Challengers batted first in the match and put on board 166 runs before the team was bundled out in 49.3 overs. Umme Hani batted well for the side scoring unbeaten 50 runs off 90 balls. Kianat Imtiaz contributed 49 runs off 65 balls. Nashra Sundhu bowled lethally and returned with impressive bowling figures of 4-37.

In response, PCB Dynamites reached the winning total in 36.3 overs – thanks to Javeria Khan (67 runs) and Sidra Amin (64 not out).

Karachi:The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME), responding to prime minister’s ( PM) statement to the business community asking them not to worry, has said someone has to worry – either the government or businessmen, because the situation is really worrisome.

In a statement here Monday, Thaver said all that we are hearing from the PM’s experts is that they are going to do and not doubting their good intentions he argued that the question is when, they need to act fast and take immediate steps. “Time and again we have explained to them the needs of our majority sector, the SMEs; this sector can change the destiny of Pakistan but the experts in the PM’s team cannot comprehend,” he regretted. To increase exports you need to take very positive steps and we have submitted our proposals which they need to understand and implement, he added.

He said the UNISAME requests the PM to direct them to focus on the SMEs, who are the ones who will add value to the produce and export and earn foreign exchange, facilitating them will bring about results.

UNISAME leader said the big businessmen have their stomachs full. They have made plenty of money and have become lazy. They have their money and properties abroad. The government must focus on the SMEs, especially the medium and higher medium. They will set up new industries and go for innovation in manufacturing, services, farming and mining. They need to be facilitated. They need a conducive environment. It is the vibrant sector and wishes to live and die in Pakistan. SMEs love Pakistan and wish to prosper in Pakistan.

He said to give the economy a jump start, it is necessary to put SME promotion and development on fast track.

KARACHI:Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday directed Planning and Development Department to start work on Malir Expressway project from July 2019 so that it could be completed within 2 and half year.

He issued these directives on Monday while presiding over a meeting to review the progress of Malir Expressway here at the Cm House. The meeting was attended by Minister Local Government Saeed Ghani, Chairman P and D Mohammad Waseem, Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary Local Government Khalid Hyder Shah, Head of PPP Unit Khalid Shaikh and other concerned officers.

The chief minister said that Malir Expressway was most important project to connect Motorway to the city center. He added that it would provide speedy access to key real estate schemes along the route, reducing commuting time from KPT Flyover to Motorway in only 25 minutes. “Therefore, it must be started by completing all its formalities latest by July 2019,” he said.

The project includes development of 40.4 km three into three lane Expressway with controlled access along the Malir River starting from Qayyumabad Bridge near DHA bypass and ending at Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway (M-9) near Kathore via existing Link Road. The project would cost around Rs40 billion. Under the cost breakdown, the provincial government would bear 30 percent of the funds and 30 percent arranged through PPP equity and 40 percent loans would be arranged from the banks.

The chief minister was told that in order to ascertain viability of the project, break-even traffic was worked out which was 21,600 daily and yield revenue of Rs2.4 billion in one year. The demand risk of the project is equally shared between the developer and the Sindh government through minimum Revenue Guarantee (MRG) structure. The upside [if the traffic exceeds the break-even traffic] and the down side [if the traffic falls below the breakeven traffic] would be equally share (50:50) between the developer and the Sindh government.

The project was placed before the PPP Policy board on Jan 31, 2018 in which the board approved launching of the project under two stage bidding procedure. The stage one Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued on February 13, 2018. In response to the stage One RFP, the technical proposals were received from seven national and international bidders.

The project was presented in PPP policy board on Oct 10, 2018. The board was apprised about the revised capital and commercial structure in line with the response of the stage one bidders. The board accorded approval for launch of stage-2 RFP.

The stage two RFP and bidding documents have been completed and RFP would be launched by December 17, 2018. However, the consultants have proposed some changes to the capital and structure which would require approval of the PPP Policy board meeting. The chief minister directed his principal secretary to convene PPP policy board within next few days.