KBCA cancels NOCs of Aman Residency and Highway City

Karachi: Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) has cancelled No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for advertisement for sale of two private public sale projects besides imposing ban on their construction.
A KBCA release on Tuesday stated that the authority has cancelled NOC for sale and advertisement of Project‘Aman Residency ’ on plot No. 7 Block-E III, Nazimabad, and also suspended builder’s license of M/s Mahar Associates for six month owing to non-completion of the project within stipulated time. KBCA has also cancelled sale and advertisement NOC of another project ‘Highway City’ at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town Corridor Scheme 33, Sector N.18 C and Sector No.19 C for violating the construction rules of the authority. Earlier, the layout plan of the same project was also cancelled.

Controversy over death toll of toxic liquor victims

KARACHI: More than two-dozen people have fallen prey to spurious liquor while doctors are trying to save the lives of other victims. There is a difference between the unofficial and official records regarding the deaths in this incident. At least seventeen people have died in last four days after the consumption of poisonous liquor on the occasion of Holi. The victims were initially taken to Civil Hospital, Karachi (CHK) from where some of the seriously affected patients were referred to others government and private hospitals in the city for further treatment. CHK Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Hamid has said that 35 patients were admitted on Saturday with regards to the consumption of poisonous liquor. “Out of them 12 people have died. Some seriously affected people were referred to other hospitals as the CHK does not have the facility of the ventilators,” Dr Hamid explained. All the affected persons were brought to hospitals in a state of unconsciousness.

The MS said that the doctors are treating the victims making all efforts to save them but he fears that it would be hard as most of the victims are in a critical condition. Meanwhile, sources in the area have stated that spurious liquor has claimed three more lives on Sunday but their bodies were not taken to any hospital. On the other hand, Lyari Town SP Rana Pervez Mehmood told Daily Times that the death toll has risen up to 12 as one more became a victim of the poisonous liquor on Sunday. It is pertinent to mention here that the police have been ordered to register and ensure the arrests of those behind the supply of spurious liquor in the city. SP Mehmood said the police have arrested a group member, namely Israr while adding that Mahmoodabad area is the main source from where the liquor is supplied all over the city. The SP said that more raids in this regard are being conducted.

March Restricted; Detentions At Karachi Toll Plaza

KARACHI: Police have started detaining the participants of Long March at Toll Plaza, Super Highway Karachi, reported A Pakistan News here Thursday.
Heavy contingent of police, ranger and other law enforcement agencies is present at the Toll plaza that has been sealed off for vehicles to prevent lawyers’ long march from continuing its journey towards Hyderabad, the first stop of the rally destined at Islamabad.
Police started detaining lawyers and political activists, belong to Jamaat-i-Islami, Tehreek-i-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and other nationalist parties, attending the march when they arrived at Karachi Toll Plaza at Super Highway.
Lawyers and political workers also scuffled with the law enforcers who brutally tortured the detainees. Police also baton charged the participants of long march at some points, says the channel.
Former Amir JI Karachi Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, President Sindh High Court Bar Association Rashid A Rizvi and Ex-President Supreme Court Bar Association Munir A Malik are also among the detainees arrested from the Toll Plaza.
SP Gaddap Town informed A Pakistan News that the participants of Long March will not be allowed to cross Toll Plaza. Police have also said to be possessed warrants of 11 top lawyers present in the march.
Police personnel snatched the keys of the vehicles present in the Long March

Two alleged bandits killed in Police encounter at Karachi

KARACHI: Three persons were killed in different incidents in the city on Wednesday.

Two unknown dacoits were killed during a 'police encounter' in the jurisdiction of Gulistan-e-Jauhar police station.

Gulshan-e-Iqbal town SSP, Arib Mehr told Geo news that the incident occurred near the police station where a police party was busy in snap checking. He said two young men tried to escape when police signaled them to stop. He said the bandits were killed when the police retaliated the fire. He said the police recovered two TT pistols.

In another incident, a 24-year-old unknown motorcyclist was crushed to death when a hit-and-run vehicle knocked him at the ICI Bridge near Tower.

The body was shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi for autopsy.

Citizens deplore new utility tax

KARACHI: Citizens have expressed concerns over the newly imposed utility tax, terming it an additional burden on the masses as the majority of tenants, constituting 40 to 45 percent of city’s entire residential settlements, have been badly hit.
Talking to Daily Times, a number of tenants in various areas of the city said that no authority including the federal government; provincial government or the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) could curb the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.
A retired government servant, Malik Nisar, said, “The tussle between dairy farmers and the CDGK over milk prices has been going on for the past two years. The dairy farmers have not bowed down and the helpless citizens continue to pay higher prices for milk. If the CDGK can recover the utility tax by force, why can it not do the same with dairy farmers?”
Misbahuddin, a tenant in North Karachi, said, “Except verbal claims and press statements, no party in the city ever produced a rally or held a protest sit-in against the hike in utility tariffs and prices of everyday goods. The imposition of utility tax is a blatant injustice towards the people of the city.”
A primary school teacher in Buffer Zone said, “The collection of the tax and the District Coordination Officer’s warning that the CDGK will take legal action and arrest those who fail to pay the tax was a mere show of autocracy. It is a matter of surprise that the provincial and federal governments are silent on the issue of utility tax imposition and forced collection.”
Meanwhile, a housewife in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, Block 13-D told Daily Times that the electricity and gas tariffs have already depressed citizens, especially tenants. “The laws pertaining to tenancy have been always in the landlords’ favour. The imposition of utility tax is a tyrannical act. The majority of the people directly affected by the utility tax belong to low-income groups, while the flyovers and parks are for the rich. The rich and the transporters should be asked to pay the tax because they use the roads,” she added.
Another agitated citizen, Qurban Soomro, said that it is the government’s responsibility to provide better civic facilities to its citizens by utilizing the already imposed taxes. “If this trend is allowed, then the government will start imposing taxes for every new development project.” A private health worker, Shaheena, said, “On top of the heavy utility tariffs, skyrocketing prices of transportation and essential items and this newly imposed tax, the KWSB has also increased water tariff by 9 percent.” CDGK Municipal Services Department (MSD) Executive District Officer (EDO) Masood Alam said that the MSD was only assigned to issue utility tax bills. “MSD has dispatched 1.2 million utility tax bills to citizens, thus, it is a 100 percent achievement. However, the recovery is the CDGK Finance Department’s responsibility.”
Replying to a question, Alam said, “There are some ambiguities regarding the residents of flats, as we are in a fix about whether it would be the landlord or the tenant who would pay the tax. In any case, the tenants are liable to pay the tax, while the unions have been taken on board only to serve as CDGK facilitators. The unions would collect utility bills in bulk and they will deliver the bill to the tenant, as the bill carries flat number etc.”
Meanwhile, CDGK Finance Department Executive Director Munawwar Imam said that the recovery target of utility tax is Rs 1.6 billion and the recovery till date is Rs 8.1 million. “There are different categories of taxpayers in terms of area of occupation, ranging from 60 square yards to 2,000 square yards premises. The process of recovery of utility tax is being continued and the target will soon be achieved.”
CDGK City Council opposition leader Saeed Ghani said that the imposition of utility tax was extremely unjust. “CDGK should review the tax because it has created problems for the people of the city. We have always opposed the imposition of utility tax on common citizens. We have often debated that the tax should be imposed only on the corporate sector but it is a pity that those who have earned billions and trillions from this city have been spared, while the tax paying masses have been exposed to this new injustice,” commented Ghani. (Irfan Aligi)

2 Killed in Karachi paper market fire

KARACHI: A big fire erupted in paper market located opposite lighthouse cinema here on Saturday.

The fire engulfed two floors of Haji building resulting in death of two while four others were critically injured. The hospital Medico Legal Officer (MLO) also confirmed death of two persons.

Three motorcycles parked outside the building and eight shops were burnt. Area people held the fire brigade responsible since it arrived late on the spot.

KBCA moves Govt. for its court & Police station

The establishment of a Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) Court and a KBCA police station, and conferring magisterial powers to senior officials will help stop illegal constructions, and end disputes between builders and allottees, KBCA Chief Controller Manzoor Qadir said.

According to a press release issued on Wednesday, he said this while presiding over a meeting of officials of the Authority. He further said that the summary of the plan has been sent to the Sindh government.

He also said that problems are being faced due to a shortage of technical staff in all 18 towns of Karachi, and added that recommendations have been made for the appointment of 400 technical staff in this regard. (Press Release)

Arms supplier arrested from Azizabad Area

KARACHI: A man accused of providing arms and explosives to outlawed outfits has been arrested in Azizabad area.

The accused’s name was included in CID police red book. Sources said Azizabad police had arrested two accused Rizwan and Samiuddin on February 9. They were sent to jail after initial investigations and registration of case.

During investigations, it was revealed that the full name of Rizwan is Qari Rizwan whose name is included in the most wanted red book of 2004 and 2007. CID and other sensitive agencies will further interrogate him.

Houston, Karachi to become sister cities

Houston and Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, will officially become sister cities on March 3.

The city council approved the establishment of a sister city relationship last month, and the Hon. Syed Mustafa Kamal, Mayor of Karachi, will visit Houston to sign a sister cities agreement with Mayor Bill White on March 3.

Karachi is a seaport and the financial capital of Pakistan.

The Houston-Karachi Sister City Association becomes the 17th “citizen diplomacy” relationship for Houston under the umbrella of Sister Cities of Houston, a program that develops intercultural understanding and promotes international trade and commerce, economic development and tourism.

Houston has sister city relationships with Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.; Baku, Azerbaijan; Chiba, Japan; Grampian Region (Aberdeen), Scotland; Guayaquil, Ecuador; Huelva, Spain; Istanbul, Turkey; Leipzig, Germany; Luanda, Angola; Nice, France; Perth, Australia; Shenzhen, China; Stavanger, Norway; Tampico, Mexico; Taipei, Taiwan; and Tyumen, Russia.

Hamara Karachi Festival ‘Malakhda Competitions’: ‘Only the poor have kept this sport alive’

KARACHI: The civilisation of Sindh has sustained its primary characteristics and most of the themes from different eras, although, many have also vanished from the screen.
Traditional wrestling, which is an inevitable and integrated part of the Sindh civilisation, is as alive as it was thousands of years ago and it will remain so till the end of time. Gadap Town Nazim Ghulam Murtaza Baloch stated this while addressing a gathering of people from Gadap Town on the Hamara Karachi Festival ‘Malakhda Competitions’ held at Thado Dam in Gadap Town on Saturday.
Talking to Daily Times, Baloch said that Malakhda is a popular sport in rural areas of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab but only the poor have kept this sport alive. The competition attracted Malakhda wrestlers from all districts of Sindh including Karachi, district Lasbella in Balochistan and district Multan in Punjab.
The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) registered the Karachi Malh Association so that the sport can be promoted. However, there is an urgent need for an exclusive Malakhda Stadium in the city while the Malakhda wrestlers should be patronised and they should be given employment just like other sportsmen have been facilitated financially, suggested Baloch.
“I request City Nazim Mustafa Kamal to consider establishing a dedicated Malakhda Stadium in the city and offer jobs and other facilities to the wrestlers,” said Baloch.
Talking to Daily Times, CDGK City Council Treasury Bench Leader Asif Siddiqui, who represented the city naib nazim at the competition, said that it was nice to see the way the people of the rural outskirts of the city celebrated the festival and these joint celebrations will promote relations between the two social classes of the province.
The Malakhda competition is a traditional sport of Sindh and it will be ensured that such sports events are held in every town of the city during the next Hamara Karachi Festival, said Siddiqui.
CDGK City Council Member Advocate Sarwat Arif told Daily Times that Gadap Town has the largest number of rural people in the city. Malakhda is one of the most popular sports in these areas and it should be promoted. In this regard, the MQM members in the City Council will fully support a resolution tabled as Donkey Racing has already been patronised.
The unique and colourful show of Malakhda attracted thousands of people from all over Sindh while more than 40 Malakhda wrestlers from different districts of Sindh took part in the competition.
Malakhda wrestler Nadim Palari of Palari Goth near Sohrab Goth defeated Rahim Bux Sheedi of district Thatta and won the first prize in the competition along with Rs 10,000. Wrestler Sher Muhammad Sheikh of district Dadu defeated wrestler Shakoor Sheedi of district Thatta and was the runner-up, he was given Rs 7,000. Wrestler Lal Muhammad alias Guldasta of Karachi defeated wrestler Shafi Chandio of district Nawabshah and was given the third position with a cash prize of Rs 5,000.( Irfan Aligi)