Bomb Blast In Karachi, MNA Yapoob Bazanjo Injured

KARACHI: MNA Balochistan National Party (Awami) from Balochistan Yaqoob Bazanjo was injured among his four family members and two servants as an explosion occurred in his residence in phase 6 of Defense Housing Authority on Friday.
Edhi and other rescue teams reached the bungalow and shifted the injured to Agha Khan Hospital.

Police have arrived on the scene and cordoned off the area.

According to SSP Ashfaq Aalam, the bomb was apparently packed in a parcel delivered to residence of the MNA.

Power tariff hike for Karachi on the cards

KARACHI: Electricity consumers in Karachi may soon be subjected to yet another tariff hike, this time of around Rs2.90 per unit, with Karachi Electric Supply Company CEO Naveed Ismail saying the move is being considered after the federal government decided to withdraw its subsidy on electricity.

Mr Ismail was speaking at the utility’s daily briefing on Wednesday.

The withdrawal of the subsidy is likely to be reflected in the government’s upcoming budget. Currently, the average per unit tariff for electricity is Rs6.55, but after the removal of the Rs2.90 per unit subsidy, it would rise to Rs9.45, he said.

He said the final decision would be determined on the basis of the KESC’s fuel costs and the cost of electricity purchased from independent power producers and Water and Power Development Authority.

The KESC CEO said that if the government subsidy was withdrawn, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) would decide the new tariff and consumers would have to bear the burden.

He did not give any details regarding the KESC’s petition to Nepra regarding a quarterly tariff increase.

It is worth noting that in February this year, the KESC sought a tariff adjustment for the Oct-Dec 2008 quarter. This request was based on the contention that the utility had experienced variations in fuel costs due to fuel price variation.

Through a letter dated Feb 23, 2009, an adjustment of Rs6.754 billion was also sought, to take into account a loss in revenue due to the four per cent cap not being allowed by the authority in a previous determination for quarterly adjustment in tariff (July-September).

Mr Ismail said the first meeting of the special ministerial committee on KESC affairs was held on June 1 in the federal capital, adding that the matter of Rs13-14 billion in subsidies that the utility had not received was taken up, among other things.

The KESC CEO claimed that an average of around 22 to 24 per cent of the total electricity supplied by the KESC was being ‘misappropriated’, and a total of three million MWh had been stolen in Karachi during the last nine months from September 2008 to June this year. He said this caused both power outages and financial losses to the company.

Replying to a question, he said that a number of KESC employees had been subjected to disciplinary action on charges of involvement in electricity theft and other such allegations, and inquiries had been initiated against 138 persons.

So far, the services of 58 KESC employees have been terminated, while 20 others have been issued warnings or have been demoted.

Some 7 to 7.5 per cent of KESC consumers were on average billing, and this number should be decreased, he said. The KESC CEO said that at present 20,000 temporary hook connections were provided by the KESC to provide electricity to its new consumers.

Mr Ismail said that about 7,500 applications for new electricity connections were already present when the new management took over and about 2,500 new applications had been received.

Out of these, 6,500 cases were under process, he added.

The KESC CEO said that the utility’s transmission and distribution systems had been facing eight main cable faults in different areas, affecting electricity supply to Gizri, Federal B Area, Bahadurabad and other areas.

He informed media persons that against 2,184MW of demand of electricity at around 3 pm on Wednesday, the KESC had been doing power load-shedding of around 78 MW. The power shortfall faced by the utility was mainly due to tripping of Unit II of the Bin Qasim Thermal Power Station, he said. To meet the demand of over 2,000MW, the KESC was getting 630MW from Wapda before 3 pm. Supplies from WAPDA later surged beyond 700MW.

Meanwhile, residents of Sea View had complained that KESC staff members in Badr Commercial area were not acting to restore one phase since 1 am. Residents of many streets of Khayaban-i-Badban were also without power for several hours due unattended faults. Residents of PECHS Block II had to endure the heat without electricity after midnight. Block VI residents experienced similar problems. Parts of Gulshan and Gulistan-i-Jauhar areas around Safoora Goth were also affected.

Residents of Garden, Nishtar Road and Ranchhore Line also complained of outages at least five times during the day. They also complained that KESC staff was ‘asking for bribes’ to have unattended faults rectified. (Dawn)

KBCA Chief highlights Authority's one year performance

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, has approved the establishment of KBCA police station and a special court with full powers to take action against violators of Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) and the notification in this regard was awaited from the provincial home department.

This was disclosed by Arch Manzoor Qadir, Chief Controller of Buildings, KBCA, in a media chat at his chamber in the Civic Centre on June 3.

“The individual violators have stretched to groups who over a period of time have developed into a powerful mafia and stern actions are required to overcome the mafia, he pointed out.

The KBCA, he said, remains determined to vigorously enforce relevant laws which need police assistance and which is not available to required extent from police department and, therefore, KBCA need an exclusive police station and KBCA special court for prosecution of violators besides magisterial powers to KBCA officials.

“We moved a summary to the Chief Minister in this regard, having explained that the attainment of our objectives would just remain a dream if we were not provided with the desired facilities", Manzoor Qadir said adding that "we proposed actions in the interest of the security of public investment well as for good governance".

The CCOB said approval of the summary indicates the realization of the fact that the KBCA must be empowered both in legal and physical terms in order to enforce the building laws that are grossly violated by mafia.

By approving the summary, the provincial government has agreed to confer all the powers of a special magistrate on three senior officers (BPS 19) or above of the KBCA who could perform their duties to check unauthorized construction in accordance with approved plan and ensure the enforcement of the court orders of ejection of illegal occupants from the premises constructed illegally.

He informed that provincial government has allowed the establishment of a KBCA Police Station on the patterns of the CDGK and the KESC with all powers exercisable by a Station House Officer under the provisions of the code of Criminal Procedure in respect of offences of the Sindh Building Control Ordinance and other applicable laws.

Similarly approval has also been accorded for the establishment of a KBCA Court for trial of offences or prosecution cases under Section 19 of the Sindh Building Control Ordinance.

It will also have the powers of civil courts to decide the disputes between the purchasers and builders/developers. The special court is proposed to function under the supervision of a District Judge.

The CCOB pointed out that 90 violations of Building bylaws were being committed in justthree Towns of Saddar, Lyari and Liaquatabad and all 32 concerned officials were suspended on the order of Sindh Minister for Local Government for ignoring the violations.

He said these officials have now been restored but not given any posting until all the illegal buildings are demolished which they allowed to be constructed under their very nose and alternatively they will have to go home.

He informed that out of 100 buildings identified as having been constructed illegally, 90 were located in the Towns of Saddar, Lyari and Liaquatabad.

He said illegal construction activities started because of lacking police support to the under-strength KBCA.

In this regard he particularly cited example of two coolies who were thrown on ground from 7th floor of a building in Saddar Town being constructed illegally when they went their for demolition action.

He pointed out that in Lyari Town 17 buildings were demolished but these were reconstructed and KBCA took the matter to High Court and also registered a FIR against the police as they were directed by high Court not to allow a demolished structure to reappear.

He said that out of 100 buildings identified 28 were demolished in Lyari and 11 out of 12 in Saddar Town besides 17 in Liqauatabad Town.

He said while situation has been controlled in Liaquatabad Town, vilations are still being reported from Saddar and Lyari Towns and the situation will come under control there and elsewhere in the city when KBCA Police Station and Special Courts will start functioning.

The CCOB informed that KBCA plan for city skyline has been approved with demarcation of two high density zones - at I.I. Chundrigar road to Mai Kolachi and around Shaheed-e-Millat Road encompassing Shahrah-e-Faisal, Kashmir Road and Shahrah-e-Quaideen.

He said buildings to be constructed in these zones will have their own power generation, water supply and sewerage treatment facilities and their construction will not over-burden existing utilities.

Anyone wishing to undertake a project in high density zone will have to work either in joint venture with City or Provincial Government or bring foreign investment. He said they would be allowed 1:12 ratio whereby minimum 40 floors can be constructed with no upper limit.

He said that it has been suggested that instead of each project to have its own power plant, water treatment and sewerage treatment plants, these facilities would be created for entire area for which Federal Government has been approached for assistance in the form of seed money.

He said the idea was developed by a team of 11 renowned architects led by Yawar Abbas Gilani.

Replying a question, Manzoor Qadir said that the KBCA provided funds of Rs 1.18 billion to the City District Government in one year.

Karachi Region win 12th Sindh Games

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

The 12th edition of the Sindh Games concluded with a colourful ceremony at the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Sports Complex in Larkana on May 31 with the Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah declaring the Games closed.

He paid rich tributes to the Provincial Sports Minister, Dr Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, to have dared holding the Games in the month of May, that’s generally considered hot from the sports point of view.

“We have known that the outdoor sports events in our country are staged in the season of winter or spring. But Dr Shah deserves credit to have given us the concept that the Games could also be held successfully in summer. The success of the 12th Sindh Games proved the point that every season is suited to sports if the events are managed professionally,” he observed.

The Chief Minister, while congratulating Karachi Region for clinching the trophy once more, urged the athletes of the other four regions to continue working hard for improving their performance in the future events.

He presented the winners trophy to Dr Frahan Essa Abdullah, chef de mission of the Karachi Region who was then carried on shoulders by the elated members of the victorious contingent.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah announced that the next edition of the Sindh Games will be staged in Karachi. He announced a grant of Rupees five million for the sports department for holding the 12th Sindh Games in a splendid manner.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Shah observed that his mission was to spread the flame of sports in every nook and corner of the province and he needed the support of the provincial government in fulfilling his ambition.

“I was advised by certain quarters to postpone the 12th Sindh Games or move it to any other venue in view of the weather conditions here. But it was my commitment to the people of Larkana to hold the Games here and we were able to organize it successfully despite all odds being stacked against us,” he said.

Dr Shah believed that the interior regions of the province deserved greater attention as they lacked the infrastructure facilities that didn’t allow their athletes to progress beyond a certain level.

The Provincial Minister for Local Government, Agha Siraj Durrani, who himself holds a black belt in karate, was highly appreciative of the efforts of Dr Shah and his team for having braved the hot weather and organized the Sindh Games so successfully in Larkana.

Ahmed Ali Rajput, Secretary, Sindh Olympic Association (SOA), in his speech, highlighted the various challenges that had to be met in holding the Games.

The welcome address was delivered by Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Sindh, in which he acknowledged the support of the concerned quarters in accomplishing the task of holding the Sindh Games.

“According to the directives of the government we are working tirelessly to develop sports culture in the province. It’s our desire to engage the youth in healthy activities with sports being on top in the list of our priorities,” Shoaib Siddiqui said.

KCCI 6th International My-Karachi Exhibition 2009 will portray true picture of Karachi

KCCI My-Karachi, Oasis of Harmony Exhibition 2009 will portray the true picture of Karachi as peaceful city & economic hub of Pakistan, expressed by Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, Acting President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry in a press note. He informed that KCCI was organizing its 6th flagship International ?My-Karachi, Oasis of Harmony Exhibition 2009? from 5th to 7th June, 2009 at Expo Centre Karachi which was another sequel to KCCI annual international event. He articulated that every year beside corporate & public sector of Pakistan, hundreds of international exhibitors and companies participate from friendly countries. This year, International Participants from Turkey, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam & Sri Lanka were exhibiting their brands in the exhibition.

He enlightened that KCCI started this mega exhibition in 2004 with the initiative of Siraj Kassam Teli, the then President of KCCI, which received acclamation on both National & International forums. In view of its significance & magnitude, Government of Sindh & City Government Karachi co-host this momentous exhibition every year. Core objective of this mega event was to project and promote the true and real picture of Karachi & Pakistan with an emphasis on Karachi as centre of commercial activities as well as hub for financial & service centre of Pakistan, he added.

He expressed his heartfelt compliments to the Sindh Govt, CDGK, Excellencies of Diplomatic Corps, international & national participants & supporters of the KCCI flagship expo. Over 600,000 visitors were expected this year in ?My-Karachi-2009 Exhibition?. Jang Group, The News & GEO TV network had joined as the Media Partners, he added.

He contended that this year KCCI had taken extra measures to organize the event in more vivid & stylish fashion, with dedicated halls for the international participants, significant brands ?Made in Pakistan? and for Women Entrepreneurs. It would be a complete exhibition in all aspects encompassing the interests of corporate sector as well as the consumers while truly representing Pakistan in terms of cultural cross section in a unique urban scenario.

He focused that Karachi was recognized and valued as diversified fastest growing city and a gateway for Central Asia. However, continuously its image was tarnished by way of adverse propaganda made by the Western media, and the state of affairs demand that Karachiities specially the business and industrial community to come forward to combat and rebuild the image of metropolis in particular & Pakistan in general and make this event successful with flying colours.

On the behalf of KCCI, he conveyed his heartfelt compliments to Dr. Ishrat Ul Ebah Khan, Governor of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister Sindh, M.A. Rauf Siddiqui, Minister for Industries & Commerce & Syed Mustafa Kamal, Nazim Karachi City for extending their support in organizing this exhibition.

Poster competition organised by Foundation for a Drug Free World in Karachi

Foundation for a Drug Free World organized citation ceremony for the first international poster competition in a local hotel. More than 400 institutions from all over Pakistan participated in it. Prizes and certificates were distributed among the winners by Pakistan Coordinator, Munir Moosa Sewani. Name of the winners are Deedar Karim from Aga khan social welfare board for frontier, Sunita, Fouzia Khan from Educare Academy, Hameed Dadali from City School, Kanwar Karim from Qamar-r-Bani Hashim School.

The team members include Sabeen Akhtar Hussain, Saleema Moosa Sewani and Hamida Ashiq Ali. Pakistan Coordinator Munir Moosa and Media cum Marketing Manager Sabeen Akhtar Hussain expresses views that Media is the most powerful tool to eradicate drug from Pakistan. (PR)

Man arrested for beguiling young girls

KARACHI: A man was arrested for beguiling young girls into eloping with him to his hometown in Punjab. The culprit, named Zia Mohammad, son of M Ramzan, was arrested during snap checking and later, during interrogation, he confessed to the crime. Station Investigation Officer (SIO) Iqbal Hashmi said that the man got married to his cousin, S, with whom he had a six-year-old son, however, he divorced her and came to the city from his hometown and started work in a towel factory located within the limits of New Karachi Industrial Area (NKIA) police station. Four years ago, he beguiled the lady helper, M, when she was fourteen-years-old and eloped with her to his hometown. Now, M is eight-months pregnant and has a one-year-old child too.

The culprit divorced M while she was pregnant, came back to Karachi and started working in the same factory where he beguiled a 15-year-old girl, N, and eloped with her to his hometown. The officer further said that the mother of N registered an FIR no 193/08 in NKIA police station against the culprit, saying that he kidnapped her daughter. The officer revealed that the culprit has been residing with two of the said women in Sector 11-F, New Karachi for the past five months. He was taken into custody during checking on suspicion and later during the course of interrogation, he confessed to his crime, upon which, the police conducted a raid at his house and recovered the women and handed them over to the NKIA police.

KESC partners with Engro Polymer and International Industries under Captive Power Policy

As part of the continued efforts to provide maximum relief to its consumers, KESC is moving ahead with introducing short term and long term solution that could benefit Karachi. Apart from adding permanent power and rental power to its grid, KESC also launched a Captive Power Policy lately to utilize the excessive available power capacity of industrial units. This program has created interest among Captive Power Producers & quite a few are advancing to finalization. The first company to join this programme was Engro Polymer & Chemical Ltd (EPCL), which signed an agreement with KESC recently to supply 18 MW to KESC by mid-year 2009. This was yet another break through that was carried forward by a second agreement signing between International Industries Limited (IIL) and KESC.

According to this contract, IIL will supply 4 MW to KESC within the next two weeks. Naveed Ismail CEO KESC says, “Industrial partnership is a critical short and medium-term solution to Karachi’s energy challenges and a key part of how KESC now works. We are very committed to a strategy that balances our supply requirements to KESC’s cost of delivery. We will be announcing a series of arrangements like these and partnering with Engro and IIL is a powerful place to start”.For Further Details, please contact: KESC Corporate Communication Syed Faraz Ahmed, Media Manager at 0301 828 6193 Email: cc@kesc.com.pk

Youthful offenders at Central Prison get beds

KARACHI: It was for the first time in the 62 years of the national history that inmates below 18 years were provided with beds at the Youthful Offenders’ Industrial School, Karachi Central Prison.
A local philanthropist had donated these through Legal Aid Office and Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, Shehla Raza was invited to hand these 300 beds to the young inmates.
The SA Deputy Speaker addressing the ceremony jointly organized by LAO and office of the Inspector General Prisons of Sindh said President Asif Ali Zardari is also keen to improve the general conditions at the prisons. “As per his directives special funds are being available to improve conditions at the jails,” she said.

President assures Rs 22b funds soon Green signal for green city

KARACHI: Important decisions were taken to make Karachi “Green City” with special focus on improved environmental conditions at a high level meeting held under the chairmanship of President Asif Ali Zardari at Governor House yesterday.
Among others Sindh Governor Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira attended the meeting.
The President had a comprehensive review of a dozen projects of parks and beautification in city at a total cost of Rs22, 151mln.
Of these, five projects will be undertaken by the Federal Government at a total cost of Rs 18,416mln and seven projects costing Rs 3735mln by Provincial Government.
The five federal government-funded projects will include Central Park, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Memorial River Valley Park, Malir River Bed Park, Night Safari, Thado Boat Basin Dam, Gadap Town and Animal Park Karachi Zoological Garden.
The provincially-funded parks will include Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Park Boat Basin, Beautification of Lyari River, National Park Gattar Baghicha Lyari, National Hill Park, Tree Plantation on major roads, Jehangir Park Saddar, and Jinnah Polo Ground.
Later briefing the press, Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri said the President emphasized on making preparations to cope with deteriorating environmental conditions called for carrying out maximum plantation in this respect.