Pakistan’s water crisis has been receiving more attention than usual in the past few months, with the crowdfunding effort initiated by the former chief justice to construct dams bringing much-needed focus to this existential issue. But the debate has centred mostly on increasing the supply of water without considering how best to use the country’s existing water resources. A recent report from the World Bank puts into perspective the massive wastage...
Thursday, January 31, 2019
PTI MPA offers cash prize to thief in exchange for his stolen documents
Yet another political figure has fallen victim to street crime in Defence Housing Authority (DHA). Interestingly, instead of relying on law-enforcement, Raja Azhar, who is also a Sindh Assembly member, has directly appealed to the thief to return his valuables and offered a cash prize in return.An unidentified thief made off with licensed weapons and important documents after breaking the windowpane of PTI MPA Raja Azhar’s SUV in DHA on the night...
Bank heist case transferred to SIU
Police on Wednesday registered a case against the city’s first bank heist of the year and transferred the investigation to the Special Investigation Unit (SIU).An FIR was registered against a security guard, Manzur Mastung, employed at a private bank, who robbed Rs6.5 million and other valuables on Tuesday in DHA Phase 1’s B Market. Police high-ups later transferred the case to the SIU to probe and arrest the suspects.According to police, Mastung...
Two friends battle for life after being run over by tanker
A day after two minor siblings were killed when a speeding oil tanker hit their motorcycle and ran them over on Shahrah-e-Pakistan, two young friends were also severely wounded under the wheels of another speeding oil tanker in Rizvia Chowrangi, Nazimabad on Wednesday in the second consecutive similar accident in the city.The two friends were en route on a motorbike when a speeding tanker rammed into their vehicle. They were identified as 25-year-old...
Sindh’s climate migration report launched at policy dialogue
Oxfam in Pakistan in collaboration with IUCN Pakistan organised a dialogue on climate change in Sindh to support the government’s efforts in managing climate change.The policy debate covered the extent and quantum of efforts required to counter climate change and identified the gaps in the current setup. The dialogue focused on the risks and threats faced by the most sensitive areas to climate change in Sindh, i.e. mangroves, fisheries, women development...
Notices served on ECP ex-members on plea against their appointments
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and its four members, who have recently completed their terms, on a petition against their appointments as members of the ECP.The Aam Log Ittehad, a new political party headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed, had filed the petition, seeking declaration of writ of quo warranto against the four ECP members.It was submitted...
Federal Minister for Aviation opens 27th Steering Committee Meeting
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Aviation and Privatisation Muhammad Mian Soomro formally opened the 27th Steering Committee Meeting (SCM) of Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Programme – South Asia (COSCAP-SA) on Tuesday here.Speaking at the inaugural session of SCM, Federal Minister reaffirmed that Pakistan fully supports global policies and guidelines for a safe, efficient, sustainable and viable civil aviation.He...
Schools awarded plaques and certificates for entering Oxford Quality
At a ceremony held at the Oxford University Press (OUP) Karachi head office, certificates and plaques were awarded to twelve regional schools taken on board the Oxford Quality programme, said a press release issued on Wednesday.These schools have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with OUP Pakistan, as part of their participation in Oxford Quality, based on which the latter will provide a wide range of educational solutions and value-added services...
SHC takes notice of IOs’ no-show in NAB cases
The Sindh High Court on Wednesday took exception to the non-appearance of National Accountability Bureau’s investigation officers in NAB related cases and directed the NAB director general to ensure their appearance in court.Hearing the bail petition of a citizen in a NAB related case, the court observed that investigation officers of the anti-graft body do not appear before the court to appraise the status of the investigation in corruption cases.The...
City admin to provide full support to SCSW
Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani has said the city administration will provide all possible support to the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW) for achieving its objective of protecting social, economical, political and legal rights of women. He was talking to a four-member delegation of the SCSW headed by its chairperson Nuzhat Shirin at her office on Wednesday. He appreciated the idea of establishing the SCSW and assured the chairperson...
FWBL conducts Hajj balloting
KARACHI: Ms. Naushaba Shahzad President and CEO (Acting) First Women Bank Ltd., performed the computerized Hajj balloting at the Head Office in presence of the Executives and staff members of the Bank. Ms. Aisha Mahjabeen OG II Regional Office South and Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Driver at Head Office Karachi were the lucky winners and would be privileged to perform Hajj this year.FWBL has restarted Hajj Balloting which was discontinued in 2015. The all expenses...
SHC seeks notification of fake accounts case’s transfer from FIA to NAB
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday directed an investigation officer of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to produce notification with regard to the transfer of the multi-billion money laundering and fake accounts case from the FIA to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).The direction came on bail applications filed by former head of Summit bank Hussain Lawai, who is considered a close aide to former president and Pakistan Peoples Party...
TCF, IBA Sukkur to run 20 schools built under USAID’s programme
The Sindh government and education management organisations (EMOs) signed agreements at a ceremony held at the Chief Minister House on Wednesday to operate 20 schools constructed under the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Sindh Basic Education Programme (SBEP).Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and USAID Deputy Mission Director for Sindh and Balochistan John Smith-Sreen and Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah witnessed...
NICVD bags four awards for corporate social responsibility
The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) has bagged four awards for serving the people of Pakistan, irrespective of their cast, creed and religion and without any discrimination, said an official of the cardiac-care hospital.Officials said the NICVD had been given the awards in the fields of corporate social responsibility and three of these awards had been clinched by the Management Consultant of the institution, Haider Awan, while...
Several senior police officers transferred, given new responsibilities
The Sindh Police Department on Wednesday made changes at the range and district levels by posting officials on vacant posts and removing others.According to a notification, orders have been issued for a number of postings in view of the authority conferred on the department by a judgment of the Sindh High Court.Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Imran Yagoob Minhas, who was awaiting posting, has been transferred and posted with immediate effect and until...
CITY PULSE: Transcending Boundaries
The Koel Gallery is hosting Natasha Shoro’s solo art exhibition titled ‘Transcending Boundaries’ until February 7. Call 021-35831292 for more information.Panorama of HeritageThe ArtCiti Gallery is hosting AQ Arif’s solo art exhibition titled ‘Panorama of Heritage’ from January 31 to February 3. Call 021-35250495 for more information.Adab FestivalAmeena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi are holding the first ‘Adab Festival Pakistan’ from February 1 to February...
The sanctity of life
The Sixth Commandment has its place in every religion and society. It is intended to prevent harm inflicted on others and give recognition to the sanctity of life. We appear to have forgotten that life is sacred, that it must not be taken on a whim and that every life is special regardless of whether it belongs to a man or woman, to the poor or the rich, or a person who is old or young.The shooting incident carried out by Counter-Terrorism Department...
India’s Rohingya shame
Earlier this month, India sparked panic among its long-suffering Rohingya refugee population by deporting a family of five to their home country of Myanmar, where they will most certainly face human rights violations and imprisonment. This expulsion came on the heels of the controversial forced repatriation of seven Rohingya men last October.For Rohingya refugees currently residing in India, who the authorities claims are as many as 40,000, this...
Education for the future
Thought leaders at top-ranking global institutions are producing commentaries and papers on the state of learning in the world. One common and serious concern raised from different parts of the globe is about the widening mismatch between learning outcomes from schooling systems across the world and skill requirements for productive lives in the future, created after 4th generation industrial disruptions.This is being termed as the ‘global learning...
Heightened tolerance
Allowing persons in public service to ease out into premature retirement, with full benefits in most cases, without first holding them accountable for their transgression of law or moral code of conduct, and failing to do their duty, is the route mostly taken in Pakistan now.Although these administrative actions do matter from a consequentialist perspective, and would make sense, but only to an extent. It saves time, is less publicised and spares...
Will PIA take off?
When in the opposition, political parties vow to privatise loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs) if given the chance to come into power. These parties quote mindboggling losses public-sector organisations, especially PIA and Pakistan Steels Mills (PSM), cause the public kitty. But when any of these parties come into power, they start a process of rejuvenating loss-makers by pumping billions of public money into them instead of privatising SOEs.The...
Doomsday clock
This past week witnessed two significant and connected events. We remembered and celebrated the visionary champion of civil rights, social and economic justice and nuclear disarmament, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr at the outset and finished the week with the unveiling of the Nuclear Doomsday Clock. Dr King realized the interconnectedness of these issues and that you could not have one without each of the others.This week our government is reopening...
In Egypt, stray dogs pose growing urban challenge
Alaa Hilal was out shopping in Cairo when she was attacked by a stray dog in broad daylight -- an increasing problem of daily life in Egypt which is stirring debate."I got out of my car and saw an exceptionally large street dog," the 38-year-old housewife told AFP at her home, northeast of Cairo."He approached me and bit me without barking or doing anything else," said Hilal, adding that she had been injured in the thigh. An overpopulated mega-city...
Germany to soften ban on ´advertising´ abortions
Germany´s coalition government agreed in principle Tuesday to soften a controversial law that bars medical doctors from advertising abortion services.Gynaecologists and hospitals will now be allowed to share essential information about where and how women can terminate unwanted pregnancies.German law allows abortions but has long effectively discouraged them through various hurdles such as the advertising ban.Last year gynaecologist Kristina Haenel...
´French Spiderman´ arrested after scaling Manila skyscraper
Manila: French urban freeclimber Alain Robert was arrested on Tuesday, police said, after he scaled one of Manila´s tallest towers in his latest high-risk ascent.The 56-year old adventurer dubbed the "French spiderman" climbed the 47-storey GT Tower without safety equipment, leaving watchers on the ground staring in amazement."This is my path, this is my way of living. It is as important to me as eating, sleeping. I need that. It keeps me alive,"...
Indonesia flood, landslide death toll hits 70
Jakarta: Floods and landslides that battered Indonesia´s Sulawesi island have killed at least 70 people, authorities said Tuesday, as aerial footage underscored the scale of the disaster with whole villages wiped off the map.Lashed by heavy rain, rivers swelled and burst their banks, inundating dozens of communities across 12 districts as well as parts of the provincial capital Makassar.The bodies of 70 victims have been found, while six are still...
UAE files WTO complaint over Qatar goods ban
ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates said Tuesday it had filed a complaint to the World Trade Organization after Qatar banned UAE goods, the latest escalation in hostilities between the Gulf neighbours.An official statement carried by the state-run WAM news agency said Qatar was in "flagrant violation" of WTO rules, after Doha had already sought WTO arbitration over a blockade imposed by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt in June 2017.The UAE...
US charges Huawei in technology theft, sanctions violations
WASHINGTON: The US Justice Department on Monday unveiled sweeping charges against Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei in two cases likely to ratchet up tensions between the two superpowers -- including that of a top executive arrested in Canada on a US warrant.The department unveiled 13 charges against Huawei Technologies, its chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou -- the daughter of the company´s founder who is currently out on bail in Canada...
Meghan has made Prince Harry grumpy, aloof: former Royal correspondent
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have always been in the news for one reason or another. The royal couple who is all set to welcome their first-born have once again hit the headlines.According to a former Royal correspondent Duncan Larcombe, Meghan Markle has changed Prince Harry completely. However not in a good way, the New York Times reported. Duncan went on to add that Harry has been grumpy and aloof from his own inner circle of staff since their...
Venezuela: Washington increases pressure on Maduro, who retaliates
The United States, by announcing Monday sanctions against the Venezuelan national oil company, have increased the pressure on the regime of Nicolas Maduro, which in turn intends to sue Washington.Five days after recognizing the head of Parliament Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela, a country plunged into a serious crisis fearing a spiral of violence, the White House has attacked the oil company PDVSA, accused of being "a vehicle of corruption...
Trump ex-lawyer Cohen to privately testify to Congress on February 8
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump´s former lawyer Michael Cohen will provide closed-door testimony to Congress on February 8, a US lawmaker said Monday, after postponing an earlier open appearance citing concerns for his own safety.Cohen agreed to "appear voluntarily" before the House Intelligence Committee, the panel´s Democratic chairman Adam Schiff said, days after Cohen had aborted an appearance at a public hearing February 7 before the separate...
Trump to meet Chinese vice premier in trade talks: Treasury Secretary
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump will meet with China´s trade envoy this week during talks aimed at resolving the trade dispute with Beijing, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Monday.Chinese Vice Premier Liu He is leading a delegation of 30 officials to Washington as the United States and China work to reach an agreement ahead of a March 1 deadline, when US tariffs are due to increase sharply.Mnuchin told reporters he expected "significant...
Tax on books
It is a matter of great concern that imported books are still being subjected to a five percent import duty, despite the waiver of tax on newsprint paper by the government. A country where young people are usually busy on mobile phones and are losing interest in reading good books, retaining tax on books can have negative consequences. It will not only further the gap between the reader and the book, but also create a trust deficit between the buyer...
Basic facilities
Our village is 65 km southwest of the Noor Pur tehsil in Khushab. In this modern era, our village is still deprived of a state-owned primary school, a basic healthcare unit, proper roads, and uninterrupted water supply. Elected representatives only visit the area when the elections are near to get people to vote for them.PM Imran Khan, who has always highlighted the plight of people, should look into this matter and order the relevant department...
Traffic flow
When we talk about Karachi’s traffic, we focus on all the negatives. But we forget to talk about traffic police personnel who, regardless of weather conditions, remain on duty to ensure that the traffic is smoothly plying on roads. These days, mostly because of the Green Line Metro Bus construction work, the city’s traffic is a mess.The miserable road condition has further aggravated the situation. But at every single place, we can easily find the...
Sugarcane varieties
Pakistan has a large number of sugar mills which use locally grown sugarcane. Some portion of the crop is also used for the production of jaggery (gur), especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Pakistan is the fifth largest sugarcane producing country in the world. However, the average yield is far less than its potential due to various reasons. Water shortage and climatic change have posed serious threat to the sugarcane production. To combat these...
Dying languages
This refers to the article ‘When a language dies’ (January 26) by Shahid Siddiqui. I agree with the writer that Pakistan’s ingenious languages are dying due to the excess influence of some other languages. I think language is a tool that talks about specific traditions and values. Each language has unique characteristics. As Ezra Pound said, “The sum of human wisdom is not contained in any one language, and no single language is capable of expressing...
Living your dreams
In Pakistan, millions of dreams are abandoned and relinquished every day. Unfortunately, this has become a culture that children should follow what they are told to while choosing a career. This is where the trouble begins. Since there is no passion in the students, they do not strive for achieving those dictated goals. Individuals who are comparatively less sensitive bear the pressure, and somehow get through with the education phase without much...
Shoaib Malik's special message for West Indies women cricket team
Pakistan stand-in captain Shoaib Malik has expressed warm wishes to the esteemed West Indies women cricket team on its arrival in Pakistan.In a tweet published Wednesday, Malik extended a heartfelt welcome to the players of the team, adding that he hopes they find they time to explore the 'beautiful city of Karachi'. "Welcome to Pakistan @mraguilleira and team, exciting times! All the best for the series and hope you get some time to check out the...
