CITY NAZIM REVIEW PACE OF WORK ON CORRIDOR-IV

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that work on three more flyovers on Sharae Faisal will begin in few days while already four flyovers were under construction on this corridor to make it signal free all the way from Jinnah Bridge to Quaidabad. Completion of this corridor would provide signal free journey from Steel Town to Jinnah Bridge Kemari.

He expressed these views during a meeting to review the pace of work on development projects of signal free corridor –IV. It was also decided to continue work on these projects on 24 hours basis and without any break.
Addressing the meeting City Nazim said that despite of financial constraints and other odds signal free corridor-IV will be opened for traffic after completion of its projects in least possible time. He said that all these projects hold much importance with regard to traffic problems in the city. Citizens were facing problems due to heavy load of traffic on Sharae Faisal besides this corridor also connects both sea ports, airport and steel mills with each other. Completion of this project would provide great boost to business and commercial activities in Karachi and that would be beneficial for citizens.

City Nazim observed that regular traffic jam at various points of this corridor especially near Hotel Reagent Plaza was causing much inconvenience to people in their access to five important hospitals including Jinnah Hospital and NICVD. He said that the construction of flyover at this junction would ensure hurdle free route for ambulances.

He also directed that work on all the projects of this corridor must continue round the clock, adding that he will himself pay surprise visit to the site of work in night hours and all those officers and representative of contractor firm will have to face strict action if they found guilty of delay in work or negligence. He also instructed Finance and Planning Department to ensure timely provision of required resources for these projects so that the work could be carried on smoothly.

13 confirmed dead in Karachi mourners attack

Karachi law enforcement officials have confirmed 13 casualties in an apparent suicide attack on a minibus here on Friday noon. Dr Semi Jamali, incharge emergency ward of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, told the newsmen that at least 11 dead bodies and nearly 40 wounded have so far been brought to the medical facility.

According to preliminary reports, a bus of route 52-A was bringing mourners from Jaffar Taeyyar society of Malir area to main Muharram procession presently being underway at M A Jinnah road. When the ill-fated bus reached Shahrah-e-Quaideen from Nursery flyover a motorcycle, apparently-laden with explosives, rammed into the bus with a loud bang, CCPO Karachi Waseem Ahmed informed news channel on telephone. Emergency has been declared at nearby Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center where at least 12 wounded have so far been rushed by the emergency relief staffers. Police and Rangers have reached the scene and the blast site has been cordoned off for general public.

CITY GOVT. DECLARE KBCA APPROVED PLANS ILLEGAL

All building plans approved by Karachi Building Control Authority during last six months have been declared illegal by City District Government Karachi.

City Government has said that the KBCA had in violation of the rules specified in the Sindh Local Government Ordinance did not transfer the amount that has been received for approval of building plans to City Government under the head of betterment charges and the reason given for that by KBCA was displeasure of minister for local government due to which the chief controller KBCA refrained to transfer the money to city government.

This action has put acute financial pressure on City District Government Karachi and it was unable to pay the salaries of its employees. Therefore City Government Karachi has decided to declare all building plans approved by Karachi Building Control Authority during last six months illegal and void and it was also giving its action legal status through city district council.

Free Medical Camp at Usman Memorial Hospital on Sunday

The Usman Memorial Hospital is organizing a free medical camp at Hospital premises Plot # ST-12, Block-1, Hussainabad, Federal "B" Area, on Sunday, 31st January 2010 at 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Bilo, Professor of Paediatric, Aga Khan University Hospital and Dr. Muhammad Tufail, Medical Director, Patel Hospital will inaugurate medical camp.

TURK AMBASSADOR CALLS ON CITY NAZIM

Ambassador of Turkey called on City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal at his office on Thursday to discuss matter of mutual interest.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal on this occasion said that Pakistan has strong brotherly relations with Turkey. Local Government of Turk City Istanbul can provide valuable cooperation to City District Government Karachi in its Rapid Bus Transport System and training program for rescue workers. He said that Istanbul has one of the best rapid bus transport system while they have also excelled in the rescue works particularly in the earthquakes. He said that we also need cooperation in the solid waste management.

Nazim Karahi informed the ambassador Mr. Hizlan about the importance of Karachi in the region. He said that Karachi offers lucrative business opportunities to foreign investors. Turk business community can also earn heavy profits from doing business here. He said that the government has upgraded infrastructure in Karachi for promotion of investment activities. Turk investors will also be provided with best facilities and support.

Turk ambassador Mr. Hizlan said that Turkey will soon arrange for the training of rescue workers in Karachi for which a permanent office will be established in the city so that the training could be arranged on permanent basis. He also appreciated the performance of City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal for his role in the rapid development of Karachi.

Karachi Fashion week begins from sunday at Pearl Continental Hotel

RELIEF PAY-ORDERS DISBURSEMENT PROCEDURE DEFINED; PAY-ORDERS FOR CLAIMS OVER 1.5 MILLION WILL BE ISSUED ON COMPLETION OF SCRUTINY

Karachi Affected Markets Relief Committee’s Spokesman, A.Q. Khalil has said that Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s seven (7) loss assessment committees, in the presence of authorized representatives of affected markets, have meticulously completed the assessment and scrutiny of 2600 claims of affectees of Bolton Market Incident, and it is decided that relief payments through pay-orders will start in phases from 29th January, 2010. Chairman Businessmen Group and former President-KCCI, Siraj Kassam Teli has already announced that the pay-orders distribution work to affectees will start from 29th January, 2010 and the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari will begin the disbursing phase while distributing the relief pay-orders to affectees. In the second phase, Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Governor of Sindh, Dr. Ishrat Ul Ibad Khan, Provincial Ministers, City Nazim Karachi, will visit Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry to distribute the pay-orders to the affectees. According to the Committee Spokesman, latest colour passport size photograph, original computerized national identity card with attested copy must be readily available with each affectee because it is decided that affectees/ claimants will receive their claims themselves personally and thereby will submit an affidavit of claim acceptance, endorsing with signature and thumb impression in the presence of authorized market representative so that the whole procedure will be transparently maintained.

Spokesman appealed all the affectees to keep in touch with the chairmen of KCCI’s seven loss assessment committees who will issue the payment schedules, and abide the instructions accordingly. A.Q. Khalil further said that the affectees must not authorize any person on their behalf because payments will be made only to the real affectees of the incident. According to the Spokesman, Karachi Affected Markets Relief Committee has already decided that after the completion of payment phase of claims upto Rs.1.5 million, in second phase the payments of claims above Rs.1.5 million will start immediately after completion of scrutiny. He said that claim will be given to every honest affectee who has furnished his/her loss details with honestly, and after completion of scrutiny, relief pay-order will be issued.