Tag: Sindh

  • SSGC cuts gas supply to industries in Karachi to facilitate domestic customers

    SSGC cuts gas supply to industries in Karachi to facilitate domestic customers

    Owing to the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited’s (SSGC) decision to stop supplying gas to several industries throughout the city, the gas crisis in Karachi appears to have gotten worse.

    “In adherence to the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) gas load management plan, that places domestic and commercial customers on top of the priority list, it has been decided to suspend gas supply to all general industries from November 15 to February 28, 2023,” a statement issued by the gas company read.

    The decision, according to the statement, is intended to accommodate the rising demand from domestic customers in Sindh and Balochistan.

    It should be remembered that due to a gas shortage, all CNG stations in Sindh have already been closed for two and a half months.

    According to Geo, the SSGC delivered notices last week that gas will be shut off for more than three months over the winter to the city’s industries, but they rejected the notices, claiming that gas interruptions would result in large layoffs and the closing of firms.

    “The industries are in a state of shock to receive SSGCL’s notices of gas closure starting from November 15, 2022, to February 28, 2023,” according to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

    “The gas closures can not be proved good for the economy, especially this year, as no special arrangements have been made by the government to purchase RLNG to inject in the system.”

    The committee, established by KCCI, stated that it expected the government to take the proper steps to ensure gas supply to the city’s industries rather than completely cutting off gas, which would cause a significant drop in exports and revenue, the closure of industries, and job losses.

    The committee had suggested to the government that the gas supply be shut off every 12 hours for two days each week during the winter.

  • Schools to reopen soon in flood-affected areas of Sindh

    Schools to reopen soon in flood-affected areas of Sindh

    The Sindh government has decided to reopen educational institutions in flood-hit areas in the province.

    Addressing a press conference, Sindh’s Education Minister Sardar Shah said on Friday that continuing education in flood-prone areas is a challenge. He directed all the concerned officers to reopen the schools in all the flood-hit areas within 15 days.

    The Minister said that some of the schools will take around three years to resume their operations, and said that the government has devised a plan to recommence education in disaster-hit districts.

    He continued by saying that the Chief Minister (CM) of Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, had also been approached for help by the Education Ministry in the development of temporary tent schools.

    He further said that 15,000 tent classrooms are being built in areas impacted by the floods.

    Additionally, the minister announced the hiring of nearly 700 music educators across the province. Teachers of naat khwani, qawwali, and sana khwani will also be recruited in addition to those who teach music.
    Minister Shah also stated that 49,000 teachers have been hired by the government.

  • Ab teacher ki baari: Teacher gets suspended for taking naps during class hours

    Ab teacher ki baari: Teacher gets suspended for taking naps during class hours

    The Sindh Education and Literacy Department has suspended a primary school teacher in Sabu Kartio who was captured sleeping on camera during class hours.

    Sindh Elementary Education Department took notice of the occurrence and suspended him for sleeping in the class rather than teaching the students.

    The teacher, named Imtiaz Ali, can be seen in the pictures sleeping on chairs and on benches. The pictures went viral on social media and led to his suspension.

    The teacher was appointed at the Government Boys Primary School.

    Shortly after the pictures, he was immediately suspended by the District Education Officer and put on a suspension allowance.

  • Nazim Jokhio’s family reaches peace agreement with accused

    Nazim Jokhio’s family reaches peace agreement with accused

    Nazim Jokhio’s family has submitted an affidavit in court, stating that they have reached a peace agreement with the murder accused.

    The affidavit has stated that both parties have reached an agreement. It has also been stated in the affidavit that the slain man’s family has no objection to ending the case.

    The affidavit has been submitted by Jokhio’s mother, widow, and children. After the affidavit, the court directed authorities to publish an advertisement in the newspaper regarding the legal heirs of Nazim Jokhio.

    The court has also asked National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to submit a report on the matter at the next hearing. The hearing was adjourned till October 15th.

    On November 3 last year, Nazim’s tortured body was found in Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Jam Awais’ farmhouse in Karachi’s Malir area, a day after he filmed a group of foreigners hunting the endangered houbara bustard in his Achar Salaar village in Thatta.

    According to Jokhio’s brother, Nazim had broadcast a live stream on social media of a hunting expedition involving foreign guests of PPP MPA Jam Awais, after which Jam Awais called Nazim to the house where he was allegedly murdered.

    Jam Karim is the elder brother of Jam Awais. In November, he was nominated as a suspect with ten others in the murder case.

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  • ‘Use of teargas shells, rubber bullets will be considered’: Rana Sanaullah ahead of PTI’s long march

    ‘Use of teargas shells, rubber bullets will be considered’: Rana Sanaullah ahead of PTI’s long march

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah talked about the long march call given by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    The minister said that “it is not possible to talk to a person like Imran Khan, Khan has to prepare but we are fully prepared”, reports Geo Urdu.

    On the question about controlling the participants of the possible PTI sit-in, Sanaullah said that modern methods would be adopted to fire teargas shells and rubber bullets on the protesters and the use of drones would also be considered.

    When asked what if the provincial governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) where PTI is in power refused to provide police forces when Islamabad police asked for it. Sanaullah said that the government would take action against them in line with the Constitution.

    Rana also said that the red zone was sealed as a precaution, but warned that when PTI approach Islamabad, the red zone would be sealed again.

    However, Imran Khan warned the minister said that “he should be worried” because the PTI will be marching towards Islamabad with “full preparation” this time.

    “We promise you that you will not be able to hide in Islamabad,” Khan told Sanaullah, adding that he will make a decision on Saturday about giving a call to the public to take to the streets.

    Islamabad asks for more police forces to deal with a possible PTI protest

    Islamabad’s red zone has been sealed with containers and Section 144 has been imposed ahead of a possible Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in the federal capital.

    The city administration reportedly plans to dig trenches and place hundreds of containers at the entrances of Islamabad to prevent PTI supporters from entering the city.

    Moreover, Islamabad police have asked for 30,000 personnel of police, paratroopers, and the Frontier Corps (FC) force from the provinces — 20,000 from Punjab, 4,000 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and 6,000 personnel of the Rangers and the FC force.

    However, the provincial governments of Punjab and KP have not yet decided how to respond to the Islamabad request, reports Geo News.

    According to the Islamabad police, “Some people from Punjab have set out for the federal capital to get their political demands”.

    Entry to D-Chowk has been restricted and barbed wires and shipping containers are placed in the area.

    Earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan warned the government to stop the “persecution” of his party workers otherwise he would again march on Islamabad.

    He had directed the party leaders to start preparations for a long march to Islamabad. He also asked party workers to wait for the Islamabad call. The final date is yet to be announced.

    In May, PTI leaders and thousands of supporters reached Islamabad where a six-day deadline was given to the government for announcing elections and dissolving assemblies. That long march ended a day after it started.

  • Gang-rape victim commits suicide after police does not register case

    Gang-rape victim commits suicide after police does not register case

    A woman who was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped on Thursday in Mehran Soomro village in Tharparkar has committed suicide.

    The woman was left at an isolated place near her village after the sexual assault. She remained unconscious for many hours before her relatives found her and took her to a hospital.

    After regaining consciousness, she gave a statement to the police, narrating the incident. She said she was kidnapped on her way to Hyderabad to get documents for her father’s pension.

    After her suicide, her brother registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the suspects, stating that the family was forced to take the matter to a jirga and not go to the police.

    He also said that area police were reluctant to register the case under the influence of certain local figures. Already traumatised by the rape, his sister could not bear her helplessness and took the extreme action of killing herself, he added.

    Later, on Monday, two nominated suspects were booked by the police. Station House Officer (SHO) Ali Hassan Chang of the Kaloi police station said that an investigation into the matter has been started.

  • ‘Six months’: Murad Ali Shah gives estimate on when flood waters will drain

    Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah said that the government is working on rehabilitating people and the province’s drainage, irrigation network. According to him, it will take “three to six months” to drain the water from flood-affected areas of the province as in “some areas, there is at least eight to 10 feet of water”.

    While speaking to the media in Karachi, the chief minister talked about the damages and loss of assets. He said that “12.5 million people are affected by the disaster and around 350 billion rupees’ losses to the farmers are being reported in the province.”

    He revealed that even in places where the floodwater is receding, “the situation is not such that people can return”, highlighting that Pakistan had received unprecedented rainfall this year.

    It is pertinent to mention that Sindh is the worst-hit province so far after biblical floods wreaked havoc across the country. Sindh had the most deaths and injuries. Out of the 1,396 fatalities countrywide, 578 people have died in Sindh province alone.

    Moreover, CM Shah said that the province is facing a shortage of tents and medicines and he had raised the issue with the United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres during his recent visit to Sindh.

    “The whole world has to come together to combat climate change,” he said, adding that Guterres had also called on the world to “pitch in” to help Pakistan navigate the crisis.

    Earlier, the UN chief on his visit to Pakistan’s flood-affected areas said that he has “never seen climate carnage on this scale”.

    At a press conference in Karachi on Saturday after witnessing the worst of the damage in southern Pakistan, he said, “I have seen many humanitarian disasters in the world, but I have never seen climate carnage on this scale.”

    Guterres also strongly urged international creditors to introduce a new mechanism ‘Debt Swap’ for flood-devastated Pakistan.

  • Hindu man fearing the police jumps in well, dies

    Hindu man fearing the police jumps in well, dies

    Alam, a Hindu resident of Wahi Pindi in Sindh, jumped into a well which resulted in his death in Tando Mohammad Khan on Thursday.

    The 35-year-old man reportedly jumped into the well to escape the rage of a policeman who was chasing Alam, allegedly, to beat him.

    According to the victim’s family, the man took the extreme step after being subjected to violence by Qadir, a policeman.

    Civil Hospital where he had a heated conversation with the policeman who was on duty there. The family said that Alam had a fever that’s why he had been visiting the hospital for two days.

    Moreover, his family claimed that the policeman had beaten him, with a video of the alleged beating having been recorded. Alam then ran away from the hospital in an attempt to hide from the cop and jumped into the well, losing his life.

    The family has demanded the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the policeman.

  • ‘Never seen this level of devastation’: first-hand account of what’s going on in flood affected areas

    ‘Never seen this level of devastation’: first-hand account of what’s going on in flood affected areas

    Pakistan is in the throes of devastating floods that have wreaked havoc across all four provinces. The scale of devastation has been estimated to be more than $10 billion. Midwife, public health practitioner and founder of Mama Baby Funds (MBF), Neha Mankani, visited the flood-affected area of Dadu, located in Sindh, which is through and through inundated with floods.

    Neha Mankani, who was in the area for two days shared her experience of what she calls a devastation she has never seen in her career. Dadu is strategically located in an area where it gets water from Manchar, Hamal Lakes and hill flows from Gorak Hills.

    Talking about the wreckage, Mankani said, “It’s safe to say I have never seen this level of devastation in my entire career.”

    Sharing pictures from the site on her Instagram story, Mankani wrote, “The next few images are of the water separating Dadu city and Juhi- which now has many many villages under it.”

    “There are IDP’s on the embankments of cities in makeshifts tents. The boat ride was an hour long and cost Rs 600 per person, a simple equation of demand and supply. We encountered two maternal deaths and 25 pregnant women in the first hour of our arrival. Both women died because they couldn’t get care on time.”

    “I wore a lifejacket for the first time. We heard many incidents of boast tipping over because they got stuck in trees or electric poles under the water. A flood water lake that’s swallowed 100’s of homes felt a lot more untrustworthy than the sea I’m used to.”

    Mankani explaining the aftermath and the toll the devastation has caused said, “Sujag Sansar [a right-based development organization working for the marginalized in most backward areas] told us that no one is really thinking about the children and how they are dealing at camps.” She further explained that women were given basic things like baltis, lotas, detergent, mosquito coil, towels, shoes, matches, and hygiene products. Sujag Sansar also informed them about how floods had taken them 50 years back, as everything was drowned under water.

    Mankani along with the volunteers who had accompanied her said that women their were told how to use medicals kits, make ORS and how will they be able to manage basic health challenges at their camps. Mankani also conducted an antenatal clinic both for women and some babies in a school.

    Explaining the conditions of health care, Mankani said that a baby was born on a boat without any medical support. She said that they found no health care providers on either side of the water- except for one government dispensary with a caretaker who dispenses medicines when he felt like and one woman who had turned herself into a dai after she reached the camps.

    The MBF founder further said that once they reached the boat dock, the only option for them was a donkey cart or wading through knee deep water. Adamant on spreading the message of the antenatal camp, Mankani said that they wanted to give women on both sides of the water the idea of the camp. And on how many clean delivery kits were needed to get to them.

  • Govt to waive fees, give scholarships for university students in flood-affected areas

    Govt to waive fees, give scholarships for university students in flood-affected areas

    Federal Minister for Education Rana Tanveer Hussain has said on Thursday that the government has decided to provide relief to university students in flood-affected areas by waiving their fees and giving them scholarships.

    In a tweet, he said that he held a meeting with the Chair Higher Education Commission (HEC) and decided to facilitate the university students in calamity-struck zones.

    Under the relief package, the government would defer current/due university fee payments, devise a mechanism/possibility for a fee waiver and announce a special scholarship program (undergraduate and graduation) for students.

    Tanveer stated that in these pressing times the government stands firm with the people and would do whatever it takes for rehabilitation of flood victims.

    “Doing fund-raising, providing food and tents, and setting up medical camps and transitional schools is our top priority,” he added.

    In another tweet, the federal minister said that “Our Government under the able leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif is fully committed to provide maximum relief to our people suffering from flood calamity. In these pressing times, we stand firm with our people and will do whatever it takes for rehabilitation.”

    Earlier today, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif announced that he will not be taking a scheduled official trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to focus on relief and rescue operations. Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also cancelled his scheduled visit in late August to four European countries. Separately, the media wing of the armed forces, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also announced that Defense Day celebrations will be postponed to express solidarity with flood victims.

    Heavy monsoon rains in the country have triggered massive floods that have submerged a third of the country and killed at least 1,191 people. 27 more people died in the previous 24 hours on Thursday.

    Approximately 116 districts across the four provinces have been affected. Infrastructure, including bridges, roads, schools, homes and hospitals. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), 888 health facilities have been inundated with flood water.