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Tag: Karachi

  • COVID-19: Karachi authorities seal several eateries for SOPs violation

    COVID-19: Karachi authorities seal several eateries for SOPs violation

    Authorities have sealed at least 14 restaurants and two gaming zones in the port city for violating the government’s COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    As per reports, Deputy Commissioner South Irshad Ali Sodhar said his team checked 41 restaurants, of which 17 were warned to follow the SOPs, while 11 were instantly sealed for not following the government’s directives at all. Three more eateries and two gaming zones were also shut down.

    “We inspected six shops and warned three of them to comply with the SOPs. That apart, we checked four wedding venues, issued warnings, and fined them with Rs185,000,” Sodhar told The News.

    Read more – Pakistan’s COVID-19 positivity nears 5%. What does that mean?

    Meanwhile, the Serena Mobile Market in North Nazimabad, that was sealed earlier on Monday for three days, has been reopened.

    Not only in Karachi, most restaurants in Lahore were also sealed at Mall1 which is located in Gulberg III.

    As Pakistan experiences the second wave of coronavirus, the country has reported 338,875 cases so far.

    Wearing a mask in confined indoor places, crowded spaces, bus stands, and inside public vehicles was declared mandatory for everyone and all commercial activities are allowed till 10 pm.

  • Karachi has worst transportation system in world: report

    Karachi has worst transportation system in world: report

    Karachi has one of the worst public transport systems in the world, with roads littered with potholes and traffic signals barely functional.

    Bloomberg, in a report on Karachi’s attempt to modernise its transport system, said public transport serves about 42 per cent of the commuters in decades-old buses that use the roof as a second deck for passengers at time.

    The report said that MA Jinnah Road, which connects central Karachi to the port, constantly faces severe traffic jams due to the absence of transportation infrastructure.

    Multiple attempts have been made to bring modern transportation to the port city, but they have hit a snag for lack of funds among other reasons.  “Multiple bus projects have been announced over the years but either they never started or were unable to sustain for more than a few years,” the news report said.

    Adam Weinstein, a research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Washington, said: “Karachi was once well-connected by a circular railway but corruption and mismanagement in the transportation sector brought the city to a grinding halt in the 1990s.”

    Many of the railway tracks have become illegal slums, where people have settled from smaller towns, he added.

    “Karachi, despite its importance, is a political orphan,” said Arsalan Ali Faheem, a consultant at Development Alternatives Incorporated, an international company that advises on development projects.

    A development project valued at Rs162 billion was announced in March last year by Prime Minister Imran Khan, but the city officials reported that no funds were released. The federal government in response said that it has spent Rs24.65 billion, and an allocation of Rs17.9 billion has been made for the current fiscal year.

  • Doctor identifies robber who looted him during treatment at Karachi hospital

    Doctor identifies robber who looted him during treatment at Karachi hospital

    A doctor at a Karachi hospital on Thursday identified his patient as a robber who robbed the doctor a few days back in the city. 

    According to reports, an injured person was brought to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) in Karachi. During treatment, Dr Arif recognised him as the same person who had mugged him along with his partner some days back.

    The hospital’s administration informed the police about his presence and after further inquiry, it was revealed that the accused identified as Kashif had sustained injuries after he escaped arrest during a police encounter in the Bilal Colony area of the New Karachi.

    “We have recovered a 30-bore pistol from his possession and a mobile phone,” said the police, adding that the search for his accomplice is underway.

    The robber has been shifted to a ward after doctors said his condition was stable after initial treatment.

  • COVID-19: Shopping malls, restaurants, shops & marriage halls to close by 10 pm

    COVID-19: Shopping malls, restaurants, shops & marriage halls to close by 10 pm

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has announced new coronavirus restrictions for cities and districts where COVID-19 cases have increased.

    According to a notification issued by the NCOC, all shopping malls, restaurants, shops and marriage halls are to shut by 10 pm from Thursday. The authority also directed public parks and recreational spots to be closed by 6 pm from Thursday.

    The cities where there restrictions have been imposed include Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Hyderabad, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Peshawar and Quetta.

    Meanwhile, the NCOC has also made it mandatory to wear face masks in confined spaces (indoors, public transport, outdoor crowded settings like markets and bus stands, railway stations, etc) and ordered the provincial governments to take strict actions against violators. The government has also said that those violating the order will be fined Rs6,000 to Rs35,000 and punishment of six-month imprisonment.

    NCOC Chairman Asad Umar also appealed to the people to take the virus seriously and follows the SOPs.

    It has emerged that a rise in coronavirus cases was recorded up to 80 percent in eleven major cities including Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Quetta, Multan, Hyderabad, Gilgit and Muzaffarabad.

    Pakistan has reported 331,108 coronavirus cases so far with with 3.08% positivity rate.

  • Pakistan reacts to Indian claims of civil war in Karachi with memes

    Pakistan reacts to Indian claims of civil war in Karachi with memes

    With Indians being brutally trolled by the entire world for sensationalising the rebellion of Sindh police officials with civil war claims, Twitter is flooding with memes depicting the war that not just Indian media but also prominent citizens are claiming is going on in the southeastern province of Pakistan.

    Amid the controversy surrounding Sindh police following Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Captain (r) Safdar’s arrest in Karachi, India on Wednesday once again lost it as it claimed that clashes were taking place between the army and the provincial police as a civil war erupted in the port city.

    READ: ‘IG was kidnapped’: Hamid Mir takes a dig at Kamran Khan for contesting his claim

    According to reports now retracted by multiple Indian media outlets, Karachi is burning with shootouts between civil and military bodies after the army took over the provincial metropolis and the control of all police stations as well as government buildings.

    This time, however, it wasn’t just Indian media that made baseless claims, cracking people up on this side of the border…

    “10 police officers of Sindh police martyred during their line of duty of saving people of Karachi from atrocities of army [sic],” prominent Indian lawyer Prashant Patel Umrao claimed.

    https://twitter.com/ippatel/status/1318743674105233408

    He went on to say that the United States (US) Navy may enter Karachi port soon, drawing strong reactions from Twitterati, and not just those from Pakistan.

    While many resorted to reacting strongly to Indian claims, such as deputy director of the Asia Program and senior associate for South Asia at the Wilson Center, Michael Kugelman, who said that Indian disinformation accounts were exploiting Pakistan’s current political crisis, some chose to give their peers a good laugh.

    Here are some of the memes that’ll make your day:

    https://twitter.com/iKarachiwala/status/1319013537826639873
    https://twitter.com/haris1khan/status/1318924695752802304
    https://twitter.com/ThisMyHandle/status/1318888540718178313
    https://twitter.com/umerbinajmal/status/1318987098066718725

    Have something to add to this story? Let The Current know in the comments…

  • Bajwa’s resignation amid political uncertainty affects stock market

    Bajwa’s resignation amid political uncertainty affects stock market

    Pakistan’s stocks reversed gains on Monday as Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s Special Assistant on Information (SAPM) Lt Gen (r) Asim Saleem Bajwa resigned ahead of protests planned by opposition parties, raising concerns of increased political uncertainty, foreign media reported.

    “Imran Khan approved my request to relinquish the additional post,” Asim Bajwa tweeted Monday.

    The resignation of Imran’s key spokesperson comes amid increasing challenges to his about two-year-old government as he struggles to contain inflation and revive the country’s economy. Meanwhile, an alliance of 11 opposition parties is planning on holding its first protest rally this week, which is the start of a series of such meetings aimed at ousting Imran Khan.

    The benchmark KSE-100 index closed down 1.4%, reversing earlier gains of as much as 0.6%. The stocks have advanced 48% since touching this year’s low on March 25. “The investors are being cautious and booking profits after recent events including Bajwa’s resignation and the opposition’s planned protest add to the uncertainty,” said Qasim Shah, head of international sales at JS Global Capital Ltd in Karachi.

    The premier had turned down Bajwa’s earlier request to resign.

  • Teenage girl steals motorcycles after disguising as a boy

    Teenage girl steals motorcycles after disguising as a boy

    Mauripur police in Karachi have arrested an 18-year-old girl who they claim stole motorcycles while disguised as a boy.

    The accused is a resident of Lyari and reportedly performs the sport of boxing. The accused used to steal bikes along with her two partners — 14-year-old ‘Chhotoo’ and 20-year-old Basit.

    While the girl is in the custody of women police, both her accomplices are on the run, reports said.

    The suspect has denied the charges and said that she did not steal any motorcycle. She said she had been involved in the case because someone else gave her a stolen vehicle and she got caught with it.

    While the police claimed that the three-member gang used to snatch or steal motorcycles of latest models, they are also searching for the dealers to whom the group sold the same.

  • VIDEO: Women attacked by shopkeeper for making him show too many clothes

    VIDEO: Women attacked by shopkeeper for making him show too many clothes

    Police have arrested shopkeepers who were abusing women in Hyderi Market, Karachi for not buying anything after making him unfold too many clothes from the stack.

    According to details, the incident took place in a cloth shop located in Karachi’s famous Hyderi market. The seller got angry at the women and started physically assaulting them after a heated argument.

    The female buyers also beat up the shopkeeper and slapped him while the shopkeeper pushed the woman down.

    Police after being informed about the incident reached there and arrested the shopkeeper. However, the victims refused to register a first information report (FIR) against the shopkeeper.

    Video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ze62ryHs70
  • Restaurants, marriage halls majorly contributing to coronavirus spread

    Restaurants, marriage halls majorly contributing to coronavirus spread

    Six marriage halls and 103 restaurants were sealed in Karachi for violating coronavirus SOPs. 

    According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), six marriage halls and 103 restaurants were sealed in the port city over neglecting coronavirus SOPs.

    Federal Minister for Planning and Development and Chairman NCOC, Asad Umar said indoor restaurants and marriage halls appear to be majorly contributing to the COVID-19 spread.

    “NCOC today has directed all provinces and federating units to crack down on SOPs violations in these places, the minister said in his tweet. We must not allow the irresponsible behavior of some to put the health of everyone at risk,” he said further. 

    On Thursday, authorities in Karachi had also announced a micro smart lockdown in various parts for two weeks after cases of COVID-19 increased in the city.

  • Restaurants sealed in Karachi for violating SOPs

    The city administration sealed several hotels, restaurants in various areas of Karachi over violation of COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    As per reports, 10 restaurants were sealed in District Central, two in Clifton, three at Boat Basin food street, and two in the Saddar area of District South, Karachi.

    The management of the restaurants were violating SOPs for running the business during the pandemic.

    Meanwhile, the Sindh government on Wednesday imposed a “micro smart lockdown” in several areas to control the spread of coronavirus.

    According to a notification, the government has imposed micro smart lockdown in different localities of District West, Karachi. The district West areas that have been put under micro smart lockdown include Manghopir Union Council 8 and Gadap Town.

    The move came after more than 20 cases were reported from Manghopir Union Council.

    Police officials have been positioned in these areas to impose the lockdown restrictions. The provincial government has asked the deputy commissioner and senior police officials in Karachi to ensure micro smart lockdowns and implementation of SOPs at designated sites.