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Tag: Rawalpindi

  • Environmental Protection Agency seals brick kilns, impounds cars

    Environmental Protection Agency seals brick kilns, impounds cars

    In a crackdown by the Rawalpindi Environmental Protection Department, 12 brick kilns and six stone crushing units have been sealed while 33 vehicles have been seized for violating environmental laws.

    Express Tribune reported that as per a spokesperson, the purpose of the operation is to counter increasing smog in the region.

    Authorities also identified numerous dengue larvae breeding sites during the operation, and filed cases against 35 property owners, sealing 20 properties.

    The operation was conducted by Environment Protection Department Deputy Director Maria Safeer, Senior Inspector Romaisa Babar and inspectors Maqbool Hussain, Mohsen Shah and Inamul Haque.

    After inspecting 350 vehicles, 124 smoke-emitting cars were issued challans by the authorities, 33 were impounded, and a total fine of Rs228,800 was imposed.

    Similarly, 152 brick kilns were thoroughly examined which revealed that 18 of them were emitting excessive smoke.

    Cases against seven kiln owners have also been filed.

    Additionally, eight hospitals received notices for contributing to pollution, with two of them being charged accordingly.

  • Gold price reaches Rs234,000 per tola, nearing new record high

    Gold price reaches Rs234,000 per tola, nearing new record high

    Gold prices in Pakistan continued to rise on Tuesday, influenced by the Pakistani rupee’s decline against the US dollar and an uptick in global prices. 

    According to the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association, the cost of 24-carat gold settled at Rs234,500 per tola, marking a substantial increase of Rs4,600. Similarly, the price of 10 grammes of gold rose by Rs3,944 to reach Rs201,046.

    It is expected that the price of gold might reach unprecedented levels due to the relentless and rapid decline of local currency against the greenback.

    The movement of gold prices in Pakistan closely follows the path of the US dollar due to the country’s reliance on gold imports. 

    The Pakistani rupee saw a notable decrease, falling to a new all-time low against the US dollar. It ended at Rs299.01 rupees per dollar, reflecting a decline of Rs1.88, as reported by the State Bank of Pakistan.

    Currency experts attribute the surge in gold prices to the recent depreciation of the rupee. 

    With growing concerns about the country’s economic situation, investors are turning to gold as a safe-haven asset. This shift has resulted in a significant increase of Rs12,700 per tola in just one week.

    Read more: PKR to USD rate

    Notably, the hike in gold prices coincided with political turmoil and a decrease in the local currency’s value, leading to an all-time high valuation of Rs240,000 per tola on May 10, 2023. On the international front, the price of gold saw a $10 increase, reaching $1,901 per ounce on Tuesday.

  • Rawalpindi man lists nearly 30-year-old Honda Civic for sale at Rs1.5 million, says ‘it’s worth it’

    Rawalpindi man lists nearly 30-year-old Honda Civic for sale at Rs1.5 million, says ‘it’s worth it’

    With the rising prices of new cars rendering them unaffordable for many, even owners of older vehicles have begun to demand surprisingly high prices for their decades-old vehicles. In Rawalpindi, a seller recently posted an advertisement on the online buying and selling platform OLX Pakistan, listing a basic 1995 manual Honda Civic EXI at a staggering price of Rs1.5 million.

    The Current contacted him to ask if the price was a mistake. He confidently said it wasn’t and truly thinks his well-kept car is worth the Rs1.5 million price. He’s received many offers and a lot of interest in his nearly 30-year-old car. He also mentioned that he’s the third owner of this 1995 Honda Civic.

    It is noteworthy that a mere two years ago, cars of the same model year were being listed on online marketplaces for a significantly lower price, less than Rs600,000. However, the present scenario witnesses a surge in the asking price for these vehicles.

    This trend is not exclusive to a particular model but rather extends to nearly all used cars, given that even the cheapest car from Pak Suzuki Motors, the Suzuki Alto, now commands a price of nearly Rs3 million. Consequently, a considerable number of individuals, constrained by budgetary limitations, opt for pre-owned cars.

    While the price might raise eyebrows for a car of this kind, die-hard Honda Civic enthusiasts might willingly pay this hefty amount. That’s especially true if the car’s condition lives up to the seller’s claims.

    Given its popularity among Pakistan’s racing community and its appeal to those wanting to build a car from scratch, the price could find its justified niche.

  • The OG Pindi Boy Sheikh Rasheed ka new career?

    The OG Pindi Boy Sheikh Rasheed ka new career?

    Agar politics mein ziada maza nahi a raha, then every one should follow the start of Sheikh Rasheed’s rap career with the Pindi Boyz.

    The famous Rawalpindi politician set social media ablaze when he made an appearance in the rap group’s latest song ‘Pindi Aye 2.0’ in the begining. He can be seen sitting lazily on a sofa and puffing a cigar, while handing a black dossier to members of the band.

    The band, comprising of Hashim Nawaz, Zeeru, Hamzee, Shuja Shah, Usman Ghauri, OCL and Khawar Malik, gained fame on social media with their song ‘Pind Aye’ which has received 20+ million views on Youtube.

    On the surprise inclusion of the OG Pindi boy, Karamat told Dawn Images that it had taken them three years to convince the politician to agree to appear in their video. After chasing Rasheed for two months, the gang went to visit him at his house on the third day of Eid in order to shoot the intro.

    The group recalled spending two and a half hours with Rasheed, calling him very cool and laidback::

    “It was very chill, very laidback. He was like one of us,” Karamat revealed.

    The group also recalled how they asked Rasheed to just be himself, since he is known for his street smart style which is quite different from the the rest of the politicians. “Political stuff aside, he looked like Nick Fury while handing us the dossier,” Karamat remarked.

  • Rawalpindi, Islamabad residents forced to buy low-quality flour at exorbitant prices

    Rawalpindi, Islamabad residents forced to buy low-quality flour at exorbitant prices

    Residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are paying exorbitant prices for low-quality flour due to the poor performance of the District Food Department. The officials in charge have failed to take concrete steps to prevent smuggling and hoarding of flour, despite lip service and paperwork.

    As a result, locals are forced to pay more for flour than in any other city in the country. Dealers have hoarded ‘Atta’ and are selling a 15-kilogram bag for Rs2,300 to Rs2,650, while ‘Chakki’ owners are selling 1-kilogram ‘atta’ for Rs180 to Rs200. The price of a 20-kilogram ‘atta’ bag has reached Rs3,200 to Rs3,500 in retail shops.

    The Utility Store Corporation (USC) has resumed providing subsidized flour, but the quality is poor. The District Food Department and flour mill owners are working together to supply unhygienic flour at high prices. The department is not taking action to stop smuggling or control profiteers and hoarders, playing on both sides of the wicket.

    According to The News, District Food Controller (DFC) Hasan Nazir has admitted to a flour shortage in Rawalpindi and has written to the Secretary of Food (Punjab) to issue special permits for wheat supply. He assures the public that the ‘atta’ crisis will be resolved within weeks, and they are working to stop wheat smuggling, with over 600 wheat-filled vehicles stopped en route to Afghanistan.

    However, corrupt officials within the District Food Department are involved in wheat smuggling to Afghanistan via Torkham, and only ten vehicles are being stopped to show performance in the media while the officers let 90 vehicles go. The corrupt officials have several pending cases against them in the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Rawalpindi, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

    Despite Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif claiming a bumper wheat crop this year, residents are struggling to afford basic necessities due to the inflated price of flour. The Punjab government has set the price of 40-kilogram wheat at Rs3,900, but owners are violating this order and selling it for Rs5,400 to Rs6,000 in Rawalpindi. The situation is dire, with many struggling to afford basic necessities due to the inflated price of flour.

  • Anti-corruption force starts investigation against ex-DG ISI Faiz Hameed’s brother

    Anti-corruption force starts investigation against ex-DG ISI Faiz Hameed’s brother

    The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab has initiated an investigation against Najaf Hameed, the brother of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed.

    According to ACE, Najaf had “superseded several seniors for promotion to the Girdawar post and “accumulated assets beyond his own means”.

    The department has also reached out to Rawalpindi and Chakwal deputy commissioners for Najaf’s records.

    Najaf had been suspended from the post of deputy tehsil dar on February 16 over alleged misconduct. 

    Faiz Hameed has been criticised by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for interfering in political matters and exceeding his constitutional limits. The party’s Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz often lashes out at Faiz Hameed in her rallies, accusing him of playing a role in destabilising the country by supporting Imran Khan’s government.

  • Citizens launch fruit boycott campaign to protest against skyrocketing prices

    Citizens launch fruit boycott campaign to protest against skyrocketing prices

    Residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have launched the “Fruit Boycott Campaign” due to the increasing prices of fruits throughout the country. The campaign, initiated through social media by concerned citizens, appealed to the public to protest against the inflated prices of fruits.

    Citizens alleged that the inflation of fruits was due to the government officials’ failure to control profiteers and hoarders, and accused officials of having an underhand deal with them to loot the public.

    The campaign aimed at boycotting the purchase of fruits for two days initially, but citizens from all cities participated actively in making the campaign successful.

    According to The News, the campaign was successful, with a significant number of people participating and refusing to buy fruits for four days.

    However, the district administrations of Islamabad and Rawalpindi did not intervene in the situation, despite citizens submitting several complaints about the price hike.

    Sources claimed that profiteers and hoarders had hoarded all kinds of fruits to reap extra profits.

  • 25 killed in Kohistan bus-car collision

    At least 25 people were killed on Tuesday night while 12 were injured when a passenger bus plunged into a ditch after colliding with a car on the Karakoram Highway, Express Tribune has reported.


    The passenger bus going from Gilgit to Rawalpindi crashed head-on with the car travelling in the opposite direction in the Shitial region, according to the local police.


    Eyewitnesses have stated that the bus and the car collided as a result of speeding, and both vehicles then slid into the ditch.


    After being alerted, the police and emergency workers arrived quickly on the scene and transported the dead and injured to the RHC Hospital.


    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep grief and sorrow over loss of lives in the tragic bus accident.


    He expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the high ranks of the departed souls.


    The prime minister instructed the relevant authorities that all provisions of available medical facilities be provided to the injured passengers.

  • Flour price may increase to Rs200 per kilogramme soon

    Flour price may increase to Rs200 per kilogramme soon

    The pirce of “chakki” flour in Rawalpindi and Islamabad has soared to Rs170 per kilogramme due to the country’s escalating inflation.

    The price of “chakki atta” (chakki flour), which was formerly sold at Rs150 per kilogramme, has suddenly increased to Rs170 per kilogramme. The new pricing is applicable as of Sunday, according to the price list published by the Rawalpindi Islamabad Chakki Atta Association and displayed at chakkis.

    Unfortunately, the administrations of the twin cities have not made any announcements. Nazakat Shah, president of the association, and Ali Raza, general secretary, have both signed the price list.

    According to The News, chakki owners in Rawalpindi claim that the association informed them that the price of flour may rise to Rs200 per kilogramme in the near future.

    An owner claimed that he only received 10 bags of wheat, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, with condolences from wholesalers that they would have to restrict the product and that things would only get harder as time goes on.

    The price of rice has also increased by Rs50 per kilogramme in less than a week, in a similar manner. The best rice can be found for between Rs340 and Rs380 per kilogramme.

  • 4,000 Safe City cameras to be installed in Rawalpindi to control crime

    4,000 Safe City cameras to be installed in Rawalpindi to control crime

    As part of the Rawalpindi Safe City Project, the administration is finalising a plan to monitor every section of the city by placing 4,000 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on the roads.

    A spokesman for the Commissioner’s Office stated that Commissioner Saqib Manan had presided over a meeting to discuss the status of the Rawalpindi Safe City Project. He said that in order to increase surveillance and keep a close check on criminal activity in Rawalpindi, the Punjab government had chosen to engage in a contract with the Safe City Authority to put CCTV cameras in the city, according to The News.

    The meeting was informed that 950 locations had been chosen in Rawalpindi where around 4,000 cameras would be installed to monitor the city.

    He stated that the integrated system these CCTV cameras will operate under would assist reduce crime and strengthen the city’s law and order situation. Along with car tracking and surveillance, the idea would aid the police and the local government in managing traffic signals. Additionally, the project would be crucial in providing security during significant public events.

    In order to preserve peace and order in large cities, traffic control, and other public amenities, he claimed that current technology was employed everywhere; this system would also be implemented in Rawalpindi.

    A control and command centre would be built at the City Police Office, according to the spokesperson. He continued by saying that it would govern quick emergency and police responses, including intelligent traffic management, police unit dispatch, Rescue 1122 response, criminal identification, and virtual surveillance.