An open letter to Mr Zardari

Hiding beneath the all-enveloping burqa of democracy, you continue to hold your political party and the country hostage to your governance in Sindh or lack thereof. It’s one thing to be incompetent or engage in mismanagement, it’s another to argue that calling you out for bad governance is going to undo Pakistan’s shaky democracy. This is the party of Bhutto and Benazir. Why’re you using their legacy to cover your shady tracks?

The PPP is one of the most result-driven opposition parties in Pakistan’s history. Benazir Bhutto was the face of the opposition that led to the downfall of two of the most menacing military dictators in the country, Zia and Musharraf. Instead of serving as a strong opposition party at the centre today, against what you claim is a selected prime minister, you’re using your chips to negotiate a safe exit for yourself rather than keep this government on its toes.

Pakistan has two opposition leaders today. The first, jo metro sai baz na aya, is in jail. The second, perhaps the best opposition leader in Pakistan since Benazir, sits in the Prime Minister House today and occasionally takes notice of gas price increases his cabinet okays. This is theatre of the absurd. My point being, the Pakistani people deserve a real opposition party. And the PPP isn’t snoozing on the job. It’s actively looking the other way so it can score a deal that can erase its acts of omission and commission.

You force progressives and pro-democracy activists to act as the carpet, under which you can brush all your real and perceived sins. That’s because the PPP is one of the few mainstream voices which still argues for a liberal and progressive Pakistan. How much longer can we look the other way as you play us like a fiddle, while interior Sindh burns?

No sir, the jig is up. Unlike Bhutto and Benazir, history will not judge you kindly. You are not the poster boy of democracy nor is democracy threatened if you leave the system. Democracy is threatened by the PPP and Bilawal being held hostage to gross negligence by you in Sindh. Let Bilawal lead the party. Let him dump your friends running the party as quickly as he can.

You argue the establishment wants a minus-one formula to punish you for the crime of being a democrat. When Benazir argued for democracy, Pakistan rose to defend her. Even those who didn’t like her, including Nawaz Sharif, were the first to mourn her death and arrive at the hospital. When you cry wolf, no one will rise to your defence. And that’s on you, not the establishment.

As someone born and raised in Karachi, I don’t want the PTI to overthrow your government in Sindh through horse trading or other funny business. I want Bilawal to stage a coup within the PPP. Pakistan needs a strong PPP to deliver in Sindh and serve as opposition at the centre. Bilawal gives great speeches, which as Imran Khan’s journey has proven, is the only thing you need to make a great opposition leader. As far as governance goes, I can’t imagine Bilawal’s leadership to be worse than Usman Buzdar, as long as he gets rid of daddy’s friends.

Yes, it’s true, I can criticise Zardari to my heart’s content. But I can’t criticise those who must not be criticised. When you want to know who holds the real power in a room, you think about those who you can’t speak up against. That much is true. But it doesn’t help that the man who wants to lead the fight against them is this flawed.

Bilawal would make a much better fighter for the cause of democracy and progressive values in the country. He’s your son Mr Zardari, stop eating into his inheritance. Give him wings and fade away into the distance or better yet, your penthouse in New York City.

Minister blames Centre for power cuts in Karachi

Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh on Monday informed the lawmakers that the provincial government had no role in containing the ongoing loadshedding by K-Electric as the power utility was independently working under the administrative control of the federal government.

Furnishing a statement and giving replies to the lawmakers’ written and oral queries during Question Hour, he said the power utility was privatised by the federal government in 2006 with the core objective to reduce losses and provide relief to the people of Karachi.

The minister said that power generation was affected by the shortage of gas. He quoted the power utility as saying that it was investing $450 million for upgrading the power distribution system.

“The power utility claims that it has invested two billion dollars, added 1,057MW since its privatisation and reduced losses from 36 per cent to 20 per cent,” the minister said, adding that these claims needed to be verified by the federal government.

Mr Shaikh claimed that 75pc of the city was now free of loadshedding. He said the provincial government was running a campaign to make the people aware about electricity shortage.

Stressing the need for conserving electricity, the minister said that the government was educating the people on how to save electricity. He added that the provincial government was working on promoting the use of LED bulbs through the Directorate of Power Development (PDS) as per the guidelines of the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority for creating awareness about efficient use of energy. “In order to circulate awareness in the masses, the PDS in collaboration with Indus University had held a joint seminar in May 2018,” the minister added.

Answering a question asked by MPA Arif Mustafa Jatoi of the Grand Democratic Alliance, he said that at present the provincial government did not have plans to give subsidy on the sale of LED bulbs. However, the minister said, the provincial government was planning to establish a full-fledged Directorate of Sindh Energy Efficiency and Conservation for creating awareness as well as enforcing energy efficiency and conservation.

In reply to a question asked by Mr Jatoi, he said the federal government had three directors on K-Electric’s board of directors and the provincial government had requested that at least one director from Sindh should be included to monitor the operational capabilities of KE. However, he said the request had not yet been accepted.

Mr Shaikh informed the house that the provincial government had established a 100MW gas turbine power project for the supply of electricity to KE and for this a 95-kilometre transmission line was also built by the Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company.

In addition to this, he said, the provincial government had allocated Rs1,584 million for the installation of infrastructure for electrification of villages in the KE-licensed area.

The minister further said that the provincial energy department with the support of the World Bank had launched a Sindh Solar Energy Project under which all public sector buildings would be solarised through a rooftop solar programme within five years.

First death from Congo virus reported in Karachi

A woman lost her life to Congo virus at the city’s Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre on Tuesday becoming the first reported death of the year in Pakistan owing to the disease.

Reports revealed that a 35-year-old woman, resident of Karachi’s Orangi Town had been brought to the Jinnah Hospital in a critical condition.

It was confirmed by the hospital’s Executive Director Dr Seemin Jamali that the patient had been infected with the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) which later took her life.

The disease is transmitted to the body through a tick that attaches itself to the skin of cattle that transports the virus from the animal to people who come in contact with it.

As per reports by the World Health Organization, the virus is said to have a fatality rate ranging from 10 percent to 40 percent with its symptoms being fever, muscle aches, faintness, neck and back aches, sore eyes, sensitivity to light, nausea, diarrhea and sore throat.

Last year, the city encountered 41 people infected by the disease out of which 16 lost their lives. 

Karachi to be engulfed in another cold spell this week

Weather in the city is expected to take a surge once again with a sudden drop in temperature expected this week.

According to reports by Pakistan Meteorological Departments the city will be engulfed with another wave of cold and chilly air blowing at a speed of 60-70 kilometers per hour.

Temperatures on Tuesday are expected to reach a high of 16-27 degrees while on Sunday a hazy sunshine can be experienced between 15-26 degrees centigrade and minimum wind speed to be 45-55 kilometers per hour.

Weather related health conditions are already taking its toll on people hence Karachiites have been advised to be well prepared and help themselves to brave against possible infections, mainly viral in nature.

Adequate attention towards personal hygiene with particular reference to hand washing and preference for homemade food besides regular intake of liquid including lukewarm water and soups, preferably of vegetable can be of great help, a senior family physician, Dr Hashim Allana suggested.

آپ پر فرض تو نہیں ہے لیکن اگر بات پوری سن لیں تو کئی شکوک و شبہات اور غلط فہمیاں  دور ہوسکتے ہیں۔

جب پاکستان کا کل بجٹ 903 ارب تھا اس وقت دفاع کا حصہ 194 ارب یعنی کل بجٹ کا 21 فیصد تھا اور آج 15 سال بعد جب ملک کا بجٹ پانچ ہزار ارب کے قریب ہے تو اس  میں سے دفاعی بجٹ کا حصہ اٹھارہ فیصد ہے۔

صرف پاکستان آرمی (نیوی، ائرفورس کے علاوہ)سترہ ارب سے زیادہ قومی خزانے کو براہ راست واپس کرتی ہے۔
231 ملین جنرل سیلز ٹیکس
1257 ملین ( تقریباً سوا ارب) آفیسرز اور جونئر کمیشنڈ آفیسرز کی طرف سے دیا گیا انکم ٹیکس۔
557 ملین۔  ہاؤس رینٹ الاؤنس کی مد میں ۔ یہ  وہ آفیسرز، صوبیدار صاحبان اور سپاہی دیتے ہیں جو سرکاری گھروں میں رہتے ہیں۔ وہ افسران جو کمروں میں رہتے ہیں وہ بھی بنیادی تنخواہ کا 5 فیصد سرکاری خزانے میں جمع کرواتے ہیں۔ بجلی، گیس اور پانی کا بل واپڈا اور سوئی سدرن / ناردرن کو علیحدہ جمع کروایا جاتا ہے۔
ملڑی انجنئرنگ سروس (MES) کی طرف سے کیجانے والی تعمیرات میں شامل ٹیکس 2642 ملین۔
مخلتف سپلائز کی مد میں 3 فیصد دئے جانے والا ٹیکس 2200 ملین۔
پاک فوج جو کسٹم ڈیوٹی دیتی ہے وہ 2000 ملین۔
دفاعی پیداوار اور سازو سامان جو برآمد کیا جاتا ہے اس پر سیلز ٹیکس 2500 ملین۔
ملٹری فارمز جو کہ (سول سروس کے گروپ) ملٹری لینڈ اینڈ کنٹونمٹس سروسز کے ماتحت ہوتے ہیں قومی خزانے کو 500 ملین دیتے ہیں۔۔۔۔۔۔

اس کے علاہ وہ ادارے جو آرمی ویلفئر ٹرسٹ، فوجی فاؤنڈیشن، NLC, FWO, CSD  وٖٖغیرہ  قومی خزانے کو جو دیتے ہیں وہ الگ۔
فوجی فاؤنڈیشن جو کہ فوج سے ریٹائرڈ ملازمین کا ادارہ ہے اور جس کے پے رول  پر کوئی حاضر سروس نہیں ہوتا (اور نا ملکی یا دفاعی بجٹ سے اس تنظیم کو کوئی پیسہ ملتا ) ملکی خزانے میں ڈیڑھ کھرب کا حصہ کا ڈالتا ہے۔
آرمی ویلفئر ٹرسٹ 1531 ملین، این ایل سی 822 ملین، ایف ڈبلیو او، 958 ملین اور سی ایس ڈی 561 ملین قومی خزانے میں اپنا حصہ ڈالتے ہیں۔ یعنی پاک آرمی کی طرف سے بالواسطہ دو کھرب کے قریب کے قومی خزانے کو دیا جاتا ہے۔

ڈیفنس ہاؤسنگ اتھارٹی کے پلاٹ یا عسکری ہاؤسنگ کے فلیٹ اور گھر، کسی آرمی آفیسر یا جونئر کمیشنڈ آفیسر کو کچھ بھی مفت نہیں ملتا۔ میں دوہراتا ہوں۔ کسی آرمی آفیسر یا جونئر کمیشنڈ آفیسر کوئی پلاٹ یا گھر مفت میں نہیں ملتا۔  نا ہی ڈی ایچ اے کو کوئی زمین مفت ملتی ہے بلکہ دوسرے ہاؤسنگ پراجیکٹس کی طرح زمین سرکار سے خریدی جاتی ہے یا جو بھی مالکان ہوں ان سے۔ ڈی ایچ اے لاہور کے بیچوں بیچ ایک پنڈ کے لوگوں نے اپنی زمین بیچنے سے انکار کردیا تو وہ پنڈ آج بھی  وہاں آباد ہے۔ بلکہ ڈی ایچ اے نے اس پنڈ کے لوگوں کو الگ سڑک بنا کر دینی پڑی۔
20 سال کی عمر میں کمیشن پانے والا ایک افسر اپنی 25 سے 30 سال کی سروس میں اپنی گنجائش کے مطابق ہر ماہ پانچ، دس ہزار روپے اپنی تنخواہ سے اس پلاٹ،  فلیٹ یا گھر کے لئے کٹواتا ہے جس کے لئے اسے ہر جگہ یہ سننے کو ملتا ہے
کہ "تمہارے مزے ہیں بھئی سب فری ملتا ہے"۔۔۔۔۔

سرمایہ کفالت یا حصہ رسدی یعنی Provident fund  کس سرکاری یا نجی ادارے میں نہیں ہوتا ؟ اسی طرح فوج میں ملازم ہر شخص کم یا زیادہ سرمایہ کفالت اپنی تنخواہ سے کٹواتا ہے۔ سات لاکھ افراد کی تنخواہ سے کٹنے والا فنڈ آرمی ویلفئر ٹرسٹ اور دیگر اداروں کی سرمایہ کاری میں لگتا ہے اور منافع ہر ملازم کو اس ہی تناسب سے ریٹایئر منٹ کے وقت ملتا ہے۔۔۔۔۔۔

اس کے علاوہ فوج، نیوی اور ائر فورس کے دس لاکھ کے قریب ملازمین کو جو تنخواہ دفاعی بجٹ سے ملتی ہے وہ بھی تو اس ملک کے اندر ہی خرچ ہوتی ہے۔

رہی بات فوج کا آڈٹ۔ پاکستان آرمی، نیوی، اور ائر فورس کا آڈٹ، تنخواہیں اور ٹی اے ڈی ایک الگ ادارے (کنٹرولر آف ملتری اکاؤنٹس) کی ذمہ داری ہے جو مکمل طور پر سول ہے، جس کے تمام ملازمین سویلین ہوتے ہیں افسران بالا سی ایس ایس پاس کرکے آتے ہیں۔ ہر سال، تین سال اور پانچ سال بعد آڈٹ ہوتا ہے جو Audit Objections لمبے عرصے تک حل نہیں ہوتے وہ پبلک اکاؤنٹس کمیٹی میں جاتے ہیں جسکا چیئر مین اپوزیشن لیڈر ہوتا ہے۔  آڈٹ کی باقی تفصیلات کنٹرولر آف ملٹری اکاؤنٹس کی ویب سائٹس پر دیکھی جاسکتی ہیں (http://www.pmad.gov.pk/index.php?p=internal-auditing)پاکستان ملٹری اکاؤنٹس ڈپارٹمنٹ کا آڈٹ اکاؤنٹنٹ جنرل پاکستان کا ادارہ کا کرتا ہے۔

تعصب کی عینک کو اتار کر دیکھا جائے اور اندھی تنقید نا کیجا ئےتو "70 اور 80 فیصد بجٹ"، "فوج کے کاروبار"  " تمہیں تو سب مفت ملتا ہے" اور " فوج کا آڈٹ نہیں ہوتا " بچپن سے ہمارے دماغوں میں پیدا کئے جانے والےواہمے ہیں۔۔۔۔

بے ربط خیالات~

Karachi zoo to get more exotic animals in major revamp efforts

KARACHI: 

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has decided to make efforts to make the Karachi Zoo attractive for the people, especially children.

The zoo’s boundary wall will be decorated with paintings of big animals, according to the plan, while sign boards will be placed containing names and information about all animals, birds and old trees.

The environment of the zoo will be changed in a way that people who never visited the zoo before would also want to take their children there.

This was decided in a meeting held at Karachi Zoo headed by the KMC Commissioner Dr Syed Saifur Rehman on Wednesday. Recreation Senior Director Mansoor Qazi, Aquarium Additional Director Ismail Shakir, Deputy Director Abida, Veterinary Dr Amir Ismail and Horticulturist Zamin Abbas were also present at the event.

Rehman conducted a detailed survey of the zoo and inspected different animals, birds and their cages and said that the gardeners, security guards and other staff members working in the zoo should have a specific uniform.

“This matter has been discussed with a private bank which will provide the selected and approved uniform for the staff.”

Appreciating the staff on the security and cleanliness of the zoo, he said that they should maintain such an environment that the visitors feel secure while enjoying. “The lack of big animals in this zoo will also be supplemented. The provincial government has been requested for it,” he added.

He also surveyed the Mughal Garden, ancient fountins and waterfall installed outside the Karachi Zoo and expressed joy on seeing them operational.

Karachi Zoo Director Dr Mansoor Qazi said that this historical zoo was established in 1870. “Around 850 animals and birds from various species are present here currently. In addition to this, a fish house with beautiful fishes and reptile house is also present in the zoo.”

He added that a fun land along with boating facility was also available. He informed that the total number of cages in the zoo is 125. An information desk was also set up where the visitors could get information about location or lost things. Direction boards to direct towards different animals and birds’ cages have also been placed.

Old trees that are about 100-150 years old are also there in Karachi zoo which include Banyan, Neem, Fig and Tarmarind trees. The roots of these trees are growing further which is adding to the beauty of the zoo. All these ancient trees were planted in the era of British Colonial rule.

When 2018 brought the death of Burnes Road and marred the spirit of Karachi

Karachi’s recent anti-encroachment drive has caused uproar all across the city over the past few weeks. While some argue that for the sake of ‘development’, it is perfectly justified to remove the illegal establishments that have existed in the city for decades now, others strongly believe that legality should not take pre-eminence over the need to sustain the livelihoods of the poor.

Regardless of which side you take in this debate, the repercussions on certain neighbourhoods of Karachi have been unavoidable. One such neighbourhood is Saddar, where most of the illegal occupations have now been cleared, including some of the most loved eateries on the popular Burnes Road.

Photo: Anas Ali

Burnes Road is usually referred to as the pioneer food street of Karachi. For those of you who don’t know, Burnes Road is a street located in the very heart of the old city of Karachi and is traditionally famous for food items such as nihari, kebabs, fried fish, bun kabab, desserts such as rabri and drinks such as lassi.

The street derives its name from the British Dr James Burnes, and although the name was changed to Muhammad bin Qasim Road after Partition, most people are unaware of this change and colloquially continue to refer to the street not as Burnes Road but ‘Buns Road’, the desi equivalent.

This street was not set up purposefully by any government; rather, appeared organically as migrants from post-Partition India (especially from the Delhi area) settled in the adjoining areas, bringing with them the food and culture of the respective cities in India they belonged to. Most of these shop owners call themselves ‘Delhi-walas’ and in most cases, these families had food businesses in India even before Partition. These very families laid the foundation of the original food street in Karachi.

Waheed Kabab House is one such eatery. Known for its spicy nihari and dhagay wale kabab, the eatery attracts the masses each day. The place has existed in the region since right after Partition, and it is rare to find a Karachiitte who has never visited the place. However, under the Supreme Court’s orders, this eatery was one of the many touched by heavy machinery. What is particularly tragic about these partial or total demolitions is the feeling that in the end, our memories and the essence of Karachi did not seem worth preserving. After all, Waheed Kabab House is more than just a restaurant. Within these walls are years and years of newly-discovered love stories, newly formed friendships, family reunions, couples going on first dates, parents taking their children out for dinner for the very first time, and countless such memories.

Photo: Anas Ali

Photo: Anas Ali

Waheed Kabab House isn’t the only eatery that is considered the heart of Burnes Road. All of last month, people took to Twitter and Facebook to talk about their beloved eateries being affected by the drive. Over 70 eateries have been demolished thus far, while many others have been impacted in some way or another by the destruction surrounding them.

Delhi Dahi Barey, that has existed in the area since the late 50s, has also not been spared. All year round, especially in the month of Ramazan, there would be lines of people swarming outside, waiting to get their hands on the most exquisite dahi barey in town. Now, alongside the sweet smell of chaat masala exists the unpleasant odour of construction. Billows of smoke have replaced what was once the waiting area where lines of people used to form.

Photo: Anas Ali

Delhi Rabri, located right next to Waheed Kabab House, has been a favourite for desserts since decades. A visit to Burnes Road was thoroughly incomplete without stopping at Delhi Rabri to fulfill that sweet tooth craving. Rabri, a traditional sweet dish, is one of the specialties of Delhi, India and it is these families originally from Delhi that brought with them the most exquisite Rabri to the city of Karachi. Families would wait for Sundays when they would go to ‘Buns Road’ and be able to feast on this delight. Will these Sundays remain the same, when Burnes Road no longer is?

Khalid khi@khalid_pk

Some shops at Burns Road including Delhi Rubbri House try to encroach land again after recent anti-encroachment drive, given befitting lesson this morning #Karachi

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12:38 PM - Dec 5, 2018

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Agha Sajji is yet another example of a much loved eatery that is no longer the same. Sajji is a traditionally Balochi dish consisting of either chicken or lamb on skewers, loved by many. Sajji was certainly not the only thing on the menu at Agha Sajji. The restaurant serves all sorts of popular desi food, ranging from the most simple daals, to the more complex katakat.

Photo: Anas Ali

Suddenly, the anti-encroachment drive isn’t only about risking the livelihoods of the poor, but equally about destroying years and years of memories attached to each cherished eatery in the vicinity. Places are made up of more than just the walls that encapsulate them, and when the walls come tumbling down, so does everything associated with them. This is tragic, to say the least.

Faizan Lakhani

✔@faizanlakhani

Grew up having bun kabab from this stall at Burns Road, the famous Babu Bhai, he was there since three or four decades! His stall was also removed under anti encroachment drive in Karachi.

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9:54 PM - Nov 25, 2018

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Faizan Lakhani

✔@faizanlakhani

Just two days before, there was a shop named Delhi Dahi Barray on Burns Road, the street also had a chai waaala making it an always alive street. Gone are those days now.

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9:28 PM - Nov 25, 2018

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The famous activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir took to Twitter as well in order to voice his reservations about the way this drive was conducted.

M. Jibran Nasir

✔@MJibranNasir

Burns Road served as Karachi food street for decades. Several famous eateries demolished there defined Karachi's food culture and identity. The Govt must ensure alternate locations. Cities are more than just concrete structures. No one seems to understand that in Govt & SC

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7:14 PM - Nov 25, 2018

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Nasir’s words are akin to what most Karachites have been feeling these past few weeks. In the end, we have to ask ourselves whether ‘development’ and the need to make Karachi the next Dubai is worth the cost of not only leaving these poor people (for whom Burnes Road has always been everything), without anything at all, but also destroying what might have been the only source of excitement and happiness in someone’s life.