KARACHI: Meezan Bank Limited, in collaboration with the Sindh government and DHA Karachi, has launched second COVID-19 drive-through vaccination centre.
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Meezan Bank launches COVID vaccination center
KARACHI: Meezan Bank Limited, Pakistan’s leading Islamic bank, on Saturday launched Pakistan’s largest drive-through COVID vaccination center.
The bank launched the vaccination center in collaboration with the Sindh government in Karachi.
The Facility is situated at central location of Karachi in Gulberg Town at Afghan Ground, Block 19, F.B. Area, opposite Afroze Textile and adjacent Happy Palace School.
The Vaccination Centre was inaugurated today by Barrister Murtaza Wahab – Spokesperson Government of Sindh & Administrator Karachi which was personally overseen by the Bank’s Founding President & CEO – Irfan Siddiqui.
Also present at the occasion was Taha Saleem – Deputy Commissioner, Central Karachi and the Bank’s Senior Management including Muhammad Raza – Group Head, Customer Support and Riaz Ahmed – Head Administration, among others.
With a total of twenty-four booths operating from 4:00pm to 12:00am, the facility will operate seven days a week, providing thousands of adults a safer way of getting vaccinated while observing social distancing rules.
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Sindh designates COVID vaccination centers in Karachi
KARACHI: The Sindh Government on Sunday designated centers for COVID vaccination in Karachi in order to facilitate general public.
Following are the hospitals for corona vaccinations:
01. District Karachi East: DOW OJHA CAMPUS
02. District Karachi South: I. Khaliq Dino Hall; II. JPMC; III. Lyari General Hospital
03. District Karachi Central: I. Children Hospital; II. Sindh Government (SG) Hospital New Karachi; III. SG Hospital Liaquatabad
04. District Karachi West: Sindh Government Qatar Hospital
05. District Karachi Malir: SG Hospital Murad Memon Goth
06. District Karachi Korangi: SG Hospital Korangi-05; SG Hospital, Saudabad, Karachi.
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Sindh to set up new industrial zone in Karachi
KARACHI: The Sindh government has expedited work on a proposal to set up a new industrial zone “NKATI 2” like North Karachi Industrial Area.
For this purpose a site is being sought and in consultation with the North Karachi Association of Trade & Industry (NKATI). It will be finalized later.
This was stated by Minister Information & Local Government Sindh, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah during a meeting with a delegation led by Faisal Moiz Khan, President NKATI, SVP Shabir Ismail and Syed Yasir Hussain, Chairman Sub-Committee Local Bodies at his residence.
Syed Nasir Hussain Shah further said that promotion of trade & industry is the top priority of Sindh government and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto has also the same vision.
Therefore, all resources will be utilized to create vast employment opportunities and promote industrialization. He also directed the MD Water Board to ensure uninterrupted supply of water to the industries.
The Provincial Minister also assured the Sindh Building Control Authority to regularize the factories located in North Karachi Industrial Area and solve the issues related to District Municipal Corporation. He further said that Capt. A Moiz Khan Road would also be inaugurated and a notification would be issued soon.
In a meeting with the Provincial Minister, Faisal Moiz Khan, President NKATI, apprised the industrialists of the problems faced by them, and said that production activities were being severely affected due to non-supply of water to North Karachi industries. However, the issues related to DMC are also increasing day by day which needs immediate attention.
“The Sindh government should set up a new industrial zone like North Karachi Industrial Zone to promote industries so that more and more new industries could be set up and vast employment opportunities could be created”, he suggested. Faisal Moiz Khan also requested the provincial minister to regularize the factories from Sindh Building Control Authority.
Expressing satisfaction over the assurance of the provincial minister to resolve the issues under discussion at the meeting, NKATI president said that industrialists would extend all possible cooperation with Sindh government to increase production activities and promote industries.
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Industries flay raise in minimum wage by Sindh
In a significant development, the Sindh Government’s decision to unilaterally increase the minimum wage from Rs17,500 to Rs25,000 has stirred discontent and alarm within the industrial sector, particularly in Karachi.
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Minimum wage for unskilled laborers fixed at Rs17,500
KARACHI: Sindh government has fixed minimum wage for unskilled laborers at Rs17,500, a statement said on Wednesday.
According to the notification issued by Zahid Hussain Khemtio, Chairman, Minimum Wages Board, the Sindh government has fixed minimum wages of Rs. 17,500 per month for unskilled workers and under the Sindh Minimum Wages Act 2015, all industrial and commercial establishments across the province are bound to pay the fixed wages.
Chairman Sindh Minimum Wages Board Zahid Hussain Khemtio said in a statement that if anyone has a complaint in this regard, one should call these numbers and can lodge one’s complaint on 021-99211344 and 03003013110 and action will be taken against the institution which does not comply with the Act on receipt of the complaint. He further said that the said law is effective from July 1, 2019.
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Sindh shuts schools till March 13 on Coronavirus fear
KARACHI: Sindh government has decided to further extend the closure of schools between March 01 and March 13, 2020 owing to coronavirus threat.
Senator Saeed Ghani, a provincial minister, in a tweet message said that the Sindh government had decided to extend the closure of all educational institutions till March 13, 2020.
Earlier, the provincial government after confirmation of coronavirus cases in the country, particularly in Sindh capital and port city Karachi, announced the closure of school on February 27 and February 28, 2020.
Sources said that the decision to further closure of educational institutions was taken at a meeting chaired by Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister of Sindh.
The decision has been taken in order to take precautionary measures in order to avoid spread of the deadly virus.
The epidemic was detected in Pakistan on February 26, 2020 on persons arriving from Iran. Since than the toll of infected persons with coronavirus increased to four.
In a press conference Prime Minister’s health adviser Dr Zafar Mirza on Saturday confirmed two more cases in the country.
He said that one of the patients was from Karachi while the other was from Islamabad. He urged the masses to refrain from panicking.
He said that the first two patients of the virus “are recovering and one of them will soon be discharged” and added that their clinical treatment was satisfactory and according to the guidelines of the health ministry.
The presser was held on the sidelines of a government meeting held to discuss the control and prevention of coronavirus with a focus on two themes: scaling up efforts and increasing coordination.
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Sindh launches action against illegal construction
KARACHI: The Sindh government has directed authorities to initiate stern action against builders involved in the construction of illegal construction of buildings.
A meeting presided over by Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah was held at his office on Monday.
The meeting reviewed the incidents of buildings that recently collapsed in Karachi and Sukkur. Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shalwani told that people get the NOC for constructing ground plus one but later build five stories illegally.
Zaffar Abbas, Director General, Sindh Building Control Authority, informed that the building, which collapsed in Karachi’s Timber Market area was declared dangerous but the residents were not prepared to vacate it.
Director-General told that currently there were 382 dangerous buildings in the old city area for which the public had been informed through advertisements.
Chief Secretary directed the DG, SBCA to submit a detailed report about 382 buildings declared dangerous and also initiate action under the law against illegal builders.
The Chief Secretary constituted a committee headed by Commissioner Karachi for preparing rehabilitation plans for the residents of dangerous buildings.
The provincial government would establish Sindh Urban and Regional Master Plan Authority 2020 and the draft of the proposed Authority had been sent to the law department for vetting. Soon after the vetting, the draft of the plan would be submitted to the cabinet and the provincial assembly for approval and legislation.
The officials of local government and planning & development departments gave a detailed presentation on the proposed plan.
The meeting was informed that legislation is required to establish Sindh Urban and Regional Master Plan Authority separately from Sindh Building Control Authority.
Chief Secretary directed the Secretary Local Government Roshan Ali Sheikh to submit the Draft Plan to the Cabinet without further delay.
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K-Electric warns of crisis on non-payment of dues by Sindh departments
KARACHI: K-Electric – the power generation and distribution company – has demanded the Sindh government to pay the dues on urgent basis as non-payment will result into potential crisis for Karachi city.
In a letter to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah the power utility requested for support in expediting the release of outstanding dues of different department of the provincial government.
The K-Electric said it was facing severe cashflow issues due to the non-payment of dues by the government of Sindh. The company is working tirelessly to manage its routine operations and maintainance along with the purchase of power for the smooth functioning of the operations and to supply safe and reliable power to Karachi and its adjoining area.
“However, this has been communicated to your office time and again that with large amount pending in the form of receivable from the government departments, KE is facing severe constraints in running its day to day operations and ensuring seamless supply of power to the city.”
The power utility said that its receivable from different departments of the Sindh government had increased to Rs19.2 billion, of which Rs4.5 billion had been reconciled.
In addition, Rs33.09 billion is also receivable on account of KW&SB out of which Rs28.5 billion in dues have been fully reconciled.
In its summary to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Sindh government agreed to devise a payment plan for the reconciled amount, which was also made part of the apex court’s order.
However, there have been notable delays in the payment against the mentioned reconciled amount and a payment plan is still awaited.
As a result, K-Electric’s borrowing has increased substantially, and the situation is not sustainable for the company. Moreover, the capacity of banks to finance KE has been exhausted, inadvertently effecting KE’s working capital and long-term expansion plan.
The KE said that it was not a defaulter of current payments to any of its fuel suppliers since 2012, despite the cashflow situation. However, to be able to continue to make payments to the suppliers and ensure smooth operations, it is essential that the release of outstanding dues is expedited.
“… the non-payment of these dues will result into potential crisis for the city and the sustainability of KE’s operations,” it said.
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Sindh government gets share as per NFC formula: finance ministry
The Sindh government is set to receive its share as per the National Finance Commission (NFC) formula, as clarified by the federal finance ministry in a statement released on Thursday.
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