Author: Aziz Khatri

By Aziz Khatri KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said minority communities have made an important contribution to Pakistan’s development and prosperity, pledging that the government would continue to protect their rights. He was speaking at a National Minorities Day ceremony held at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, hosted by Sindh Chief Minister’s Special Assistant for Minority Affairs Dr Sham Sunder K Advani. Deputy Speaker Sindh Assembly Naveed Anthony, Senator Krishna Kumari, provincial ministers, MPAs, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Arts Council President Ahmed Shah and diplomatic representatives from Bahrain, Qatar, South Korea, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Iraq…

By Aziz Khatri KARACHI: Indonesian Consul General in Karachi M. A. Mudzakir on Thursday congratulated the government, leadership and people of Pakistan on the country’s 79th Independence Day. In a message issued on behalf of the Indonesian Consulate General in Karachi and the Indonesian community in Sindh, Mudzakir conveyed warm greetings to Pakistan on the national occasion. He said Independence Day served as a reminder of Pakistan’s resilience, unity and shared aspirations, which continued to guide the country towards greater progress and prosperity. The consul general highlighted the longstanding relationship between Indonesia and Pakistan, describing the ties between the two…

By Aziz Khatri KARACHI: The MHD Group has launched Small Industrial Towers One, Two and Three in Karachi’s SITE Area, offering small and medium-sized businesses a range of commercial and industrial facilities under one roof. The project was inaugurated by MHD Group chairman Faizan Dadi at a ceremony attended by business leaders, industrialists, traders and representatives from different sectors. Dadi said the project was aimed at providing small and medium-sized entrepreneurs with an organised and secure environment where they could start, relocate or expand their businesses. According to the project management, units and showrooms are available for both rent and…

By Aziz Khatri KARACHI: Sri Lanka’s Consul General in Karachi, Sanjeeva Pattiwila, has conveyed warm greetings to the government and people of Pakistan on the country’s National Day, expressing hopes for peace, prosperity, stability and continued progress. Pattiwila said Sri Lanka and Pakistan shared a longstanding friendship based on mutual respect, trust, goodwill and strong people-to-people ties. He said the relationship had grown into a broad partnership spanning diplomacy, trade and investment, defence and security, education, culture, tourism and sports. He described Pakistan as a trusted friend and partner in South Asia, highlighting close defence ties, growing economic relations, cultural…

By Aziz Khatri KARACHI: Registered contractors of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) have expressed concern over the termination of their contracts, the non-return of security deposits and what they described as a lack of progress by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), warning that they may approach the courts again. Mohsin Ali Khan, general secretary of the SSGC Registered Contractors Association, said contractors affiliated with the association had been providing services to the company for nearly 50 years. He alleged that the company management had terminated their contracts and stopped them from working without adequate justification or prior notice.…

By Aziz Khatri KARACHI: Mayor Murtaza Wahab said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) wanted to improve conditions in the city and provide residents with better public facilities. Wahab made the remarks after inaugurating the KMC Sports Complex in Landhi, where he spoke to reporters about ongoing development work in Karachi. He said work had started on several roads, while tenders had been issued for other projects. The mayor thanked Sindh Chief Minister and the provincial local government minister for their support for the city’s development schemes. He said efforts were under way to improve infrastructure and address the needs of…

By Aziz Khatri KARACHI: Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab inaugurated the renovated KMC Sports Complex in Landhi Town, saying the facility would give young people and families access to modern sports and recreational facilities in their own neighborhood. Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad, Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentary leader in the City Council Karamullah Waqasi, elected representatives and a large number of residents attended the inauguration. Wahab said the complex had been equipped for a range of indoor and outdoor sports, including martial arts, while a swimming pool would also be available to the public. He said the facility would provide children…

By Aziz Khatri KARACHI: Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) will launch a citywide kidney screening program at the Union Council level to improve early detection of kidney-related diseases and expand access to preventive healthcare, Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab has said. The mayor directed the Karachi Institute of Kidney Diseases (KIKD) to conduct the screening program on a large scale in coordination with Union Council chairmen. The initiative is intended to identify kidney-related health problems at an early stage, assess their prevalence across the city and refer people requiring further care to appropriate healthcare facilities. Wahab said many kidney diseases can remain…

By Aziz Khatri KARACHI: District West has finalized plans to celebrate Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day with a series of official and community events, aimed at marking the occasion across the district. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner West Ali Zulfiqar Memon, attended by assistant commissioners, the assistant commissioner (revenue), town chairmen, the district health officer and other departmental officials. Officials agreed to decorate the Deputy Commissioner’s Office and public areas across District West with national flags, with the campaign already under way. Flag-hoisting ceremonies and cake-cutting events will be held on 14 August, while schools…

By Aziz Khatri KARACHI: Police investigation teams in Korangi arrested five suspects in separate operations targeting a range of criminal offences, according to a statement issued on Tuesday. In the first operation, investigators from Korangi Industrial Area Police arrested Javed Hussain in connection with a robbery case registered under FIR No. 968/26. Police said further investigation is under way. In a separate case, the same investigation team arrested Hafeez Ur Rehman within an hour of a rape case being registered under FIR No. 981/26. The suspect was taken into custody shortly after the complaint was lodged, police said. Meanwhile, investigators…