Latest news with #Chaudhry
Business Recorder
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Future of politics closely tied to IK: Fawad
LAHORE: Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry has stated that the future of Pakistani politics is closely tied to the former prime minister and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan. Speaking to the media at the Lahore High Court, Chaudhry emphasised that the primary concern is Imran Khan's release from jail. He accused the current PTI leadership of being complicit in keeping the party founder imprisoned to diminish his political influence. He criticised the existing PTI leaders, labelling them as unfit to lead any movement and asserting they have failed to gain public support. Additionally, he dismissed Aliya Hamza's contributions to the political struggle and suggested that if Imran Khan's sons were to enter the political arena, it could dramatically change the landscape. He also said there was no room for additional political parties in Pakistan, suggesting that any new party would be as insignificant as Reham Khan's, implying it would have minimal influence. Chaudhry also claimed that the legal cases against him lack merit and warned that the Anti-Terrorism Court's (ATC) decision could further escalate political tensions. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt to build Rs3b aquaculture park
Listen to article The federal government has decided to establish a state-of-the-art Aquaculture Park at Korangi Fish Harbour (KoFHAH), Karachi, under a public-private partnership framework aimed at boosting the country's blue economy through sustainable aquaculture. The project is estimated to cost Rs3 billion. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced the plan while chairing a high-level meeting on the development of the blue economy. The meeting was attended by Chairman Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) Noorul Haq Baloch, representatives from the Korangi Fish Harbour Authority (KoFHAH), the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD), and the Balochistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The 120-acre aquaculture park is projected to produce between 360 and 1,200 tonnes of marine products annually, depending on the species cultivated and the farming systems used. Revenue potential is estimated between $720,000 and $7.2 million per year, influenced by species selection, market prices, and production intensity. Officials informed the meeting that land costs have been determined based on an extensive farming model, offering an affordable entry point for private investors. Experts highlighted that Pakistan's coastal waters offer ideal conditions for aquaculture, making them highly suitable for farming a variety of marine species. To fast-track the initiative, the martime minister directed the Korangi Fish Harbour Authority to submit a comprehensive execution report within 10 days. Chaudhry also proposed replicating the aquaculture model in Balochistan, leveraging its vast coastal belt for sustainable marine farming. In a move to improve coordination, the maritime minister ordered the relocation of the Marine Fisheries Department sub-office to the Gwadar Port Authority premises. This administrative shift is expected to streamline inter-agency collaboration and expedite decision-making in blue economy projects. In a separate meeting, the federal minister reviewed progress on land allotment and the lease policy of Port Qasim Authority (PQA). Officials reported that the Survey of Pakistan has been tasked with identifying and demarcating PQA-owned land. It was also revealed that the PQA master plan is being revised in line with the broader feasibility study for the National Ports Master Plan, currently underway. Chaudhry reiterated the government's commitment to promoting sustainable marine development, reiterating that investment in aquaculture and port infrastructure is essential for ensuring food security, increasing exports, and creating employment across coastal regions. The series of meetings chaired by the maritime minister mark a significant step in the government's maritime development strategy, focused on harnessing the full potential of Pakistan's coastal resources through innovation, institutional coordination, and private sector participation.
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Marine pollution board holds first meeting in 15 years
KARACHI: Federal Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has issued a stark warning over the growing threat of marine pollution, stressing its far-reaching impacts on Pakistan's blue economy, climate, biodiversity, and public health. Chairing the fifth meeting of the Marine Pollution Control Board here, the first in 15 years, the minister emphasized that unchecked pollution is not only degrading marine life and coastal ecosystems but also undermining fisheries, tourism, and the livelihoods of coastal communities. Marine Pollution Control Board works under the Maritime Ministry. The high-level meeting was attended by representatives from all relevant ministries, departments, and organizations. Minister Chaudhry took strong notice of the board's prolonged inactivity and directed that its meetings now be held on a regular basis. 'Land-based pollution, particularly the discharge of untreated sewage and solid waste, accounts for nearly 90 percent of marine pollution. If targeted effectively, this can be reduced significantly,' the minister stated. He highlighted the cascading effects of marine degradation, including contaminated seafood, economic losses, increased coastal erosion, and damage to harbor infrastructure, and the potential extinction or migration of marine species. In response to the worsening crisis, the minister formed two committees to accelerate progress on key wastewater treatment initiatives. The first will focus on the long-delayed Sewage Treatment Plant-III (STP-III), and the second will address issues with the Combined Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), designed to handle industrial wastewater. Both committees are expected to submit comprehensive reports to the board within 20 days. During the session, officials revealed that Karachi generates over 472 million gallons of sewage daily, including nearly 100 million gallons of industrial effluent, which is largely discharged untreated into the Lyari and Malir rivers and eventually into the Arabian Sea. The city's stormwater drains also carry significant quantities of solid waste, including plastics, directly into coastal waters. To counter this, the board discussed various mitigation strategies such as installing nets on stormwater drains, fencing riverbanks, deploying trash removal systems in harbors, and expediting the completion of treatment facilities in critical areas like Manora, Baba Bhit, and Kalri and Phitti nullah catchment zones. The minister also called for stronger enforcement of environmental laws. He proposed invoking strict penalties under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance against polluting vessels and industries. He further urged for empowering the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) with enhanced operational authority to implement environmental safeguards more effectively. The meeting additionally addressed sea-based sources of pollution — estimated to contribute 10 percent — including ballast water discharge, ship breaking activities, fishing operations, and offshore drilling. The Karachi Port Trust and other maritime authorities were urged to enforce regulations stringently to curb these practices. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Marine pollution threatens blue economy
Listen to article Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, has warned that marine pollution poses a severe threat to Pakistan's blue economy. It harms biodiversity, fisheries, and tourism while also contributing to climate change, economic loss, and public health risks. According to an official statement, the minister issued this warning while chairing a meeting of the Marine Pollution Control Board. Representatives from all relevant ministries and departments were present. To address the crisis, two committees were formed to identify key issues and submit reports within 20 days. These will focus on the Sewage Treatment Plant-III (STP-III) and the Combined Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), both aimed at treating industrial and municipal wastewater. The minister expressed displeasure over a 15-year gap in board meetings and directed that regular sessions now be held. He also called for a comprehensive public awareness campaign and urged stakeholders to engage the public in tackling marine pollution. He stressed the need for strict enforcement of environmental laws under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance and the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, with heavy penalties for violators. Chaudhry advocated expanding SEPA's powers to ensure effective regulation. He stated that up to 90% of land-based marine pollutionmainly untreated sewage and solid wastecould be prevented with targeted measures. He highlighted the far-reaching impacts of pollution, including contaminated seafood, declining fish stocks, lost tourism revenue, and erosion of coastal infrastructure. He also warned of marine habitat destruction and possible species extinction. Sea-based pollution, such as ship waste, ballast water discharge, offshore drilling, fishing operations, and shipbreaking, contributes about 10% to overall marine pollution. The minister urged the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and maritime authorities to enforce stricter controls. Officials briefed the minister on Karachi's alarming pollution levels. The city releases over 472 million gallons of sewage daily, including nearly 100 million gallons of industrial waste. This flows into the Lyari and Malir rivers, eventually reaching the Arabian Sea. Solid wasteincluding plastics, recyclables, and biodegradable materialsis dumped near coastal zones, worsening marine degradation. Proposed solutions include installing nets on stormwater drains, fencing rivers, and removing floating trash from harbours. The statement also urged expediting the completion of the Sewerage Treatment Project and building new plants in critical areas like Manora, Baba Bhit, Kalri, and Phitti nullahs.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Govt denies bias in CNICs verification
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has said that the government has taken robust measures to curb the misuse of identity documents and emphasised that no provincial discrimination occurred during the national verification campaigns of family trees and Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs). Responding to questions from senators during the upper house session the other day, the minister stated that over 5,000 passports issued to individuals falsely claiming Pakistani nationality were detected abroad, mainly in Saudi Arabia, and subsequently surrendered by the holders themselves, admitting they were not Pakistani citizens. Chaudhry said that investigations showed many of these identities were fraudulently inserted into family treeseither by NADRA staff involved in malpractice or by families deliberately including non-nationals for personal motives. He added that such fraudulent additions not only led to the issuance of CNICs but also facilitated the procurement of Pakistani passports for foreign nationals. To curb this misuse, nationwide verification campaigns were conducted by the Ministry of Interior in 2014 and 2019, aiming to cleanse the national database and validate family records. Furthermore, the government has set up a dual verification mechanism involving a district-level committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner and a Zonal Verification Board, which reviews flagged cases referred by law enforcement or intelligence agencies. Talal informed the house that no province-specific action was taken. "NADRA operates on a national basis, and we do not treat any region differently," he said. He acknowledged that the highest instances of identity misuse were observed in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, but emphasized that the issue was not rooted in regional bias, rather in misuse of the system by certain individuals. To enhance transparency, NADRA also launched a public facilitation system, enabling citizens to verify their family trees via phone, and to report any unauthorised individuals linked to their records. Out of the total complaints received, 71,000 cases involved reports of individuals being included in family trees without consent. Chaudhry also confirmed that internal accountability measures have been taken, with 266 NADRA employees dismissed and others penalized following departmental inquiries. He stressed that officers across all ranks, including deputy directors, were held accountable, and criminal proceedings were initiated where necessary. He reassured the House that any case highlighted by parliamentarians would be re-examined and re-verified.
