Latest news with #Fiaz
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Golconda Fort gets rainproof makeover for Independence Day celebrations; security tightened across Hyderabad
Rows of sturdy, white waterproof tents are now being pulled into place to cover the inner courtyard of the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, transforming the historic site into a weatherproof stage for Hyderabad's Independence Day celebrations. This year, the familiar open-air seating, about one acre in size — where the parade marches past dignitaries and cultural troupes perform in the Rani Mahal area — is being sheltered as Indian Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall. From the flag-hoisting platform to the seating for thousands of guests, every corner is now under protective canopies. 'The Roads and Buildings Department is putting up waterproof tents. These will cover the stage where children present cultural performances as well as the seating area for the guests,' informed Towlichowki ACP Syed Fiaz, who is overseeing part of the deployment. In addition, waterproof mats are being spread across the grass where the parade will take place to provide firm footing , he added. More than 5,000 guests, including dignitaries, schoolchildren and visitors from across the city, are expected to attend the event. Over 800 police personnel have been deployed in and around the venue for bandobast. 'Security arrangements are in place across the venue and approach routes, with police teams, access control points and crowd management measures,' Mr. Fiaz said. Visitors were advised to carry raincoats and umbrellas. Full-dress rehearsals and a flag march were carried out on Wednesday (August 13, 2025) morning before the rains hit the city. Joint inspections by the police, district administration and municipal authorities have also been completed. Decorations and ground markings will be finalised in the next two days . While the weather is shaping many of the logistical changes, security measures are also being stepped up for the occasion. The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) is serving as the nerve centre of operations. 'Surveillance has been intensified with close coordination between agencies, enhanced screening of visitors, deployment of additional personnel and sniffer dogs, intensified bag checks, and closer supervision by senior officers. Heightened security has been put in place at Golconda Fort, the Secretariat, Assembly, BRKR Bhavan, police headquarters and other key installations,' said C.V. Anand, Hyderabad Police Commissioner, adding that in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, officials are maintaining the highest levels of vigilance in line with the national security consciousness. However, security this year goes beyond crowd control and access checks. Joint teams from the Traffic Police, Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) have already been stationed to manage rain-related contingencies — from clearing waterlogged stretches near the fort to conducting evacuations if weather conditions worsen. 'We have rehearsed multiple scenarios, including heavy rainfall during the event. Waterlogging points across the city, including key routes leading to Golconda Fort, have been identified, and wherever possible, such as near Mehdi Function Hall and Bible House, 20–25 horsepower motors have been deployed to pump out water and prevent traffic congestion,' said Hyderabad Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) D. Joel Davis. Traffic management is also being fine-tuned. The traffic wing of Hyderabad police has marked designated parking spaces for VIPs, pass holders and the general public. Temporary diversions will be enforced during peak arrival and dispersal hours, with clear signages being installed to guide motorists. 'We anticipate congestion at Makki Darwaza and Banjari Darwaza due to cultural events in schools. Other than that, need-based diversions will be implemented on the day of the event and for the Chief Minister's movement,' Mr. Davis said. For residents and visitors, the celebrations will look much the same — the tricolour fluttering against the fort's stone backdrop, the ceremonial march past, the rhythms of music and dance. Behind the scenes is a finely choreographed exercise in preparedness and resilience.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
County lines drug dealer jailed after police raids
A county lines drug dealer has been jailed after being caught with class A drugs during a police operation targeting suppliers and traffickers. Mohammed Fiaz, 40, of Newark Avenue in Peterborough, was caught during a dawn raid on his home as part of Operation Hypernova, a Cambridgeshire force-wide crackdown on county lines drug dealing and human trafficking. Police found three mobile phones, with messages linking him to dealing crack cocaine and heroin. At Peterborough Crown Court Fiaz admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and on Tuesday was sentenced to 30 months in jail. Det Con Stacey Neve, said: "Fiaz was sending bulk messages to vulnerable users advertising crack cocaine and heroin for sale in order to pocket the cash. "We will continue to make the county hostile towards county lines drug dealers and prevent further exploitation of young and vulnerable people." Operation Hypernova 3 took place in March and resulted in 50 county lines being dismantled and 35 people charged with more than 100 drug and human trafficking offences, Cambridgeshire Police said. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
County lines drug dealer jailed after police raids
A county lines drug dealer has been jailed after being caught with class A drugs during a police operation targeting suppliers and traffickers. Mohammed Fiaz, 40, of Newark Avenue in Peterborough, was caught during a dawn raid on his home as part of Operation Hypernova, a Cambridgeshire force-wide crackdown on county lines drug dealing and human trafficking. Police found three mobile phones, with messages linking him to dealing crack cocaine and heroin. At Peterborough Crown Court Fiaz admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and on Tuesday was sentenced to 30 months in jail. Det Con Stacey Neve, said: "Fiaz was sending bulk messages to vulnerable users advertising crack cocaine and heroin for sale in order to pocket the cash. "We will continue to make the county hostile towards county lines drug dealers and prevent further exploitation of young and vulnerable people." Operation Hypernova 3 took place in March and resulted in 50 county lines being dismantled and 35 people charged with more than 100 drug and human trafficking offences, Cambridgeshire Police said. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Business Recorder
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Developers at International Property Show say Pakistan ripe for investment
DUBAI: Property investment - both commercial and residential - can bring reliable returns, said Pakistani exhibitors at the International Property Show (IPS) that took place in Dubai. They said they used the event to develop connections and sign ventures with developers from around the globe. A variety of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) projects from across Pakistan were present at this year's event. 'The Quetta market as well as the larger Pakistani market has huge potential for international investors and developers,' Chaudhary Azhar Munir, administrator, DHA Quetta, told Business Recorder. Dubai's real estate sector is evolving, moving towards 'branded residences' The close to 19,000 acres that make up DHA Quetta are located close to the city's international airport and have room for both commercial and residential properties. There is also an area of 600 acres that's 'exclusively kept for an economic zone,' said Munir and has good access to Gwadar and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor routes. Munir is hoping to partner up with Chinese companies to build a solar park in DHA Quetta to make its energy supply greener, cheaper, and sustainable. At IPS, he was looking for developers who would be willing to invest in building homes in DHA projects. 'We ran a feasibility study through an international firm and we realised that by 2042, in the next 17 years, Quetta will need one million housing units primarily based on two factors: population growth rate and the trend of urbanisation.' Good luck struck for DHA Quetta on day one of the three-day tradeshow as it signed an MOU with a UAE-based firm. While its name could not be disclosed, Munir did say the owner was keen to visit Pakistan in the coming days. This won't be the first foreign developer who has invested in DHA Quetta. Metas Trading Ltd., a Qatari construction company, has already built several homes, a testament to the trust foreign investors are willing to put into Quetta and Pakistan, according to Munir. Meanwhile, representing DHA from Punjab was Ehtesham Fiaz, general manager, Rana Estate & Builders - a registered dealer of DHA Gujranwala. 'DHA Gujranwala is basically a golden triangle,' he said, referring to the surrounding industrial areas of Gujarat, Sialkot, and Mandi Bahauddin. The community, said Fiaz, is open to people from all over the world because it's a viable investment opportunity. The 9,500-acre land is the perfect residential community for business owners who want to bring their business to Pakistan, he said. With 40% of two sectors in Phase I of DHA Gujranwala already developed and occupied, the future is looking bright, said Fiaz. He said people at the event had shown great interest in the development. Where most of DHA's exhibitors at the IPS were showcasing commercial and residential projects, Malir Industrial Park, launched in December 2024, was focused on exclusively attracting industrial clients. The 2,200 acre gated park is a project of the Pakistan Economic Zone Development & Management Company, said Col. (R) Atif Gulzar Shaikh, chief engineer, Malir Industrial Park. Shaikh said the project is strategically placed near two highways and has quick access to Karachi's ports. It aims to deliver a high standard of industrial services to its clients, who will be housed in similar-sector clusters for better collaboration. 'We came here to give our project an international standing point,' he said, talking about their presence at the IPS. 'We want to let the people know that an industrial park is coming.' The park offers state of the art infrastructure, said Shaikh. 'We are going to provide the best road infrastructure and utilities,' he said. 'We want to provide a sustainable environment in our industrial park, and we want to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. No waste will be going untreated outside the industrial park.' Exhibitors' efforts seemed to hit home with attendees. Bee Mearini, head of commercial for Dubai-based Elite Property, said the industrial park's location would be attractive to her clients who are importing raw materials from Pakistan to produce items in the UAE. She added that the advantage of visiting IPS 'is to get to know my peers and get involved with developers. 'For the general public, I think if you want to buy something off-plan, this is the place you need to come to because there are so many vendors.' The 21st edition of the International Property Show ran at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 14-16 April, with participation from more than 300 exhibitors representing 85 countries and an expected attendance of over 25,000 visitors. This year's edition coincided with the launch of the Dubai Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033, which aims to reinforce the emirate's position as a global capital of real estate by promoting transparency, encouraging innovation, and establishing an integrated and sustainable investment environment. In a statement, Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director-General of the Dubai Land Department, said the event reflects growing confidence in Dubai's real estate market. Pakistanis were among the top five buyers of real estate in Dubai in 2024, according to property consultancy Better Homes. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Real estate developers at Dubai's International Property Show say Pakistan ripe for investment
DUBAI: Property investment - both commercial and residential - can bring reliable returns, said Pakistani exhibitors at the International Property Show (IPS) that took place in Dubai. They said they used the event to develop connections and sign ventures with developers from around the globe. A variety of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) projects from across Pakistan were present at this year's event. 'The Quetta market as well as the larger Pakistani market has huge potential for international investors and developers,' Chaudhary Azhar Munir, administrator, DHA Quetta, told Business Recorder. The close to 19,000 acres that make up DHA Quetta are located close to the city's international airport and have room for both commercial and residential properties. There is also an area of 600 acres that's 'exclusively kept for an economic zone,' said Munir and has good access to Gwadar and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor routes. Munir is hoping to partner up with Chinese companies to build a solar park in DHA Quetta to make its energy supply greener, cheaper, and sustainable. At IPS, he was looking for developers who would be willing to invest in building homes in DHA projects. 'We ran a feasibility study through an international firm and we realised that by 2042, in the next 17 years, Quetta will need one million housing units primarily based on two factors: population growth rate and the trend of urbanisation.' Good luck struck for DHA Quetta on day one of the three-day tradeshow as it signed an MOU with a UAE-based firm. While its name could not be disclosed, Munir did say the owner was keen to visit Pakistan in the coming days. This won't be the first foreign developer who has invested in DHA Quetta. Metas Trading Ltd., a Qatari construction company, has already built several homes, a testament to the trust foreign investors are willing to put into Quetta and Pakistan, according to Munir. Meanwhile, representing DHA from Punjab was Ehtesham Fiaz, general manager, Rana Estate & Builders - a registered dealer of DHA Gujranwala. 'DHA Gujranwala is basically a golden triangle,' he said, referring to the surrounding industrial areas of Gujarat, Sialkot, and Mandi Bahauddin. The community, said Fiaz, is open to people from all over the world because it's a viable investment opportunity. The 9,500-acre land is the perfect residential community for business owners who want to bring their business to Pakistan, he said. With 40% of two sectors in Phase I of DHA Gujranwala already developed and occupied, the future is looking bright, said Fiaz. He said people at the event had shown great interest in the development. Where most of DHA's exhibitors at the IPS were showcasing commercial and residential projects, Malir Industrial Park, launched in December 2024, was focused on exclusively attracting industrial clients. The 2,200 acre gated park is a project of the Pakistan Economic Zone Development & Management Company, said Col. (R) Atif Gulzar Shaikh, chief engineer, Malir Industrial Park. Shaikh said the project is strategically placed near two highways and has quick access to Karachi's ports. It aims to deliver a high standard of industrial services to its clients, who will be housed in similar-sector clusters for better collaboration. 'We came here to give our project an international standing point,' he said, talking about their presence at the IPS. 'We want to let the people know that an industrial park is coming.' The park offers state of the art infrastructure, said Shaikh. 'We are going to provide the best road infrastructure and utilities,' he said. 'We want to provide a sustainable environment in our industrial park, and we want to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. No waste will be going untreated outside the industrial park.' Exhibitors' efforts seemed to hit home with attendees. Bee Mearini, head of commercial for Dubai-based Elite Property, said the industrial park's location would be attractive to her clients who are importing raw materials from Pakistan to produce items in the UAE. She added that the advantage of visiting IPS 'is to get to know my peers and get involved with developers. 'For the general public, I think if you want to buy something off-plan, this is the place you need to come to because there are so many vendors.' The 21st edition of the International Property Show ran at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 14-16 April, with participation from more than 300 exhibitors representing 85 countries and an expected attendance of over 25,000 visitors. This year's edition coincided with the launch of the Dubai Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033, which aims to reinforce the emirate's position as a global capital of real estate by promoting transparency, encouraging innovation, and establishing an integrated and sustainable investment environment. In a statement, Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director-General of the Dubai Land Department, said the event reflects growing confidence in Dubai's real estate market. Pakistanis were among the top five buyers of real estate in Dubai in 2024, according to property consultancy Better Homes. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
