Latest news with #GPA
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Lokayukta police to question former Muda chiefs in site allotment case
Mysuru: Even as the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Karnataka high court quashing the summons issued by the enforcement directorate to Parvathi, wife of chief minister Siddaramaiah, in the Muda case, the Lokayukta police in Mysuru have got govt's permission to question two former Muda commissioners who will be quizzed soon. The anti-corruption agency is probing alleged site swap deals developed under a controversial 50:50 scheme. Lokayukta SP TJ Udesha, who is the investigation officer confirmed to TOI that they had sought permission from the govt to question former commissioners of Muda, DB Natesh and GT Dinesh, concerning the disposal of developed sites to landowners under the contentious scheme when they were heading the urban development body and it has been approved by the govt previous week. According to Lokayukta SP, about 1,055 sites in various layouts developed by the urban body, were given away for land acquired from landlords in Mysuru. One of the beneficiaries, Parvathi, returned the sites to the urban body after an FIR was filed against her, following a direction by the special court, Bengaluru. Activist Snehamayi Krishna petitioned the special court to investigate the matter, accusing the chief minister and his family of grabbing the land and then obtaining developed sites from the urban body. The anti-corruption agency that probed the matter submitted its report to the court giving a clean chit to the CM and his family, including his wife and brother-in-law, stating there is no evidence against them in the alleged scam. However, it discovered that not just 14 sites, but the urban body had given away about 1,055 sites to various individuals and GPA holders under the scheme. As Lokayukta police have been directed by the special court to also probe other cases of giving sites under the scheme, the cops have sought permission to quiz the then commissioners under whose tenure the majority of sites were disposed of under the scheme. Investigation officer Udesha said the commissioners are likely to be summoned as part of the investigation to record their statements. Earlier, they were questioned concerning Parvathi's case and now with regard to 1,000 other sites in which, more than 130 have benefited from the scheme.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Govt announces halving port charges at Karachi Port
ISLAMABAD: The government Saturday announced to cut port charges at Karachi Port by 50 per cent, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of trade logistics and foster sustainable growth. The decision was announced by the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, saying the initiative is part of a broader strategy to decarbonise the maritime sector and improve energy efficiency in port operations. He said reforms include a 50 per cent reduction in port handling, vessel, and storage charges, while scrapping the previously planned annual five per cent hike in these fees, a step will benefit exporters of dry bulk goods and reduce emissions through faster, less congested port activity. 'By lowering operational costs and streamlining logistics, we are not only boosting trade competitiveness but also contributing to climate resilience.' 'Climate resilience': govt cuts export cargo handling charges by 50% at Karachi Port This isn't just a financial measure; it's a pivot towards low-impact, future-ready maritime trade,' said the minister. 'A more efficient port reduces idle time for vessels, lowers fuel consumption, and supports greener supply chains.' The minister highlighted that these changes are part of a national strategy to modernise port infrastructure, enhance sustainability, and transition towards the smart maritime practices. The maritime ministry is trying to enhance port efficiency, including forming a high-level committee to cut container dwell time by 70 per cent and deploying advanced technologies such as AI and drones for monitoring operations, further underlining the government's proactive stance in modernising maritime trade logistics. Charing a meeting, the Maritime Affairs' Minister on the development of blue economy also announced the establishment of a state-of-the-art Aquaculture Park at Korangi Fish Harbour (KoFHAH), Karachi, at an estimated cost of Rs3 billion. The meeting besides others was attended by Chairman Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) Noorul Haq Baloch, representatives from Korangi Fish Harbour Authority (KoFHAH), the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD), and the Balochistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The estimated annual production of a 120-acre aquaculture park ranges from 360 to 1,200 tons, depending on the species cultivated and the farming system employed. Its annual revenue potential is projected to be between $720,000 to $7.2 million, influenced by species selection, market prices, and production intensity. The minister said the project, covering 120 acres, should be developed under a public-private partnership framework, aiming to boost the country's blue economy through sustainable aquaculture. The meeting was informed that the land cost for the Aquaculture Park has been set according to an extensive farming model, offering an affordable and efficient foundation for private investors. Experts informed the meeting that Pakistan's coastal waters possess highly conducive conditions for aquaculture, providing an ideal environment for farming a variety of marine species. To accelerate the process, the Federal Minister directed the Korangi Fish Harbour Authority to submit a comprehensive execution report within 10 days. Emphasising replication of success, the minister proposed extending the aquaculture model to Balochistan, leveraging its vast coastal belt for sustainable marine farming. In a move aimed at enhancing coordination, the minister ordered the relocation of the Marine Fisheries Department sub-office to the premises of the Gwadar Port Authority. This administrative shift is expected to streamline inter-agency collaboration and expedite decision-making in blue economy initiatives. In another separate meeting, the minister also reviewed the progress on the land allotment and lease policy of the Port Qasim Authority (PQA). Officials informed him that the Survey of Pakistan has been engaged to identify and demarcate PQA-owned land. Furthermore, it was conveyed that the revision of PQA's master plan is being aligned with the broader feasibility study for the National Ports Master Plan, currently under way. Minister Junaid Anwar reiterated the government's commitment to promoting sustainable marine development, asserting that investments in aquaculture and port infrastructure are essential for ensuring food security, increasing exports, and generating employment across coastal regions. The series of meetings held by the maritime minister marked a significant step in the government's broader maritime development strategy, focused on harnessing the full potential of Pakistan's coastal resources through innovation, institutional cooperation, and private sector engagement. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Tariffs ‘won't threaten' Ireland's pole position in jet-leasing sector, says Avia boss
He said the ecosystem of lawyers, accountants, consultants and other factors such as taxation and the legal system are embedded in a way that makes it tougher for other jurisdictions to muscle in on the sector. Avia Solutions Group is the world's biggest aircraft wet-leasing operator, providing aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance to its clients. It has a fleet of 210 narrowbody aircraft, with a plan to boost that to 700 by 2030. It also has a huge aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business, which operates around the world and in which the company is heavily investing. Asked if tariffs will threaten Ireland's dominant position in the aircraft-leasing sector, Mr Ziemelis said they should not. 'I don't think so because this wasn't built in a year,' he said. 'It started from the first leasing company, GPA. Ireland for many years has been recognised as the capital of aircraft-leasing industry. 'It is treated as a stable environment for aircraft lessors across the globe. In aviation, nothing happens fast.' He noted that in Dubai, the Al Maktoum International Airport, which is also known as Dubai South, is expected to be significantly advanced by 2032. It is anticipated the airport, which will replace Dubai International Airport, will eventually be able to handle 260 million passengers a year and 12 million tonnes of cargo. 'By 2032, or 2035, when Dubai South will start to open, it will be the biggest aviation hub in the world,' Mr Ziemelis said. 'Of course, we will grab some market share for leasing, but I don't see lessors moving out of Ireland.' Last November, just days after Donald Trump secured his second term as US president, Avia placed a firm order for 40 Boeing 737 Max jets and secured an option over 40 more. Mr Ziemelis, who was speaking from Dubai, said the order was placed using an Avia firm based in the Dubai free zone, and that the aircraft will eventually be used wherever clients require them. He said he does not think that even if the current uncertain backdrop regarding tariffs was in motion that Avia would have opted instead to buy jets from Airbus. 'The US might be the planemaker, but it depends on where the aircraft are used,' he said. 'We can select the jurisdiction. At the end of the day, the consumer will pay for it. 'The drivers for our business are not tariffs. First of all, it's passenger traffic, and this year there will be more than last year. 'The second driver is seasonality. Every airline company in winter in Europe is losing money. 'Our goal is to educate the market on how to leverage summer and winter capacity in Europe and leverage summer and winter capacity in Latin America and Asia-Pacific.'
The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
Five arrested in rowdy sheeter murder case in Bengaluru; MLA Basavaraj summoned
The city police on Thursday arrested five people in connection with the murder of 44-year-old rowdy-sheeter Shivaprakash in east Bengaluru's Bharathinagar on Tuesday. Former Urban Development Minister and MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, who was among five persons booked for the murder, has been served a notice to appear before the police, according to D. Devaraj, DCP, East. The arrested have been identified as Kiran, Vimal, Pradeep, Madan, and Samuel. A Bengaluru court on Thursday granted 10-day custody of the suspects to the police. Considering the gravity of the case, Prakash Rathode, Assistant Commissioner of Police, K.G. Halli, has been named as the investigating officer. Shivaprakash, a rowdy sheeter and realtor, was allegedly hacked to death by a group of unidentified assailants near his house in Bharathinagar on Tuesday. The FIR was registered based on a complaint by Vijayalakshmi, the mother of the deceased, who witnessed the murder on July 15. According to the complainant, on July 15, around 8.10 p.m., a group of unidentified assailants attacked Shivaprakash when he was standing outside their house at Bharathinagar with his driver Imran Khan and friend Lokesh. When Imran Khan tried to rescue Shivaprakash, he was also attacked. She said she saw Lokesh filming the attack on his mobile phone. She screamed for help, and seeing people rush to the spot, the assailants fled, but by then, Shivaprakash was dead, the complainant said. The complainant also said that Shivaparakash had been engaged in the real estate business, as part of Extreme Point (Promoters and Developers) Private Limited, for the past year. She said her son had gotten a General Power of Attorney (GPA) for a plot of land at Kothanur in 2023. He had built a shed and arranged for two women to live there as security guards. Then in February 2025, two men — Jagadish alias Jagga and Kiran — trespassed into the plot of land and threw out the two women living there. Ms. Vijayalakshmi claimed that later, Jagadish called Shivaparakash, threatening to 'not let him be alive' if he doesn't transfer the GPA to his name, as it was 'his area'. Shivaprakash had also complained about the threats to the police. According to the FIR, he was allegedly murdered by eight persons who were instigated by the MLA for K.R. Puram, Byrathi Basavaraj. Mr. MLA Basavaraj has been listed as accused number five in the case.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BJP, JDS term Congress's Randeep Singh Surjewala as Karnataka's ‘Super CM'
BENGALURU, MYSURU: The opposition BJP and JDS have termed AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala as Karnataka's super CM, who is holding a series of meetings with ministers to review their performance. 'Congratulations to Shri @rssurjewala for assuming the role of Karnataka's super CM. The elected Chief Minister has been given a GPA to run the government,' JDS leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy stated on social media platform 'X'. Nikhil said the democratically elected Congress MLAs are now rallying around Surjewala for the development of their constituencies. 'Siddaramaiah is stepping down, DK Shivakumar is waiting for the chair, but Surjewala is already governing. Congress is turning Karnataka into a puppet state, mocking the federal system and democracy,' the JDS leader said. Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka wondered if Surjewala's rule is imposed in Karnataka and if he will also chair Thursday's cabinet meeting. Ashoka said the Congress high command has lost faith in Siddaramaiah and imposed Surjewala's rule in the state. He said it will not be surprising if the AICC General Secretary, who is holding meetings with the MLAs and reviewing the performance of ministers, will chair the cabinet meeting in Vidhana Soudha. 'CM Siddaramaiah has no control over the administration. DyCM DK Shivakumar doesn't enjoy the support of MLAs, while Rahul Gandhi is not capable of making a leader of his choice as the CM,' Ashoka stated. Meanwhile, Social Welfare Minister HC Mahdevappa in Mysuru said Siddaramiah is the CM, and there is no super CM as charged by the Opposition. Clarifying that Surjewala does not behave like the Super CM, the minister said he is not against the AICC general secretary holding one-on-one meetings with ministers.
