Latest news with #ImranAli
Express Tribune
08-08-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Underground cabling project finalised
The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has finalised the long-awaited underground cabling and beautification project for two of the city's busiest commercial centres — Fawara Chowk Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market. According to official sources, the shopping areas will be made pedestrian-only, with all vehicular and motorcycle entry prohibited. IESCO has received payments of Rs180 million for Raja Bazaar and Rs130 million for Commercial Market to begin the underground electrical cabling. PTCL and SNGPL will be paid Rs30 million, while WASA will receive Rs5 million. The beautification expenses will be covered from the corporation's own budget. The project, modelled after similar efforts on Bank Road, Kashmir Road, and Haider Road in Saddar, includes the complete relocation of electrical and telecommunication cables underground, along with enhanced aesthetics. The first phase involves civil work and underground cabling by IESCO and PTCL. Sui Gas and sewage networks will also be secured underground. Fawara Chowk and Raja Bazaar will feature seating areas, improved lighting, pavements, public washrooms, and food stalls to enhance the shopping experience. Chief Municipal Officer Imran Ali described the project as "highly significant," adding that it would provide citizens with a cleaner, more pleasant shopping environment. Infrastructure Officer Rafiqat Mahmood Gondal said the project is expected to be completed within three months, with contractors mobilising soon. Following the completion of a similar project in Saddar's commercial areas and the conversion of Bank Road into a pedestrian-only street, the RMC had approved similar plans for Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market. The utility agencies issued demand notices totalling Rs223.3 million to the RMC. The agencies included the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).
Express Tribune
03-08-2025
- Express Tribune
Crackdown launched on counterfeit agricultural inputs
The Sindh government has launched a major crackdown against sellers of counterfeit agricultural medicines and fertilisers in Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Golarchi, and Sajawal, seizing 5,318 bags of fake products. On directives of Sindh Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar, the provincial team of the Agriculture Department conducted raids and collected 59 suspicious samples of agricultural medicines and fertilisers from various districts, which were then sent to the laboratory for analysis. According to a spokesperson for the department, these operations are meant to protect farmers from the harmful effects of fake and substandard agricultural products. The spokesperson reported that 400 bags of Hapo Granules and 68 bags of Vertaco agricultural products were seized from an unregistered dealer's shop in Sajawal. Meanwhile, in Golarchi, thousands of suspicious bags from FMC United Private Limited were confiscated, including 1,000 bags of counterfeit Fertira Granules. Further, spokesperson for the Agriculture Department, Imran Ali, stated that over 40 samples of fertilisers and pesticides were collected from Sanghar and Shaheed Benazirabad, and sent to the laboratory for testing. He revealed that all the seized counterfeit agricultural medicines were intended for use in rice crops to eliminate pests. Minister Mahar emphasised that strict legal action is being taken against those involved in the sale of fake and substandard agricultural products, to ensure economic protection of the province's farmers.
Express Tribune
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Over 400 participate in 'Ma'arka-e-Haq' sports events
The sports events titled "Ma'arka-e-Haq" (Battle for Truth), organised by the government's Sports Department, concluded successfully. Over 400 athletes from Districts East and West participated in the events, demonstrating their love for the country and national unity on the occasion of the upcoming Independence Day. According to the spokesperson for the Sports Department, Imran Ali, in volleyball, District East secured the first position with a 2-0 victory, while District Central claimed second place. In boys' badminton, Muzammil Waseem and Ali Gulab retained first place, while Hussain and Hamza secured second position. Among the girls, Ajo and Sahba took the first position, while Rosheen and Huda retained second place. Further, the spokesperson stated that in the boxing competitions held in District West, matches took place in 22 weight categories for both girls and boys. In the girls' boxing finals, Jannat from One ABC Club triumphed in the 30 kg weight category, while Ayesha from KBC Club won in the 44 kg category. Meanwhile, District Sports Officer Muhammad Usman reported that, in men's boxing, Taimur from KBBC Club won the 51 kg category, while Farooq from the same club secured victory in the 70 kg category. Imran Ali also announced that 160 sports events are being organised across all districts of Sindh, under special directives of the Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, and Sindh Sports Minister, Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar, with the aim to promote patriotism, discipline, and healthy activities among the youth.
Hindustan Times
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Migrant exodus sparks political storm in Gurugram
A police verification drive targeting undocumented immigrants in Gurugram has led to the departure of hundreds of Bengali-speaking migrant families and triggered a political controversy, with opposition leaders accusing the Haryana government of communal bias. A migrant worker settlement in South City 2, in Gurugram Sector 47 near Park Hospital, on Friday. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo) The drive, aimed at identifying undocumented immigrants, has reportedly led to 300–400 families leaving shanty settlements, particularly around South City 2, amid fears of detention and harassment. 'Even those with Aadhaar and voter cards are being detained. Police arrive without warning and take people away. Some were even beaten,' a migrant resident claimed, requesting not to be named. 'We didn't come here to break the law—we came to work hard and feed our families,' said Imran Ali, a 32-year-old construction worker from Murshidabad, who left Gurugram last week and is now staying with a cousin in Delhi's Seelampur. 'Police came to our settlement late at night. Even though I showed my Aadhaar card, they said it needed to be verified in Bengal. My wife got scared, packed our things, and we left that same night. I lost my job, and we are now surviving on whatever little savings I had. I don't know when we will go back—or if we even can.' Congress MLA Aftab Ahmed, a senior Meo community leader, alleged the drive is 'unfairly singling out Muslim residents' and 'damaging Gurugram's secular fabric and global image.' He said even individuals with valid documents have been detained and forced to leave. 'This campaign… has turned into a tool for communal victimisation,' Ahmed said, adding he has raised the issue with the state DGP and Gurugram Commissioner of Police, who assured him 'no legitimate Indian citizen will be harassed.' Chief minister Nayab Singh Saini defended the campaign, declaring, 'There is no place for Bangladeshi infiltrators in Haryana; they are being removed as swiftly as possible.' He added, 'No compromise against India's unity, sovereignty, and Constitution is acceptable... the nation's interest will always be paramount.' In response, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee slammed the drive, calling it 'linguistic terror' and alleging that Bengali-speaking workers are being deported without proper checks. 'I have been increasingly receiving reports of detentions and atrocities… West Bengal Police is receiving requests from Haryana Police for identity verification,' she said, citing Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports accusing BJP-ruled states of systematic deportations. HRW reports that this has been happening systematically in the BJP-ruled States of Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Delhi, following a directive by the Ministry of Home, Government of India. Shame!! Now, even international human rights organisations have started taking note of the linguistic terrorism unleashed in India. This must stop at once!!' the CM has been attacking the BJP-led Centre, saying that the detention of hundreds of Bengali speaking migrant workers across BJP-governed states was 'a language war and linguistic terrorism' waged on Bengal and its people. TMC MP Samirul Islam backed Banerjee, accusing BJP-led states of 'hiding data on Bengali-speaking migrants' and turning 'national security into a tool of discrimination.' 'No illegal immigrant will be allowed to stay in Haryana. The verification drive is being conducted strictly within the legal framework to ensure the safety and security of all citizens,' said Arvind Saini, media in-charge of BJP Haryana. 'The Congress is raising baseless concerns because their traditional vote bank is being affected. This is not about religion or language—it's about national interest and lawful residency.' Senior Congress leader Pankaj Dawar said many of these families have been in Gurugram for over two decades as domestic workers and labourers. 'They consider Gurugram their home. But now, their lives have been thrown into chaos,' he said. Haryana Police, however, denied any communal angle. 'The process is based on intelligence inputs and legal procedure,' said Gurugram police spokesperson Sandeep Kumar. 'We are ensuring that no Indian citizen is harassed.' As the controversy deepens, the verification campaign has become a flashpoint in the larger political discourse around migration, minority rights, and state power, according to opposing political leaders. 'The situation is not just a local law enforcement issue anymore,' Ahmed said. 'It's a test of how inclusive and just we remain as a society.'
Express Tribune
15-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
RCB cuts spending, hikes water charges
The competent authority has approved the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board's budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 with a cut of Rs485.7 million, reducing the original proposal from Rs7.436 billion to a revised estimate of Rs6.951 billion. The cuts were primarily made in the allocations for miscellaneous expenses and maintenance & repair works. According to details, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board had initially passed the Rs7.436 billion budget in a board meeting for the 10-ward densely populated cantonment area and submitted it to the Director of Military Lands and Cantonments, Rawalpindi Region, for final approval. The approved budget includes: Rs3.208 billion for salaries and pensions (approved without any deductions), Rs1.542 billion for miscellaneous expenses (after a Rs34 million cut), Rs600 million for general works (approved in full), Rs385 million for maintenance and repair (after a Rs59 million cut), For comparison, the authority had imposed Rs800 million in cuts in the previous 2024-25 budget. According to Cantonment Board sources, the board achieved 86% performance against last year's budget targets. Despite the new budget, residents continue to face serious issues in the cantonment area — particularly in the densely populated back-end localities, which contrast sharply with the well-developed front areas. Problems include broken roads and streets, lack of street lighting, poor sanitation, a faulty sewerage system, encroachments, unregulated commercial activity in residential areas, and widespread illegal construction. The most pressing concern remains the lack of access to drinking water. Due to the absence of a proper water supply network, many residents are forced to install private borewells at their own expense. Adding to public frustration, the Cantonment Board has now increased water supply charges and sanitation taxes by 100% to 200% in the post-budget board meeting. In protest, elected members walked out of the session and announced they would challenge the decision in the Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench. RMC prioritises uplift projects Our correspondent The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) approved an annual budget worth Rs8.80 billion for the fiscal year 2025-26, featuring a surplus balance of Rs442.5 million. Municipal Corporation Administrator and Rawalpindi Commissioner Engineer Aamir Khattak sanctioned the budget after detailed discussions on the proposals presented by Chief Officer Imran Ali. According to the official budget figures, the total resources — comprising last year's closing balance, the opening balance for the new fiscal year, and projected revenue collections — stand at Rs8.80 billion. Of this, Rs2.30 billion has been allocated for non-development expenditures, including salaries and pensions, with a special provision of Rs800 million reserved exclusively for pension payments. The development budget has been allocated at Rs6.04 billion. Key allocations under the development budget include Rs1.92 billion for ongoing development schemes, Rs1.90 billion for new annual development programmes (ADP), Rs2 billion earmarked for road carpeting and infrastructure rehabilitation, Rs176.1 million designated for sports and cultural activities. During the current fiscal year, the Municipal Corporation plans to prioritise the completion of several ongoing and new development schemes. These include carpeting of city roads, construction and repair of streets, upgrades to the drainage and sewerage systems, construction and maintenance of nullahs, installation of streetlights, and establishment of an underground cable network in Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market.
