Latest news with #Murtaza
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Pilgrims travelling by road during Arbaeen: PPP leader urges govt to provide security
LAHORE: Syed Hassan Murtaza, General Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Punjab, has called upon the federal and provincial governments to provide complete security to pilgrims travelling by road during Arbaeen. He raised the question, 'Why can't an ordinary taxpayer travel within his own country by road?' Emphasizing the state's responsibility, he stated, 'The security of pilgrims travelling to Karbala for Arbaeen is the duty of the state,' and urged the federal and provincial governments to ensure their safety with the support of security agencies. Murtaza highlighted that 'the ban on road travel for Arbaeen has severely impacted ordinary citizens.' He added that after Hajj and Umrah, pilgrimages are now being made inaccessible to the poor. Arbaeen pilgrims save every penny to travel with their families for Ziyarat, and prefer road travel because it is more economical. He further stated that advance payments for buses, hotels, and all travel and accommodation arrangements have already been made. Murtaza stressed that it's not just about the pilgrims' money being wasted—those going to Karbala have a deep emotional connection with Imam Hussain (AS). He warned that pilgrims are currently suffering mental distress, which could lead to protests and sit-ins. Murtaza demanded that the government must not invite the curses of pilgrims by closing the land route at the last moment but instead take immediate steps to facilitate their journey. He asserted that the government must take public issues seriously and address the legitimate demands of the pilgrims. Murtaza reaffirmed PPP's stance, saying, 'The Peoples Party has always been the voice of the people, and we will continue to advocate for the rights of Arbaeen pilgrims.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
France 24
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- France 24
Fatigued Afghan taxi drivers take novel approach to AC
In Kandahar city in southern Afghanistan where temperatures easily exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), blue taxis can be spotted with an air conditioning unit strapped to the roof with an exhaust hose delivering the cool air through the passenger window. "It started getting extremely hot three or four years ago. These cars' AC systems didn't work, and repairs were too expensive. So I went to a technician, (and) had a custom cooler made," said driver Gul Mohammad. The 32-year-old spent 3,000 Afghanis ($43) for the system, which he connects to his taxi's battery and regularly refills with water. "This works better than (built-in) AC. ACs only cool the front — this cooler spreads air throughout," said fellow driver Abdul Bari. Other devices are connected to solar panels, also mounted on the taxi's roof. Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world, is also one of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. It is particularly affected by heat waves and is suffering from increased drought. Murtaza, a 21-year-old technician, said that demand from taxi drivers has been growing over the past two or three years. Afghan cities are often saturated with ageing vehicles, which are enjoying a last-ditch life after being transferred from neighbouring countries. "When there's no cooler, it becomes very difficult," said Norullah, a 19-year-old passenger who did not provide a last name, his face inches from the blast of cold air. "These drivers are helping solve the problem, and that's great." © 2025 AFP
Khaleej Times
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
Fatigued Afghan taxi drivers take novel approach to AC
Broken air conditioning? Afghan taxi drivers have cobbled together a creative solution to spare them and their passengers from the sweltering heat. In Kandahar city in southern Afghanistan where temperatures easily exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), blue taxis can be spotted with an air conditioning unit strapped to the roof with an exhaust hose delivering the cool air through the passenger window. "It started getting extremely hot three or four years ago. These cars' AC systems didn't work, and repairs were too expensive. So I went to a technician, (and) had a custom cooler made," said driver Gul Mohammad. The 32-year-old spent 3,000 Afghanis ($43) for the system, which he connects to his taxi's battery and regularly refills with water. "This works better than (built-in) AC. ACs only cool the front — this cooler spreads air throughout," said fellow driver Abdul Bari. Other devices are connected to solar panels, also mounted on the taxi's roof. Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world, is also one of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. It is particularly affected by heat waves and is suffering from increased drought. Murtaza, a 21-year-old technician, said that demand from taxi drivers has been growing over the past two or three years. "Many cars weren't equipped with air conditioning anyway, which is why we're installing these," he told AFP in his small shop in central Kandahar. Afghan cities are often saturated with ageing vehicles, which are enjoying a last-ditch life after being transferred from neighbouring countries. "When there's no cooler, it becomes very difficult," said Norullah, a 19-year-old passenger who did not provide a last name, his face inches from the blast of cold air. "These drivers are helping solve the problem, and that's great."
Express Tribune
07-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
All graveyards in Karachi to be registered: Mayor Wahab
A man reads a prayer on a phone as he sits at Sakhi Hassan Graveyard, which is filled with plants seeded by relatives of the dead, in Karachi, July 12, 2022. REUTERS Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has announced that all cemeteries across the city will be registered. Currently, 38 graveyards are managed by Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), but the city has over 200 burial grounds. He announced that the official rate for a grave within KMC-administered cemeteries is set at Rs14,300. The mayor also issued a warning to gravediggers and caretakers charging unauthorised fees, calling for strict action against violators. Read: KMC ends charged parking at 32 roads In January, the KMC began displaying banners at registered cemeteries to show the fixed burial rate of Rs14,300, following directives by Mayor Murtaza. Cemeteries Director Sarwar Alam had at the time warned staff against overcharging and stressed that no unregistered workers would be allowed inside graveyards. Mayor Murtaza last month unveiled the KMC Rs55.137 billion budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year. Over Rs5.3 billion has been earmarked for municipal operations, with more than Rs2.1 billion set aside for departments such as land management, katchi abadis, estate, and charged parking.
Times of Oman
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Over 5,000 unaccompanied Afghan children return from Iran: UNICEF
Kabul: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reported that over 5,000 unaccompanied children have returned from Iran to Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border crossing, TOLO News reported. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF's representative in Afghanistan, said that 150,000 individuals crossed back into the country through Islam Qala just in the month of June. "In the month of June only, 150,000 returns have been recorded across the border in Islam Qala. Twenty-five per cent of these are children, many of whom are families, female-headed households, and in a very, very difficult situation. For us as UNICEF, we've seen more than 5,000 separated and unaccompanied children, and that comes with all the vulnerability of exploitation, abuse, and the lives that these children could be subjected to. Together with other partners on the ground at the reception center in Islam Qala, we are providing critical vaccination services," he said. According to TOLO News, poverty and economic hardship have driven Afghan children and teenagers to migrate to neighboring countries, especially Iran. Once in Iran, many of them are forced into labor far from their families, only to be deported and return alone through the Islam Qala crossing. Among the recent deportees is Murtaza, who said, "We studied up to sixth grade here, then stopped and went to Iran. We were deported again. Our hope is that the work and economic situation improves so we can continue our education in our own country." Another deportee, Nazeer Ahmad, recounted his experience: "During the five years we spent in Iran, we were harassed a lot. Along the way and in different places, they mistreated us and took extra money from us." TOLO News also reported that the mass returns come just seven days ahead of Iran's deadline for the departure of Afghan migrants from its territory. Adding to the pressure, more than 88,000 undocumented Afghan migrants were deported from Iran in a single week, Khaama Press reported, citing the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), raising alarm over urgent humanitarian and funding needs. Between June 18 and June 26, a total of 88,308 undocumented Afghan nationals were forcibly returned from Iran to Afghanistan, according to the IOM's June 28 update. The organisation stated that only 11 per cent of these returnees received any humanitarian assistance due to critical resource limitations, calling for urgent international funding to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable. The report further highlighted that 55 per cent of the returnees during this period were forcibly deported, and 64 per cent were travelling as families--underscoring the disproportionate impact on women and children. This figure marked a steep rise from the previous week, when 32,844 individuals were returned between June 10 and June 17. Earlier data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that over 71,000 migrants were returned from both Iran and Pakistan between June 1 and June 15, underscoring the scale and continuity of expulsions. Both agencies warned of the dire health and protection challenges that await returnees in overcrowded and under-resourced border areas, Khaama Press reported. In Iran, the crackdown on undocumented Afghan nationals has intensified. Authorities have issued new orders invalidating all lease agreements with Afghan refugees and warning landlords against offering them shelter. According to Khaama Press, police have reportedly detained Afghan migrants across several provinces, with arrests increasing notably after the recent 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel. Meanwhile, Pakistan has also resumed strict enforcement against Afghan refugees, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Identity checks, detentions, and deportations have increased, often targeting families with little to no warning or legal recourse. Human rights groups have expressed concern over the ongoing mass arrests and forced returns. Both IOM and WHO have appealed for immediate international support to address the escalating refugee crisis. With deportations surging and border services overstretched, Afghan returnees face rising threats of homelessness, poverty, and deteriorating health conditions, Khaama Press reported.
