Latest news with #MurtazaWahab
Express Tribune
10 hours ago
- Express Tribune
KMC cracks down on illegal parking fees, plot allotments
Despite an official ban by the KMC and Sindh government, a man continues to collect parking fees from motorcyclists in Saddar, raising questions about enforcement on the ground. PHOTO: EXPRESS The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has launched a citywide operation to eliminate illegal parking fee collection, while also initiating the cancellation of plots found to have been illegally leased in the Orangi Township Project. Following the announcement of free parking across the city by Mayor Murtaza Wahab, and subsequent directives from Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, KMC launched a crackdown against illegal parking fee collection. Since the launch of the initiative, three FIRs have been registered in connection with the illegal fee collection, including at Kharadar police station on July 10, following citizen complaints; at Bahadurabad police station on July 28, after a raid by the City Wardens; and at Boat Basin police station on July 29 when culprits were caught red-handed. Wahab has urged citizens not to pay parking charges and to report such incidents to KMC Helpline 1339. He has also directed the City Warden Department to deploy teams at designated free parking locations, and to conduct regular patrolling to ensure compliance. Separately, KMC has initiated the cancellation of over 320 illegally leased plots in the Orangi Township Project, after an internal investigation was ordered by the mayor. The inquiry revealed that during the tenure of then Project Director Rizwan Khan, a number of plots were leased without due process. In 2019, 26 plots were allotted to a single individual, while 180 others were issued to members of the same family and close associates. Current Project Director Faisal Rizvi also submitted a report identifying over 500 irregular allotments in total, including 80 previously identified and 320 discovered in the latest phase. The cancellation process has begun, with related cases forwarded to the director general anti-corruption for legal action.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Karachi traffic police cracks down on illegal parking fees collectors
Listen to article Karachi authorities continued enforcing the citywide free parking policy as a Karachi traffic warden team took action on Shahrah-e-Faisal, arresting three individuals for illegally collecting parking fees. The suspects were caught red-handed and handed over to the police. A case has been registered at Bahadurabad Police Station, and legal proceedings are underway. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has instructed inspection teams to conduct regular checks and ensure full compliance with the free parking decision. He reiterated that no compromise will be made on public interest and that implementation of the policy must be guaranteed. Earlier, the Sindh government abolished parking charges on all roads across Karachi's 25 towns, according to a notification issued by the local government department. The move followed directives from Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and formed part of a broader parking policy aimed at ensuring free public parking citywide. A major relief for Karachiites by the Sindh Government! Free parking announced across the city on the directives of CM Sindh. Local government instructed all towns for immediate implementation. — Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (@KmcPakistan) July 25, 2025 'Providing free parking to citizens was a top priority,' said Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, adding that the decision was taken in the public interest and that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) remained financially stable.
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Land record digitalisation initiatives: CM Sindh reviews progress
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, presiding over a meeting of Land Administration & Revenue Management Information System (LARMIS), directed the Board of Revenue (BoR) to integrate the e-Mutation system with the e-Registration system and expedite the progress on the e-transfer system to improve service delivery. The meeting, held at CM House, was attended by Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, PSCM Agha Wasif, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Local govt Waseem Shamshad, Members Board of Revenue Omar Farooq Bullo and Saleem Baloch, and Secretary-cum-Director LARMIS Saifullah Abro and others. The CM said that LARMIS was established to provide citizens with computerised access to land records and related services throughout the province. With 27 dedicated People's Service Centres (PSCs) across district headquarters and a comprehensive online platform via the Board of Revenue's official website, the system ensures easy access to vital land information. During the briefing, the CM was told that Modern IT infrastructure supports daily operations, while a state-of-the-art Data Centre located at Revenue House Clifton, Karachi, serves as the central repository for digitised land records. Moreover, a Disaster Recovery Centre (DRC) in Hyderabad guarantees service continuity during emergencies. The digitisation process, which commenced in 2010 with the scanning of old records from 1985 to 2010, secures Forms VII-A, VII-B, and Form II collected from all Mukhtiarkar offices. Continuous scanning and indexing of post-2010 records at the Provincial Record Centre (PRC) in Hyderabad ensures ongoing public accessibility through integrated networks. LARMIS has further expanded its capabilities by offering digital access to government offices and statutory bodies for land title verification. It may be noted, the introduction of e-Registration services at PSCs has enhanced service delivery, with plans underway for the integration of an e-Mutation system. Launched in February 2024, the e-Registration system currently operates across 51 Sub-Registrar offices, facilitating registration services through the PSCs. By July 2025, over 100,000 documents and deeds have been successfully registered through this innovative system. Furthermore, the Board of Revenue Sindh is collaborating with Sukkur IBA University on the development of an 'E-Transfer of Property System,' which aims to secure revenue records through blockchain technology, thereby making property transactions more accessible and user-friendly. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
23-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
KMC to launch smart parking services
KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is set to launch Smart Digital Parking Services in selected covered and boundary wall-enclosed parking zones across the megacity. This initiative is part of a broader vision led by Mayor Karachi, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, to modernise public infrastructure and enhance urban mobility. Following the earlier announcement of free parking at 32 locations, KMC has now approved the development of Smart Parking Zones at 10 key sites, including Sindbad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Parking Lot near AO Clinic, Nazimabad, Clifton Centre, Sassi Arcade, Paradise Centre, Polo Ground, Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Crystal Court, Plot Between Beach View Parking, Clifton, Hyper Star, Beach View Parking, Clifton, and Driving License Branch, Nazimabad. To implement this project, the Charged Parking Department has floated tenders and initiated procurement procedures. An Expression of Interest (EOI) has been invited under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, enabling private sector participation in Karachi's urban development. The Smart Parking system will include digital ticketing and cashless payment options, real-time parking availability updates, enhanced security and monitoring in covered areas. 'This initiative will not only address Karachi's growing parking demands but also mark a shift towards digital civic infrastructure — a long-term investment in the city's future,' said a KMC spokesperson. The project is currently under review and will be launched in phases following formal procedures. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
KMC targets over 170 illegal plot allotments
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has initiated the cancellation of over 170 irregularly leased and illegally converted plots in the Orangi Township Project. This action follows the directives of Mayor Murtaza Wahab, in response to complaints regarding unauthorised allotments of amenity and other public plots during 2019 and 2020. Wahab has directed a comprehensive review of all suspicious allotment cases within the project. As part of this directive, the process of cancellation has already commenced, with investigations underway to determine the extent of violations and misuse of authority. Additionally, cases involving abuse of official powers have been referred to the Anti-Corruption Department for a thorough and transparent inquiry. This step underscores KMC's commitment to rooting out corruption and reclaiming public land from unlawful occupation. The mayor has also directed that following the cancellation of these plots, legal action must be initiated to recover the government land and secure its fair market value for public benefit.
