Latest news with #Randhawa
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
PM ‘dissatisfied' with CDA chief's performance
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman, as multiple reports point to administrative lapses and substandard construction work in the federal capital. The sources within the CDA told Business Recorder that the prime minister has decided to remove CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa and Chief Commissioner Islamabad and member administration Talat Gondal from their respective positions. The decision, the sources added, follows a string of complaints and documented irregularities concerning several civic projects. CDA faces criticism as audit reveals lack of transparency According to insider accounts, the prime minister has already conducted interviews with two former CDA chairmen as potential replacements. The prime minister is said to have taken serious note of irregularities in the Serena Underpass and the Business Facilitation Centre projects. A report detailing discrepancies in billing practices for LED lighting - where charges were allegedly drawn from the public exchequer - has also been submitted, sources said. In addition, drainage issues in the Diplomatic Enclave have reportedly caused damage to foreign missions, prompting several European embassies to lodge formal written complaints with the Prime Minister's Office. Concerns were further heightened over substandard construction at the Tayyip Erdogan Interchange, which, according to government officials, may have adversely affected Pakistan's international image. A separate report indicating alleged embezzlement of Rs500 million in a development project has also been received by the prime minister. Reports also suggest that the prime minister expressed dismay over inappropriate conduct by CDA officials towards elected representatives. The removal of Randhawa and Gondal now appears imminent, with an official notification expected shortly, according to government sources. Both Randhawa and Gondal did not respond to requests for comment. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Rawalpindi plans Leh revamp
esidents of Dhoke Chirag Din continue to dump garbage along Nullah Leh's banks in Rawalpindi, defying Section 144 imposed by the city administration. PHOTO: ONLINE Authorities have decided to widen the 16-kilometre-long Nullah Leh drain, install barbed fencing on both sides, and divide it into 16 sections to expedite rehabilitation work. The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has requested proposals from the Municipal Corporation to formulate a permanent flood prevention strategy. An important meeting on Nullah Leh was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema on Wednesday. The meeting reviewed long-term solutions to the recurring flood problem. Participants included Additional Deputy Commissioners Abdullah Khan and Shehryar Shirazi, RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza, and officials from other concerned departments. Officials suggested assigning each segment to a separate construction company to ensure speedy work. Plans for fencing, construction, and an effective monitoring system were discussed to not only address the flooding issue but also beautify the surrounding areas. The meeting also reviewed the original 2003 Nullah Leh widening plan. Dr Cheema directed the RDA, WASA, Municipal Corporation, and other departments to finalise their recommendations promptly so the project can move into the execution phase. Encroachers warned On the other hand, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has intensified its crackdown on illegal encroachments in Islamabad, particularly structures built over natural stormwater drains (nullahs). They have issued warnings that such constructions pose severe flooding risks and will be demolished without exception. The announcement came during a high-level meeting held at the CDA Headquarters, chaired by Chairman CDA and Islamabad Chief Commissioner, Muhammad Ali Randhawa on Friday. According to the briefing, enforcement teams have already begun sealing and demolishing illegal structures built over nullahs, in accordance with directives from Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The campaign aims to reclaim government land from illegal occupants and prevent life-threatening scenarios during Islamabad's increasingly intense monsoon rains. "Buildings constructed over nullahs without a hydraulic study or CDA approval are not only illegal but highly dangerous. These structures could collapse during a major flood," said Chairman Randhawa, citing heavy rainfall this monsoon season-the highest since 2001-as a serious wake-up call. Residents and commercial property owners have been urged to voluntarily remove all encroachments from stormwater channels. "If not removed voluntarily, these structures will be sealed, declared hazardous and legal action will be initiated. The responsibility will lie entirely with the encroachers," Randhawa warned. In addition to enforcement, the CDA is implementing preventive measures to stop future encroachments. A permanent monitoring system will be established, utilising drone surveillance and Google Earth mapping to track reclaimed land. The authority also announced the digitisation of layout plans, the No Objection Certificate (NOC) process and fee payments for map approvals through a new cashless system. "We are digitising our One Window Facilitation Centre and computerising land records to enhance transparency and service delivery," said the Chairman, adding that these reforms will also help curb fraudulent construction practices and improve public access to services. The citywide anti-encroachment drive has been initiated following repeated flooding incidents in Islamabad's residential and commercial sectors. Experts have warned that unregulated construction over nullahs obstructs natural water flow, leading to urban flooding and potential loss of life. The CDA reiterated its commitment to carry out indiscriminate operations across all sectors of the city and urged citizens to cooperate in maintaining lawful development and environmental safety.
NBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- NBC News
Confusion surrounds Air India as crash dents national pride
Before one of its planes crashed just after takeoff last month, killing at least 260 people, Air India had been a symbol of the country's global rise. Only two years earlier, chief executive Campbell Wilson had inaugurated a brand-new Airbus A350, Air India's first, calling it 'a declaration of Indian aviation's resurgence on the world stage.' The aircraft's delivery made headlines across the country, where the public cheered Air India's transformation from a neglected state-owned flagship carrier into a modern airline that its new owners, the Tata Group, hoped would become the world's biggest. Under the Indian conglomerate, which founded the airline in 1932 and bought it back in 2022 after it spent decades under government operation, Air India was making big moves, announcing a record order in 2023 of 470 aircraft valued at more than $70 billion. A year later, the airline said it had begun a $400 million retrofit of its legacy fleet, accelerating the upgrade by leasing jets from other airlines, including Delta. That momentum came to a grinding halt last month when a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed seconds after takeoff in the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad, killing all but one of the 242 people aboard plus 19 others on the ground in one of India's worst aviation disasters. Air India has since been under immense pressure to answer for the crash, but bereaved families were left with more questions after investigators released a preliminary report this month that said the plane's fuel switches had been wrongly cut off, leading to speculation that one of the pilots might have done it accidentally or even intentionally. Indian investigators and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, which is involved in the crash investigation as the aircraft is U.S.-made, said such conclusions were irresponsible. 'Investigations of this magnitude take time,' NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said, while India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau urged the public and the media to 'refrain from spreading premature narratives.' But Indian commentators were already irate. 'Why do this rumor mill mongering about possible problems with the pilot?' Arnab Goswami, a firebrand anchor, said on his conservative Republic Media Network. 'So that across the world the impression goes that Indian pilots cannot fly?' Capt. C.S. Randhawa, a former pilot for Air India and the Indian air force, said the suggestion that one of the pilots may have crashed the plane deliberately has 'demoralized the pilots in the country.' 'All pilots are up in arms, and it's not a good thing. The pilots have to fly with that mental attitude,' Randhawa, who is currently the president of the Federation of Indian Pilots, told NBC News. The final report is due next year. On top of the lack of clarity, some British families hoping to bury their loved ones said they had received the remains of the wrong people, according to the Daily Mail, which cited a lawyer representing them. The Indian foreign ministry said Wednesday that all remains were being handled with 'utmost professionalism' and that it was working closely with the British side to address concerns. Air India was also warned last week by India's aviation regulator that it could face enforcement action over more than two dozen safety violations from this year and last year, Reuters reported, citing government notices. They include pilots not being given mandatory rest and poor compliance with simulator training requirements. The airline, which voluntarily disclosed the problems last month, said Friday that it would respond to the regulator and that it 'remains fully committed to ensuring the safety of its passengers and staff.' Air India was already under enormous pressure to clean up its reputation after falling into disrepair during its nearly 70 years of government ownership. Its reform nevertheless aligned perfectly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's nationalist narrative of turning India into a global superpower. 'Given its legacy, the brand remains synonymous with India,' said Shelley Vishwajeet, a New Delhi-based aviation journalist and author of 'The IndiGo Story,' a book about the Indian airline. He added that the cultural transformation within Air India 'has been a challenge' for its new owners. Things moved quickly after the takeover by the Tata Group, which consolidated several airlines it controlled, including Vistara and Air Asia India, into two entities: the full-cost carrier Air India and its budget arm, Air India Express. Vistara, which was partly owned by Singapore Airlines, was particularly beloved by Indians, known for its modern planes and best-in-class customer experience. When it merged with Air India, travelers and crew hoped that Air India would be the true Vistara successor. But Air India has struggled to deliver change as fast as some had hoped. 'They're struggling with maintenance issues, disrepair issues, and all these things are taking time,' Randhawa said.
Deccan Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- Deccan Herald
Atwal, Jeev and Jyoti create history as trio makes cut at Senior Open
Sunningdale: The Indian golfing trio of Arjun Atwal, Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa made history with all three making the cut at the ISPS Handa Senior Open, the final Major for the Seniors (over 50 years) is the first time that three Indians have made the cut in a who also played the US Senior Open earlier this year where he made the cut, had rounds of 67-72 at the Par-70 course and is T-36 after being in the Top-10 at one with 71-69, was T-49, while Randhawa, who holed a tense 15-footer on the 18th to make the cut, had rounds of cut fell at 1-over.."To play alongside some of the golfing legends like Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer or Asian superstar KJ Choi is a privilege. For three of us with Jeev and Arjun also there, it is amazing that we are still around and playing together, now at the Senior level," said Randhawa, whose son, Zorawar is on the bag.."I needed to show the young man that we can still play," added Randhawa after his big putt on the 18th to make the son, Harjai, is also here but watching his dad, while Atwal's son plays basketball in the Harrington will bid to become the fifth player in history to win both The Open and ISPS Handa Senior Open as he takes a one-stroke lead into the Irishman, who won and then successfully defended the Claret Jug in 2007 and 2008, carded a five-under round of 65 on the Old Course here as he reached eight-under par after the first two a Senior Major winner this year after his U.S. Senior Open last month, Harrington leads defending champion K.J. Choi of South Korea, who hopes to become the first player to successfully defend a Senior Open title since Christy O'Connor Jnr in carded six birdies in his round of 67 and the 55-year-old did hold the lead at one point on nine-under par after a birdie at the 14th, but two dropped shots on 16 and 17 saw him slip back into a share of second alongside 2018 European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjørn (70-63).
News18
4 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Atwal, Jeev and Jyoti create history as trio makes cut at Senior Open
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Sunningdale (UK), Jul 26 (PTI) The Indian golfing trio of Arjun Atwal, Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa made history with all three making the cut at the ISPS Handa Senior Open, the final Major for the Seniors (over 50 years) here. This is the first time that three Indians have made the cut in a Major. Atwal, who also played the US Senior Open earlier this year where he made the cut, had rounds of 67-72 at the Par-70 course and is T-36 after being in the Top-10 at one stage. Jeev, with 71-69, was T-49, while Randhawa, who holed a tense 15-footer on the 18th to make the cut, had rounds of 70-71. The cut fell at 1-over. 'To play alongside some of the golfing legends like Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer or Asian superstar KJ Choi is a privilege. For three of us with Jeev and Arjun also there, it is amazing that we are still around and playing together, now at the Senior level," said Randhawa, whose son, Zorawar is on the bag. 'I needed to show the young man that we can still play," added Randhawa after his big putt on the 18th to make the cut. Jeev's son, Harjai, is also here but watching his dad, while Atwal's son plays basketball in the US. The Irishman, who won and then successfully defended the Claret Jug in 2007 and 2008, carded a five-under round of 65 on the Old Course here as he reached eight-under par after the first two days. Already a Senior Major winner this year after his U.S. Senior Open last month, Harrington leads defending champion K.J. Choi of South Korea, who hopes to become the first player to successfully defend a Senior Open title since Christy O'Connor Jnr in 2000. Choi carded six birdies in his round of 67 and the 55-year-old did hold the lead at one point on nine-under par after a birdie at the 14th, but two dropped shots on 16 and 17 saw him slip back into a share of second alongside 2018 European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjørn (70-63). PTI Cor AM AM AM view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 17:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
