Category: Karachi

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah expressed deep grief over the sad demise of Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th Imam of the Ismaili community.

Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his condolence message, said that the people of Sindh and the government equally share the grief of the Ismaili community.

He said that the demise of Prince Karim Aga Khan was a great loss not only for the Ismaili community but also for the entire humanity.

The Sindh Chief Minister said that Prince Karim Aga Khan's welfare activities and services to humanity are unforgettable.

He added that the memories of Prince Karim Aga Khan will always live on.

Karachi: The Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori, paying glowing tribute to the unwavering struggle of Kashmiri people, Wednesday said that the right to self-determination is the fundamental right of Kashmiris and the entire Pakistani nation supports their struggle for a just cause.

The governor, while addressing the ceremony held here at the Governor House Karachi to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day, urged the international community to take notice of Indian atrocities in the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The ceremony was attended by consuls general of different countries, leaders of minority communities and others, said a statement issued here.

Governor Sindh further said that the founder of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had said on the first day of the establishment of Pakistan that Kashmir is our jugular vein and we should make our strategy according to the words of the father of the nation.

'Even today, the entire nation stands united as one voice on the issue of Kashmir,' Tessori said and stressed on the urgent need of highlighting the issue of Kashmir at international level.

He said that India is violating the rights of Kashmiris, inhumane atrocities are being inflicted on the innocent people of IIOJK and they are being imprisoned.

Karachi: Squash legend and former world champion Jahangir Khan has emphasized the need for athletes to have access to international-standard sports equipment to enhance Pakistan's sports ecosystem.

He stated that high-quality gear is essential for athletes to perform with confidence and focus, according to a news release on Wednesday.

In today's digital era, sports equipment of global standards can now be easily acquired through quality online platforms.

Jahangir Khan made these remarks at the launch ceremony of Powerplay Sports' online store at Legends Arena, Karachi.

The event was attended by Omar Saeed, CEO of international sports equipment brand Combaxx Sports, Farah Saeed, Vice President of the Softball Federation of Pakistan, Zubair Macha, General Manager of Combaxx Sports, and Saad Asif, Director of Powerplay Sports.

Extending his best wishes to Powerplay Sports, Jahangir Khan highlighted that the availability of international brands manufacturing cricket, squash, padel tennis, taekwondo, judo, karate, and softball equipment will allow young Pakistani athletes to access world-class gear within the country.

He expressed hope that athletes, especially young sports enthusiasts, would greatly benefit from Powerplay's online sports store.

Omar Saeed, CEO of Combaxx Sports, announced that all internationally certified Combaxx Sports products would be available on the Powerplay online store. Furthermore, as a technical partner, Combaxx Sports will sponsor two athletes (one male and one female) annually for overseas training. Additionally, an annual awards ceremony will be held to honor Pakistani athletes who win medals at the national and international levels.

In collaboration with Powerplay Sports, a women's sports event will also be sponsored each year.

Speaking at the event, Saad Asif, Director of Powerplay Sports, remarked that their online store would promote the message of "Healthy Athletes, Strong Pakistan" nationwide.

He added that partnering with Combaxx Sports as a technical collaborator is an honor.

Through their platform, federations and associations will be able to procure kits and sports gear at discounted prices for various events, including international championships, national championships, inter-provincial competitions, training courses, and coaching clinics held in Pakistan.

Karachi: The Sindh Chief Secretary (CS), Asif Hyder Shah, Wednesday, directed the Wildlife department and Commissioner Karachi to take stringent action against illegal trade of animals and birds in the metropolis.

The chief secretary, while presiding over a meeting regarding Karachi Zoological and Botanical Garden, also advised Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to refrain from acquiring exotic animals for Karachi Zoo in the future, said a statement issued here.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi, Additional Chief Secretary Local Government Syed Khalid Hyder Shah, Municipal Commissioner Afzal Zaidi, Deputy Commissioner (DC) South Javed Nabi, Director Recreation KMC, and other relevant officials of Karachi Zoological and Botanical Garden.

The chief secretary ordered strict action against those involved in the illegal trade of animals and birds and directed the Wildlife Department and Commissioner Karachi to take immediate measures against illegal animal markets.

He further instructed DC South to coordinate with the police, Wildlife Department, and Cantonment Board to completely eliminate illegal animal trade and shops in Saddar area and submit a report in the regard within 15 days.

It was revealed during the meeting that Karachi Zoo currently houses around 850 animals and birds of various species while no new animal has been purchased for the zoo since 2012.

The CS emphasized that exotic (non-native) animals should not be purchased for Karachi Zoo as they are unable to survive in the local environment.

He highlighted that due to the lack of suitable space, food, and environmental conditions, exotic animals often suffer from stress, diseases, and premature death.

He advised that all animals in Karachi Zoo must be provided with food and healthcare facilities that meet international standards. He assured that the Sindh government will provide the necessary funds to ensure the well-being of the animals and birds in the zoo.

Karachi: The Regional Tax Office-1 Karachi has surpassed its monthly tax collection target, allocated by the FBR headquarters, during the month of January 2025.

The RTO-1 was required to amass Rs. 26 billion through tax collection under its administrative domain while it amassed Rs. 28.6 billion on the closing date thereby contributing 10% more than the assigned 100% tax collection target.

According to spokesman of the RTO-1, an efficient tax collection, exceeding the monthly target, from a regional office signifies remarkably well for the Federal Board of Revenue that has already been pinpointing its focus on achieving the annual tax collection target for the ongoing FY 2024-25 keeping in view the slim economic state of the country.

The Regional Tax Office-1 has adopted a proactive enforcement strategy to enhance the share of domestic tax in the overall collection. Noteworthy in this regard are actions against tax evaders through on-spot stock takings and penalties on violation of PoS protocols. Owing to these enforcement measures the voluntary tax compliance has shown visible signs of improvement climbing up from a meagre Rs. 300-400 million on an average to over a billion in December and January while the RTO-1 eyes a Rs. 3-4 billion mark in February and March 2025.

Chief Commissioner RTO-1 Dr. Faheem Muhammad appreciated the efforts of his officers and staff in achieving landmark tax collection figures and imparting awareness amongst the trading community regarding PoS violations.

He also called upon tax payers to improve tax compliance voluntarily in the best interest of the country and discourage tax evasion and fraud.

Karachi: The 9th edition of Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN and maiden AMAN Dialogue 2025 aimed at bringing maritime nations together to adopt safe and sustainable procedures, share experiences and collectively address maritime challenges to commence from February 07.

The exercise, divided in sea and harbor phases, is scheduled from 7 to 11 February with participation from over 60 countries including ships, aircrafts, special operations forces, EOD marine teams and observers, the commander Pakistan Fleet Rear Admiral Abdul Munib informed the media personnel in a press briefing here on Tuesday.

The growing global participation with representation from every region of the world in the AMAN 2025 reflects the international community's confidence in Pakistan Navy's role in collaborative maritime security, he said.

'This confidence has led to yet another milestone the introduction of the maiden AMAN Dialogue, which will be conducted from February 8 to 10 alongside Exercise AMAN 2025,' he announced and informed that the AMAN Dialogue will bring together Chiefs of Navies, Coast Guards and Defence forces to exchange views on shared global and regional maritime issues.

It will serve as a platform for adopting innovative solutions to address the ever-evolving challenges at sea, he stated adding, in essence, the AMAN Dialogue will merge intellectual discourse with real time practical experiences in the maritime domain.

With the evolving global landscape shifting from geo-politics to geo-economics, the security of global seaborne trade and energy routes has gained unprecedented importance while the Indian Ocean region faces a range of challenges from traditional security threats to non-traditional risks, he highlighted.

These multifaceted issues have broadened the scope of maritime security, compelling nations to re-evaluate their strategies and policies, he added.

Pakistan recognizes that no single country can address the complex challenges at sea alone, he stated adding that Pakistan Navy, in this context, launched biennial multinational exercise AMAN in 2007 under the slogan 'Together for Peace'.

Over the years exercise AMAN has evolved in terms of its objectives and scope as the first edition of AMAN Exercises primarily focused on counter-terrorism and anti-piracy operations was attended by 28 countries while the ninth edition is marked with participation of over 60 countries, he observed and added that over time, the scope of exercise has expanded paving the way for doctrinal synergy to counter emerging maritime challenges.

Rear Admiral Abdul Munib informed that the AMAN 2025 is divided into two phases, i.e. Harbor and Sea. The Harbor phase to be conducted from February 7 to 9 will include various activities such as seminars, operational discussions, professional demonstrations, international gatherings and sports fixtures.

The Sea phase of the exercise from 10 to 11 February will feature tactical maneuvers and maritime security exercises, including anti-piracy and counter terrorism operations, search and rescue drills, and live firing exercises, he informed and added that the highlight of the sea phase will be the International fleet Review, which will be witnessed by both foreign and national delegates.

The Exercise AMAN 2025 will play a vital role in enhancing maritime security and strengthening Pakistan's position as a key maritime player capable of contributing to regional and global peace and shared prosperity while safeguarding its Sea lines of communication and economic interest, he maintained.

The Rear Admiral Abdul Munib, responding to a media query, informed that AMAN Dialogue is the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff aimed at bringing together heads of naval and maritime forces at a strategic policy level forum under a collaborative approach and finding out solutions to challenges which remained unaddressed earlier.

The participation of naval chiefs of 14 countries has been confirmed so far while we are expecting to receive more confirmations as well, he added.

On a question about the contribution of the exercises in fostering the blue economy, he said that our objective is secure and safe seas for global trade as security and maritime economy are intertwined in maritime domain.