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Sindh PAC for steps to recover Water Board’s dues

Karachi: The Public Accounts Committee of the Sindh Assembly, Wednesday, directed to initiate measures for recovery of Rs20 billion water charges due on different state owned entities and seek assistance of federal government in the regard.

The Sindh Assembly PAC, in a meeting presided over by the Chairman Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, reviewed audit paras pertaining to Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, Ministry of Local Government, said a statement issued here.

The Sindh PAC directed the Additional Chief Secretary Local Government and CEO Water Board to communicate to the relevant federal government institutions for the payment of dues to federal institutions situated in the province.

The PAC also summoned the relevant officials of various federal government institutions to the PAC on January 21 in the regard.

The PAC Chairman Nisar Khuhro said that the Water Board owed Rs20 Billion outstanding arrears of water charges to Pakistan Steel Mills, Sui Southern Gas, PSO, KPT, Pakistan Railways, PIA, National Shipping Corporation, Port Qasim Authority, Marine Fisheries, Cantonment Boards, Karachi Shipyard, Pakistan Machine Tool Factory, Cotton Export Corporation, and other institutions.

The some of the outstanding amount dates back to 2016 while only the Pakistan Steel Mills has to pay Rs10 billion arrears of water charges, he added.

Nisar Khuhro has said that Sindh has provided water facilities to federal institutions, but these federal institutions are not paying dues. He requested the federal government to take notice of the issue and initiate necessary measures for payment of dues to KWSB.

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Salman Agha confident of beating Proteas in Newlands test match

Lahore: All-rounder Salman Ali Agha has said that the Pakistan cricket team was confident of beating South Africa in the second and last test of the two-match series in Newlands, Cape Town starting from January 3 (Friday).

Talking to the journalists prior to a practice session in Newlands, Cape Town on Wednesday, he said the team lost the first test match in Johannesburg by a whisker, adding that the first test match was 'anyone's game' which the Proteas won due to tenacity of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.

'Team's morale is very high as we lost by a close margin in the first test while we beat the Proteas in the three-match ODI series convincingly,' Salman said, expressing the hope that the second test match will be a 'cracker' of a contest.

He further said that the team has the belief that it can beat South Africa at their home soil, adding that they beat the Proteas in the ODI series but were a bit short in the first test match in Johannesburg.

To a question he said that the team was in good stead and no conclusions could be made about the pitch in Newlands, adding it looked a different strip from what team played on in Johannesburg with less amount of grass on the pitch.

About inclusion of a specialist spinner in the squad at Newlands, Salman Ali Agha, who is himself a spinner, said the team management will decide on it after having a look at the pitch tomorrow, adding that the statistics favour inclusion of a spinner at the Newlands.

'I just looked at the pitch and I thought I will bowl in this test match because I have not bowled during the past the three test matches I have played,' he responded to a question, adding his role will be important in the test match as an all-rounder.

About Muhammad Abbas, the all-rounder said 'Muhammad Abbas is very accurate and I have not seen anyone like him as he knows his job.' He was a bit rusty in the first innings of the Johannesburg test but he was outstanding in the second innings, adding it was Muhammad Abbas who brought us back in the game by claiming six scalps after Aiden Markram and Bavuma looked to finish easily. He further said it was amazing to see a quick bowl the whole first session on the fourth day of first test match in Johannesburg.

About the South African team in the WTC final, the all-rounder said that the Proteas are a formidable side with strong batting and bowling line-up, adding that their qualification for the WTC final speaks volumes about the quality of their cricketing skills.

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17 outlaws held;drugs & weapons recovered

Islamabad: Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police apprehended 17 outlaws involved in different criminal activities including drug peddling and possessing illegal weapons and recovered drugs and weapons from their possessions, on Wednesday.

A police spokesperson told reporter that the Islamabad Police Kohsar, Sumbal, Shams Colony, Shahzad Town and Bani Gala police teams took legal action against accused involved in possessing illegal weapons, and drug peddling activities.

He said the police team also arrested 12 accused and recovered 210 grams heroin, 20 liters liquor, 05 pistols and dagger from their possession. Moreover, 05 absconders were also arrested from various areas of the city during the last 24 hours.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operation Muhammad Arslan Shahzaib said that the Islamabad Police is actively working to ensure the safety of citizens' lives and property in the federal capital, emphasizing that no elements will be allowed to disrupt citizens' peace.

Protecting the lives, property, and dignity of citizens is the Islamabad Police's top priority,he added.

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Shoaib Shaheen’s passport blocked due to errors: IHC told

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday has been told that the passport of PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen was blocked due to technical errors.

IHC's Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the case against the blockage of Shoaib Shaheen's passport.

The court in its order said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and immigration officials had told the bench that there were some technical errors regarding the passport of PTI leader which had been addressed. The FIA said that it has no connection with the inactive of the travel document.

The report said that now there was no hindrance in travel of the PTI leader as his passport has been activated.

However, the court is keeping the petition pending till January 13, on the request of the petitioner.

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Faisalabad Rescue-1122 receives 157,324 calls during 2024


Faisalabad: The Punjab Emergency Services (PES) Rescue-1122 Faisalabad received 157,324 emergency calls in its control room during the last year 2024.



Presiding over annual review meeting of the central rescue station here on Wednesday, Incharge Control Room Ghulam Shabir said that 157,324 emergency calls were included 33,754 road accidents, 105,877 medical, 2065 fire eruption, 3583 crime, 111 drowning, 169 building collapse, 8 gas cylinder blast, and 10,390 miscellaneous.



The teams rescued 149,094 victims of which 74,693 were provided first aid and 67,552 were shifted to various hospitals.



Posted on

Faisalabad Rescue-1122 receives 157,324 calls during 2024


Faisalabad: The Punjab Emergency Services (PES) Rescue-1122 Faisalabad received 157,324 emergency calls in its control room during the last year 2024.



Presiding over annual review meeting of the central rescue station here on Wednesday, Incharge Control Room Ghulam Shabir said that 157,324 emergency calls were included 33,754 road accidents, 105,877 medical, 2065 fire eruption, 3583 crime, 111 drowning, 169 building collapse, 8 gas cylinder blast, and 10,390 miscellaneous.



The teams rescued 149,094 victims of which 74,693 were provided first aid and 67,552 were shifted to various hospitals.