In order to develop linkages between industry and academia, the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) Islamabad is organizing job fair at its main campus here on Tuesday, November 29.
The university has been organizing job fairs every year to bring industry and academia together for mutual benefits, said a press statement issued by FUUAST here.
The fair provides the industry an opportunity to interact and exchange experiences with faculty and students whereas on the other hand it opens avenues for students to receive firsthand experience by interacting with industry representatives.
According to the statement, the Job fair also offers employers with an excellent opportunity to deal with their active and future staff requirements.
The statement said, FUUAST has been according highest preference to student development activities, adding the Placement Bureau, FUUAST regularly organizes skill development programs such as seminars, workshops, industrial visits and internships for students.
It has also been promoting Industry-Academia Linkages in order to enhance existing curriculum, faculty development and student employability potential.
Meanwhile, the university’s Department of International Relations and Mass Communication has also arranged a lecture on “United Nations Day for Violence Against Woman: Role of Media in Creating Awarness” on Wednesday, November 30.
Renowned academician and Dean Faculty of Social sciences International Islamic University Islamabad, Dr Zafar Iqbal would deliver the lecture
ISLAMABAD, Nov 27 (APP): The Federal Government has authorized the utilization of development funds amounting to Rs 241.26 billion out of a total allocation of Rs 727 billion for various ongoing and new social sector uplift projects of the federal ministries and division in the first four months (July-October) of the fiscal year 2022-23 under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Out of the total authorized/disbursed amount, the total amount spent on the development projects during the corresponding period stood at Rs 98.8 billion.
According to the disbursement mechanism of the Planning Division, the development funds allocated in the federal budget are released at the rate of 20% in the first quarter (July-September), followed by 30% each in the second and third quarters, and the remaining 20% in the last quarter (April-June) of a fiscal year.
The government also authorized/disbursed Rs 100 billion for the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Reform.
The detail shows that Rs 57.133 billion out of a total allocated amount of Rs 160.2 billion have been disbursed to corporations while Rs 184 billion have been disbursed to the federal ministries out of a total allocation of Rs 563.3 billion.
For National Highway Authority (NHA), the government has disbursed/authorized Rs 29.9 billion out of a total allocation of Rs 117.2 billion, whereas for NTDC/PEPCO, the government has disbursed Rs 27.2 billion.
The federal government has also disbursed/authorized Rs 87 billion out of a total allocation of Rs 87 billion, however, only Rs 0.78 billion have been spent on the development projects of the cabinet division so far.
Similarly, the data shows that Rs 494 million has been disbursed to Aviation Division, and Rs 161 million have been disbursed to the Board of the Investment.
The government also authorized the utilization of Rs 1.9 billion for Climate Change Division out of which only Rs 38 million have been spent during the period under review.
For Higher Education Commission (HEC), the government has authorized the release of Rs 17.78 billion, Rs 25.2 billion for provinces and special areas, Rs 435 million for Commerce Division, Rs 36 million for Communication Division (other than NHA), and Rs 445 million for Defense Division.
Likewise, the government also disbursed Rs 286 million to Finance Division, Rs 180 million to Establishment Division, Rs 1.4 billion to Federal Education and Professional Training Division, and Rs 4.3 billion to Housing and Works Division.
ISLAMABAD, Nov 27 (APP): Pakistan expressed grave concern over confirmation of BJP leadership’s direct involvement in anti-Muslim violence during the horrific Gujarat riots of 2002 that led to killing of over two thousand Muslims.
Pakistan also urged India to immediately constitute an independent commission of inquiry to bring the culprits of the horrific Godhra incident, as well as the Gujarat riots, to justice.
“The recent statement by the former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shankersinh Vaghela, has confirmed Pakistan’s long-standing assertion that the BJP led government under the incumbent Prime Minister — who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat at the time of anti-Muslim riots in Godhra — was directly responsible for fomenting violence and massacre of Muslims,” the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release.
BJP leaders-Gujarat riots
This has been further corroborated indirectly by the Indian Home Minister, who recently claimed that those responsible for Gujarat riots had been “taught a lesson” and “permanent peace” had been established in Gujarat by BJP’s decisive actions.
Pakistan also stressed upon upon the international community, particularly human rights activists and defenders to take serious note of the aggravating situation of Islamophobia in India; and called on Indian government to ensure that the rights of minorities in India, especially Muslims, were safeguarded and their lives protected, it was added.
The spokesperson said “It is most deplorable that the crimes against humanity, targeting Muslims, were perpetrated solely for BJP’s political gains. Regrettably, the BJP once again seeks to cash in on its divisive policies two decades after the Gujarat tragedy.”
Anti-Muslims Gujarat riots-India
Under BJP rule, India’s treatment of its minorities, especially Indian Muslims, had been discriminatory, degrading, and full of hate and violence.
In June this year, the Supreme Court of India handed a clean chit to the current Prime Minister, the then CM of Gujarat, for his role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.
The Supreme Court shut down as many as 11 petitions, including one filed by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India, seeking an independent probe into the 2002 Gujarat riots cases.
“It is an undeniable fact that India’s incumbent Prime Minister had been banned from entering countries such as the United States till 2014, because of his abysmal human rights record as Chief Minister of the Gujarat state,” the spokesperson said.
Anti-Muslims policies-India-BJP
Sadly, the entire Indian legal and administrative machinery was blindly pursuing the Hindutva-driven agenda of the ruling BJP-RSS nexus, where perpetrators of hate and violence were protected by law and enjoyed exalted status, whereas religious minorities were constantly threatened and denied the freedom to practice their faith without fear, while their lives, property and places of worship remained under threat of violation.
ISLAMABAD, Nov 27 (APP):The Federal Government has authorized the utilization of development funds amounting to Rs 241.26 billion out of total allocation of Rs 727 billion for various ongoing and new social sector uplift projects of the federal ministries and division in first four months (July-October) of fiscal year 2022-23 under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Out of the total authorized/disbursed amount, the total amount spend on the development projects during the corresponding period stood at Rs 98.8 billion.
According to the disbursement mechanism of the Planning Division, the development funds allocated in the federal budget are released at the rate of 20% in the first quarter (July-September), followed by 30% each in the second and third quarters, and remaining 20% in the last quarter (April-June) of a fiscal year.
The government also authorized/disbursed Rs 100 billion for the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform.
The detail shows that Rs 57.133 billion out of total allocated amount of Rs 160.2 billion have been disbursed for corporations while Rs 184 billion have been disbursed for the federal ministries out of total allocation of Rs 563.3 billion.
For National Highway Authority (NHA) the government has disbursed/authorized Rs 29.9 billion out of total allocation of Rs 117.2 billion, whereas for NTDC/PEPCO, the government has disbursed Rs 27.2 billion.
The federal government has also disbursed/authorized Rs 87 billion out of total allocation of Rs 87 billion, however so far only Rs 0.78 billion have been spent over the development projects of cabinet division.
Similarly, the data shows that Rs 494 million have been disbursed for Aviation Division, and Rs 161 million have been disbursed for Board of the Investment.
The government also authorized the utilization of Rs 1.9 billion for Climate Change Division out of which only Rs 38 million have been spent during the period under review.
For Higher Education Commission (HEC), the government has authorized the release of Rs 17.78 billion, Rs 25.2 billion for provinces and special areas, Rs 435 million for Commerce Division, Rs 36 million for communication division (other than NHA), and Rs 445 million for Defense Division.
Likewise, the government also disbursed Rs 286 million for Finance Division, Rs 180 million for Establishment Division, Rs 1.4 billion for Federal Education and Professional Training Division, and Rs 4.3 billion for Housing and Works Division. \395
ISLAMABAD, Nov 27 (APP):Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC ) will take part in a single-country expo in South Africa starting on 1st December to discover business opportunities and explore new market access for Pakistani products.
PFC Chief Executive Officer Mian Kashif Ashfaq, while talking to a delegation of industrialists led by CEO of Marvel Cables Ch Zeeshan Elahi Arain, on Sunday said that PFC along with ChenOne would be participating in the mega event and conference being held by the Ministry of Commerce.
He said ChenOne would also exhibit its high-quality international standard products to capture its share in the global market. He said it’s an excellent opportunity to showcase Pakistani products and develop business deals with international buyers.
He said a delegation comprising around 225 exhibitors and business delegates from Pakistan representing 20 major sectors, including pharmaceuticals, tractors, agriculture machinery, engineering and sports goods, and chemicals would be visiting Johannesburg to participate in the exhibition.
Ashfaq underlined that around 130 companies would be exhibiting their products. The federal government had invited 16 member states of the South African Development Community (SADC) to join the moot, he said, adding that the conference would also be attended by dignitaries from South Africa, including the minister for trade and industry.
He highlighted that the expo would also offer professional buyers a sourcing platform with a wide variety of products ranging from basics to the most creative and qualitative.
He said PFC and ChenOne had already attended several other international fairs in the US, China, Italy, Sri Lanka and other countries, and introduced their products which were in great demand. He hoped in receiving orders from foreign buyers.
He said the main purpose of attending the single-country expo was to help strengthen the national economy and TDAP was facilitating the manufacturers of export products.
He said he would also hold a series of marathon meetings with tycoons for investment to avail the government’s unprecedentedly special package for foreign investors.
ISLAMABAD, Nov 27 (APP):Eminent writer, poet, journalist and leader of the Pakistan Movement Maulana Zafar Ali Khan was remembered on his 66th death anniversary where people from all walks of life pay him rich tributes for his matchless services to the country.
Maulana Zafar Ali Khan known as Baba-e-Sahafat (father of journalism) was born in 1873 in Sialkot. After graduation, he was appointed Secretary to Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk who was then in Bombay.
He fought the freedom movement with his pen and used it as a unifier for burgeoning the required nationalism in the Muslim community which would be remembered as the father of Urdu Journalism, PTV news reported.
Later he worked for some time as a Translator in Hyderabad Deccan, rising to the post of Secretary Home Department. He returned home on his father’s death in 1909 and took over as Editor Urdu Newspaper ‘Zamindar’ which became one of the most influential newspapers of the sub-continent.
The paper was banned and the press was confiscated because of its revolutionary policies. He participated many times in the annual sessions of the All India Muslim League.
He supported the resolution, which resulted in the setting up of the All-India Muslim League. He was a member of the Reforms Committee (8th Session All India Muslim League Bombay, December 1915-January 1916).
He was also a Member of the Committee to formulate Muslim Representation in Legislative and other Elective bodies (16th Session, Bombay, December 1924).
He remained an active member of the Khilafat Movement. Maulana Zafar Ali Khan remained a Member of the Central Legislative Assembly from 1937 to 1945 and was re-elected to it as a Muslim League Member in 1946. Most of Maulana’s life was spent in politics.
He was a great poet, an orator, an essayist of exceptional merit and a Journalist. His interest in poetry began in his childhood and his poems were full of religious and political sentiments.
His poetical output has been published in ‘Baharistan’, ‘Nigaristan’ and ‘Chamanistai1’. His other works are ‘Ma’arka-e-Mazhab-o-Science’, ‘Ghalba-e-Rumi’, ‘Sayr-e-Zulmat’ and an opera ‘Jang-e-Roos-o-Japan’. Maulana Zafar Ali Khan was died on November 27, 1956, at the age of 83 in Wazirabad.
PESHAWAR, Nov 27 (APP): Working against the time, Asad Khan, hardly a 12-year-old mechanic, was busy like a honeybee repairing water geysers, batteries, heaters and other electric appliances scattered all around him in his small workshop to meet the placed orders in wake of declining mercury levels in Peshawar. He starts working from early morning till sunset at his maternal uncle’s workshop to earn two times bread for his family at Pabbi station, Nowshera.
The motivated youngster had entered the electronics repairing work three years back to financially support his seven-member family due to poverty. After three-year expertise in fixing pipes of electric and gas geysers, Asad was called ‘Ustad’ [master] by his maternal uncle Sadaqat Khan and fellow mechanics.
“I had left school at class V to support my poor ailing parents and meet the education’s expanses of my two young brothers and as many sisters,” Asad told APP while narrating his ordeal of labour. Earning about Rs 500 per day from his shop, Asad also provides home services to make some extra money to assist his poor father in meeting the domestic expenses including electricity and gas bills, besides the educational expenses of his siblings.
The young boy has the desire to get a diploma in electrical engineering from an institute for employment abroad, however, the financial position is a hurdle for him to accomplish his dream.
Like Asad Khan, there are thousands of out-of-school children (OSC) in the province due to socioeconomic imbalances, lack of coordination between government departments, unavailability of transportation to schools, especially for girls, and early child-age marriages.
According to a survey of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) 2021, there are about 22.8 million OSCs in the country including 4.7 million children aged between 5 to 16 years in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The survey revealed that the OSC included 2.9 million girls and one million belonged to merged tribal districts. Similarly, 74.4 percent of girls and 38.5 percent of boys are out of school in the province. Besides 77 percent reported OSC in Palas Kolai, 70 percent in Upper Kohistan and 69 percent in Lower Kohistan, there are about 61 percent such children in Torghar, 55pc in Shangla, 53 percent in Lakki Marwat and 51 percent each in Tank and Batagram districts.
In merged areas, 66 percent of children are out-of-school in North Waziristan, 63 percent in Bajaur, 61 percent in South Waziristan, 51 percent each in Mohmand and Khyber and 47 percent each in Kurram and Orakazai and bringing them under school net is a big challenge for the provincial government.
Terming the BISP’s survey findings as alarming, PML-N KP spokesperson and member provincial assembly Ikhtair Wali claimed that it negates tall claims of the PTI government regarding an increase in children’s enrollment and uniform education policy.
He said neither promises of uniformed education were fulfilled nor the dual education system was abolished in the province, adding that private schools continued sucking the blood of millions of people with a roaring increase in tuition fees.
Taking cognizance of the high ratio of OSC, the BISP has started Education Scholarship programme to motivate parents to enroll their children and decrease the dropout rate. Under this programme, Rs 1500 per three months were being provided to boys and Rs 2,000 to girls at primary level, Rs 2500 for boys and Rs 3000 for girls at secondary level, whereas Rs 3500 boy and Rs4000 per girl at higher secondary school level.
Syed Shahab Khan, Senior Planning Officer, Education Department said that a “Rs 3.7 billion project” had been planned for providing educational stipends to students of class 1-12 and Rs 500 million for school bags and stationary in merged areas.
He said 200 alternate learning pathways centers would be opened for children aged 9-16 for OSC while Rs 3 billion would be spent on converting two-room schools to six rooms besides converting mosque schools into schools. The construction of 100 new primary schools was proposed for the upcoming fiscal year while 150 middle schools to secondary schools in settled districts would be built.
He said a one billion rupees project was proposed for the “establishment of early childhood education programme” to be executed next fiscal year. Shahram Khan Tarkai, Minister for Education, told APP that the second shift was started for OSC in government schools.
He claimed that 850,000 students were enrolled this year in KP, adding that COVID-19 was the main reason behind the increase in drop-out of students. He said that 50,000 students were also enrolled in 1,443 second-shift schools. He said Stars of KP, Rehamatul Alamin and ETEA merit scholarships were launched to increase the student’s enrollment.
LAHORE, Nov 27 (APP): Ecosystem degradation through the depletion of natural resources like water, air, soil and habitat is bringing about destructive effects on the environment endangering biodiversity, wildlife and food security. With the rising population and availability of meager resources to excel in this domain, the environmental issues continued to aggravate over the years.
Massive tree cutting resulting in floods, using agricultural land for housing societies and ill-planned cities and towns have further aggravated the situation. Therefore, the natural resources that provide the basis of our existence are massively under pressure as we witness the water table going down rapidly and agricultural land shrinking due to unruly construction.
According to recent World Bank findings, climate change-related disasters have affected over 75 million Pakistanis during the last three decades in terms of agriculture and bio-diversity damages incurring estimated losses of over $ 29 billion (roughly $ 1 billion per annum). As Pakistan is a signatory to numerous international agreements and protocols, there was a dire need to focus on this area diligently.
Therefore, the present government efficiently pleaded the case of developing nations at the Conference of Parties (CoP-27) held in Egypt this November and sailed through successfully in getting created multi-billion funds to cope with climate change challenges. “Agriculture and bio-diversity play a critical role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” said Asad Imran, Director Sustainable Agriculture and Food Program at WWF.
“Eco-degradation and climate change are issues of our major concern as Pakistan are among the most vulnerable countries to these phenomena.” He said climate change is also a major threat to our food security as it is seriously affecting agriculture, forests, and fisheries. “Increasing sea level is another threat that may submerge many parts of coastal areas in Sindh province badly affecting Indus delta and highly productive cropping areas.” He said modern agriculture is characterized by input-intensive practices with enhanced usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. “This tendency has also badly affected our land’s natural fertility and contaminated groundwater.” To avert these damages, Asad Imran pleaded to use organic fertilizers and develop insects’ resistant seed varieties.
“Ecological degradation may lead us to food insecurity by reducing agricultural productivity.” Likewise, bio-diversity has significant value for humanity at all levels because of its role in ecosystem services. In future, it is expected to cause a major loss of some species and changes in genetic biodiversity. “It is affecting our lifeline – the water resource- as we see the water table going down and reducing canal water availability for irrigation,” Imran said. “It may also alter our agriculture output including the seasonality of crops’ quality and productivity, caused by plant diseases and pest attacks.”
Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in its report on the world’s biodiversity has warned all countries that all species supporting the food systems and sustaining people, would not be recovered if lost once. It stated that out of some 6,000 plant species cultivated for food and contributing to global food output, only nine species account for 66 per cent of total crop production. “Eco-degradation is affecting our overall crop productivity. Even a one-degree increase in temperature directly affects productivity and South Asian countries are the worst affected,” said noted environmentalist Dr Mahmood Khalid Qamar.
“Despite being rich in natural resources, Pakistan is still a victim to environmental degradation and we need immediate measures to avert its damages,” he said. Since 32 percent of our population lives in urban areas and if the current growth rate of urbanization continues, the country’s urban population will surpass its rural population within the upcoming decade.
“Our green cover is rapidly vanishing. Massive tree-cutting results in land erosion and aggravates floods as we recently witnessed,” said Javeria Qais, a climate expert at the University of Central Punjab (UCP). “Recurrence of recent flood phenomenon may again damage our most needed crops like maize, sugar cane, cotton and rice. This may land us in serious trouble in terms of food security,” Javeria said.
As Pakistan expressed gratitude for creating the “Loss and Damage Fund” for climate justice, Punjab Secretary of Environment Usman Ali Khan has urged collective efforts to cope with environmental and climate change challenges. He said the Punjab government has chalked out strict measures to control eco-degradation and environmental issues including action against smoke-emitting vehicles and industrial units.
“Ingenuine industrial activities resulting in the emission of poisonous gases and effluent cannot be supported as it steadily leads to eco-degradation,” he said. “There is a need for advanced and pollution-free technologies to avert further eco-degradation.”
He said, on directions of the Punjab government, the environmental monitoring teams have been deployed at Ring Road localities including Sagian, Babu Sabu, and Thokar Niaz Baig entry points for action against smoke-emitting vehicles. “Therefore is no ban on entry into the city by vehicles carrying construction goods. However, the transporters must get their vehicles cleared from the environment monitoring units as pollution free.”
Quoting an example of the worst biodegradation, Khan referred to fruit trees like guava, mulberry and mango that were declining at a fast pace in the suburbs of Lahore and other big cities. Keeping in view this situation, there is a dire need for collective efforts by all stakeholders to protect biodiversity for a secure future for the coming generations.
ISLAMABAD, Nov 27 (APP):Constructed in the 1990s as the country’s one of flagship projects, the Pakistan motorway had presented a plausible travelling facility to commuters, nagged by full of a hassle travelling on Grand Trunk and other roads over the decades.
No horns, no screeching and no lane violations had been the hallmark of Islamabad-Lahore (M-2) and Islamabad-Peshawar (M-1) motorways as the specially raised force always stood on toes to ensure quality policing.
But, in recent years especially the last half of the decade, the situation gradually deteriorated with most often seen violations on these marvellous roads including speeding, mobile phone using, lane violations and wrong overtaking, raising many questions.
“Why strict action is not taken against the violators,” questioned Rashid Mahmood, a frequent traveller of motorways from Islamabad to Lahore and Multan.
“I often see vehicles crossing me when I was driving at the permissible speed limit of 120 kilometers per hour.”
Furthermore, it is not the issue of LTV alone, as some passenger buses also cross me at the same speed and sometimes from the extreme right crossing lane, he stated. “Most of these buses show their route details from Lahore and other cities of Punjab to destinations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Crossing LTVs from the fastest lane instead of the centre lane sometimes becomes too hazardous.”
“Sometimes, they run buses continuously in the centre lanes, blowing power horns with lights on high beams irking the forerunners,” Rashid said. “Their abrupt lane changing takes aback LTV drivers, seeing a giant bus crossing them wrongly and forcing them to apply sudden brakes. Sometimes it becomes too risky.”
When a bus driver was questioned about this mindset, he had no valid reason to explain and seemed that some were doing this just as a habit and others for attracting more passengers to travel by buses of their companies.
The only reason for rash driving he gives is to reach the destination faster than others due to tough competition between different bus services. But, in this way they endanger passengers boarding their buses as well as other commuters.
Another commuter, Javed Chaudhry said many owners of big and costly cars and cruisers continuously use fast or crossing lanes with some at slow speeds making others wrongly overtake them.
“And when you follow them and seek way by blinking headlights or horning, they irritate and arrogantly continue to travel slow and in the same lane,” he said. “It feels like that doing this satisfies their ego and air of magnificence. The motorway police also need to tame these spoiled sons of the affluent families.”
Moreover, seeing the remains of animals on motorways especially M-2 right from Kallar Kahar up to Pindi Bhattian and downward to Lahore is also a serious issue that clearly means, the wire border guarding motorway was broken at certain points giving free way to animals to roam on the motorway.
It is also very common that vehicles ferrying poultry birds from other cities to Islamabad and Rawalpindi continuously use the middle lane for travelling and that is also even faster than the LTV speed limits. Some do not wear seat belts and many others freely use mobile phones while driving.
Known for its vigilance and strict law enforcement regardless of the status of travellers, the Motorway Police keeps busy in managing traffic by patrolling and installing speed limit cameras to check these violations. Their conduct and cooperation remain exemplary to facilitate passengers in case of any trouble.
As the National Highway and Motorway Police (NHMP) might already be aware of such violations, they have launched a “No More Violations” initiative for strict implementation of traffic rules.
“We have started using state-of-the-art equipment like spotters, latest speed-checking cameras, surveillance drones and body-worn cameras to monitor violations and penalize violators,” said Inspector General Motorways Police Khalid Mahmood.
“Our ‘No More Violations’ initiative is a part of a five-year vision to modernize NHMP,” he said. “Through this initiative, we run video messages to the aware public on traffic rules and avoid accidents besides enforcing speed limits, reviewing existing traffic laws and reforming motorway police to the best practices.”
“We have also started using drone technology to supervise a vast network of roads connecting various cities,” Khalid Mahmood said. “Pakistan has become the first country in the region to employ drone technology.”
The IG mentioned more efficient measures being taken after the World Health Organization’s (WHO) data showed more than 30,000 people dying in road accidents in Pakistan every year.
“We ensure deploying spotters at different points, equipping police officials with high definition cameras to picture violators, imposing heavy fines and blocking the runaway vehicles at exit points,” he said.
He said the NHMP is being equipped with variable message signs (VMS) to control violations. Now the description of the violation and type and number of vehicles would run on the back screen of police cars informing violators to stop for the challan.
“We are also introducing a ‘standard point system’ wherein drivers would get negative points for every violation and their licenses will be cancelled on reaching a certain level of negative marks,” he said. “We are also ensuring enforcement of load limit for goods transporters.”
He informed that till September 27 this year, a fine of Rs 3,406,494,123 against 2,236,315 tickets was imposed on vehicles loading 15 per cent goods over permissible limits and Rs 67,646,000 fine against 67,385 tickets for carrying goods less than 15 per cent excess load.
Furthermore, he said, the NHMP had conducted several Road Safety briefings, awareness and sensitization walks, seminars and workshops, and provided brochures and booklets to commuters. Vehicles are also tested for having emergency exit gates and those lacking such gates would be barred from travelling on motorways.
RAWALPINDI, Nov 27 (APP):The city traders have expressed agony about the ever-increasing road encroachments and demanded from the district administration to remove these illegitimate encroachments to end frequent traffic jams affecting their business.
President Traders Welfare Association, Punjab Sharjeel Mir told APP that illegal car parking was “the standard even in the presence of traffic officials”, creating massive traffic jams and causing accidents. He said that illegal motorcycles parking around the Moti Bazar, Raja Bazar, China market, bara Bazar and other areas of the city had made the situation so bad that even a pedestrian or women with children could not move.
After taking charge, Mir added that Commissioner Rawalpindi had assured the trade bodies that the city would be cleared from the encroachers, but no action had been taken so far. “It is the need of the hour to construct parking plazas in city markets at the earliest, and strict action must be taken against the encroachers,” he demanded.
President Moti Bazar Chaudary Muhammad Iqbal urged the metropolitan corporation and traffic police to play their due role in removing the encroachment from the city’s busiest roads and demanded the government devise a plan to shift wholesale markets from the city to the proposed ring road to ease traffic congestion.
He said that for the past few months, the vegetable vendors had occupied half the road by placing vegetables in front of their shops in the Bansa Bazar and Raja Bazar areas, hindering traffic flow.
Meanwhile, earlier, the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench had also sought a report from Chief Secretary Punjab on a petition over illegal encroachments in Nullah Lai and Sawan river on November 3.
The petitioner, Ahsan Ali, had argued before the Court that the abundance of encroachments around the Nullah Lai and the Swan River had put the “lives of residents of the twin cities in danger”.
