Latest news with #JI
Express Tribune
11 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
JI riles provincial, federal govts for ignoring Karachi
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar stated that the federal, provincial and local government budget made it very clear that Karachi and Karachiites were the priority of none among the ruling parties. The JI leader expressed these views while addressing a post budget press briefing held at Idara Noor-e-Haq, the JI Karachi headquarters, on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, he said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) regime allocated just Rs37.44 billion for Karachi out of its budget of Rs3,451 billion -- a mere 1.1 per cent of the total budget. He demanded that at least Rs500 billion be allocated for development in Karachi. Similarly, he said, each town should be granted Rs2 billion and each union council should be granted Rs20 million. Talking about the budget by nine towns in Karachi run by the JI, he dubbed it health, education and people friendly budget. Detailing the budget in the nine towns, he said that Rs870 million were allocated for the education sector as compared to Rs520 million in the last fiscal year. He said that an amount of over Rs310.5 million was allocated for the health sector as compared to Rs160 million in the previous year.
Business Recorder
13 hours ago
- Climate
- Business Recorder
PMD warns heavy rainfall today: First spell of monsoon rain brings disruption
KARACHI: The first spell of monsoon rain has brought widespread disruption to Karachi and several cities across Sindh and Balochistan, with urban flooding, water logging, and power outages affecting daily life. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of more heavy rainfall through Saturday, raising concerns about flash floods and landslides in vulnerable areas. In Karachi, overnight showers turned streets into water channels in several neighbourhoods including Sher Shah Colony and SITE Town. Overflowing drains, stagnant rainwater, and sewage backflow created serious mobility and health challenges for residents. Electricity supply was also affected in many areas after water entered substations, leading to precautionary shutdowns. The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported that Karachi received between 2 mm and 17 mm of rain, while Mithi recorded 53 mm, Nawabshah 49 mm, and Hyderabad 43 mm. Other cities affected by the wet spell include Sukkur, Larkana, Thatta, Mirpur Khas, Badin, and Dadu. In addition to Sindh, parts of Balochistan, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) also saw rainfall. The PMD has forecast more rain, wind, and thunderstorms in southern and north-eastern Balochistan, central and upper Sindh, and parts of Punjab and KP over the coming days. Officials have advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel and remain alert as moist currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal continue to fuel the weather system. The PMD also warned of possible damage to weak structures such as electric poles, billboards, solar panels, and kacha houses due to strong winds and lightning. In Murree, Galliyat, Swat, Dir, Mansehra, Kohistan, and other hilly areas, there is a risk of landslides which may disrupt road access. Flash floods may also occur in local streams and nullahs in parts of KP, southern Punjab, and Balochistan including Barkhan, Kalat, Lasbella, and Khuzdar. In Karachi, residents faced tough conditions on Friday morning as waterlogged streets made it difficult for vehicles and pedestrians to move. Garbage mixed with rainwater formed pools of sludge, raising concerns about hygiene and disease. Political leaders responded with concern over the situation. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chief Monem Zafar addressed a press conference, highlighting what he termed the city's inadequate budget allocation in the recently announced Sindh budget. He noted that only Rs37.44 billion; around 1.1 percent of the Rs 3,451 billion budget was assigned to Karachi. He called for a development package of Rs500 billion for the city, proposing that each of Karachi's towns receive Rs2 billion and every union council Rs20 million. Comparing the current Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) budget of Rs55 billion with 2005's Rs43 billion, Monem pointed out the need for inflation-adjusted investments to meet the city's growing needs. JI leaders also raised concerns over funding for key federal projects in Karachi, such as the K-IV water scheme and the Karachi IT Park. Monem stated that their current allocations — Rs3.2 billion and Rs6 billion, respectively — fall far short of the required Rs40 billion and Rs42 billion. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) leader Maulana Azeemullah Usman, after visiting rain-hit areas in District Kemari, echoed similar concerns. He said that Sher Shah had been submerged within half an hour of rainfall, and stressed the need for immediate drainage and relief operations. He urged authorities to remain visible and responsive, especially in low-lying localities. By Friday evening, Karachi's temperature dropped to 29 degrees Celsius, with high humidity at 81 percent. Coastal areas remained under surge alerts due to high tides, further threatening vulnerable communities along the shore. As the weekend approaches, authorities continue to monitor the situation. Citizens are advised to follow official updates, avoid flooded areas, and take precautions to stay safe. Opposition leaders said that though rain offers relief from heat, its impact on cities like Karachi highlights the urgent need for long-term urban planning, upgraded drainage systems, and timely maintenance before each monsoon season. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
JI for early completion of IP gas pipeline project
LAHORE: Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has demanded of the government to immediately resume work on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project and ensure its completion without further delay. Addressing a press conference at Mansoora on Thursday, he highlighted the shifting regional dynamics in the wake of the Iran-Israel war. He noted that India refrained from supporting Tehran, while Pakistan maintained a principled position. 'The time has come for Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Türkiye to form a regional defense alliance,' he urged, adding that this bloc should also include China and Russia to counter unilateral US hegemony and establish a powerful global front. The JI leader called for investigations into massive financial irregularities uncovered in Punjab government's audit reports and criticized the controversial cycle of sugar exports followed by imports. He said Sharif family is launching schemes only for personal publicity at the expense of public tax money. 'The uncle-niece duo continues to deceive the nation in the name of progress,' he said. Rehman demanded reduction in the interest rate this year, with complete elimination next year. He urged that electricity tariffs be rationalized based on actual production costs and called for transparency regarding progress on dismantling exploitative IPP agreements. He stressed that no duties should be imposed on solar panels. 'The rulers have ruined the agricultural sector, and the Punjab government bears the biggest responsibility. While small farmers are suffering, the elite enjoy unjustified privileges,' he stated. He demanded that taxes be lifted from salaried individuals and imposed on feudal. He said the education sector is in shambles, with 29.2 million children out of school, despite tall claims of an education emergency by the Prime Minister. Rehman praised Iran for its firm resistance against Israeli and American aggression and lauded the unity of the Iranian people in defending their sovereignty. 'Despite full U.S. backing, Hamas and Iran have exposed and challenged Israeli power. Like the Iranians, the Pakistanis too have united in the face of external threats,' he said. He recalled how Pakistan humbled India and earned global recognition. 'Now our rulers must abandon the fear of America and start work on IP Gas Project.' He expressed deep regret that neither the government nor opposition parties in Pakistan speak out against the U.S. He strongly condemned the government's recommendation of Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, calling it a betrayal of national dignity. 'This nomination must be withdrawn immediately,' he asserted. Reaffirming JI's position on Kashmir, he said, 'There can be no talks with India - with or without Trump's mediation - without the right to self-determination for Kashmiris.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Opposition rejects PPP's 'visionless' budget for city
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation City Council Opposition Leader Saifuddin Advocate has rejected the local government budget presented by the Pakistan People Party regime, dubbing it a "vision less" budget. The opposition leader expressed these views while sharing the JI's vision 2025-30 at his chamber during the pre-budget briefing to the media on Tuesday. He said that not even a single development scheme was presented in the city council for the past two years. This year 116 development schemes are being presented in the Annual Development Plan but unfortunately all of them were supposed to be carried out in the UCs run by either the PPP or it's partner the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. He added that the JI runs nine towns and 87 union councils but the PPP's mayor showed extreme biasness when it comes to development schemes. He suggested that at least Rs30 million should be allocated for development in each union council of the mega city. On the occasion, he floated an idea to take all stakeholders of the mega city onboard for the Karachi Development Plan-- a comprehensive strategy to develop the mega city.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Protest staged against US strikes on Iran
There have been monthly protests in the British capital since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. Photo AFP On the call of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, a nationwide Day of Protest was observed on Monday against US terrorism targeting Iran. In Karachi, JI Youth staged a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club. Protesters raised slogans such as Death to America and Israel, and We stand with Iran and Palestine. They carried placards denouncing the US-Israel alliance as a nexus of evil and murderers of the Ummah. JI Vice Ameer Muslim Pervez, JI Youth President Hashim Abdali, and other leaders, condemned the US airstrikes and accused President Donald Trump of proving America to be the "biggest global terrorist." They warned that the joint aggression by the US and Israel is not only a direct threat to Iran, but also to regional stability and Pakistan's security. Speakers criticised the Pakistani government's recommendation for a Nobel Prize for Donald Trump, calling it "shameful and hypocritical."
