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Express Tribune
05-07-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Major cities under strict security as Muharram 9 processions continue
Listen to article Major cities across the country, including Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar, are observing Muharram 9th processions on Saturday under heightened security, with mobile phone services suspended in some areas and key locations sealed amid fears of unrest. Authorities in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar deployed tens of thousands of police personnel, sealed sensitive areas, and partially suspended mobile phone services in efforts to prevent any untoward incidents. In Karachi, the main Muharram 9th procession will begin at 1:00 p.m. from Nishtar Park. Prior to the procession, a majlis (religious gathering) will be held at Nishtar Park, where Allama Shahenshah Hussain Naqvi will deliver a sermon. After the majlis, the Imamia Students Organisation will lead the congregational Zuhrain prayers. The procession will follow its traditional route—passing through Numaish, Saddar, Radio Pakistan, Jamia Cloth, and Denso Hall—before concluding at the Husainia Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar. All security arrangements have been finalised for the event. In Lahore, the main procession commenced at 10:00 a.m. in city's Pandu Street area. Punjab Police spokespersons reported more than 147,000 officers and staff were stationed throughout the province to secure 1,689 processions and nearly 3,900 majalis (religious gatherings). In Lahore alone, 79 processions and 378 majalis are being protected by more than 10,000 officers. Read: Karachi traffic plan for Muharram processions Special instructions have been issued to the Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit (PRU). All teams are maintaining constant coordination with Rescue 1122, the fire brigade, Rescue 15, and other emergency services. Special attention is being paid to the safety of women and children. 'The entire province is on high alert,' said Punjab Inspector General Dr Usman Anwar. 'We're strictly enforcing Section 144 and the Loudspeaker Act.' In Peshawar, due to security concerns, mobile phone services have been suspended for the Muharram 9th and 10th . The city's BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) service has also been halted for two days. The main procession began at 10:00 a.m. from Husainia Hall. The Saddar and Cantonment areas of Peshawar have been completely sealed off, and commercial centres are closed. More than 10,000 police and security personnel have been deployed in Peshawar, while entry of Afghan refugees into the city has been banned for two days. Several major roads including Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Khyber Bazaar, Circular Road, and GT Road have been closed.
Arab News
18-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Massive fire at Karachi electronics market causes over $3.6 million in damages — union
ISLAMABAD: A large fire that ripped through the Aamir Electronics Market in Karachi's Saddar area this week and destroyed more than 40 shops and several warehouses has caused financial losses estimated at over Rs1 billion ($3.6 million), according to the president of a local association. The blaze broke out unexpectedly on Monday afternoon and quickly engulfed large parts of the electronics hub, reducing inventories of batteries, solar panels, and other high-value goods to ashes. Traders said they were unable to save most of their merchandise as the fire spread rapidly. 'The government should immediately compensate the affected shopkeepers and work with the association to help them restart their businesses,' said MinHajj Gulfaam, President of the Karachi Mobile and Electronics Dealers Association (KMEDA). 'We also demand that trade associations be equipped with their own firefighting systems, just like some industrial associations. Preventive measures are urgently needed.' Initial reports suggest an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire, though some eyewitnesses claimed it started in an adjacent empty plot where garbage was being burned and later spread to the market. Authorities have not issued an official cause. Traders said fire brigade teams arrived late at the scene, by which time the blaze had intensified, adding that they tried to extinguish the flames themselves but the damage was already extensive. Affected traders are calling for stronger enforcement of fire safety regulations and dedicated fire response units for high-density commercial zones. Fires in commercial markets have become alarmingly common in Karachi. In April 2023, a fire at the city's Cooperative Market destroyed dozens of shops, and in August 2022, a multi-story mobile phone market near Saddar also caught fire. Many old commercial markets in Karachi have outdated electrical infrastructure and shopkeepers often add extra appliances, fans, lights, and unauthorized connections, leading to short circuits and electrical fires. Building codes and fire safety rules exist but are rarely enforced. Most markets don't have proper fire exits, fire alarms, or functional extinguishers. Many are overcrowded with encroachments and illegally added stalls. Karachi's wholesale and retail markets, like Empress Market, Bolton Market, and Cooperative Market, often sprawl into narrow lanes with flammable goods stacked in unsafe conditions. Unauthorized mezzanines and storage units block escape routes and complicate firefighting. Karachi's fire brigade has also long struggled with outdated equipment, an insufficient number of vehicles, and poor access to congested market streets. Fires sometimes rage for hours before being brought under control. Occasionally, traders or shop owners have also been suspected of starting fires intentionally to claim insurance money or erase debts, though proving this is challenging.
Express Tribune
08-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Capital ensures food stability amid crisis
The district administration of Islamabad was taking measures to ensure the supply of food items continues without disruption following the Indian aggression against Pakistan. In this regard, the district administration officials have begun preparations to avoid any shortage of fruits, vegetables, and other daily essentials in the markets of the federal capital, said a spokesperson of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration on Thursday. Meanwhile, an important meeting was held with the Saddar Assistant Commissioner in the chair, focusing on the continued supply of fruits, vegetables, pulses, rice, and other food items during the current regional situation. The meeting took place with the participation of all key officials from the market committee. The committee reviewed the current stock levels of essential items and discussed plans to maintain an uninterrupted supply. Officials briefed the meeting that there was a sufficient stock of essential items like potatoes, onions, and pulses available for at least 15 days. The meeting also evaluated the supply chain and discussed emergency response strategies to deal with any sudden disruption in the availability of food items. The aim was to avoid panic buying and maintain stability in local markets. On the occasion, district administration officials assured that coordination with wholesalers and market stakeholders would continue to keep supply consistent.
Express Tribune
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Metropolis shuts in solidarity with Gaza
In a powerful display of unity, shops in Bolton Market and other major markets across the city were shuttered in response to JI's call, demonstrating widespread support for Palestine. PHOTO: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS Business hubs in the city wore a deserted look on Saturday in response to Jamaat-e-Islami's call for a countrywide strike to express solidarity with Gaza. Traffic on the roads was notably thin as the vast majority of offices and private educational institutes opted for a day off. Unknown individuals erected barriers and burned tyres on roads in various areas of Korangi, disrupting traffic flow. Most commercial centres in Karachi remained closed. Major markets in the city, including Empress Market, Zainab Market, Saddar mobile and electronics market, Bohri Bazaar, Haroon Shopping Centre, Gulshan-e-Iqbal KDA Market, Babar Market, Liaquatabad, remained closed. In Korangi, protesters blocked roads by burning tyres at multiple locations in the morning, but police negotiated with them and restored traffic flow. The Sindh High Court Bar Association and Karachi Bar Association officials also supported the strike and issued a notification to suspend court proceedings. Earlier in the day, JI Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar, along with representatives of the trader fraternity, held a press conference in Saddar. He said that the countrywide strike was an eye-opener for those in the corridors of power. All the big and small markets, wholesale markets, fruit and vegetable markets, fuel pumps, and even courts were closed in solidarity with Gaza and in protest against Israel and the US. He strongly criticised the Muslim bloc of the world over their inability to act decisively. Chairman of the Supreme Council of Traders (SCOT) Imran Baghpati expressed gratitude to the trader community, market representatives, and businesspersons for the successful shutter-down strike. He said the streets, markets, and roads of Karachi presented an extraordinary scene of protest against the brutalities inflicted upon Palestine. Meanwhile, Mithadar Police arrested four individuals who were allegedly forcibly shutting down shops and transferred them to the police station. SDPO Kharadar DSP Shabbir Ahmed said that the detained individuals were closing shops by force in the Old City area on Saturday morning. On the directives of higher authorities, a case will be registered against them at the Mithadar police station. Not just in Karachi, the strike was observed in whole province. Markets remained close in districts of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah, Sukkur and Larkana divisions. Movement of traffic remained thin in the cities. JI also organised rallies in many cities condemning Israeli brutalities and expressing solidarity with Palestinians.
Express Tribune
31-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Mehndi stalls thrive in capital
Women proudly display their freshly applied mehndi (henna), showcasing intricate designs on their hands in preparation for the Eidul Fitr festivities in the federal capital. PHOTO: INP On the eve of Eidul Fitr, beauty salons and mehndi stalls in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi are experiencing an overwhelming rush, as women of all ages prepare for the festive celebrations with glamour and tradition. Salons across the cities are fully booked, offering a range of services, including facials, makeovers, and trendy hairstyles. Many customers secured their appointments weeks in advance to avoid the last-minute rush. Sara Ali, a beautician at a renowned Islamabad salon, said, "Our schedule is packed, and we are even working extra hours to accommodate the overwhelming demand." Rozina, another beautician in Rawalpindi said that a lot of customers were requesting trending makeup and hairstyle bookings before the Eid festival, and the demand for mehndi application had also doubled. Mehndi artists, too, were finding it difficult to keep up with the surge in customers. Many had set up temporary stalls in bustling marketplaces like Jinnah Super, Saddar, and Raja Bazaar, where women of all ages queue up to get their hands adorned with traditional henna patterns. Sadaf, a mehndi artist at a prominent market in Islamabad said that she set up a temporary stall every Eid. This year, all trending options of mehndi designs were available for women clients. "I am happy with the overwhelming response; the crowd is almost double, and the business is a profitable option as Eid is approaching." Ayesha Khan, a mehndi artist in Rawalpindi, shared that they had been working non-stop for the last few days, as girls and women want the best henna designs for Eid. "Some customers even bring reference pictures from social media, asking for the latest trending designs," she added. Due to the high demand, prices for beauty treatments and mehndi applications have also surged. Salon owners attribute the rise to increased costs of cosmetics and labour. A salon manager at F-7 explained that imported beauty products had become expensive, and with inflation, they had to adjust their rates accordingly. Despite the price hike, the festive spirit remained high. Many women in twin cities considered their salon visits and mehndi application an essential part of Eid preparations. Amina Bibi, a client at this salon, shared that no Eid was complete without a visit to the parlour and mehndi on both hands. Binish, another client of a prominent parlour in Rawalpindi, said, "It's a tradition that we eagerly wait for every year." box Rising prices hit beauty parlours our correspondent RAWALPINDI. Skyrocketing inflation has made it challenging and costly for women to adorn and beautify themselves, while beauty parlours and beauticians are thriving. The desire to look beautiful has always been a heartfelt wish for women, a timeless passion that remains unchanged through the ages. Whether a woman is from Europe, the Indian subcontinent, or the jungles of Africa, her innate nature drives her to enhance her appearance. This Chand Raat (the eve of Eidul Fitr), all beauty parlours in the open market doubled or even tripled their rates, making it difficult for women from middle-class families, labourers, and government employees' daughters-in-law and daughters to afford these services. Meanwhile, women from affluent families continued to flock to beauty parlours, booking appointments in advance. These parlours offered services from 8am on Sunday until 10am on Eid day. Current market rates included whitening facials at Rs2,500, eyebrow shaping at Rs350, pedicures at Rs2,500, simple haircuts at Rs1,200, haircuts with styling at Rs1,500, face bleaching at Rs300, and henna application ranging from Rs1,000 to Rs1,500. According to Fauzia Rashid, Secretary of the Beauty Parlors Welfare Union, the prices of all beautification items, including creams and oils, have skyrocketed, with the cost of high-quality products increasing by up to 500% within a year. She says the wages of parlour staff have also risen, and since Eid and weddings are their peak seasons, reducing rates is simply not feasible.
