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Murtaza Wahab resigns as Karachi administrator

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  • Murtaza Wahab announces resignation after SHC restricts KMC from collecting taxes through KE.
  • Wahab was appointed KMC administrator on August 6, 2021.
  • Says he would send his resignation to Chief Minister Sindh.

KARACHI: Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab Monday announced his resignation from office after a high court restricted the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) from collecting taxes through the city’s power utility.

The announcement to quit came on the heels of a Sindh High Court ruling (SHC) that temporarily barred the KMC from gathering municipal taxes through electricity bills.

Barrister Murtaza Wahab was appointed KMC administrator on August 6, 2021.

Addressing a press conference, a dismayed Wahab lamented the court decision and said: “It would have been easier for me to ask the prime minister and the chief minister for funds, but I did not, as I believe the way of the law is the only solution.”

“The Constitution and the law of the land have a solution for everything.”

He said as per the relevant law, the metropolitan corporation was authorised to impose taxes.

“When the city roads are submerged, nobody knocks on Waseem Akhtar or Naeem-ur-Rehman’s door, and the citizens question me, the government, and the KMC for answers,” Wahab added. 

He said as per the relevant law the metropolitan corporation was authorised to impose taxes.

“When the city roads are submerged, nobody knocks on Waseem Akhtar or Naeem-ur-Rehman’s door. People question me, the government, and the KMC,” Wahab added.

He claimed papers showed the recovery rate during Waseem Akhtar’s time was only 20 %. “Where was the money going then?”

Hinting at the rampant corruption during the time of the former mayor of the coastal city, Wahab said Waseem Akhtar had hired a private contractor to collect the taxes. “Once they collected Rs200 million and were given Rs40 million,” he alleged.

The administrator also claimed his hands were clean and asserted he fought the dirt in the system at the cost of his rightful comfort.

“I was out in the field during the disasters supervising the repairs, rescue, and relief work personally. I was working while wearing a mask during the COVID-19 outbreak. I always tried to serve people indiscriminately without any bias.”

Wahab said his mistake was that instead of his pocket, he loved the KMC.

“There are forces at work here that doesn’t let us do our job efficiently. It’s not easy to work in this city as everything is resisted here.”

The outgoing administrator of the country’s financial hub said he had diabetes and the work-related stress was worsening it, which was taking a toll on his health.

He said he would send his resignation to Chief Minister Sindh after this press conference. 

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Gilani is called upon by Qatar’s envoy, and the acting president promises to deepen ties between Pakistan and Qatar.

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Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, the acting president, has stated that Pakistan places a high priority on its relationship with Qatar and emphasized the significance of further developing the two countries’ mutually beneficial ties.

When Qatar’s ambassador, Ali Mubarak Ali Essa Al-Khater, paid him a visit in Islamabad, he shared similar opinions.

Both nations have a lot of room to grow their commercial and economic ties, according to the acting president. He advised businesses in Qatar to benefit from Pakistan’s investment-friendly atmosphere.

The Ambassador expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s business-friendly environment and announced that Qatar’s Minister of Investment would soon travel to Pakistan with his group to investigate potential investment opportunities in a number of industries that would serve to advance economic ties.

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Energy Efficiency: SIFC to Invest $1 Billion on Hydrocracker Unit

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When it comes to energy efficiency, oil refineries are getting some aid from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

Projects to enhance the refinery are the primary emphasis of the petroleum division, as instructed by SIFC. A Hydrocracker Unit to refine furnace oil into gasoline and diesel is being considered for installation at PARCO.

A more reliable supply of energy is one of the goals of the $1 billion Hydrocracker Unit.

Diesel and gasoline have been asked to be free from sales taxes by refineries as well. The sales tax statute of 1990, which presently applies sales tax to all goods and services, is currently undergoing changes, which includes this request.

With SIFC’s backing, these projects should help the energy sector expand and stabilize the economy.

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More than 10,000 students from Pakistan create a huge human flag, setting a new world record.

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With the participation of children from Army Public School in Lahore in the creation of the largest flag, Pakistan sets yet another world record. The human flag was produced by almost 10,000 pupils.

As part of a patriotic exhibition, the students united to make a huge human flag of Pakistan, breaking the previous record set by India, where 7,368 pupils made a similar banner.

The Punjab government arranged the Lahore Youth Festival, which saw the setting of the new world record.

The Lahore Youth Festival’s remaining events will be held at Fortress Stadium in Lahore Cant from November 8 to November 10. The opening and closing ceremonies are expected to be colorful on November 8 and 10, respectively.

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