Sindh’s MQM has written to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to investigate the World Bank-funded projects in the province. The letter, written by MQM’s Sindh Assembly member Engineer Adil Asghar, has listed 12 major projects funded by the World Bank and the United Nations, aimed at improving education, healthcare, infrastructure, and water supply in Sindh.
Despite continuous funding, no significant progress has been made on the ground. The letter has expressed concerns about the Karachi Urban Mobility, Clifton Karachi Project, and Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project, among others. It has demanded a comprehensive and independent audit of all major donor-funded projects to ensure the proper use of funds.
The letter has cited heavy investment in education, infrastructure, and sanitation sectors, but despite this, the projects have failed to achieve their objectives. A spokesperson for the Sindh government’s Gulistan-e-Johar Development Authority, Safdar Rahman, has denied any casualty or injury during the rescue operation and debris clearance in the aftermath of the recent fire at the Gul Plaza building.
In other news, the Sindh Governor, Kamran Tessori, has visited the home of the firefighter, Farhan Ali, who lost his life during the rescue operation at the Gul Plaza building. The government has released an initial report on the ownership of the land where the building stood.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz, has said that the Basant festival is a 500-year-old tradition that brings joy to the people of Punjab. The Minister of Finance, Miftah Ismail, has met with the Saudi Minister of Investment, and the two have discussed ongoing cooperation and economic partnership.
The rescue operation and debris clearance at the Gul Plaza building have faced severe criticism, with many blaming the government for its slow response. The Punjab Information Minister, Dr. Asma Bashir, has advised tourists to avoid visiting Murree due to the current weather conditions.
The Commissioner of Rawalpindi, Amer Khattak, has said that the snowfall in Murree has resumed, and the entry from Islamabad to Murree has been blocked. A tragic incident has occurred in the Chitral district, where a roof collapsed under the weight of snow, killing 9 people.
The President of the Gul Plaza Management Committee, Tanvir Pasha, has said that the damage to the building is estimated to be over 10 billion rupees. The Federal Minister, Ahsan Iqbal, has defended the government’s participation in the Gaza Peace Board in the joint session of Parliament.
The rescue operation at the Gul Plaza building is ongoing, and the government has released an initial report on the ownership of the land where the building stood. The Sindh Governor has said that the building will be demolished, and efforts will be made to establish street vendors within two years.
A former British citizen, Shamima Begum, who joined the extremist organization ISIS and lost her British citizenship, is now fighting to regain her citizenship through international lawyers.
