BMG Chairman Siraj Teli laid to rest

Namaz e Janaza of Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) & Former President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Late Siraj Kassam Teli was held at Masjid e Saheem on Thursday which was attended by thousands of people belonging to all walks including ministers, politicians, KCCI Office Bearers & Managing Committee Members, family members, friends, relatives, prominent business personalities, bureaucrats and a large number of BMGIANs.Late Siraj Teli, who has left behind a widow, a son and a daughter, was laid to rest at Defense Phase 7 Ext. Graveyard. Quran Khuwani for Esal e Sawab of the departed soul will be held on Friday at Masjid e Saheem, Khayaban e Rahat DHA Phase 6 between Maghrib and Isha Prayers.

President KCCI M. Shariq Vohra, while paying homage to Siraj Teli for his matchless contribution and lifelong quest for the rights of business & industrial community and the city of Karachi, said, “Siraj Teli will stay alive in our hearts and will always be remembered for his exceptional and dedicated services to the entire business & industrial community and Karachiites under the policy of Public Service. “Siraj Teli was a dynamic leader whose illustrious career spanning over 28 years has indeed left an indelible impression on the entire business & industrial community. He was instrumental for grooming the business leaders by giving them the opportunity to become President KCCI and always guiding them round the clock on how to deal with issues.”Shariq Vohra also appreciated everyone who expressed their condolences from all over the country and around the world. “We are indebted to everyone for joining us in prayers for the departed soul”, he added.He prayed that may Almighty Allah place the departed soul in Jannat ul Firdous and grant courage to the members of the bereaved family, friends, well-wishers and all BMGIANs to bear this irreparable loss.

Late Siraj Kassam Teli was a distinguished industrialist possessing eminent qualities of leadership. He belonged to a renowned family that has been active in business since the inception of Pakistan. Siraj Teli’s valuable family background has been a great source of strength in enabling him to conduct his life ethically and successfully. As Chairman of the Businessmen Group, Siraj Teli was recognized for his extraordinary leadership of the Business and Industrial community over the past 28 years. He brought about revolutionary and progressive changes in trade politics and in the functioning of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the SITE Association of Industry and other platforms of public service and social work. To recognize Siraj Teli’s outstanding contribution to the national economy and public service, the then President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari was pleased to confer the award “Sitara-e-Imtiaz”. Siraj Teli’s services to the private sector, his efforts for the industrial development and his endeavor for the unity of the nation in general and business and industrial community in particular, his aggressive and creative plans to boost export and his contribution to the economic development of the country were indeed creditable and commendable.Siraj Kassam Teli’s unrelenting, sincere and honest efforts have changed the outlook of Trade Politics. As a result, now genuine stakeholders are seen taking part in the affairs of KCCI. His leadership had been instrumental in changing the mindset of the Business Community in such a manner that the Chamber now looks after the general interest of Karachi as a whole and, without any discrimination of cast, color or creed. Late Siraj Kassam Teli’s services to the private sector, his efforts for industrial development, his endeavors for the unity of the nation in general and business and industrial community in particular and his contribution to the economic development of the country, were indeed commendable and will always be remembered.

Pak Railway Karachi Division show improvement in train operations

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The punctuality of train operation from Karachi has achieved considerable improvement during the last 2-3 months with almost all the trains except one or two running on time.

“The couple of trains which are facing late departures for about half an hour to two hours is because of certain unavoidable reasons,” Anzer Ismail Rizvi, Divisional Superintendent, Pakistan Railways Karachi Division, disclosed in an interview on January 6.

He revealed that the punctuality improvement has been achieved due to strict monitoring of train operation and motivation which resulted in improved maintenance of locomotives, coaches, signaling system as well track in the Division.

He stated that notwithstanding the ongoing financial crunch, the Railways Divisional authorities did this within their own resources. He pointed out that 57.5 Km of speed restrictions have now been normalized without spending any money thus resulting in running of trains with normal speed.

The Divisional Superintendent maintained that although the Railway Division has allotted 102 locomotives, it was operating 42 locomotives. However, their maintenance has been improved bringing normalcy in the train operation.

It also resulted in operating on an average two freight trains daily from Karachi. He informed that the Railway Division earned 346 million rupees in excess during the last six months of the current financial year as compared to the same period of last financial year.

Anzer Ismail spoke about what he called a significant achievement and said that after a gap of 20 months with effect from January 12013, the Sukkur Express was now running with full composition after attachment of  one Air-condition Sleeper and two Lower AC coaches which were withdrawn from service in May 2011 due to non-availability of power plant. He said these plants have now been made available after a lot of efforts and follow-up.

He said AC Sleeper Coach has a seating capacity of 16 while Lower AC coaches have a capacity of 76 each and will greatly facilitate the passengers intending to travel to Sukkur and Jacobabad.

As regards the future plans, DS Karachi Railways informed that efforts are being made to re-introduce Mehran Express which was a popular mode of journey from Karachi to Mirpurkhas and was closed due to non-availability of locomotives.

Anzar Rizvi informed that railway track from Karachi to Kotri has been rehabilitated while that of Down track was in progress which has brought improvement in speed and running time.

According to him the track rehabilitation from Hyderabad to Mirpurkhas was also in progress and will be completed in about six months which will reduce running time between the two destinations bringing it down from 90 to 60 minutes.

STRIKES, HOLIDAYS, POWER BREAKDOWNS

Traders demand Karachi be declared as ‘calamity-hit’ city

KARACHI: All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industries has demanded of government to give a tax exemption to the traders of Karachi for two years by declaring Karachi a disaster-hit area to compensate huge loss of traders owing frequent strikes, holidays and prolonged load-shedding.
APOSTCI Karachi chapter president Mehmood Hamid, Vice Presidents Ansar Baig Qadri, Abdul Majid and Usman Sharif said traders bear a loss of Rs140 million due to one-day strike in Karachi.
They said 12 to 14 hours of load-shedding have not allowed them to properly run their business even on normal days. Load-shedding is worsening with every passing day in Karachi and people have now become psycho patients, they said.
Traders are facing sever losses, business centers are closed and citizens cannot have a proper sleep in night due to frequent and prolong outages of electricity by the KESC.
They said all appeals for ending load shedding have fallen on deaf ear and in the current situation Karachi traders are not able to pay their taxes; therefore, a two-year tax holiday be given to them by declaring Karachi a calamity-hit area.