19 March 2023
Case of Bahria Town Karachi 2 Land
On a petition requesting the court to restrain any sale and or purchase in Bahria Town Karachi-2 and its extension, a division bench of the Sindh High Court directed Senior Member of Board of Revenue (BoR) and private respondent M/S Paradise Real Estate Pvt Limited to submit mother entries on land in Jamshoro district where Bahria Town Karachi-2 was being developed. The bench comprising Justices Nadeem Akhtar and Khadim Hussain to submit the entries before the court on April 26.
The counsel for the petitioner, pointed out that secretary wildlife and forest had stated in comments that the subject land was forestland and Sehwan Development Authority as well as Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) had wrongly approved the project. Besides, another petitioner contended that BTK-2 was located close to PAF Base Bholari and thus it compromised safety of defense installation. Meanwhile. videos and photos are viral on social media showing heavy machineries being operated in the Kirther National Park, claiming the machineries are belonged to Bahria Town only to extend the limit of Bahria Town Karachi.
Land approved for Corporate Agricultural Farming
The government of Punjab has signed an agreement to hand over at least 45,267 acres of land to the Pakistan Army for “Corporate Agriculture Farming.” According to a document, the military`s land directorate wrote to the Punjab chief secretary, Board of Revenue and secretaries of the agriculture, forest, livestock and irrigation departments for handing over of 42,724-acre land in tehsils Kaloor Kot and Mankera in Bhakkar, 1,818 acres in tehsils Quaidabad and Khushab in Khushab, and 725 acres in tehsil Chichawatni of Sahiwal. According to news reports, a Joint Venture has been signed in this regard among the military, the Punjab government, and private firms dealing with corporate farming.
According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, at least 27% of the total cultivated land of Pakistan was not being utilised. In order to deal with this situation, the Punjab government has made a plan to restore the agriculture sector with the help of the Pakistan Army. With the use of modern agricultural methods, machinery, and high-quality seeds, agricultural production will be increased manifold. The salient features of the proposed project says the Punjab government will provide the land while the army will utilise its resources and retain the management of the project. While the private sector will invest and provide auxiliary support, including the supply of fertilisers. In the first phase of the project, different varieties of pulses, millets and rice will be cultivated. This will be followed by large-scale cultivation of canola and wheat.
Real Estate “A Parking Lot of Untaxed Money”
The former chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue Shabbar Zaidi has said the real estate has got perpetual amnesty in the country to become “the parking lot” of untaxed money. He was giving this speech in a session on “Taxation and Development” held by PIDE at Alhamra Art Centre this week. Shabbar Zaidi was replying to the claims of his fellow panelist businessman who made claims of paying tax, saying there were too many taxes in Pakistan and no dividends.
The former FBR Chairman said as the FBR chairman, he had taken steps to discourage tax on the real estate and business of the “files” of the plots had stopped. “With the support of the DHAs and army, we have developed a system to officially untaxed money” he discloses. “I was called by the chief of army staff and he had complained against my steps, saying it (DHAs) was the business of `their people` He said ultimately, the DHAs would have to be removed from the real estate business as there could not be business “if a state institution with all the power in the competition (of real estate) in the private sector”. Shabbar Zaidi suggested that “if construction is not done on a plot of land, it should be confiscated”. He said “when plots became parlcing lots, they get out of reach of the poor sections of society”. He said there could not be checks on DHAs and you could not even tell who and who were the owners of the plots there.
Arrival of Pollen Allergy Season
Based on the current temperature conditions which have spiked the pollen concentration in the twin cities, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned that the pollen season will start early this year, hitting its peak in the second half of March. According to the PMD, the concentration of pollen has already started increasing in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and it would likely attain a peak during the second half of March. As per details updated on the website of PDM as of March 12, the pollen count during the last 24 hours in Islamabad was “very high”, with paper mulberry, grasses, pines, and cannabis major contributors to this rise. In light of these conditions, the department advised people to take precautionary measures, such as the use of masks.
It is worth mentioning that pollen allergy, also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, is a common condition worldwide, and its incidence and prevalence canvary depending onfactors such as geographic location, climate, and the types of plants and trees in the area. Pollen allergy affects many people in Islamabad, particularly during the spring season when the concentration of pollen in the air is high. Pollen is a fine powder produced by trees, grasses, and weeds, and is an essential part of the reproductive process of these plants. However, when pollen is inhaled by an individual who is allergic to it, it can trigger a range of symptoms, including sneezing, itching, runny nose, nasal congestion, and watery eyes.
