KARACHI: After Masjid-e-Nabawi – Umbrellas in the Mosque of the Prophet’s Courtyard and surrounding open spaces, the Bahria Town Private Limited has decided to install ‘Courtyard Umbrellas’ in the Grand Mosque, located in Bahria Town Karachi.
The umbrellas at the Masjid-e-Nabawi was carried out in two phases. In 1992, twelve umbrellas were installed in the two inner courtyards of the Mosque of the Prophet; and in 2011, another 250 umbrellas were installed in the open spaces surrounding it. Tens of thousands of people congregate in those open areas every day, and there accordingly was a need to improve climatic conditions in them.
Mr. Ali Riaz Malik, CEO of Bahria Town, is very dynamic whose vision is to reach people immediately and fulfill his commitments with full quality of work which is why he has decided to install these rare and hi-tech large convertible umbrellas for shading the courtyard of Grand Mosque, Bahria Town Karachi.
To suit the proportion of this unique and extraordinary architectural situation, the Bahria Town management propose to install groups of umbrellas ~18m x 18m with a height of about 12.7m. This study presents three umbrella arrangements of increasing numbers–of umbrellas.
Bahria Grand Mosque – Karachi (Pakistan)
– 24 umbrellas covering
– 36 umbrellas covering
– 48 umbrellas covering
~ 7.250 m2 ~ 10.870 m2 ~ 14.500 m2
These umbrellas provide shelter from sun and from rain and improve the courtyard climate, when operated regularly. The umbrellas also may carry LED lighting systems as well as audio systems in order to improve the lighting- and acoustical conditions of the wide open courtyard area.
The minimal shaped, translucent fabric vaults do not compete with the traditional stone architecture but rather complement it with their general appearance. Also in material and details the umbrella structures shall receive an ornamental treatment and geometric design, similar to the architectural items throughout the Mosque, so that these innovative structures blend in well with the existing architecture of Bahria Grand Mosque.
The umbrella structures are dimensioned to withstand the maximum local wind speeds. Their proven technology is designed for a lifetime of 25 years for the foldable steel frame and for the membrane structure considering regular maintenance. Though experience proves that the lifetime of the Teflon membranes will exceed the 25 years by far. Bahria Grand Mosque Karachi – existing architectural design approximately + 19.20 m.
KARACHI: The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), the only authority to keep vigil on the illegal construction and builder mafia, the authority has been working without full-fledged director administration and director finance for the past couple of weeks, it is learnt.
According to sources, the most competent and honest officer of the authority namely M Mushtaq Ibrahim Soomro was performing as Director Administration and Director Finance with utmost honesty however the powerful mafia within the authority used their influence and got him transferred from the authority’s headquarters.
SBCA Director General/Chief Executive Abdul Rasheed Solangi issued an order on August 7, 2024 transferring the most competent officer from the post.
“Mushtaq Ibrahim Soomro, Director (BS-19) Administration and Finance (SBCA) Headquarter is hereby transferred and posted as Regional Director (BS-19) Hyderabad Region (SBCA) vice Engr Syed Ali Mehdi Kazmi, Regional Director (BS-19) Hyderabad Region (SBCA), who has already been allowed to work as Additional Director General-BS-20 (SBCA) on his own pay & scale”, according to notification.
“M Mushtaq Ibrahim Soomro, Regional Director (BS-19) Hyderabad Region (SBCA) is also allowed to look after the charge of Regional Director (BS-19) Mirpurkhas Region (SBCA) in addition to his own duties, until further orders”, the notification adds.
Soon after the transfer of Mr Soomro, the posts of Director Administration and Director Finance remained vacant as no officers were posted on the vacant posts since August 7, 2024. “Now the deputy director is forwarding most important files directly to the Director General, sources disclosed.
KARACHI: It seems that every person in the Sindh’s Local Government Department has become powerful mafia as there is no proper check and balance on appointment, transfer and posting of employees in the most important department and the “Might is Right’ rule prevails there.
The same is the case with Town Municipal Corporation, Safoora, District East, where Mallah brothers have become mafia with the alleged political backing from the Chief Minister’s House.
According to insiders, Munawar Hussain Mallah, Town Municipal Commissioner, TMC Safoora, District East has badly hit the performance of the town administration led by the elected town chairman adding miseries to the lives of citizens.
Interestingly, Munawar Hussain Mallah, an officer of BPS-17/SCUG Service (Admin Branch), carries two fake service profiles that included his appointment on December 22, 1995. Later, he was promoted to BS-16 on October 27, 2011. He got another promotion to BS-17 in 2019.
Insiders disclosed that Munawar Mallah was initially appointed as UC Secretary in Karachi’s Quaidabad area and drew salaries as secretary union council for couple of years.
The seniority list, issued by the Local Government Department, Government of Sindh, in year 2010 did not include his name anywhere in the list. How come is it possible that Mr Mallah got promotion from BS-16 to BS-17 in 2016?
It is mentioned here that Munawar Mallah is brother of most corrupt official namely Maqsood Mallah who recently blackmailed his bosses as he was under severe disciplinary action for his massive financial corruption. He also put a major dent on the performance of most competent and honest Secretary Sindh Local Government Board Piyaar Ali Lakho. Presently, Maqsood Mallah is on stay from the Sindh High Court just to avoid any legal and departmental action from the department.
KARACHI: In blatant violation, Advisor to Chief Minister on Livestock and Fisheries Department Najmi Alam has appointed his front-man Agha Saeed as focal person of the Livestock and Fisheries Department of the Sindh Government, it is reliably learnt.
The Sindh’s livestock and fisheries department has always been a hot-cake where financial corruption of billions of rupees were corrupted and many investigations underway by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The world famous corruption made by Nisar Morai is still in the minds of the people and yet again the prominent ‘SYSTEM’ finally entered into the department in shape of installation of Najmi Alam as advisor. Under the rules, no outsider or private person can be installed as focal person, sources say.
Now, the project directors of foreign-funded multi-million projects engineers, development experts and all other official dealing with development schemes and budgets would directly report to Agha Saeed, the front-man of Najmi Alam.
Agha Saeed is a low-grade employee of the Sindh Local Government Department, who has brought into the Livestock and Fisheries Department by Najmi Alam. His appointment has shocked almost every officer of the department and a wave of unrest prevail among their ranks, sources added.