Karachi Metblogs » New in Town

Whose building is this?

SwERveUT — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:25:23 +0000

On M. T. Khan road, there is a new building under-construction with a very modern and innovative design. It borrows classical elements in its architecture, and combines it very well with modernist steel and glass trends. Best part about this building is its innovative energy efficient design: a glass facade is used in order to provide the interior with the maximum amount of natural light, and giant tensile fabric awnings are suspended in front of the facade to shield the entire building from the intense heat of the sun. Seems to work very well. This building is breaking new grounds in terms of architecture in Pakistan.

But who does it belong to??

Unidentified new building on M.T. Khan Road

There is no signage on the gate or on the building which gives information about what organization it belongs to. If it were any company or any other commercial organization, they would have been advertizing it to the hilt. However, nothing near this building gives its identity away…

Another thing worth noting is that whichever organization got it constructed apparently has no shortage of funds (even in these tough economic times). They have spent quite a fortune on this building’s decor and aesthetics (tazeen o araaish). Which leads me to speculate, is it a government entity? Only the government has an endless supply of money to throw away on such things… but then again, the government is not known for such ground-breaking architecture. So the puzzle remains unsolved…. Do you know who this building belongs to?

Utility bill for Municipal Services

Raja Islam — Tue, 26 May 2009 07:35:06 +0000

I was surprised to see amount of the bill for this month yesterday. The amount was RS. 953. I thought we probably had already paid the previous month bill as we never skip so how could this much amount as it was around 450/month in our case. When I inquired dad he told me that we did try to pay the bill previous month but the bank officials refused to collect it. Interestingly instead of simply adding the two bills they had also included the FINE (40 odd rupees) for late payment for previous bill though it’s not our fault at all.

This bill stated that Jan-Mar were the months when they issued their first CDGK bill. I personally think it’s a good initiative by Mustafa Kamal Bhai. His point was since maintenance of development initiatives requires money and it’s a good idea if city generate its own revenue for this purpose. He had assured media recently that there will be a committee formed to see the affair in most NEUTRAL and honest manner for this tax and that it’s utilized properly.

I suggest CDGK needs to take into account such issue (like one I mentioned in first para) to improve its credibility. Furthermore the media is more alert than ever to pick smallest of an issue related to general public and I guess such a minor mistake should not undermine the good work done by CDGK.

Talking to a friend about this tax who was not willing to pay this tax, I was thinking how CDGK will ensure that every citizen pay their dues on time.

…proud to be in Pakistan

Teeth Maestro — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:15:10 +0000

....Is Proud to be in Pakistan

I know I might actually be hyperventilating here, but the mere sight of this billboard brings a smile on my face, in the chaotic situation plaguing our country, at least there are some who are proud to be IN Pakistan.

Port Grand Retail & Entertainment Complex

Raja Islam — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:41:11 +0000

Yesterday I received an email from a friend about the most awaited food street of Karachi which is still under construction. If i recall correctly the place has been under construction since quite a few years under the Nati Jetty bridge. With this the curious I thought of investigating. I took the only clues that i had to further investigate (the email from a friend). On further investigation I found that Port grand a US based company is working on this project and it was expected to get completed in 2006 but for unknown reasons they are almost 3 years behind the project deadline.

I am fond of street mAAlish (Massage) so last month when I reached for mAAlish at Natty Jetty I found that all mAAlishiyas were gone and people were not allowed to stand on the bridge. Upon asking a ranger jawan who was standing alert at around 3AM in the morning he replied that the TPO(Town Police Officer) imposed this ban.

From the email and the investigation done, i guess it looks like we should expect an opening of Grand food street in the near future, or my gut feelings are incorrect and it is just another way of getting BATTHAs from poor mAAlishiyas.

Below is the link about project details

http://www.grandleisure.com/GrandLeisureCorporation/photos/photo8.html

Grand opening of Metro Cash & Carry Karachi

Raja Islam — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:30:08 +0000

Metro Cash & Carry, the international leader in self-service wholesale, opens its outlet for general public today. After the successful opening of its four wholesale centers, two in Lahore, one in Islamabad and one in Faisalabad. The response and crowed was so tremendous that metro staff closed all gates for public who were waiting outside. Metro only allow people who have metro cards. I reached there around 8:30PM and I got two metro cards but all gates were closed. I think the rush was due to rumor that metro is offering 60% discount.
Minimum shopping limit for Metro is 2,000 Rs

Srilanka Vs Pak starts today in Khi

Faisal.K — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:03:29 +0000

After what seems like a huge void in the Pakistan team’s activity in the cricket arena, Srilanka has arrived to provide us with some much needed playing relief.

What is of even more importance is the fact that after the Asia cup, Pakistan will get another crack at the spin sensation Mendis who totally bamboozled them the last time around.

The two ODI’s are to be played in our lovely National Stadium here in Karachi and tickets have been on sale at various Alfalah branches, surprisingly to some lackluster response.

Tickets are available in the denominations of Rs1500 for the Javed Miandad, Hanif Muhammad and Fazal Mahmood enclosures. For First class enclosure the rates will be Rs 400 and First class ‘B’ enclosure the rates will be Rs250. Rates for Quaid-e-Azam and family enclosures will be Rs 150. The General enclosure will be Rs 50 only

The first match is today and I for one will be there to see our “boys” back in action, come on people of Karachi lets enjoy something we all love collectively.

Currently SL is 86/1 after a blazing start!!!

Where’s the rest of them dummies?

rgarib — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:26:56 +0000

This was a photograph I snapped outside a store on Zamzama, whilst trying to navigate my way through the one-way streets. The lower portions of these dummies were just standing around, quite freaky until I realized how they were probably just waiting to be picked up… ;-)

(This could technically be categorized under the category or theme of “Breaking News” but then I didn’t want to catch people off guard!)

Ismat Ki Do Kahanian

Faisal.K — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:14:36 +0000

This a play based on two stories by Ismet Chugtai. The Tehrik – E- Niswan group usually does a good job so i am looking forward to catch this one at the Arts Council. Tickets are available at the gate and Agha Supermarket as well.

Dolmen Mall in North Nazimabad!!

sid — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:31:26 +0000

Finally a place for the teenagers of North Nazimabad to hang out at? Or just another window shopping chance for the area’s aunties. Decked with branded shops from top to bottom, I was forced to think if the shops were considering a revision in prices to cater to the customers in this part of the city. Not saying of course, that people here are any poorer but it is a general perception here that the ‘old money’ in North Nazimabad, is less ostentatious than pull paar affluent.

Serious shoppers still head to Hyderi, that’s exactly opposite Dolmen Mall. Hyderi, too has its own version of shopping mall in the form of Madni Mall. Nonetheless, for all those who used to head to Zamzama for shoe shopping can now find some good brands right here.

Another Mineral Water in Town

Raja Islam — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:48:09 +0000

Thanks to our (all) governments whose incompetency in providing basic necessities of life one of which is clean water we have seen tremendous growth of companies selling mineral water and they are using the indifference of the gov. for their profiteering. As one of KMB author said “if our gov. doesn’t do anything NOW there would be a DAY when WE WOULD BE BREATHING OXYGEN by paying to companies”. His comments seem like a joke for now but so did the mineral water issue 100 years back that was considered free along with oxygen ever since we heard it.

Economically if there is a family of 5-7 people (avg. in PAKISTAN/KARACHI) and each drinks only one bottle of water for 15-20 rupees it means they are drinking 4K rupee water every month to make sure they don’t get impure water and stay safe from disease & considering inflation rate is in double digits. One by one our governments are stealing eyes from their responsibilities. For electricity it’s the GENERATOR/UPS etc. companies and for waters these mineral companies. How on earth the ordinary man would live a decent life then? This is indifference at its peak.

The citizens should get united and demand a closure of these companies and strict enforcement of laws on WATER, Its supply and its cleanliness as well as new connections and proper maintenance INSTEAD of stealing eyes from its responsibility.

The capitalist mentality and the tendency to make profit from every bit & piece for few people or a class of group at the cost of compromising the ISLAMIC ideology of a welfare state would be catastrophic in the long run.