Indus Vitals

Gulistan-e-Johar station restored after 30 years; upgradation underway IV Report KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has reestablished two fire stations in Gulistan-e-Johar and Bolton Market as part of a citywide upgradation of emergency response infrastructure. Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, who inaugurated the facilities, said the move aims to strengthen Karachi’s firefighting capacity and reduce response time across densely populated areas. The Gulistan-e-Johar Fire Station has been restored after nearly three decades. Previously, the Gulshan Fire Station covered both Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Gulistan-e-Johar, straining resources. Wahab said the reestablished station will now share emergency response duties, easing pressure and improving coverage for surrounding localities. “Past fire incidents showed the need for stronger infrastructure, modern equipment, and better preparedness,” Wahab said during the ceremony. The reestablishment is part of a broader modern...

Govt yet to reconstitute commission's key policy-making body months after tenure expiry By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Amid growing concerns over healthcare delivery across Sindh, the major policy-making and oversight body of the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) — the Board of Commissioners (BoCs) — has remained non-functional since the expiry of its tenure earlier this year, raising questions about regulatory governance in the health sector. It is learnt that the statutory BoCs completed its tenure in the first week of February. However, the provincial health department has yet to initiate the process for constituting a new board in accordance with the Sindh Healthcare Commission Act, 2014, sources in the health sector said. The law states that the general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the commission, along with overall policy-making in respect of its operations, vest in the Board of Commissioners. Observers point out that such a keybody, comprisi...

KU AERC seminar says Budget 2026-27 focuses on numbers, not on export competitiveness, tax equity, or long-term planning IV Report KARACHI: The University of Karachi’s Applied Economics Research Centre (AERC) concluded that Budget 2026-27 is missing key structural links to growth, energy affordability, and tax reform, during its Budget Insight 2026-27 seminar held Monday. Speakers said the budget reads as an annual accounts statement, without the medium-term policy backbone needed to address Pakistan’s core economic constraints. Former State Bank of Pakistan Governor Dr Ishrat Husain said a budget must operate within a medium-term policy framework, not as merely an account of income and expenditure. Citing the 2010-11 NFC Award, he noted it had set a target to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio to 15% within five years. Fifteen years later, it remains around 11 percent, he said, adding that setting targets alone is insufficient without practical measures and continuous monitoring. ...

KU moot warns implementation gap is worsening pollution and climate-related threats IV Report KARACHI: Environmental experts, academics and civil society representatives have warned that Karachi's worsening environmental conditions reflect a widening gap between awareness and action, urging authorities and citizens alike to move beyond rhetoric and adopt practical measures to address climate change, pollution and unplanned urbanisation. The concerns were raised at the Climate Matters Conference, organised by the Institute of Environmental Studies (IES) of the University of Karachi (KU) in connection with World Environment Day 2026. The conference was themed “Inspired by Nature, for Climate, for Our Future” and focused on the challenges posed by climate change and rapid urban growth. Speakers noted that Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and economic hub, is facing mounting environmental pressures ranging from shrinking green spaces and deteriorating air quality to unmana...

Association says the emphasis on grants and tertiary care comes at the expense of disease prevention IV Report KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has expressed concern over the Sindh government's health budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, arguing that the allocation places excessive emphasis on grants to specialised institutions while neglecting preventive and primary healthcare services. In a statement issued on Thursday, PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said the Rs393.16 billion health budget reflected a healthcare strategy focused largely on treatment rather than disease prevention and community-based care. The association said a significant portion of the allocation had been directed towards grants for non-governmental organisations, public-private partnerships and specialised healthcare institutions providing tertiary-level treatment. While acknowledging the role played by such organisations, the PMA argued that the government was overlooking ...

Association calls for sustainable blood supply, urges end to replacement system IV Report KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Sunday called for a shift from Pakistan’s reliance on replacement blood donors to a sustainable voluntary donation system, warning that gaps in safe blood supply continue to undermine healthcare delivery across the country. Marking World Blood Donor Day (June 14), the association said voluntary, unpaid donors remained the backbone of safe transfusion services and were essential for ensuring a consistent and infection-free blood supply. In a statement issued on the occasion, PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said thousands of patients, including women suffering severe postpartum haemorrhage, cancer patients, trauma victims and those undergoing major surgeries, depend on timely access to safe blood and blood products. Referring to this year’s World Health Organization theme, “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives” , the as...