Yesterday I went to the Lakson building (across the Press Club) in Saddar with two colleagues to meet an estate agent for some office-related work. The area being quite a busy place, finding parking space was a huge hassle. While I was circling and searching for space, the agent we were supposed to meet signalled for us to turn and drive into the premises of the Sindh Wildlife building nearby. I acquiesced and went in and parked.
When I asked if it was okay to park there for a little while I was told that the building ground is de facto used as regular parking space by individuals upon payment of Rs 1500-2000 per month to the chowkidar, or Rs20 per parking per trip for visitors. I think there must be about 15-20 or more cars parked in the premises at any point in time, which means the chowkidar (and the few others who have to be in it together) easily make at the very least Rs40,ooo per month in this business with zero investment (or tax).
The story is the same in all the other government office premises in the area.
We are such an enterprising people :)
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Karachi Burns Again
Here we go again. Just when Karachi seemed to have recovered from the post Dec27 mayhem and its citizens beginning to look a little optimistic for peace after Zardari’s historic reconciliatory visit to Nine-Zero, violence has erupted again. So far 50 cars have been burnt, 7 people have lost their lives, scores of people are wounded and 5 burnt alive in acts of arson and sabotage across the city in a matter of hours.
It all supposedly started when a few MQM lawyers who were protesting the Niazi manhandling were allegedly attacked by other lawyers, resulting in a huge scuffle and consequent widespread protest, rioting and violence across the city.
It is interesting to note that Arbab Rahim has given a press conference in which he is accusing the PPP to be responsible for the rioting and violence in Karachi ‘considering the PPP is in power’. If being in power is the criteria for responsibility then by that token is Arbab admitting to his own government’s hand in the May12 violence in Karachi??
There are many theories being put forward by conspiracy lovers. Some say that power-sharing talks with the MQM have broken down which is why the party is resorting to showing its might and threatening street-power in Karachi. Others say it is an attempt by the Commando to malign and jeopardize the lawyers’ movement as a warning against restoring the judges. Yet others imply that this is the Commando’s attempt to head the country towards another Martial Law.
Whatever it may be, it is Karachiites who suffer – yet again.
It all supposedly started when a few MQM lawyers who were protesting the Niazi manhandling were allegedly attacked by other lawyers, resulting in a huge scuffle and consequent widespread protest, rioting and violence across the city.
It is interesting to note that Arbab Rahim has given a press conference in which he is accusing the PPP to be responsible for the rioting and violence in Karachi ‘considering the PPP is in power’. If being in power is the criteria for responsibility then by that token is Arbab admitting to his own government’s hand in the May12 violence in Karachi??
There are many theories being put forward by conspiracy lovers. Some say that power-sharing talks with the MQM have broken down which is why the party is resorting to showing its might and threatening street-power in Karachi. Others say it is an attempt by the Commando to malign and jeopardize the lawyers’ movement as a warning against restoring the judges. Yet others imply that this is the Commando’s attempt to head the country towards another Martial Law.
Whatever it may be, it is Karachiites who suffer – yet again.
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