Traffic Congestion at Port – CM Orders Immediate Action!**
Imran
Traffic Congestion at Port – CM orders Immediate Measures
KARACHI (May 3): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has expressed serious concern over the heavy traffic congestion in the port area following the reopening of Baber Loi Road after an 11-day closure.
In a statement issued from the CM House on Saturday, the CM said that this road blockage had halted cargo movements from upcountry, and upon resumption, the simultaneous influx of inbound and outbound traffic resulted in significant gridlock.
The Chief Minister emphasised that recurring traffic congestion, especially during the berthing of multiple ships at China Port (SAPT) or after public disruptions, leads to substantial economic losses and inconvenience.
Mr. Shah has directed the traffic police to address the current crisis and implement measures to prevent future occurrences. These measures include establishing a 24/7 Traffic Monitoring Cell near the port, implementing staggered entry timings for cargo vehicles to regulate movement, creating temporary parking zones to manage truck flow, holding daily coordination meetings between port authorities, police, and logistics companies, identifying and utilizing alternate routes to divert excess traffic, implementing a digital slot booking system for cargo dispatch and arrival, deploying mobile response teams to clear bottlenecks, and ensuring continuous public communication through media updates and traffic alerts.
The Chief Minister has instructed all relevant departments to act swiftly and collaboratively to restore smooth traffic operations and facilitate trade activities at the port.
CM’s Message on World Press Freedom Day
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah paid tribute to journalists who have sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of truth, calling them heroes of press freedom.
Mr. Shah commended the courage of Palestinian journalists who have been victims of Israeli aggression, emphasising that attacks on journalists pose a serious threat to global democracy. "Freedom of expression is a constitutional right in Pakistan," he said. He urged journalists to avoid spreading rumours for sensationalism or ratings.
Murad Shah added that the Sindh government has granted complete freedom to journalists and reiterated that no action has ever been taken against any journalist by the provincial government.
The CM also addressed the recent controversy regarding canals, mentioning that many false reports have been published against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Sindh government.
The Chief Minister encouraged journalists to highlight positive developments, particularly in promoting a better image of Karachi.
He concluded by asserting that journalists in Sindh enjoy more protection and freedom compared to other regions of the country.
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Murad congratulates Security Forces on Successful Operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah congratulated the security forces on conducting three successful operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Mr. Shah praised the elimination of five militants during these operations, calling it a commendable achievement. "The operations carried out by security forces are essential for maintaining peace," he stated. The Chief Minister emphasised that such actions will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated.
Murad congratulates Sindh Police Boxer on Victory Over Indian Opponent
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah congratulated Sindh Police boxer Shaheer Afridi for defeating his Indian rival via knockout. "Shaheer Afridi has made Sindh and Pakistan proud by knocking out his Indian opponent," said the Chief Minister. He expressed pride in the Sindh Police and announced rewards for Afridi on behalf of the Sindh government.
CM congratulates newly elected CPNE office-bearers
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah congratulated the newly elected representatives of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) on their victory in the annual elections.
Mr. Shah congratulated Kazim Khan (President), Ayaz Khan (Senior Vice President), Ghulam Nabi Chandio (Secretary General), and Tanveer Shaukat (Deputy Secretary). He also extended his congratulations to Hameed Hussain Abidi (Finance Secretary), Zia Tanoli (Information Secretary), and Vice Presidents Qazi Asad Abid, Adnan Zafar, Mian Hassan Ahmed, and Munir Ahmed Baloch. Joint Secretaries Tahir Farooq, Munazza Seham, Rafi Niazi, Arif Baloch, and Waqas Tariq Farooq also received his best wishes.
The Chief Minister further congratulated the members appointed to the CPNE Standing Committee, which includes Dr. Jabbar Khattak, Maqsood Yousufi, Sher Muhammad Khawer, Sardar Siraj, Mudassar Iqbal, Muhammad Owais Razi, Shehzad Amin, Irfan Athar, Shakeel Ahmed Turabi, Tazeen Akhtar, Anwar Sajdi, Mumtaz Ahmed Sadiq, Faqir Munthar Mangrio, Abdul Rahman Mangrio, Dr. Zubair Mehmood, Masood Khan, Fazal Haq, Zulfiqar Ahmed Rahat, Ali Ahmed Dhillon, Aamir Mehmood, Syed Intizar Hussain Zanjani, Aslam Mian, Hamza Ali Afghan, Ayaz Memon, Mudassar Alam, and Mehmood Alam Khalid.
The chief minister noted that CPNE has upheld the cause of press freedom since its inception. He acknowledged that May 3 marks World Press Freedom Day. "Free and fair elections are the beauty of democracy and a journey toward improvement," he stated. He praised CPNE’s role in defending press freedom.
