Karachi Division

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has granted post arrest bail to Zameer Abbasi, the prime suspect in an alleged Rs. 8.5 billion corruption case related to the construction of Karachi’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Yellow Line project.
Justice Miran Muhammad Shah approved the bail application after observing that the investigation carried out by the Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) Sindh contained several gaps and procedural shortcomings despite the significant financial amount involved in the case.
The court granted bail against a surety bond of Rs. 10 million, stating that the investigating authorities had failed to properly address several important aspects of the inquiry. The court’s observations focused on alleged irregularities in the investigation process, including issues related to the inquiry procedure, registration of the First Information Report (FIR), and the arrest of the accused.
According to case details, the Anti Corruption Establishment Sindh had registered a case against Zameer Abbasi and other officials in June following an inquiry into alleged financial mismanagement in the Karachi BRT Yellow Line project. Abbasi had previously served as the project director of the Karachi Mobility Project.
During the hearing, the SHC noted that some sections of the Pakistan Penal Code included in the case did not appear to correspond with the contents of the FIR and charge sheet. The court also raised questions regarding the authority of the CMIE&ITD to initiate the inquiry, observing that the department was not competent to conduct proceedings in the matter.
The court remarked that the investigating agency had not completed its responsibilities in accordance with relevant legal requirements and had left several gaps in the investigation. However, the court clarified that the bail decision would not affect the merits of the ongoing case.
The Sindh High Court further stated that if authorities considered it necessary, they could approach the Interior Ministry for placing Zameer Abbasi’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL) to prevent any possible departure from the country during the trial proceedings.
The Yellow Line BRT project is part of Karachi’s public transport expansion plans aimed at improving urban mobility in the city. The case against the officials relates to allegations of financial irregularities during the project’s development, which remain subject to further legal proceedings.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
Authorities in Karachi have expanded measures to improve building safety standards, with a renewed focus on strengthening fire safety compliance, inspections and regulatory mechanisms across commercial and industrial properties.
The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has directed relevant departments to ensure better implementation of safety regulations, particularly regarding fire prevention measures in buildings. The move is aimed at reducing risks associated with unsafe structures and improving protection for residents, workers and visitors.
Officials said that building safety inspections would be further strengthened to ensure that commercial and industrial facilities meet required safety standards. The monitoring process will focus on compliance with approved building regulations, emergency arrangements and safety measures.
The initiative comes as part of broader efforts to improve urban management and create safer infrastructure in Karachi, where rapid development and increasing construction activity have increased the need for effective regulatory oversight.
Under the enhanced framework, authorities are focusing on improving coordination between relevant departments, increasing inspection efficiency and ensuring that building owners and developers follow mandatory safety requirements.
Experts have emphasized that effective enforcement of building codes, regular inspections and modern safety systems are essential for sustainable urban growth and protecting public infrastructure.
The measures are expected to support safer commercial spaces, improve confidence in property development and contribute to better planning and management of Karachi’s expanding urban landscape.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has rejected the government’s proposed smart lockdown and refused to implement the announced petrol relief package, saying that the government should provide relief from its own funds instead of placing the financial burden on dealers.
PPDA representatives said they fear that payments may get delayed as previous commitments were not fulfilled, therefore dealers cannot provide petrol on credit under the government’s subsidy plan.
Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, PPDA Chairman Malik Khuda Bakhsh, along with Vice Chairman Tariq Hassan, Anwar Kamal, Sindh President Ameer Khan and Karachi President Saeed Khan, said dealers cannot sell petrol at a reduced price of Rs100 under the announced relief package.
He warned that if pressure was applied on dealers, petrol pumps could be closed. He said the government should arrange funds for the relief package itself instead of blocking the money of petroleum dealers.
The association also rejected the proposed smart lockdown plan, saying dealers are concerned about financial losses and uncertainty regarding payment mechanisms.
PPDA officials said they had not been taken into confidence before the announcement of the package and were not informed about how and when their payments would be returned.
Vice Chairman Tariq Hassan said dealers had been trying to contact the government for the last three days but communication was not effective.
The association said its 14,000 dealers across Pakistan would not sell petrol under the relief package from Wednesday night.
Dealers suggested that allowing oil marketing companies to directly import petroleum products could help resolve the issue.