Karachi Division

Karachi: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Sindh High Court has ordered all parties to maintain the status quo in a case concerning a proposed construction project adjacent to the historic Mohatta Palace, while scheduling final arguments for the first week of August.
During the hearing, the Additional Advocate General (AAG) informed the court that the provincial heritage authorities had acted promptly after learning about excavation activities at the site. According to the AAG, the Culture, Tourism, Antiquities and Archives Department immediately issued a show cause notice, suspended the excavation work and referred the matter to its technical and advisory committees for detailed examination.
The government maintained that no unrestricted approval had been granted for the project. Instead, any permission was conditional and followed extensive deliberations by the relevant authorities. The conditions required an independent structural assessment, strict compliance with heritage conservation guidelines and a complete prohibition on excavation until a structural safety report had been submitted and reviewed.
The AAG further argued that the proposed building must remain lower in height than the historic Mohatta Palace and should not cause any structural, architectural or environmental damage to the adjoining protected heritage property. He told the court that the heritage department had consistently instructed the project's consultant to adopt all necessary safety measures and ensure that preservation of the palace remained the highest priority throughout the planning process.
Separate comments were also submitted by the Culture, Antiquities and Archives Department and the Director General of Antiquities and Archaeology, supporting the government's position on the matter.
Counsel representing the remaining respondents requested additional time to submit their replies, which the court accepted.
After hearing the preliminary submissions, the bench adjourned the proceedings to a date to be fixed in the first week of August. In its order, the court directed all parties to present their arguments at the next hearing and instructed them to maintain the existing position at the site until further orders.
The case centres on concerns over the potential impact of nearby construction on Mohatta Palace, one of Karachi's most prominent protected heritage landmarks. The court's interim order ensures that no further changes will take place at the disputed location until the legal issues surrounding the project are fully examined.

Karachi: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Karachi Development Authority (KDA) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) have reviewed a range of affordable financing initiatives designed to improve the financial well being of government employees, with a particular focus on expanding access to low cost housing finance and essential financial services.
The initiatives were discussed during a meeting between senior KDA officials and a delegation from the State Bank of Pakistan led by Muhammad Daniyal Khan, Assistant Director of the Financial Inclusion Division. The meeting focused on strengthening financial inclusion and creating greater awareness among public sector employees about financing facilities available through the country's banking system.
During the briefing, SBP officials highlighted several financing programmes currently being offered through scheduled banks. A key feature of the discussion was the subsidised housing finance scheme that enables eligible government employees to obtain loans for purchasing or constructing homes at a concessional markup rate of 5 percent. The programme is intended to make home ownership more affordable for public sector workers while supporting the government's broader housing objectives.
In addition to housing finance, the SBP delegation presented financing facilities aimed at encouraging sustainable living and affordable mobility. These include zero markup or easy installment schemes for electric motorcycles, solar energy systems and CNG rickshaws. The programmes are expected to reduce transportation costs, promote clean energy adoption and improve financial accessibility for employees.
KDA Member Finance Naveed Anwar Siddiqui reaffirmed that employee welfare remains one of the authority's key priorities. He expressed confidence that greater awareness of these financing opportunities would enable employees to benefit from home ownership as well as other financial products that support long term economic stability.
To further simplify access to banking services, KDA announced plans to establish commercial bank counters at its head office. The initiative will allow employees to obtain information, submit applications and access financial services more conveniently without leaving the workplace.
The authority also plans to organise additional awareness sessions in collaboration with financial institutions so that employees can better understand the eligibility criteria, application procedures and benefits of the various financing schemes available to them. These efforts are expected to strengthen financial inclusion while encouraging wider participation in affordable housing and clean energy financing programmes.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
Bank Alfalah has partnered with the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and the Indus Earth Trust (IET) to launch its first Urban Forestry project at Ibn e Qasim Park in Clifton, marking a new step in its environmental sustainability agenda with an initial investment of PKR 3 million.
The initiative was formally launched during a ceremony where Bank Alfalah President and Chief Executive Officer Atif Bajwa and Indus Earth Trust Chief Executive Officer Aijaz Ali Abro signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), establishing a collaborative framework for the project.
Under the agreement, the Bank will fund the development of an initial plantation area within Ibn e Qasim Park. The urban forestry initiative is designed to reduce urban heat, improve air quality, support biodiversity and enhance Karachi’s resilience to climate change through the creation of sustainable green spaces. The launch ceremony also featured a symbolic tree plantation activity.
Speaking at the event, Atif Bajwa said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to securing a greener future for Karachi. He described parks as the “lungs of every city,” adding that expanding urban green spaces is essential for improving public health, environmental quality and climate resilience. He said the Bank was proud to work with public and civil society partners to support long term environmental solutions for Pakistan’s largest city.
Indus Earth Trust President Afia Salam said the collaboration demonstrates the impact of partnerships between the public, private and non-profit sectors in restoring urban ecosystems. She noted that the project will focus on planting native species to create self-sustaining green areas supported by community participation and long term stewardship, benefiting both the environment and future generations.
The urban forestry initiative forms part of Bank Alfalah’s wider sustainability programme. The Bank is working with WWF-Pakistan to plant 100,000 mangroves by 2030 and has partnered with the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI) to install seven air quality monitoring stations across Karachi. It is also supporting the establishment of an Air Quality Laboratory at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).
During the event, Bank Alfalah also unveiled its fourth Annual Sustainability Report, outlining progress across its environmental, social and governance (ESG) priorities. The report revealed that the Bank has provided PKR 24 billion in green financing and PKR 75.2 billion in financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), underscoring its commitment to sustainable development, environmental responsibility and inclusive economic growth.