Author: Imran Elahi

Polio in Pakistan still remains an endemic viral infection that continues to circulate and infect children; keeping every child under five years of age at great risk. This is a matter of due concern while polio eradication continues to be a national emergency with the renewed commitment of Government at all levels to eradicate it in all forms and manifestations. DHA has joined hands with the government in furtherance of this great national cause by conducting polio eradication campaign starting from 24th Oct to 27th Oct in various areas of DHA with renewed vigour and enthusiasm. DHA Medical Centre paradoxically remains a permanent polio vaccination station of the area.

DHA Medical teams visited a network of DHA schools, parks and homes of DHA residents under elaborate protection provided by DHA Vigilance staff and administered polio drops to children under 5 years of age. The spirited mass vaccination campaign was conducted with immense zeal and enthusiasm to eradicate the menace of polio from the country in true letter and spirit. During the erstwhile campaign, DHA Polio teams in harmony and collaboration with world Health Organization WHO (EPI Teams) and Govt of Sindh (Sadar Town) administered polio drops to approx 3300 children as verified and reported by UCMO Sindh Govt. The campaign had full support and patronage of DHA while Senior Medical Officer DHA personally supervised and led the polio eradication campaign with great fanfare.

The menace of Polio can easily be uprooted from Pakistan if its eradication campaign is taken as a challenge along-with visionary planning, will power and determination. It is a national cause which requires driving spirit and combined efforts of all stakeholders for carrying out immunization of children. DHA has become a static centre of Sadar Town for EPI whereas children from DHA’s neighborhood and from Katchi Abadis in the vicinity constantly visit DHA Medical Centre for getting vaccinated free of cost throughout the year. DHA as a progressive corporate body with a vision for future gives utmost importance to the provision and promotion of healthcare facilities to the masses. DHA accordingly has provided a dedicated space/area in the Medical Centre, refrigeration facilities for keeping bulk vaccines and other administrative facilities for the purpose. Vaccines are provided to DHA by EPI Saddar Town free of cost which are administered to children under expert supervision of DHA doctors/para medical teams. The Polio Teams carryout their campaign fearlessly in a safe and secure environment provided by DHA’s dedicated Vigilance Teams which is an important factor in successful conduct of polio eradication campaign.

The strength of a nation is dependent on the health and vitality of its people. A healthy nation is the key for building a progressive and prosperous country. It is imperative that we all join hands to uproot the menace of polio virus from the country in totality in quest for a happy future.

Karachi, 10 Oct 2016: Maj Gen Moazzam Ejaz, Director General Housing GHQ called on Administrator DHA Brig Shahid Hassan Ali in his Office today. DG Housing appreciated the vim and vigour associated with the vision to provide a novel concept of living to the residents of DHA Karachi and ushering in of a new urban living culture in DHA City Karachi; a paradigm of community living.

Karachi, 07 Oct 2016: A meeting of DHA Cogen Board of Directors chaired by Administrator DHA Brig Shahid Hassan Ali was held at DHA Head Office to formulate a tangible strategy for early rehabilitation of DHA Cogen (Power and Desalination) plant. The members of DHA Cogen Board including reps of commercial banks (HBL, UBL and Faisal Bank) who are investors and stake holders of the project attended the meeting and discussed the complex and complicated financial, investment and functional related issues involved in revival and rehabilitation of Cogen plant. There was a consensus in the meeting on the need to find some tangible, bold and imaginative solution of the problem to make the Cogen plant operational at all costs.

Administrator underlined the need of resolving the issue in a pragmatic and dynamic manner to salvage the non functional Cogen Plant which is a strategic national asset with huge social values attached to it. He emphasized on integration of financial stewardship, technical knowhow and managerial skills for resolving the teething problems of Cogen plant while at the same time safeguarding the interests of investors. He reiterated that in large public interest, DHA will play a lead role in getting the process of rehabilitation of Cogen plant expedited at all stages to redress the problem of acute shortage of water and electricity in DHA/CBC areas.

The meeting ended on a happy note which rekindled a reinvigorated hope of early rehabilitation of DHA Cogen Power and Desalination Plant.

Karachi, 07 Oct 2016: Director General National Logistic Cell Maj Gen Mushtaq Ahmed Faisal called on Administrator DHA Brig Shahid Hassan Ali in his Office today. They discussed matters of mutual interest including matters pertaining to maintaining the pace and quality control of the ongoing development projects being executed by FWO in DHA and DCK.

Karachi, 5 Oct 2016: Administrator DHA Brig Shahid Hassan Ali visited a number of DHA’s community driven utility projects and spent a busy time at projects’ sites. First he visited DHA Cogen (Power and Desalination Plant) on Seaview in DHA Phase-VIII which is non functional since 2010. CEO DHA Cogen, Mr. Siraj-ul-Haque gave an in-depth briefing on the design specifications and technical features of the plant to the DHA team highlighting the intricate technical, functional and financial impediments in way of rehabilitation of the plant.

Administrator said that revival and rehabilitation of non functional Cogen plant was technically a viable option and must be taken up on war footings with pragmatic, bold and dynamic approach to redress scarcity of water and electricity in the area. He assured DCL management that DHA will extend all out support at all stages in the process of rehabilitation of the Power and Desalination plant.

Later Administrator visited the Sewerage Treatment Plant established in DHA Phase-VIII which has a capacity of 2.4 MGD and gets the input effluents directly from Qasim Pumping Station. Administrator asked the project contractor and consultant to ensure optimize and efficient working of the plant continuously that will be instrumental in establishing three more STPs in DHA Phase-VIII.

At the end, Administrator visited the Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant in DHA Phase-VIII that is providing 400,000 gallon of potable water per day through extraction and filtration/treatment of underground water employing GE’s contemporary RO technology. Administrator appreciated the ongoing efficient functioning/operation of the plant and hoped that its successful functioning will be instrumental in establishing a network of RO plants in the area to address the water woes of residents in DHA.

Karachi, 4 Oct’ 2016: Commander 5 Corps and President Executive Board DHA Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar visited DHA Sports Club (Moin Khan Academy) located in DHA Phase-VIII. On arrival, he was received by Administrator DHA Brig Shahid Hassan Ali and CEO Moin Khan Academy Mr Moin Khan, the legendary ex Captain of Pakistan Cricket Team.

DHA Sports Club (MKA) provides exquisite Sports facilities to citizens of metropolis including professional coaching/training to youth in cricket. The complex has a cricket stadium with flood lights arrangement of international standard and is a popular arena for holding T-20 night cricket matches. Corps Commander inaugurated Multipurpose Buildings and allied sports facilities, vital and in synchronization with enshrined vision of this Sports Complex. The Commander appreciated and lauded the efforts of DHA for developing a befitting sports facility for ‘Future Generation’ with community driven vision that promises positive participation of youth in societal affairs.

The Corps Commander said that development of play grounds and promotion of sports activities in the city shall usher a paradigm of tolerance, sharing and healthy competition in society ensuring growth of a vibrant youth of the nation.

Earlier Mr Moin Khan said that he finds the manifestation of his vision cum dreams of grooming and developing the budding cricket talent of the country becoming a reality under the patronage of Commander 5 Corps and DHA in shape of DHA’s Sports Club. The Corps Commander also witnessed the last few overs of the cricket match played between two teams of the Moin Khan Cricket Academy and distributed prizes among the winners and runners up of the match.

Karachi, 29 Sept 2016: DHA keeps making new interventions and taking innovative measures to provide secure and qualitative living environment to its residents. In this connection, DHA has recently introduced E-tagging facility on experimental basis in Phase-VIII which is the largest and best planned phase of DHA. Administrator DHA Brig Shahid Hassan Ali visited the site of E-tagging pilot project started at one of the entry/exit points of Phase-VIII. The entry/exit of all the vehicles entering the area will be monitored/recorded through electronic tagging which will help to provide enhanced security/safety to the residents. The project will be extended to all 8 entry/exit points of Phase-VIII and the entire info/data will be integrated via fiber optics for monitoring at control room.

Administrator appreciated the technical intervention introduced in Phase-VIII and directed the concerned staff to complete the entire project expeditiously ensuring technical precision and innovative use of state-of-the-art computer technology.

Karachi, 27 Sept 2016: Defence Authority High School Phase-VIII is a charity based school run by DHA to provide quality education to the underprivileged children of the area. Administrator DHA Brig Shahid Hassan Ali visited the school and directed the Development Directorate to carry out complete revamping, refurbishment and upgradation of school premises to ensure provision of best infrastructure and educational facilities to the concerned deptts to develop a green belt, playing grounds and to carry out extensive plantation in the school to provide comfortable, congenial and conducive reading and learning environment for the students.

Director Development, Director Education, Director Horticulture, School’s Principal and other related staff was also present on the occasion.

Karachi, 26 Sept 2016: DHA Phase-VIII Steering Committee Meeting chaired by Administrator DHA Brig Shahid Hassan Ali was held at DHA Head Office to review the progress of the ongoing development works in DHA Phase-VIII. The Steering Committee discussed/evaluated the professional, technical and functional aspects of the infrastructure development, gasification and electrical works being executed in Phase-VIII and took appropriate and pragmatic decisions to speed up the development process.

The main focus of discussion was on devising an integrated and comprehensive strategy for early completion of cable and related civil works and managing sustained supply of equipment to ensure early provision of electricity in maximum sectors of Phase-VIII before they are opened for construction. Project Director Phase-VIII informed the Steering Committee that the work on placement of Pad Mounted Units (PMUs), Kiosks and Feeder Pillar Boxes etc and laying of HT/LT cables in the area was progressing expeditiously to achieve the desired target at the earliest.

Administrator emphasized the need to undertake the ongoing development projects in a phased programme with an objective, prudent and incisive approach. He stressed upon the need of adopting decentralized and multi polarity concepts to ensure reliability, transparency and versatility in project development activities. He added that early development of entire Phase-VIII will be harbinger of a new era of progress and prosperity in the area.

Karachi, 20 Sept 2016: DHA took a dynamic initiative by recognizing Pakistan’s tallest persons, giving them Hi-Roof vehicles and announcing monthly stipends for them as part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity. Mr Ijaz Ahmed of District Bakkhar, Punjab having a confirmed height of 8 feet 1 inch is the Pakistan’s tallest and world’s second tallest living person and also the record holder of the Guinness Record for the biggest shoe size holder while Mr Naseer Sumroo with a height of 8 feet is from remote area of Shikarpur, Sindh and the acclaimed second tallest man of Pakistan. Both the record holders legendaries who are indeed the Pride of Pakistan have been given an imported Suzuki Every Hi-Roof vehicle each and will also get a monthly allowance of Rs. 50,000/= and Rs. 25,000/= respectively from DHA as a welfare and good will measure.

Administrator DHA handed over the keys of vehicles to the tallest man of Pakistan in a simple ceremony held at DHA Head Office.