Black Shadow

Author: Emp-1

  • Gul Plaza Fire: An Engineer’s Perspective on Karachi’s Urban Safety Crisis

    Gul Plaza Fire: An Engineer’s Perspective on Karachi’s Urban Safety Crisis

    PAKISTAN

    By Ramesh Raja

    The tragic fire at Gul Plaza, MA Jinnah Road, which claimed over 67 lives up till now and left many injured, is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in Karachi’s urban infrastructure. As a civil engineer, observing the incident reveals not just the immediate causes but systemic design and regulatory failures that contributed to this catastrophe.

    Recurring Urban Tragedies
    Karachi has witnessed multiple high-fatality fires in recent decades:
    • Baldia Town Factory Fire (2012): 259 deaths, highlighting industrial negligence.
    • Regent Plaza Fire (2015): 11 fatalities due to poor evacuation planning.
    • RJ Shopping Mall Fire (2023): 11 deaths; inadequate fire suppression systems exposed.

    The Gul Plaza incident follows this unfortunate pattern, demonstrating that lessons from past tragedies remain inadequately applied in both design and oversight.

    Engineering Insights: Why the Fire Spread So Rapidly
    From a structural and civil engineering viewpoint, several factors aggravated the incident:

    1. Design flaws: Insufficient fire exits, absence of smoke-proof staircases, and blocked evacuation routes.
    2. Materials and load management: Combustible finishes and merchandise accelerated fire spread.
    3. Fire suppression deficiencies: Lack of sprinklers, heat detectors, and accessible firefighting equipment.
    4. Emergency access limitations: Narrow streets and congested surrounding areas delayed response time.

    Such issues reflect a failure to integrate hazard assessments, code compliance, and disaster resilience during the planning and construction phases.

    Unforeseen Risks That Must Be Anticipated
    Civil engineers and regulatory authorities must consider:
    • Structural hazards including earthquakes and heavy live loads.
    • Electrical faults, flammable materials, and kitchen hazards.
    • Human factors like overcrowding and panic behavior.
    • Mechanical failures (lifts, escalators) and utility interruptions.
    Neglecting these factors, as evident in Gul Plaza, turns ordinary emergencies into large-scale disasters.

    Necessary Safety Provisions
    As professionals responsible for building safety, civil engineers advocate for:
    • Seismic-resistant structures and proper anchoring of non-structural elements.
    • Comprehensive fire detection systems, including smoke detectors, sprinklers, and alarms.
    • Adequate evacuation planning, with multiple staircases, refuge zones, emergency lighting, and clear signage.
    • Regulatory enforcement, with periodic inspections and mandatory audits to ensure compliance.

    The collaboration between engineers, builders, and government departments is critical to safeguard lives.

    Immediate Actions for Gul Plaza
    Beyond rescue operations, structural engineers must ensure the building’s stability during recovery, assist in investigating failure points, and help design measures to prevent similar future catastrophes. Meanwhile, authorities should audit other multi-story plazas for compliance and implement emergency preparedness drills and public awareness programs.

    Prevention Over Compensation
    While monetary compensation is often announced after such tragedies, no financial support can replace human life. As civil engineers, urban planners, and policymakers, our duty is to ensure prevention through design, enforcement, and education.
    The Gul Plaza fire is a call for Karachi to embrace engineering rigor, strict compliance, and proactive urban safety measures. Only then can the city prevent history from repeating itself, saving lives and protecting communities.

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  • Mirpurkhas Sugar Mills Appoints New Chairman, CEO

    Mirpurkhas Sugar Mills Appoints New Chairman, CEO

    PAKISTAN

    Mirpurkhas Sugar Mills Limited has announced key leadership appointments following the recent election of its Board of Directors held on January 21, 2026.

    In a circular resolution, the newly elected Board approved the appointment of Mr. Arif Dino Faruque as Chairman of the Board of Directors, while Mr. Aslam Faruque has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the company.

    The appointments are effective immediately and are aimed at strengthening the company’s governance structure and executive leadership. The management expressed confidence that the new leadership will contribute to strategic direction, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth of Mirpurkhas Sugar Mills Limited.

    The company further stated that these decisions reflect the Board’s commitment to ensuring strong oversight and effective management in line with corporate governance best practices. – ER News Desk

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  • Pakistan–Kazakhstan Rail Connectivity Project: MoU to be signed during Kazak President’s visit in Feb

    PAKISTAN

    A high-level consultation between Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi and the Ambassador of Kazakhstan was held at the Ministry of Railways, focusing on strengthening regional connectivity and enhancing bilateral cooperation in the railway sector. The meeting reviewed progress on proposed rail links connecting Pakistan with Central Asia and examined their potential economic and trade benefits for the wider region.

    Progress on Pakistan–Kazakhstan Rail Connectivity
    Significant progress has been made on the Pakistan–Kazakhstan rail connectivity project. The network linking Karachi Port to Kazakhstan has been prepared, which will strengthen trade ties in the region and provide Pakistan with a direct rail connection to Central Asia. The network will also extend through Chaman, connecting Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan comprehensively.

    Project Cost and Timeline
    The Pakistan–Kazakhstan Rail Connectivity Project is a $7 billion initiative and is expected to be completed within a record period of three years. The project is anticipated to be a game-changer for the region and a milestone for Pakistan’s economic growth.

    MoU Signing and Kazakhstan President’s Visit
    The President of Kazakhstan is scheduled to visit Pakistan on 3rd February 2026. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be formally signed during the visit, further strengthening railway cooperation between the two countries.

    The Minister of Railways emphasized that this project is not only pivotal for Pakistan’s railway sector but also plays a key role in enhancing trade relations across the region and creating new avenues for economic development. – ER News Desk

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  • ECO Adopts Islamabad Declaration to Strengthen Regional Disaster Resilience

    ECO Adopts Islamabad Declaration to Strengthen Regional Disaster Resilience

    PAKISTAN – 10 ECO Ministerial Meeting

    The 10th Ministerial Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) concluded in Islamabad on Wednesday with the adoption of the Islamabad Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction, reaffirming the collective resolve of ECO Member States to enhance regional cooperation, disaster resilience, and coordinated action against natural hazards.

    Held from January 21–22, 2026, the two-day meeting was hosted by Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on behalf of the Government of Pakistan. It brought together ministers, heads of delegations, and senior officials from ECO Member States, alongside representatives of regional and international organizations. Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik chaired the sessions, while Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environment Coordination Dr. Musadiq Malik attended the closing ceremony as chief guest.

    The meeting reviewed outcomes of the High-Level Working Group and endorsed key decisions aligned with the Izmir Treaty, ECO Vision 2025, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The Islamabad Declaration 2025 emphasized strengthening disaster preparedness, risk governance, early warning systems, and institutional coordination across the ECO region.

    Delegates from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan highlighted growing climate-induced risks and stressed the need for harmonized regional frameworks, joint training, simulation exercises, and real-time seismic data sharing. Türkiye’s offer to establish a Regional Seismic Data Centre was welcomed.

    A key outcome was Pakistan’s offer to utilize NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) as an ECO hub for disaster risk reduction planning, joint simulations, and shared analytical products. Member States agreed to consider NEOC-based models as scalable regional frameworks.

    The meeting also endorsed initiatives including land hazard zonation mapping, improved risk communication, enhanced search and rescue coordination, and diversified financial and material support. Collaboration with partners such as UNESCAP, APDIM, and UNICEF was strengthened, including endorsement of a new two-year work plan with UNICEF Tajikistan.

    Addressing the closing session, Dr. Musadiq Malik said climate-induced disasters are a present reality, underscoring the need for inclusive, science-based and people-centered regional action. Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik said the Islamabad Declaration represents a shared commitment to safeguarding communities across the ECO region through cooperation and preparedness.

    ECO delegates appreciated Pakistan’s hospitality and reaffirmed their commitment to translating regional commitments into concrete action. – ER News Desk

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  • Indonesia expresseS keen interest in engaging in Pakistan’s mineral sector

    Indonesia expresseS keen interest in engaging in Pakistan’s mineral sector

    PAKISTAN – Mining Sector

    Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik held a meeting today with the Ambassador of Indonesia to Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Chandra Warsenanto Sukotjo, to discuss bilateral cooperation with a special focus on the minerals and exploration sector.

    The Indonesian Ambassador expressed keen interest in engaging in Pakistan’s mineral sector. He noted that Indonesia’s state-owned company, Pertamina, possesses extensive experience in exploration and stated that avenues for cooperation in exploration activities between the two countries could be explored. He added that Indonesia and Pakistan can collaborate in the mining sector.

    Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik welcomed Indonesia’s interest and assured the Government of Pakistan’s full support. He highlighted that Pakistan’s mineral and exploration sector holds vast untapped potential and encouraged Indonesian companies to partner with Pakistani companies to pursue mutually beneficial projects.

    The Minister also extended a formal invitation to the Indonesian side to participate in the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF) 2026. He briefed the Ambassador that PMIF 2026 will be a significantly larger event and expressed Pakistan’s desire to see strong participation from Indonesian companies.

    Both sides agreed to continue engagement and explore concrete opportunities to enhance cooperation in the minerals, exploration, and energy sectors, further strengthening the strong bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Indonesia. – ER News Desk

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  • Punjab CM Inaugurates Pakistan’s First Green Policing Unit

    Punjab CM Inaugurates Pakistan’s First Green Policing Unit

    PAKISTAN – Punjab

    Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday inaugurated Pakistan’s first-ever Green Policing Unit, marking a major step towards environmentally sustainable law enforcement and modernisation of the Punjab Police.

    During the inauguration ceremony, the chief minister inspected the newly introduced electric patrolling vehicle, personally drove it, and received a detailed briefing on its technical features and the broader vision behind the green policing initiative. She directed officials to gradually expand the electric vehicle fleet and ordered the phased rollout of green policing across other districts of Punjab.

    Maryam Nawaz said the initiative reflects her government’s firm commitment to environmental protection, good governance, and cost-effective public service delivery. She emphasized that adopting eco-friendly policing solutions is essential to tackle pollution and align law enforcement with modern sustainability standards.

    Officials informed the chief minister that the first fleet of state-of-the-art BYD electric vehicles will be deployed for patrolling duties in Lahore. Each vehicle has a driving range of up to 410 kilometers on a single charge and is equipped with a high-performance battery capable of fast charging from 30 to 80 percent in approximately 30 minutes.

    The vehicles are fitted with advanced surveillance and operational technologies, including 360-degree cameras, a modern public address system, police warning lights, and sophisticated speed detection equipment to enhance patrolling efficiency and public safety.

    The transition from conventional fuel-powered vehicles to electric units is expected to generate substantial financial and environmental benefits. Currently, 103 fuel-based patrolling vehicles consume around 28,000 liters of fuel every month, costing the provincial exchequer approximately Rs 7.42 million.

    By shifting to electric vehicles, the Punjab government anticipates annual fuel savings of nearly 4,500 liters per vehicle, along with significant reductions in maintenance and operational costs.

    Addressing the ceremony, the chief minister said the move towards electric mobility would ensure zero carbon emissions while easing the financial burden on the government. She added that green policing is a vital step towards creating a pollution-free environment and strengthening the infrastructure of the Punjab Police. – ER Monitoring Desk

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  • Musk’s Grok created three million sexualised images, research says

    Musk’s Grok created three million sexualised images, research says

    WORLD

    Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok generated an estimated three million sexualised images of women and children in a matter of days, researchers said Jan 22, revealing the scale of the explicit content that sparked a global outcry.

    The recent rollout of an editing feature on Grok, developed by Musk’s startup xAI and integrated into X, allowed users to alter online images of real people with simple text prompts such as “put her in a bikini” or “remove her clothes”.

    A flood of lewd deepfakes exploded online, prompting several countries to ban Grok and drawing outrage from regulators and victims.

    “The AI tool Grok is estimated to have generated approximately three million sexualized images, including 23,000 that appear to depict children, after the launch of a new image editing feature powered by the tool on X,” said the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a nonprofit watchdog that researches the harmful effects of online disinformation.

    CCDH’s report estimated that Grok generated this volume of photorealistic images over an 11-day period – an average rate of 190 per minute.

    The report did not say how many images were created without the consent of the people pictured.

    It said public figures identified in Grok’s sexualized images included American actress Selena Gomez, singers Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj as well as politicians such as Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch and former US vice president Kamala Harris.

    “The data is clear: Elon Musk’s Grok is a factory for the production of sexual abuse material,” Imran Ahmed, the chief executive of CCDH.

    “By deploying AI without safeguards, Musk enabled the creation of an estimated 23,000 sexualized images of children in two weeks, and millions more images of adult women.”

    There was no immediate comment about the findings from X. When reached by AFP by email, xAI replied with a terse automated response: “Legacy Media Lies.”

    Last week, following the global outrage, X announced that it would “geoblock the ability” of all Grok and X users to create images of people in “bikinis, underwear, and similar attire” in jurisdictions where such actions are illegal.

    It was not immediately clear where the tool would be restricted.

    The announcement came after California’s attorney general launched an investigation into xAI over the sexually explicit material and several countries opened their own probes.

    “Belated fixes cannot undo this harm. We must hold Big Tech accountable for giving abusers the power to victimize women and girls at the click of a button,” Ahmed said.

    Grok’s digital undressing spree comes amid growing concerns among tech campaigners over proliferating AI nudification apps.

    Last week, the Philippines became the third country to ban Grok, following South-East Asian neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia, while Britain and France said they would maintain pressure on the company.

    On Wednesday, the Philippines’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center said it was ending the short-lived ban after xAI agreed to modify the tool for the local market and eliminate its ability to create “pornographic content”. – AFP/TS

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  • Highnoon Laboratories Breaks Ground on New Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility

    Highnoon Laboratories Breaks Ground on New Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility

    PAKISTAN

    Highnoon Laboratories Limited has announced the groundbreaking of its new greenfield manufacturing expansion project, titled Project FORCE, marking a significant step toward strengthening Pakistan’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.

    According to a notice submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the groundbreaking ceremony was held on January 22, 2026, at the Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Quaid-e-Azam Business Park, Sheikhupura.

    Project FORCE is aimed at establishing a world-class, efficient, and globally compliant pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Pakistan. The new plant is expected to enhance Highnoon Laboratories’ manufacturing footprint, support future growth, and improve the company’s ability to cater to both domestic and export markets in line with internationally recognized quality and regulatory standards.

    The company said the initiative reflects its long-term strategic vision to invest in modern infrastructure and operational excellence, contributing to sustainable growth amid an increasingly competitive global pharmaceutical landscape. – ER News Desk

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  • Epic Angels Backs Pakistan’s Fintech Startup Neem in Pre-Series A Round

    Epic Angels Backs Pakistan’s Fintech Startup Neem in Pre-Series A Round

    PAKISTAN

    Epic Angels, the world’s largest global all-female investment collective, has announced an investment in Neem, a Pakistan-based full-stack payments infrastructure platform, as part of Neem’s Pre-Series A funding round. The investment underscores growing international confidence in Pakistan’s fintech ecosystem and its potential to drive financial inclusion through digital innovation.

    The Pre-Series A round also includes participation from DNI Group, Hi2 Global and AKD, with continued backing from existing seed investors SparkLabs Ventures, Outrun Ventures, Arif Habib and MyAsiaVC. In addition, a group of strategic angel investors from leading global fintech and payments companies, including Stripe, PayNet and Aspire, have joined the round.

    The fresh capital will be deployed to scale Neem’s technology infrastructure, strengthen cybersecurity and data protection frameworks, expand enterprise partnerships, and accelerate customer onboarding across key sectors such as logistics, insurance, healthcare, e-commerce and agriculture. The funding is expected to support Neem’s mission to help businesses transition from cash-based operations to secure, efficient digital payments.

    About Epic Angels
    Founded as a global, women-led investment collective, Epic Angels brings together accomplished female founders, operators and executives from around the world to invest in high-growth technology companies. With a strong focus on fintech, enterprise technology and scalable digital platforms, Epic Angels aims to bridge funding gaps, promote diversity in venture capital and support innovative businesses across emerging and developed markets.

    About Neem
    Neem is a full-stack payments infrastructure platform that is modernizing Pakistan’s financial ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitize collections and disbursements through integrated payment solutions and embedded wallets. By offering secure, scalable and compliant financial technology, Neem supports enterprises in moving away from cash-based processes, improving transparency, efficiency and access to formal financial services across the economy.

    The investment marks a significant milestone for Neem as it continues to expand its footprint and contribute to the evolution of Pakistan’s digital payments landscape. ERMD

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  • Select Technologies, HISENSE Partner to Manufacture Home Appliances in Pakistan

    Select Technologies, HISENSE Partner to Manufacture Home Appliances in Pakistan

    PAKISTAN

    Select Technologies Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Link Communication Limited, has entered into a strategic partnership with HISENSE, a leading global consumer electronics brand with group revenues of USD 30.24 billion, to manufacture and distribute home appliances in Pakistan.

    Under the collaboration, the two companies will focus on the local production and nationwide distribution of home appliances, including smart televisions and air conditioners. The partnership combines HISENSE’s global expertise and advanced technology with the Airlink Group’s established local manufacturing base and extensive distribution network across Pakistan.

    As part of the agreement, HISENSE has also conveyed its intention to make a direct investment in the venture in the near future, underscoring its long-term commitment to the Pakistani market.

    The alliance is expected to boost local manufacturing capacity, improve product availability, and provide consumers with high-quality, technology-driven home appliances tailored to local needs, while contributing to industrial growth and job creation in the country.

    ER News Desk

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