Thursday 24 October 2013

Centaur-us Gate Needs Its entrance to be re-designed!

Deadly Accident outside Centaurus Gate!

Just as Park Towers and Forum is to Karachi, Centaurus Mega Mall is to Islamabad! It is an iconic retail, entertainment and lifestyle destination that stimulates visitors with its vibrant mix of retail and entertainment segments. It attracts huge crowd daily. The main car entrance on the Nazimuddin Road is right after the end of the bridge.
The fast flowing traffic outside the main gate has no checks and balances near the main entrance. Though the car queues up in orderly manner, but they race by the entrance as if Ferrari is holding its Annual Car Spree!
My attention would never have drawn to the misplanned car entrance system, until I was the eye witness to one of the most deadly accidents outside the Centaurus gate.
It was 530 pm, Tuesday, 30th July 2013, I was crossing the main road outside the mega mall, and was nearly 10 feet away when a car coming from the right side of the entrance of the main gate from the bridge, hit a man coming out of the gate. It was a black car with 3 young boys seated. They were driving blind folded and swept the man off his feet – making him fall head along in an unconscious state, the moment this accident happened, I was only stone throw distance away from the accident scene and was half way down the road. I was dumb founded, shocked and speechless – when I saw him all bleeding!
People rushed to the scene and security guards screamed for the ambulance. At least the black car boys might be eye blinded to run over a man but when the door opened, a young, concerned looking boy, probably in his early twenties, came out, with the help of people – rushed the injured man to the hospital. The man was dripping in blood and was in an unconscious state when he was taken away in the car. He was one of the cleaning staff member of the mall and his 2 other colleagues had already crossed the road.
As soon as the car left with the injured, the security guards shared with me that many accidents have occurred till now, since its launch in March 2013.
After an hour or so, the news was that he was out of danger and had few stitches on the head. I have a question – if God forbid something had happened to the man, who would have compensated his family? Who would have wiped his mother’s tears?
It was the day when the President of Pakistan got elected – only 2 hours before this accident, will he please kindly look into this matter to take adequate pedestrians security measures and to change the entrance systems of the cars. After all that road leads to the Parliament House and for once the newly elected parliamentarians – think “Square one for the Common Man issues” – they do not have bus to go back home and cannot afford to pay for the taxi, and when they cross the road they risk their lives!

By:

KANWAL ABIDI
- Islamabad


Dictated Meeting of Nawaz-Obama!

BAKED IN WASHINGTON

After the UN Session visit of PM Nawaz Shareef and his team, once again they have turned back to Washington for enhancing foreign policy matters. It would have better if another means would have been initiated – to avoid heavy travel expense on the government budget.

The prime agenda of US visit would be “economic recovery and market access” as cited by PM Nawaz Shareef on media briefing before leaving to Washington.

However, the 1.6 billion dollars aid by US to Pakistan is a “mirage” of financial resources to rescue Pakistani economy. The dollars pledged in Washington to be handed to Pakistan – is like a rope tied by US authorities to get their ulterior objectives achieved.

The financial infrastructure to be rescued by Washington would be “cooked” under the table by both sides and the “dollars baked” according to the choice of US Financial and Military Chefs.

Before PM Nawaz Shareef meets President Obama – he is scheduled to meet US National Security Advisor, Susan Rice! Who knows the implied agenda of Taliban Peace Talks and Drone Attacks would be sorted and accepted by Pakistan as the only recipe available!

If the real motive is “economy recovery and market access” - then PM Nawaz Shareef should be meeting the dynamic lady - Janet Yellen and not Susan Rice!

Janet Yellen would be the first woman to head US Central Bank as its Federal Chairperson, after being recently nominated by President Obama in the institution’s 100 years history. She would take charge after S Bernanke retires next year on Jan 31.

What is needed at this hour is a solution to our economic recovery and to control the ever growing appreciation of US currency! Dealing with issues of Taliban Peace talks and Drone Attacks is likely to be dictated by Obama Administration – rather than being negotiated.

What will follow is anybody’s guess! US Authorities will once again act as international policeman and enforce their terms on every aspect and our country would keep getting “Baked in Washington!”


KANWAL ABIDI
-Karachi