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APRIL
2011
ISSUES:
Target
killings have claimed 260 lives since January: HRCP
The
security situation in the city has worsened this year, with at least 260
people being killed in incidents of target killings in its first
quarter, says a quarterly report released by the Human Rights Commission
of Pakistan (HRCP).
Coincidentally, HRCP’s casualty figure for the first six months of
2010 was also 260. Meanwhile, last year’s annual figure was almost 100
percent higher than that of 2009, reflecting a progressively
deteriorating law and order situation in the city.
From the quarterly total that was calculated from January 2011 to March
2011, 169 have been identified as having no political affiliation while
the remaining 91 have been cited as activists of various political
parties.
Similar to previous reports released by the HRCP, the Muttahida Qaumi
Movement (MQM) suffered most of the casualties in these
politically-motivated cases, as 46 of its activists fell victim to
target killings.
According to the report, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the
Awami National Party (ANP) both lost 12 of their loyalists each. Eight
were identified as being from the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi), four
from the Sunni Tehreek, three from the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, two from
the Punjabi Front, one from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and one
activist of the banned Jaish-e-Muhammad.
Meanwhile, two people were also targeted in what were described as
sectarian killings.
The most violent month for politically-motivated murders was March, in
which 48 people were targeted, preceded by 14 in February and 29 in
January.
Regarding the killings of MQM activists, the party’s minister Faisal
Sabzwari said that the MQM is being targeted due to its hard stance
against religious extremism, and also because the party is vocal in its
disapproval of various mafias operating under the patronage of some
political parties.
“The HRCP report has underestimated the figures for the number of
killings of MQM activists. We are being targeted because we stand up to
extremists and gangsters who want to harm our city.” He added
that to deal with the deteriorating security situation, party workers
have been given strict instructions to remain vigilant at all times,
while MQM offices have been ordered to close down operations when a
tense situation arises. Moreover, a neighbourhood-watch system has been
initiated in those areas where party workers are residing.
The MQM minister also commented that it is not the party’s
responsibility to police the city and maintain law and order, and the
relevant authorities should take action against those responsible for
target killings.
Including the target killings, as many as 531 people were killed in
various incidents in the last three months. Out of the total number,
most of them lost their lives to target killings, followed by 55 people
killed because of enmity and 49 in kidnapping cases.
Over 24 were killed by robbers. Twenty-one policemen and 17 victims of
the Lyari gang war are also among the dead. Over 17 dead bodies were
found during this period. Fifteen people were killed in police
encounters, six were crushed by trains, four killed in Karo-Kari
incidents, three died due to stray bullets, three died in prison, two
drug addicts were found dead and two security guards were killed.
Meanwhile, 30 women were killed in different incidents, out of which 12
women were murdered by relatives, eight by unknown people, three became
victims of Karo-Kari, three burnt to death and two crushed by trains.
(The
News Tuesday, April 05, 2011)
Public
transport, goods vehicles blamed for 46pc road deaths
Goods
vehicles and public transport were responsible for 46 per cent road
traffic mortalities last year, which witnessed a five per cent reduction
in fatal injuries on the road, according to data compiled by Road
Traffic Injury Research and Prevention Centre (RTIR&PC).
The
centre — a public-private partnership of the Jinnah Postgraduate
Medical Centre, Aga Khan University and Hospital and the NED University
for Engineering Technology with Indus Motors Company Limited —
collects data of the JPMC, AKUH, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Civil Hospital
Karachi and Liaquat National Hospital — the five major
trauma-receiving hospitals in the city.
Prof
Dr Rashid Jooma, former director general health and currently practising
at AKUH, is the principal investigator of the project.
According
to the centre’s data, the number of fatal injuries caused by goods
vehicles and public transport increased from 7 per cent (2009) to 24 per
cent (2010) and 18 per cent (2009) to 22 per cent (2010), respectively.
However,
motorbike continued to be the vehicle most involved in accidents i.e. 57
per cent.
The
data specified that riders and pillion riders constituted the highest
number of road casualties i.e. 55 per cent of the total casualty data
followed by pedestrians covering 25 per cent.
Forty
per cent vehicles had rear end collision.
The
highest number of casualties was reported from the National Highway.
Mauripur
Road and the main Korangi Road were found to be the most dangerous roads
for pedestrians while Nawab Sadiq Ali Khan Road and Shahrah-i-Shershah
Suri for riders/pillion.
The
highest per kilometre casualties for vulnerable groups were reported on
Nawab Sadiq Ali Khan Road, which involved riders and pedestrians. The
highest casualties took place in Saddar Town (12 per cent) followed by
Jamshed Town (10 per cent), Liaquatabad Town (9 per cent) and Korangi
Town (7 per cent).
The
highest casualties of rider/pillion, pedestrians and drivers were
reported from Sharea Faisal whereas the highest passenger casualties
were reported from the National Highway.
The
highest fatalities were reported on the National Highway (76 were fatal
out of total 978). For minor and serious cases, the highest frequency
was reported on Sharea Faisal (48 were fatal out of 1,762) and Korangi
Road (52 were fatal out of 1,321).
On
M.A. Jinnah Road, 1,404 casualties took place as a result of accidents;
although fatalities were comparatively low i.e. 29. Similar is the case
with Nawab Sadiq Ali Khan Road where 12 fatal accidents took place out
of 828 casualties. The Superhighway had comparatively low number of
accidents resulting in injuries to 484 persons, though 48 people died.
A
comparative analysis of the facts collected over the past four years
showed that this was the first time since the launch of the centre that
a negative trend in fatal injuries in traffic accidents had been
witnessed. However, there was a 12 per cent increase in serious injuries
last year as compared to 2009.
Explaining
the reasons for this downward trend, Syed Ameer Hussain of the RTIR&PC
said that it was the result of a number of low-cost measures taken by
relevant stakeholders especially the city district government Karachi
when they were approached and informed about the dangerous spots on the
roads.
“The
district coordination officer took personal interest and came forward to
support and same was the case with other stakeholders. The measures
included putting up sign boards, reflective stickers and banners, etc,
at dangerous spots and making arrangements to reduce speed.”
The
CDGK, he said, had also taken the responsibility to build pedestrian
bridges on Mauripur Road, though the road came under the National
Highway authorities, who had been delaying the required job for the last
two years.
The
analysis of two previous years’ data also showed that there was 71 per
cent reduction in fatalities on Sharah-i-Shershah Suri and 44 per cent
reduction in fatal injuries on Chaudhry Fazal Ellahi Road.
Other
roads registering a reduction in fatalities were: Manghopir Road (44 per
cent reduction), Korangi Industrial Area (35 per cent), Rashid Minhas
Road (32 per cent).
The
roads which witnessed an increase in the number of fatal injuries were:
Hakim-Ibn-i-Sina
Road (43 per cent); main Korangi Road (36 per cent); Nishtar Road (33
per cent); M.T. Khan Road (31 per cent) and Mauripur Road (21 per cent).
According
to the 2010 data of the centre, 26,315 accidents were reported at the
five hospitals and the total injuries reported were 31,567; minor
injuries 73 per cent (23,061), serious injuries 23 per cent (7,279),
fatal injuries four per cent (1,227).Interestingly, data compiled by the
city police showed fewer casualties (1,099) and fatalities (491) in
accidents last year, though it was collected from all over
Karachi.According to the RTIR&PC, over 55 per cent cases were
brought by private means while 38 per cent by ambulances. The highest
casualty cases were recorded in September 2010 (2,982 of 31,567). Among
all the locations, the highest casualties were reported at mid-blocks
(69 per cent) and intersections (25 per cent).
The
percentage of persons wearing helmets was considerably lower than those
who were not wearing helmets. Male casualties covered a high percentage
i.e. 85 per cent.
Injury
severity with regard to age group: the highest portion of recorded
casualties belonged to the 21 to 25 demographics.
The
highest rider and passenger casualties were of the age group 21-25. For
pedestrians, the highest casualties were of 0-15 demographics.
The
highest casualties were reported during day timings covering 41 per cent
of the total data, respectively. The percentage of dusk and dark timings
remains the same i.e. 23 per cent.
The
highest casualties during dawn, daylight and dark timings were reported
on Sharea Faisal whereas for dusk timings the maximum cases were
reported on Korangi Road.
Injudicious
action on the part of driver/rider and error on the part of pedestrian
were found to be major factors leading to an accident.
The
report also highlighted many preventable factors that caused accidents
like foot/scarf/clothing entangled (718 injuries), overloaded goods or
passenger (1,334), under-construction roads (208), dilapidated road
(306) and insufficient illumination (720), deposit on the road (610) and
open manholes (102), etc.
Top
five towns with fatal road injuries were: Korangi (107), Gadap (98),
Saddar (79), Bin Qasim (75), Gulshan (70) and Keamari (69).
The
National Highway (76), Korangi Road (52), Sharea Faisal (48),
Superhighway (48) and Mauripur Road (40) were found to be the ‘fatal
roads’.
The
report identified dangerous curves and diverging crashes on
Shaheed-i-Millat Expressway, Preedy Street and called upon the CDGK to
take safety measures there. However, the CDGK had taken some safety
measures on Korangi Naddi road, Mauripur road, National Highway, KPT
Jinnah Bridge and Karachi Northern Bypass.
( By
Faiza Ilyas, Daily Dawn 5 April 2011)
Only
6pc of 2.3m vehicles for public in city
More
than 24 million passenger trips are generated daily, but of the over 2.3
million vehicles in the city only six per cent are public transport
vehicles whereas nearly 54pc of the commuters use public transport, said
sources on Saturday.
Responding to Dawn queries, Karachi Mass Transit Cell director-general
Atique Beg said there was such a scarcity of public transport in the
city that 40 passengers competed for a seat in public transport vehicles
— a situation worse than other Asian cities including next-door Mumbai
and Hong Kong, where 12 and eight passengers, respectively, vied for a
seat.
He
said a study was being carried out in view of the city’s transport
situation in 2030 and planning was being done to integrate all the three
planned transport systems – Bus Rapid Transport (BRT), Light Rail
Transit (LRT), and Karachi Circular Railway (KCR). He said that after
this phase of the study — during which over 40,000 households had been
surveyed — was completed, the next round of the year-long feasibility
study preparation would begin and its report would be available by April
2012.
He
said that while the study was still being conducted, six high-priority
corridors had been identified as: Guru Mandir to Surjani (10 kilometres:
it would benefit over 420,000 commuters); Nagan Chowrangi to Korangi
(14.5 kilometres: it would benefit 357,000 commuters); Guru Mandir to
Safura Goth (15.5 kilometres: over 268,000 commuters to benefit);
Korangi to Cantonment Station (14.5 kilometres: it would benefit 325,000
commuters); Nagan Chowrangi to Shershah (16.5 kilometres: it would
benefit 386,000 commuters); and Tower to Sohrab Goth (15.2 kilometres:
over 400,000 commuters to benefit).
He
said currently there were over 2.3 million vehicles in the city and
almost 50 per cent of them were motorcycles, while public transport
vehicles were just around six per cent and private vehicles (other than
motorcycles) were 29 per cent while para-transit vehicles — trucks,
tankers, pick-ups, donkey carts, etc — were 15 per cent.
He
said that over 54 per cent of the commuters travelled by public
transport, 21 per cent by motorcycles, 22 per cent by private vehicles,
and only three per cent travelled by para-transit vehicles.
He
said that keeping in view the above situation only an integrated mass
transit system comprising a road as well as a rail system having bus
rapid transport, light rail, and circular railways would be able to
cater to the needs of the commuters.
Mr
Beg said that with more and better public vehicles available, the people
travelling by private vehicles — cars, motorcycles, etc – would also
switch to public transport which in turn would ease the prevalent
congestion and with fewer vehicles on roads, there would be lesser
emissions and consequently lesser harm to the environment.
Meanwhile,
almost 80 per cent of work on the Karachi Transportation Improvement
Project (KTIP) study being conducted by foreign experts has been
completed and the rest would be done in the next few weeks and a report
would be presented to the authorities by June 30, sources said.
The
Rs370 million study — started in April 2010 — is being conducted by
Japanese experts and over 90 per cent — over Rs356 million — of its
total cost is being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency
as a grant-in-aid while the rest of around Rs14 million is being jointly
provided by the Sindh government and the city district government
Karachi.
(By
Bhagwandas, Dawn-13, 03/04/2011)
502
pedestrians killed in accidents last year
Insufficient
pedestrian bridges and vanishing footpaths, especially over and along
signal-free corridors, seemed as a major cause of the killings of 502
pedestrians in road accidents in the city last year.
According
to the figures compiled by the Road Traffic Injury Research and
Prevention Centre at the Jinnah Postgraduate and Medical Centre, 1,227
deaths in road accidents in the city were reported at different
hospitals last year and more than 40 per cent of the victims were
pedestrians.
Describing
the fast pace at which the footpaths along thoroughfares are being
vanished or illegally occupied by hoteliers, cabin holders and vendors
as alarming, residents said that if officials of the city district
government and town municipal administrations did not take urgent action
against the unlawful use of footpaths, the day was not far when
everywhere jaywalkers would be seen running across roads, dodging the
fast-moving traffic.
A
random survey of various thoroughfares and localities showed that
encroachment on footpaths had spread across the metropolis, giving one
an impression as if the footpaths were available for businesses and
could be grabbed by anyone who was ready to pay some rent to the city
government or the respective town municipal administration.
While
several footpaths along various busy roads and main streets have been
occupied by nearby eateries, fast food restaurants, barbecues and
ice-cream parlours with chairs and tables placed on them for serving
customers, the recent trend of setting up cabins has left pedestrians
with no space at all to walk on. In this situation, people are compelled
to walk on roads, risking their lives.
Instead
of clearing the footpaths of the encroachment, town officials in some
parts of the city in a bid to widen roads have adopted a novel idea of
reducing the width of footpaths from previously six feet to two feet
now. Such narrow footpaths are common in Saddar, Liaquatabad, Gulberg
and Gulshan-i-Iqbal.
Sources
said that the other major cause of road accidents involving pedestrians
was insufficient number of pedestrian bridges, especially over major
arteries which had been converted into signal-free corridors, and their
scant use.
(Daily
Dawn 5 April 2011)
Looming
water crisis (II)
Pakistan has drawn up a National Water Strategy to meet the millennium
development goals (MDG) target before 2025 and has launched a scheme to
provide clean drinking water for its people by the end of 2007. But the
scheme, which was launched in September 2005, shows no positive results,
due to bureaucratic internal fighting among the central ministries, the
provinces and the local bodies, and is far behind its schedule.
Karachi: Water pollution is a big problem of the people of big cities
like Karachi and Lahore that are getting more polluted water than other
parts of the country. Samples of water taken from almost all over
Karachi proves that nearly 90 percent of water was contaminated. It
contained bacterium, agrochemical and even radiological pollution.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly 60 percent of the
diseases are infectious waterborne diseases such as typhoid, polio and
Hepatitis A and B. Moreover, lack of regular access to water affects
household income due to these diseases. Water is supplied to Karachi
from the Indus River, which carries such pollution almost from its
source. The Lyari and Malir rivers are not among the main water sources
of Karachi. However, around a dozen illegal hydrants along the Lyari
River are supplying water through tankers to the water scarce areas,
which is the most contaminated.
Lahore: More than 50 percent of sewerage channels and pipelines are
overloaded and remain usually blocked due to poor maintenance.
Therefore, much of the sewerage overflows come into surface and mix up
with drinking water channels. The cities in Pakistan are producing
wastewater of about 4.43 billion cubic metres. The total wastewater
going into major rivers is about 1.782 billion cubic metres. Ravi is the
most polluted river not only in the country, but in the world, receiving
about half of all municipal and industrial waste discharged. This is
because of the Indus Basin Treaty signed with India during the Ayub era.
The smallest of the five rivers of Punjab, Ravi has become a drain
receiving not only the municipal and industrial waste generated by the
residential colonies and factories around its banks but also the
industrial and agricultural discharges from India through the Hudiara
drain. Not only the private housing schemes and industrial units in and
around Lahore, but also the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) are
discharging sewage in this river without treating it. Lahore Cantonment
Board, Lahore Cantonment Cooperative Society, Defence Housing Authority,
Model Town Society, railway residential colonies, irrigation department
residential colonies’ drains and several private housing colonies are
discharging their sewage into the Ravi River through drains or sewage
channels. The total sewage discharge of Lahore is about 1,015 cusecs of
which WASA’s share is about 716 cusecs.
Multan: According to a report, heavy lethal and slow poisonous compound
of arsenic were found in 21 union councils of Multan and a number of
schools drinking water is affecting the health of students. In Multan
the arsenic level is touching 400 PPB in fresh drinking water, which is
an alarming level and hazardous to human health. WHO has fixed 50 PPB
for developing countries like Pakistan against arsenic resistance.
Hyderabad: There are reports about finding of ‘arsenic’ and disease
causing bacterial and other contaminations in drinking water being
supplied to consumers in many parts of the country. There have been many
situations in the recent past, including a public health emergency that
occurred in Hyderabad last summer that affected hundreds of lives of the
people who consumed contaminated water.
Quetta: To resolve the water crisis, Quetta Water Supply and
Environmental Improvement Project (QWSEIP) has initiated different
schemes and the government agreed to release Rs 700 million to be used
for Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) that was to be completed
by June 2008. At present, around 20 million gallons water per day is
being supplied to Quetta, which was to be raised to 36 million gallons
per day. Under the project a 254 kilometres new water supply line were
to be laid, besides replacing a 30 kms old water supply line. The total
cost of the project was estimated at Rs 8 billion.
The main problem of water in Pakistan is the poor water efficiency on
the supply side as well as high consumption in all sectors. The shift
from a supply driven approach to a demand management approach has not
yet been realised.
Thari people consume an average of almost 16 litres a day. If all
rainwater is collected the daily water availability could reach 95
litres a day.
Although rainwater may not meet WHO’s drinking water standard
especially to bacteriological water quality, but this does not mean that
the water is harmful for drinking.
The existing water resources in the country are under threat due to
untreated discharge of municipal and industrial wastes to rivers and
other surface water bodies. The majority of the population of Pakistan
is being affected due to unsafe and polluted drinking water. Untreated
sewage effluent and agricultural run-off are usually released in streams
or drains into the rivers and sea.
This pollution includes uncontrolled discharge of municipal and
industrial wastes in water bodies, run-off from agricultural fields
where agrochemical usage has been increasing in the catchments areas.
Supply of polluted water is a risk to public health. High incidence of
water borne diseases can directly be attributed to polluted water in
lakes. Other impacts of high contamination in the water include loss of
biodiversity and ecosystems, reduction in fish population and damage to
soil and crops in the irrigated areas.
On one hand water day is being celebrated but on the other millions are
consuming polluted water in flood-hit areas of Pakistan. Sweet water is
found only in 15 percent areas close to the river or located near old
river course on the Indus’ left bank. Millions of people in most
flood-affected cities and towns of the province are forced to use
underground brackish water because flood has destroyed water supply
system. Nine cities are the worst hit areas of last year’s floods. The
government is facing a serious challenge to meet water needs of the
population of these cities where floods have washed away 77 percent of
451 water supply schemes.
Of the 451 schemes, 65 are in Dadu, 24 in Ghotki, 69 in Jacobabad, 57 in
Kashmore, eight in Qambar-Shahdadkot, 21 in Shikarpur, 20 in Larkana, 58
in Thatta and 69 are in Jamshoro.
A study carried out between December 2010 and January 2011, found that a
water supply scheme, especially in rural areas, catered to the needs of
10,000 to 20,000 people and in urban settlement it reached 50,000 to
100,000 people. The schemes, which were completed or being completed
would have to be rebuilt and the remaining could be made functional.
Scarcity of sweet water, according to experts, is called ‘confined
aquifer’ which recharges with rains and floods. Usage of water in
agriculture sector contributes only two percent to recharging aquifers.
About 85 percent of underground water in Sindh has turned brackish or
saline. In Sindh water table had dropped drastically due to excessive
use of tube wells, posed a serious threat to shallow water that may turn
brackish if it is not recharged regularly with rains or floods.
Once this sweet water became saline then it would remain saline or
brackish and referred to the area around Thatta-Sujawal bridge, where
sea water had seeped to a depth of 30 foot. The farmers will not be able
to have any vegetation when the sea water will completely affect the
land. Therefore, it is being demanded that 10MAF water should be
released downstream Kotri barrage in order to repulse sea water
intrusion and recharge aquifers.
However, now Sindh’s water table has improved after floods and it has
come up to 12 to 13 feet. Before floods, it had sunk down to 30 to 35
feet. An environmental expert believes that 60 percent of cultivable
land in Sindh had been hit by twin menace of water logging and salinity.
About 80 percent ground water in Sindh was brackish, which rendered it
unfit for human consumption and for agricultural use too. Safe drinking
water is a sub indicator of MDG that pertains to environmental
sustainability. Water issue is attaining increasing significance in
local and international relations. Whether it is inter-provincial
discord or dispute between India and Pakistan water is the core issue.
Besides, there are worrying reports that next world war will be fought
over water and there is a fear that Pakistan and India would also have
great conflicts in water sector. Therefore, they must seek solution to
issues like water between them.
Water has become politics as well as economical issue. Experts say that
due to global warming climate changes are taking place that will alter
weather patterns and would shrink the glaciers and further create water
shortage.
Moreover, the violation of Indus Water Treaty, taking away water from
the three rivers, on the part of India compelled Pakistan to fight for
its rights. The international dispute settlement agencies are not taking
interest and Pakistan has little option but to fight for its rights.
India is building about 60 projects along the rivers that violate Indus
Water Treaty. Moreover, few of these projects, envisaged or currently
under execution stage, can be an ecological disaster for the area. These
dams are likely to be built by cutting thousands of acres of forests in
occupied Kashmir, which could affect the rainfall in Pakistan.
The water dispute between the provinces of Pakistan also exists. The
violation of water accords was observed. Punjab abuses its dominance at
the time of water shortage.
The 1991 Water Accord signed under the Pakistan Muslim League government
establishes clear entitlements for each province to surface water. With
this system, Pakistan can now focus on applying similar methodology for
surface systems that do not have established entitlements, for new
mobilised water, for environmental flows, for ground water while
administering the system in a more transparent and participatory manner.
The question is how they plan to deal with the overall water shortage in
the backdrop of global warming and the Indian violation.
It is clear that water is the next blue gold. Water has become a global
issue. China, India and oil rich countries are acquiring farming lands
in African and Asian countries. Although these steps look simple
economic transactions, but can termed as land grabbing.
Similar
issues have propped up in Pakistan, especially after Saudi Arabia
started negotiating with Pakistani authorities to lease agricultural
land of about 500,000 acres in order to hedge food security in the
future. Given water shortage, it is probable that if lands are leased to
foreigners, they will be provided water on a priority basis, as a part
of the agreement, deserting local farmers and the poor people.
These are alarming developments that can add woes to water problems.
India’s recent statement that ‘there is no possibility of war
between Indian and Pakistan on water’ may not be a reality. Therefore,
Pakistan should better be prepared for it.
South Asia Pakistan is continuously protesting crying foul over India’s
construction of dams, which have drastically reduced flows downstream.
This clear violation of the UN-brokered Indus Water Treaty has dealt a
severe blow to a largely agrarian country – Pakistan - where over 60
percent of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on
agriculture and its subsidiary industries. And then there is the
history of conflict between the two countries, making water a
potentially explosive issue in the years to come. Pakistan, India and
other South Asian countries that depend on Himalayan waters must begin
discussions on joint watershed management.
It may be mentioned here that Pakistan is included in the list of those
countries where innumerable resources of soft and pure drinking water
are found but water supply schemes in cities and towns are in a very bad
condition. Most of the pipelines pass through heaps of garbage lying in
streets. Thus, sewerage water gets mixed with clean water of the
pipelines, causing deadly and fatal diseases.
Pakistan’s current problems are the growing pollution of watercourses
and aquifers. The effects of acute water scarcity are already visible
across the country, therefore, comprehensive effort is required to meet
the challenges that are looming ahead.
The Report of Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan suggested that in
order to prevent water borne infectious diseases, people should take
adequate precautions. The water supply to cities should be properly
checked and necessary steps should be taken to purify it. Water pipes
should be regularly checked for leaks and cracks and should immediately
be repaired. At home level, the water should be boiled, filtered or
other necessary steps should be taken to ensure that drinking water is
free off bacteria.
(By
Ismat Sabir, DailyTimes-B1, 01/04/2011)
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