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SEPTEMBER
2009
ISSUES:
Assessing
walkability in Karachi
Walkability
refers to 'the safety, security, economy, and convenience of traveling
by foot'.
The extent to which pedestrian infrastructure allows people to walk with
ease and safety determines quality of the pedestrian environment and the
overall transportation network. Beset as we are with myriad problems
including those of an existential nature, it might appear a luxury to be
concerned with pedestrian infrastructure.
To put the matter in perspective: almost 21 per cent of Karachi's
population walks as part of their livelihood, social and recreational
activities. Nearly 66 per cent of the commuters use different modes of
public transport, a majority walk some or large part of their daily
commute - nearly all trips made by people entail some walking, either
directly to a destination or to another mode of transport.
The pedestrian infrastructure in Karachi is, putting it mildly, highly
inadequate. Pedestrian convenience and safety are often a blind spot or
a low priority for authorities, and recent investments by the City
District Government Karachi (CDGK) bear this out.
To accommodate the ever-increasing number of vehicles in Karachi,
authorities embarked on upgrading and expanding road infrastructure as a
way of dealing with growing traffic congestion – in itself a failed
strategy, but more on this another time. These investments have mostly
ignored the importance of road user education – often the primary
cause of chaos on our roads -- and basic pedestrian mobility and safety
features.
Recent road building and widening projects have reduced the width or
simply removed footpaths in a number of places. In other instances,
flyovers, bridges and underpasses have created new pedestrian
accessibility and safety issues. Signal-free corridors have eliminated
at-grade crossings, making it difficult and dangerous for people,
especially women and children, to cross.
Generally, road crossings are badly designed and often not marked,
meaning vehicles rarely ever give right of way to pedestrians (note: a
very high number of pedestrian casualties occur while attempting to
cross roads). Footpaths do not follow a standardised design and are for
the most part decrepit, poorly maintained, encroached upon by cars,
vendors, shop keepers, poles, transformers, telephone boxes, postal
boxes, signage and the like. All of this makes for a chaotic and
unpleasant walking experience for millions of people every day.
People walking on city roads in developing countries are much more at
risk of injury or death than they are in developed countries –
according to one study, between 86 and 172 per cent greater risk. In
Karachi, road accidents kill and maim thousands of people each year and
the numbers are growing.
Figures compiled by the Road Traffic Injury Prevention and Research
Centre at JPMC show that during 2008, there were 32,497 injuries
resulting from road accidents in Karachi. Of the total number injured,
60 per cent were those riding on bicycles and motorcycles and 22 per
cent were pedestrians. However, of the total fatalities (1,185) 37 per
cent were bicycle/motorcycle riders, and pedestrians 39 per cent.
The comparison of data on pedestrian injuries and fatalities between
2007 and 2008 shows an increase of 21 per cent (from 1,355 to 1,628) and
50 per cent (from 304 to 457) in the number who were seriously injured
or died as a result of road accidents. Pedestrians suffered the second
highest number of injuries (both minor and serious), but had the highest
rate of fatalities.
During the first quarter of 2009 alone, over 145 pedestrians lost their
lives in road accidents. This is nearly half the number of all deaths in
road accidents for the period. The first quarter figures show a 40 per
cent increase in the death of pedestrians over the corresponding period
in 2008.
Beyond death and injury, an unsafe and inconvenient pedestrian
environment impedes social and economic mobility of poor people. Walking
everyday in a chaotic road environment like that of Karachi can be both
unpleasant and unsafe. Moreover, it reduces the time and energy that
people could otherwise devote to work, family and other productive
activities. The absence of an enabling pedestrian environment also
reflects poorly on the dignity and respect accorded to citizens by the
state, and on how outsiders (potential investors) view the city.
The former mayor of Bogotá, Enrique Penalosa, argues that inadequate
and poorly maintained road and cycling infrastructure is a sign of a
lack of democracy in a society: "it says that those who walk or
cycle are not equal citizens to those who ride in cars". He
believes that the "importance of pedestrian public spaces cannot be
measured, but most other important things in life cannot be measured
either: Friendship, beauty, love and loyalty are examples. Parks and
other pedestrian places are essential to a city's happiness." In
congested, low-income housing settlements in Karachi, footpaths and
surrounding land serve as places for social interaction. Developing and
expanding these spaces, besides giving immediate benefit to poor
communities, would give citizens a sense of pride and ownership in the
city.
In July 2009, this author along with architecture students from Indus
Valley School, Karachi and National College of Arts, Lahore voluntarily
undertook a survey of 'walkability' in Karachi. The survey was conducted
using the Global Walkability Index (GWI), a standardised field survey
tool, developed by the World Bank, designed to evaluate the quality of
pedestrian environment in a city. The Index looks at safety and
security, and convenience of traveling by foot.
The object of the survey was: (a) generate awareness of walkability as
an important issue for millions of citizens; and (b) mobilise
stakeholders to work with authorities concerned to improve planning for
and increase investments in pedestrian infrastructure and related road
users education
The survey was carried out in four commercial/residential sites,
Clifton, Tariq Road, Gurumandar and NIPA. Each of the areas measured
250,000 square metres and covered 36 main roads with a combined length
of 20.58 kilometres. The survey was conducted during the early part of
evening peak hours of traffic. The main findings of the survey
were:
* In terms of city wise comparison, the walkability index of Karachi is
50, which is much lower than 121 for Bangkok.
* Tariq Road has a high walkability index as it has a high number of
pedestrians and the quality of infrastructure is better than in the
other three areas. Tariq Road also has the highest numbers of pedestrian
users. Still, the walkability index of Tariq Road is lower than that of
Bangkok.
* The width and quality (that is., measured in terms of temporary and
permanent obstacles) of sidewalks and its access for disabled people is
the biggest barrier in improving walkability. The second biggest concern
is the availability of number of crossings. The survey shows that road
crossings are few and, where available, are not properly marked and/or
considered safe.
* NIPA has the lowest infrastructure rating among all locations.
However, it gets the highest priority, as the walkability index is the
lowest and pedestrian demand high.
* Gurumandir and Clifton have a varied index. When both supply and
infrastructure is considered, Clifton has better results than Gurumandir
but when only infrastructure is considered Gurumandir has better ratings
than Clifton.
* There was no observed consistency in design (width, height,
continuity) of footpaths or road-crossings.
Civil society organisations and concerned university departments in
Karachi have been invited to take this initiative forward.
(By
Arif Pervaiz, The News, 17/09/2009)
Suicides
on the rise in Pakistan
According to a study conducted by the Aga Khan University (AKU), the
number of suicides is steadily rising in Pakistan, with an estimated
6,000 to 8,000 incidents per year.
Almost 34 per cent of the population, mostly under 30 years of age,
suffers from common mental disorders and more than 90 per cent of
suicides can be linked to depression, according to Dr Murad Moosa Khan,
Chairperson of the AKU Department of Psychiatry. In order to raise
awareness, World Suicide Prevention Day is commemorated on September 10
every year by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP),
in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
“More
than a million people worldwide commit suicide each year. This is
greater than the number of people killed in wars, terrorist activities
and homicides,” said IASP President Prof. Brian Mishara. Over six
million people are affected each year by the disastrous impact of the
suicide of a close friend or family member.
The WHO estimates that globally there is one suicide every two minutes.
In Muslim countries, where suicide rates are generally low, Pakistan
stands out as an anomaly. A growing socio-economic crisis, civil unrest
and other social burdens have worsened the situation.
The inability of the government to resolve these issues increases
frustration, which converts to depression. “One of the factors in
suicide is hopelessness. The more depressed you are the more hopeless
you feel,” said Dr Khan.
Suicide attempts that do not succeed have a psychological, social and
economic cost.
Suicide results from several factors, including mental illness, poverty,
substance abuse, social isolation, losses, relationship difficulties and
workplace problems. To be effective, suicide prevention needs an
approach that acknowledges the multiple causes of suicidal behaviour.
Dr Khan says that an immediate mental health intervention is needed in
Pakistan. “For this, we need to reduce access to commonly-used methods
of suicide, which in Pakistan include pesticides or poisons,” he said.
Training of female health workers to identify and report potential
suicide cases as a pre-emptive measure is necessary in this regard.
He further said that spreading education and awareness in communities
and giving support to people who have attempted suicides should be a
priority. “The media can play an extensive and very important role in
helping us spread this awareness,” he said.
To understand the scope of the problem in Pakistan and to discuss the
socio-economic, legal and other aspects of suicide, the Suicide
Prevention and Research Interest Group (SPRInG) at the AKU is organising
a seminar and workshop titled “Suicide: Hidden Realities in Pakistan”,
to be held at the AKU Auditorium on Wednesday September 30, 2009.
(The
News, 11/09/2009)
Skyscrapers
plan: KBCA moves to hire foreign consultants
Several companies from across the world have lodged their bids to
provide their services as consultants to the Karachi Building Control
Authority regarding a plan for the city’s development of
skyscrapers. A new High Density Zone Board has also been
established.
In all, 17 companies from the US, Singapore, Germany, France and other
countries applied for the consultancy position in response to
international tenders. They have been short-listed and one of them is
now to be picked on merit for the purpose by a committee of
architects.
The Chief Controller of Buildings, Manzoor Kadir, told APP that
President Asif Ali Zardari had opined that since Karachi is one of the
worlds largest cities, its skyline needs to be developed. He said that
this requires adequate planning.
In this regard, the President cited the examples of Dubai, Hong Kong and
Bangkok, and pointed out that these countries had deserts and barren
lands where they developed the required infrastructure. He added that
their example should be followed by Karachi’s authorities.
Manzoor Kadir said that the KBCA was specially directed to prepare the
required rules and regulations and to provide such facilities whereby
people were induced to invest in Karachi rather than abroad.
‘Initial plan rejected’
He said that in the light of the President’s directive, an exercise
was started in April 2008 and an outline for Karachi’s ‘vertical
development’ was prepared in consultation with all stakeholders,
including senior engineers, architects and citizens.
The CCOB pointed out that in Karachi 23 roads have been declared to be
commercial and skyscrapers could be allowed at the National Highway and
Superhighway, Northern and Southern Bypasses and major arteries around
Hawkesbay. He said that the basic condition laid for such
structures had been that the plot should be a minimum of 500 sq. yards
in size and the developer would be responsible for providing
electricity, water and sewerage systems. He said that once this
outline was chalked out, all the senior architects of Karachi, over 150
in number, were invited for a final debate. The CCOB said that they
rejected outright the KBCA’s proposal on the grounds that all of
Karachi cannot be declared to be a ‘high-rise density zone’ at the
same time, and that it would not be possible to lay the infrastructure
for this.
According
to him, the Sindh government was consulted and with its permission a
committee of architects was formed, which provided its recommendations
in six months. The committee recommended that vertical development
should take place in Karachi in order for a skyline to be developed, but
the entire city cannot be opened up for the purpose. The committee,
he said, proposed two zones: one around I.I. Chundrigar Road and the
other around Sharea Faisal.
They recommended that an international urban consultant be hired to
design the entire area and that only after the high density zone had
been planned should it be opened.
(Daily
Dawn, 31/08/2009)
Side-effect Gutter
Bageecha
The visit to Fida Khalidi's home near Gutter Bagheecha was my first
introduction to this humble but cosmopolitan neighbourhood of Karachi
around 30 years ago. The area which has 18 old settlements going back to
the 19th century and a few colonies established after 1947 is a part
what is now called SITE Town. I was in school then and often accompanied
my aunt who would occasionally visit her ustaad (mentor), Khalidi sahib
and, once in a while, take things such as galavat ke kebabs, shab-deg,
qorma or Kashmiri chai for him and his family.
Khalidi sahib mentored a large number of novice poets, speaking
different languages and dialects of Urdu. They would get their ghazals
corrected by him and spend hours listening to his literary ramblings. He
was a poet of considerable merit belonging to the Dehlavi School of
Ghazal. My aunt stressed on her Lucknavi style but eventually, her
ustaad would prevail.
The afternoon I visited Khalidi sahib was like all other Friday
afternoons, a busy one for him. Some poets, fond of listening to poetry,
were engaged in rigorously debating the pitfalls and advantages of Urdu
prosody. One of his sons, who I fondly called Nazar Bhai, was
sympathetic towards the young boy sitting idle and getting bored in the
midst of an incomprehensible debate. He came up to us and asked my aunt
to let me go with him to the Gutter Bagheecha. Nazar Bhai made me sit on
the carrier of his bicycle and within 10 minutes, we entered the lush
green park with palms and guava trees, enjoying ourselves thoroughly.
Those are my first memories of that beautiful park, which served as
lungs for the neighbourhood surrounded by bustling industrial activity.
The industrial district, SITE, lies on the east of the park. Marble for
construction is processed and sold in the vicinity, besides some old
establishments of the traders here.
Some citizens have recently complained that the City District Government
Karachi (CDGK) has changed the status of at least 26 parks and
playgrounds in middle, lower-middle and working-class neighbourhoods of
the city. On one hand, a large tract of land by the sea is converted
into a modern park in the heart of a rich neighbourhood and, on the
other, the not-so-privileged residents of the metropolis are being
denied their right to public spaces and amenity plots. The residents
around Gutter Bagheecha, predominantly Sindhi and Baloch who have a
claim over the city for two centuries at least -- have been foiling
attempts to occupy of the park by the omnipotent city managers, after
its illegally changed status, for the last 17 years.
A rightfully agitated Nisar Baloch is among those running the campaign
for the restoration of the park and the amenity status for 480 acres of
open land. He is equally critical of both the MQM and the Pakistan
People's Party (PPP), one for its coercion and the other for its
tardiness. He said that when the people of settlements near the park
staged a peaceful protest on August 26, they were attacked by members of
the law-enforcing agencies. Six women and four young men were injured,
one of them in a critical condition, while two protesters were
arrested.
Sadly, the media has, so far, not been unable to cover the story
properly and for those who think that overlooking the matter will make
it go away, here's some food for thought -- the politics of
intimidation, profiteering, patronage and prejudice can hold us together
only for so long.
(By
Harris Khalique, The News, 28/08/2009)
About
1,200 coastal villages lack basic health facilities
A
big majority of the city’s coastal area population is suffering from
multiple diseases, mainly respiratory and skin problems, owing to
unhygienic conditions that prevail along the coastal belt and a lack of
basic medical facilities.
A recent survey of these areas shows that the affected people, mostly
fishermen, who complained of respiratory and skin problems as common
diseases, are the residents of those villages where basic healthcare
facilities are not available.
The survey also shows that the maternal mortality and morbidity rate is
also high among fishermen family and deaths from preventable diseases
are common.
The healthcare issues and deaths, more painfully, go unnoticed and
unreported, mainly due to successive governments’ apathy towards the
plight of the poor lot.
There are as many as 1,200 villages along the coastal belt stretching
from Mubarak Village in the Keamari Town up to Lath Basti in the Bin
Qasim Town. Each village, comprising small huts, has a population of
around 2,000 to 5,000.
Although nearly all of these are decades-old villages, the authorities
concerned are yet to come up with a comprehensive plan that could
provide the fishermen population with proper health and education
facilities or even ensure electrification of the villages.
Many of the villagers interviewed said that a good number of expecting
mothers die before reaching a hospital as they had to be taken to a
healthcare facility located far away from their villages.
They pointed out that more deaths occurred from viral and other such
diseases round the year and if the authorities concerned continued to
ignore the villagers’ healthcare requirement, the mortality rate would
continue to go up.
It is observed that the deaths from viral diseases occur mostly after
heavy rainfall and with the metropolis registering a upward graph of
rainfall for the past few years, there has been growing concern among
the coastal area population regarding the toll.
Inadequate transport facilities between the fishermen villages and the
urban areas of the city is also seen a major factor behind the avoidable
deaths. Most villagers cannot afford the travel expenses involved in
taking their ailing family members to a major hospital, as all such
healthcare facilities are located far away from their villages.
“Since we are among the groups falling in the category of lowest
income groups, we cannot avail the expensive treatment available at
major healthcare facilities,” they lamented, adding that “we cannot
also benefit from the education facilities available in the urban areas.”
There are three dispensaries meant for the residents of Hussaini Goth,
Mubarak Village and Deh Allah Bano but all of them have been lying
closed for years.
The Mubarak Village dispensary was established about 10 years ago but
the provincial health department could not appoint a doctor or paramedic
for the facility till date.
The villagers, therefore, have to take a patient to the nearest hospital
that is located in Mauripur area, some 30 kilometres away from Mubarak
Village.
(By
Latif Baloch, Daily Dawn, 27/08/2009)
Commercial
bore wells damaging country’s water table
Residents of Jehangirabad have been installing commercial bore wells in
their houses, in order to supplement their incomes and water supply, The
News has learnt.
In order to meet the water needs of nearby factories, the land and
tanker mafia has established a wide network of pipe and bore wells
adjacent to the site in Jehangirabad, a poor locality in Liaquatabad
Town. With the help of these residential bore wells, industrialists can
avail water without paying colossal bills to the government. This
network of pipes has, however, been impeding the flow of sewage and
rainwater, especially during the rains, whilst also playing havoc with
the country’s water table.
About 40 to 50 residents of Jehangirabad have bore wells at their
houses, while in return, house owners receive around Rs12,000 per month,
including Rs5,000 for the well and Rs7,000 for operation charges.
An agreement is signed between an owner of the house and representatives
assigned by the mafia, whereby the accord lasts for two years if water
continues, but if water discontinues, then the agreement will
immediately expire according to the conditions mentioned on the papers
signed by both parties. Along with the commercial wells, three phase
connections and standby generators are also provided to home owners in
some cases.
Meanwhile, mafia representatives instruct the owners when to switch on
the machines as per requirements. In order to meet the industrial
requirements of the area, these representatives drill much deeper than
the regular house wells of 30 to 40 feet. In fact, they usually bore
hundreds of feet into the earth’s surface. According to a geological
study, an excess of water pumped from the wells could damage the country’s
water table. Meanwhile, the pipes that are usually laid underground are
situated above the ground in some cases. For instance, the pipes behind
the Bismillah Hotel in Jehangirabad have been installed above the Lyari
Nullah. The pipes passing over the sewerage drain have also been
impeding the flow of the drain during the monsoons.
While rains this July claimed around 50 lives, and over 100 were
reportedly injured in the city, the area witnessed scenes of massive
flooding and the residents suffered huge losses when rainwater was
unable to stream into the drain due to these pipes. Shopkeepers and
residents of the area say they have lodged thousands of complaints with
the authority concerned, but their objections were of little avail.
(By
Gohar Ali Khan, The News, 11/09/2009)
Falling
tanker service income baffles KWSB officials
A
sharp decline in the water board’s income from its tanker service has
dealt a blow to the already financially-strapped utility. To the
utter surprise of many, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board income
through its tanker service has dwindled to between Rs11 million and Rs12
million while it was Rs30 million when the affairs of the KWSB hydrants
were being managed by the Rangers.
The city tanker service which remained under the control of the Rangers
for over a decade during which all 11 hydrants belonging to the KWSB
were manned by the law-enforcement agency personnel was finally handed
over to the water utility about one and a half years ago.
Shortly after taking over the control of hydrants, the KWSB bosses with
a view to making hydrants town-specific gave the control of hydrants to
18 town municipal administrations of the city.
The purpose of this handover of KWSB hydrants to TMAs was to ensure that
tankers drawing water from a town hydrant must supply the water to the
same town so that frequent movement of tankers from one town to another
could be stopped and destruction of roads because of leaking nozzles of
tankers could be avoided. It was thought that this would also
minimise accidents involving tankers. For that purpose new by-laws
were framed requiring owners of tankers to have their vehicles
registered with one town administration and different colours were
allotted to tankers of different towns. Moreover, the TMAs were required
to collect filling charges from registered contractors and deposit the
same in the coffers of the KWSB after deducting service charges. As
soon as the decision of making the KWSB hydrants town-specific came to
its implementation stage, the number of KWSB hydrants was also increased
from 11 to 18 so that each town could have one hydrant each in its
jurisdiction.
But contrary to the expectations, neither tankers confined their
movement to their towns, nor were the filling charges that town
administrations collected were deposited in the KWSB accounts by most
TMAs.Worried over the situation, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, who is
also the chairman of the KWSB, gave the task of managing the affairs of
hydrants back to the KWSB about six months ago.
However, it is shocking to note that the KWSB management, after
regaining control of its hydrants, is earning only between Rs11 million
and Rs12 million a month against the Rs1 million per day — Rs30m each
month — which the Rangers used to generate when hydrants were under
their control.
Describing the situation as mind-boggling, officials in the KWSB said
that it was beyond their comprehension how the Rangers used to earn
Rs30m a month, under the head of filling charges when only 11 hydrants
were at their disposal and the filling charges were Rs73 per 1,000
gallons and why KWSB officials were generating Rs11 million and Rs12
million a month under the same head when it was operating 18 hydrants
and the filling charges had also been increased from Rs73 to Rs110 per
1,000 gallons.
Sources also pointed out that when the tanker service was being run by
the Rangers, a certain percentage of tankers used to be provided gratis
but with the takeover the tanker service back, the KWSB management had
stopped supplying tanker water gratis.
(By
Azizullah Sharif, Daily Dawn, 09/09/2009)
Karachi
yet to warm up to parking plaza culture
The
country’s first parking plaza has reportedly received a lukewarm
response from people. Nearly two months after it started operation, the
new parking plaza built by the City District Government Karachi (CDGK),
has only 80 permanent parkers and receives an additional 50 customers
daily.
Meanwhile, officials concerned have made several roads in the area
no-parking zones, triggering anxiety among parts of the public because
the plaza cannot accommodate the increased parking pressure during
Ramazan. Residents of nearby areas have also been asked to not park
their vehicles on the roads, and to use the plaza instead.
Orders to make Saddar parking-free were initially signed on August 8 for
a period of seven days by City Naim Mustafa Kamal. The matter was
subsequently referred to the home ministry to issue permanent orders.
Currently, efforts to make Saddar parking-free stand suspended, but it
is expected that orders from the home ministry will come through any
day. The general manager of the parking plaza has blamed the lack of
cooperation from the police for the ineffective implementation of the
ban.
With Ramazan already here, however, Saddar will face an extremely high
number of shoppers, many of who will need parking places for their
vehicles.
A total of nine sections of Saddar, near the CDGK parking plaza, had
been stipulated as no-parking zones between 10 am and 10 pm. These areas
include Preedy Street, Shahrah-e-Iraq, Mansfield Street, a section from
Sarwar Shaheed Road to Price Street (the road leading to the Saddar Dawa
Khana after turning off M.A Jinnah road from Sea Breeze Hospital).
The banned areas cover the busy centres of Rainbow Centre, Empress
Market, Capital Cloth market, Regal square, GPO, Paradise Hotel,
Zaibunissa Street, Zainab Market, Bohri Bazaar, and Tibet Centre. These
places witness a swell in traffic during the day and in the evening as
they cater to offices, stores and markets of almost every item. During
Ramazan, people from all over Karachi throng this part of the city for
Eid shopping. No less than 5,000 vehicles seek parking in this area
during the peak Eid rush. The parking plaza has accommodation for 700
four-wheelers and 500 two-wheelers in two basements and five storeys. An
additional open air roof parking is also available. This, however, is
reserved for offices on the sixth and seventh floor of the plaza.
The Parking Plaza is managed by a Houston-based parking management
company, Warsi Allied Parking System USA. Its representative and general
manager of the plaza, Khawaja Shahrukh Alam, told The News that some
Christian residents from nearby areas were satisfied with the security
arrangements within the parking centre, which has more than 100 cameras
which scan every vehicle that enters the plaza. He said that according
to the feedback that he had received, people actually felt safer parking
their vehicles in the centre rather than in the street.
The CDGK has stipulated a fee of Rs1,000 per month for a four-wheel
vehicle and Rs600 for a two-wheeler. The fee for other customers has
been kept at Rs20 for two hours for four-wheelers and Rs10 for eight
hours for two-wheelers. The rates are due to be imminently revised to
Rs30 for two hours for four-wheelers. A fee of Rs5 will be charged for
every subsequent hour of parking.
The police, however, seems to be unkind towards the cause of the CDGK as
they continue to allow the “parking mafia” to rule the streets. Many
sectors in the areas due to be made no-parking zones have small groups
of people who charge around Rs30 from each vehicle to clean, park and
protect it. Alam alleged that the traffic and regular police are not
keen on having these parkers removed because they get monetary benefits.
CDGK EDO Transport and Communication S. Hyder Ali, on the other hand,
has cited the recent friction between the Community Wardens and pushcart
vendors in Saddar as a major obstacle to the plan.
(By
Gibran Ashraf, The News, 31/08/2009)
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