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Relentless rains kill 23 in Sindh, Balochistan

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  • Flow of traffic remains suspended on interprovincial highways; power supply and mobile networks cut off 
  • PMD forecasts more heavy rains in Sindh and Balochistan over next 48 hours.
  • PM Shehbaz directs NDMA and PDMA to pace up relief operations in affected areas at the earliest.

The incessant torrential rains pounding Sindh with flash flooding in Dera Ghazi Khan, Balochistan’s Lasbela and adjoining areas killed another 23 and left scores of people injured and hundreds displaced on Thursday, while traffic remained suspended across interprovincial highways, The News reported.

The heavy rains in most parts of Sindh, including Thatta, Dadu, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Larkana, and Hyderabad paralysed communication systems, prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to direct the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to expedite relief and rehabilitation activities in the flood-affected areas of southern Sindh.

In a provincial breakup of the rising death toll, as many as 14 people died as a result of rain-related accidents in Khairpur and Qambher, six persons including four children died in different parts of DG Khan and three died as a result of flash-flooding in Balochistan’s Lasbela district and adjoining areas.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people were left stranded without tents under the open sky by the torrential rains following the large-scale destruction of their mud houses while the incessant heavy rains paralysed Thatta, Dadu, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Larkana, Hyderabad and other.

The constant downpour prevented the respective city administrations to resume their relief and rehabilitation service. Fuel shortages were also reported hampering the drainage of stranded rainwater as many villagers remained marooned in the water and needed rescue. The failure to drain water from the marooned villages has raised the spectre of infections and diseases.

Exceptionally strong flash flooding in Koh-e-Suleman range displaced 0.7 million population of DG Khan, besides killing six people. As many as thousands of families were stranded after 200 small, large villages were badly hit in the rain. The flash flooding also suspended traffic between Dera Ghazi Khan and Quetta, Balochistan and Punjab and also between Peshawar and Karachi on the Indus Highway

The power supply and cell phone networks remain suspended in flood-hit areas. In a related development, heavy rains caused flash flooding in the Lasbela district and adjoining areas. With three more deaths in, the death toll in Balochistan rose to 205, while 81 suffered injuries according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). The situation in other districts has not improved yet as Musakhail, Zhob, Pishin, Qila Saifullah, Qila Abdullah, Nasirabad and Lasbela were still receiving torrential rains for the past two days.

According to officials, hundreds of mud houses were damaged in Qila Saifullah, Muslim Bagh, Musakhail, Kohlu, Dera Bugti and other areas due to incessant rains. A total of 18 bridges and 690 km of roads have been damaged amid the rains. PDMA and rescue authorities are carrying out operations in flood-affected areas. Traffic on Quetta-Karachi National Highway remained suspended even after five days as flood water is still flowing over the highway.

The Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) has forecast more heavy rains in Sindh and Balochistan in the next 48 hours with urban flooding and flash flooding across hill torrents in KP, South Punjab and Balochistan.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to carry out relief and rehabilitation activities in the flood-affected areas of southern Sindh.

Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life and property caused by the monsoon rains, the prime minister directed the NDMA and PDMA to pace up relief operations in the affected areas at the earliest. The PM stressed ensuring the rescue of the people on a priority basis and instructed them to provide financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to each family.

He emphasised an immediate supply of food and clean water to the victims besides ensuring them facilities of accommodation and medicines. The prime minister also instructed the authorities to be vigilant in the wake of potential flooding besides taking necessary measures.

According to Inter-services Public Relations, the Pakistan Army troops remained busy in relief activities in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Naseerabad and Lasbela. The army medical teams were providing medical care to the affected people.

Meanwhile, the United States announced a $1 million grant in support of Pakistan’s efforts to address floods and other natural disasters that have caused heavy loss of life and property across the country.

In a tweet, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “We stand by Pakistan in hard times and offer our support to flood victims. In addition to $100,000 in immediate relief, the US announced $1 million to build resilience against natural disasters, and we continue to work together to mitigate future impacts of the climate crisis.

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Business

Minister of Finance Reaffirms Unwavering Support for APM Terminals Group in Effort to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation

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Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan’s Minister of Finance, has promised the APM Terminals Group his full support in creating an environment that is both business-friendly and conducive to investment.

In Islamabad, he met with a group of APM terminals who had come to hear him speak. Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals, was in charge of the group.

Muhammad Aurangzeb, a senator from Pakistan, expressed his approval of APM Terminals’ investment plans.

Following last month’s signing of a memorandum of agreement to strengthen bilateral cooperation, the meeting’s emphasis was on the actions taken to date.

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Meeting with Ch. Shujat, Mohsin Naqvi promises to eradicate Pakistan’s terrorism problem.

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Mohsin Naqvi, the federal interior minister, visited Quaid-E-Azam Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League, at his home in Islamabad.

Mohsin Naqvi and Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain condolenced with the martyrs’ families and denounced the Quetta explosion.

The government’s unwavering commitment to eradicate terrorism from Pakistan at all costs was reaffirmed by Moshin Naqvi. The government supports the martyrs’ families, he said.

In honor of the martyrs of the Quetta blast, he declared that new buildings will be named in Islamabad.

Mohsin Naqvi was also congratulated by Shujaat Hussain on Pakistan’s victory against Australia in the ODI series.

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The Hajj Policy 2025 is formally announced by the federal government.

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The official announcement, which included important revisions from the Hajj Policy 2025, was reportedly given by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain.

The government and private programs will split the Hajj quota evenly, with each receiving 50%, according to Hajj Policy 2025. Furthermore, it is policy that minors under the age of twelve will not be permitted to perform the Hajj this year.

The Hajj Policy 2025 further states that if a pilgrim dies, their family will be reimbursed with Rs 2 million, and similarly, pilgrims who are hurt will also receive compensation.

The new installment-based Hajj fee payment scheme was adopted by the Hajj Policy 2025, giving first-time pilgrims preference. However, people with severe or communicable diseases will not be permitted to attend this year.

In introducing the proposal, Chaudhry Salik stressed that measures will be taken to avoid lowering the limit. General pilgrims will receive any quota that is left over from the sponsored program. Additionally, there is a specific quota of 5,000 for Pakistanis living abroad.

In accordance with the guideline, the cost of the Hajj will stay between Rs1.075 million and Rs1.175 million, and pilgrims will shortly receive their Rs100,000 back.

Three installments are available for the Hajj fee under the Hajj Policy 2025: Rs. 250,000 at the time of application, Rs. 480,000 following the lottery, and the remaining amount prior to Hajj departure.

He said that if money is taken out prior to the application deadline, there will be no deductions made in terms of returns. After the lottery, however, if the first installment is reimbursed, Rs50,000 will be deducted; if the third installment is not paid, Rs200,000 will be deducted.

If a pilgrim decides not to go after February 10th, the remaining payment will not be reimbursed; however, the deductions listed above will not be applicable if the applicant dies.

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