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Ruthless monsoon rain spell claims four lives, floods Karachi

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  • Four people killed and many others injured in Karachi on Sunday due to heavy rain.
  • Rain floods residential and commercial areas.
  • Properties were damaged and the power and telecommunication system was disrupted in many areas.

Four people were killed and many others injured in Karachi on Sunday when the second spell of torrential monsoon rains wreaked havoc in the port city, flooding residential and commercial areas, killing and injuring people, damaging properties and disrupting the power and telecommunication system.

A teenage boy, identified as Zia, was electrocuted in the Liaquatabad area. He was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The family said he received an electric shock from a service mast.

A man, who is yet to be identified, died of electrocution in Surjani Town. Police said the deceased received an electric shock from the snapped electricity wires. His body was taken to the who is yet to be identified, died of electrocution. Police said the deceased received an electric shock from the snapped electricity wires. His body was taken to the morgue after completion of medico legal formalities at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

A 40-year-old man, identified as Shan Hussain, was electrocuted near the Memon Masjid in the limits of Kharadar police station. His body was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center.

Meanwhile, a couple and their two kids were injured as the roof of their house collapsed in Korangi.

A couple and their two minor children were wounded after a wall of their house collapsed on them in Baldia Town within the limits of Saeedabad police station.

Police and rescuers reached the property took the family to the Civil Hospital, Karachi. They were later identified as 35-year-old Nadeem, his wife Pathani, two year-old-son Krishna and daughter Samina, 5.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Sunday released the rainfall data of Karachi since the morning. According to the data, Quaidabad received the heaviest rainfall, measuring 86.5mm.

After Quaidabad, the areas of the port city of Saddar and Gulshan-e-Hadeed each got 62mm of rain.

On the other hand, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Base Masroor and Keamari recorded 54mm of rainfall, while Orangi Town recorded 49.5mm.

According to the Met Office, the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) recorded 44.3mm, North Karachi 39mm, Korangi 36.4mm, Nazimabad 36mm, PAF Faisal Base 35.5mm, Saadi Town 33.7mm, Gadap 29.2mm, Gulshan Mimar 28.4mm, Old Airport 27mm, and Jinnah Terminal 26.4mm of rain.

“Intermittent showers are expected to continue till 12pm tomorrow,” forecast the PDM. It said the current spell of monsoon rain was likely to continue for the next three days. The weather department warned that the heavy rainfall may cause flooding and waterlogging in the city’s low-lying areas.

Monsoon spell likely to weaken later today

The strong monsoon spell is likely to weaken later today after battering the metropolis, top meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz told Geo News.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) official said that the current spell will continue till July 26, however, he added that as per available data, the weather system will likely decapitate.

Ruthless monsoon rain spell claims four lives, floods Karachi

According to the PMD data, the highest rainfall was recorded at PAF Masroor Base where 201mm of rain was reported till 5am Monday.

Public holiday in Karachi, Hyderabad

In view of flooding, the Sindh government announced a public holiday in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions on Monday (today).

Taking to Twitter, Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab wrote that apart from Karachi, there will be a public holiday in Hyderabad too because of the rain.

“Due to heavy rainfall which is expected to continue even tomorrow, the Sindh government has decided to declare Monday, the 25th of July, as a public holiday in Karachi and Hyderabad Divisions,” tweeted Wahab.

Heavy torrential rains triggered flash floods in the low-lying areas in Dera Ismail Khan city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Though the rain turned the weather pleasant, the rainwater inundated streets and bazaars in the city, causing inconvenience to the people and disrupting the flow of traffic. Some vehicles broke down in the rain and the people were seen pushing them.

The flash floods also disrupted the electricity supply in some places.

Several villages were flooded in Purwa tehsil after a drain started overflowing due to heavy rains. The floodwater accumulated inside homes and caused damage to them.

It was said that the heavy flooding, which also destroyed standing crops, caused damage to several mud-thatched homes.

People in the area have asked the government to help them and give them money for their losses.

On Friday, the heavy rains caused flash floods in the low-lying areas in Kiri Khaisore Union Council and its surrounding places, causing damage to several houses and standing crops.

Local people said it had been raining in Dera Ismail Khan for the last week, which had turned the weather pleasant, but caused flooding in Kiri Khaisore Union Council and its nearby localities.

Several houses were damaged by the floodwater, and standing crops and orchards were destroyed. The farmers lost a lot of money because of this.

The people have asked the government to declare Dera Ismail Khan as calamity-hit and provide compensation to the victims. They said the low-lying areas were flooded due to a poor drainage system. They asked the government to relocate them to safe places and provide them with relief goods.

Standing crops in the far-off Kandia tehsil of Upper Kohistan were also destroyed by flash floods.

“Continuous rains and flash floods have destroyed many houses and standing crops.” And small hydropower stations installed at local streams to supply power to local communities have also been swept away,” Abdul Hafeez, a local, told reporters.

The rains, which started some three days ago, have still been lashing, causing land and mudslides that blocked roads and inundated slum houses in remote parts of the Hazara division.

The Kandia valley in Upper Kohistan was the worst hit as many houses were inundated, but no loss of life was reported anywhere in the entire tehsil.

“Though no loss of life has been reported in the entire tehsil, people have suffered financial losses as their houses have been destroyed and roads leading to the rest of Kohistan have been blocked because of mudslides,” Abdul Hafeez said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has contacted the Sindh government authorities following the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said the Authority spokesperson, adding that they discussed the situation after the recent monsoon rains.

The spokesperson said the situation was still under the control of the Sindh government. The NDMA handed more dewatering pumps over to the Sindh government.

The authorities have assured the Sindh government of maximum assistance, the NDMA spokesperson said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had directed the provincial governments to remain alert in the wake of continuing monsoon rains, which might trigger flash floods in different parts of the country. In a message to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Shehbaz said the federal government would provide all possible support to the provincial government in this difficult situation.

The recent rain spell has been lashing Karachi for the last few days, causing floods.

In a statement, the PM Office Media Wing said that the prime minister also told the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to help the provinces and departments as much as possible.

The premier said protection of property and the lives of the people in the low-lying areas must be ensured.

He also wanted the elected officials to keep an eye on the rescue and aid efforts started by the right departments.

Meanwhile, at least 100 people have been killed and 57 others injured so far in rain-related accidents across Balochistan, says the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). It said women, children, and men were among the victims.

“Overall 6,063 houses came down, while 550 kilometres of road track along the four major highways in the province also got damaged.

In addition to the livestock losses, the authority said 712 animals were also killed during the heavy downpour.

The provincial government has already imposed Section 144 across the province amid forecasts of more heavy rains. According to the notification, under Section 144, people will not be allowed to visit rivers, dams, and other water bodies.

Swimming in rivers and water streams will also be banned, it said, adding that the ban will remain in place for one month.

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Pakistan

4 dead, 12 injured as sucide blast rips through Hangu mosque

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  • Incident takes place within parameters of Police Station Doaba. 
  • Two suicide bombers were involved in attack, says Hangu DPO.
  • 12 people, rescued from rubble, shifted to nearby hospital. 

HANGU: A blast ripped through a mosque in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu, local officials confirmed Friday, leaving three dead — including a policeman — and 12 injured.

The incident took place within the parametres of Police Station Doaba during the Friday sermon — a time when scores of believers are gathered at a mosque for their weekly prayer. 

Hangu District Police Officer Nisar Ahmed said 30-40 people were under the rubble — as the mosque’s roof caved in — and an operation was underway to rescue them.

Ahmed said two suicide bombers were involved in the attack — one targeted the gate of the police station, and the other blew himself up inside the mosque.

The 12 people, rescued from the rubble, have been shifted to a nearby hospital, he said.

Caretaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Azam Khan, taking notice, directed officials to enforce an emergency in all hospitals of the city as he sought a report on the blast from law enforcers.

The police officials said that two militants tried entering the police station and started firing at the gate. They added that one of the terrorists was killed at the gate by the police in retaliatory fire.

Moreover, two policemen were also injured during the firing, officials of the law enforcement agency said, adding that the other militant blew himself up inside the mosque.

The timely action by the police resulted in fewer casualties following the blast, they added. 

This was the second terror attack to hit Pakistan in a single day as earlier today, a suicide blast in Balochistan’s Mastung district killed at least 35 people including a police officer while injuring over 45.

The explosion took place near the mosque where people were gathering to mark Eid Miladun Nabi — the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

For the past year now, Pakistan has been gripped by a spate of terror attacks, with Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa particularly being under the radar of militants targeting security forces and civilians to deteriorate peace.

Security forces, however, continue to conduct operations against terrorists to eliminate terrorism from the country in its resolve to strengthen the sacrifices of its soldiers.

Earlier this month, a report compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) stated a sharp increase recorded in militant attacks across the country in the month of August with 99 terror incidents reported.

This, according to the report, was the highest number recorded in any single month since November 2014. These attacks have resulted in 112 deaths and 87 injuries, mostly targeting security forces personnel and civilians.

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Pakistan

One-month deadline for illegal foreign nationals to be announced soon

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  • Major countrywide crackdown to be launched by LEAs.
  • Around 1.1 million Afghan refugees illegally reside in Pakistan.
  • Surge in street crime in capital linked with illegal Afghans.

ISLAMABAD: The government will soon announce a one-month deadline for all illegal foreign immigrants, including Afghans, to leave the country or face the music.

After the one-month deadline, a major countrywide crackdown will be launched by the law-enforcement agencies to identify and deport such illegal immigrants, the vast majority of whom are said to be Afghans.

Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti will announce the policy in a few days time, an informed source said. 

The decision at the highest level has already been taken not to let Pakistan become a haven for illegal immigrants, many of whom are not only involved in criminal activities but are also part of the smuggling mafia, the source added.

It is said the authorities have already arrested many illegal Afghan immigrants who were doing illegal dollar trade at the cost of the country’s economy. A large number of such illegal foreign nationals are also doing different businesses in several major cities including the federal capital. The surge in street crime in Islamabad is also linked with the influx of illegal Afghans.

There are said to be around 1.1 million Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan illegally. 

It is said as many as 400,000 Afghans entered Pakistan illegally since the return of the Afghan Taliban to Afghanistan in August 2021. There are another 700,000 Afghans identified who have been living in the country illegally.

Media reports suggest that 1.1 million Afghan refugees neither possess any visa nor any valid documents, allowing them to stay in the country. Most of these illegal refugees were involved in anti-state and criminal activities.

Therefore, they would be sent back at the earliest, said a report, adding the Afghan Taliban government was also informed about Pakistan’s decision.

Islamabad has hosted millions of refugees for decades, and at one point five million Afghan refugees were residing in Pakistan. 

Some estimates suggest there are still close to four million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan. However, the count of individuals possessing valid refugee cards, as per official records, is considerably lower.

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Pakistan

HEC announces Commonwealth Scholarships for masters, PhD

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In a positive development for students, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced Commonwealth Scholarships for masters and PhD programmes for the year 2023. 

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government’s Commonwealth scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. 

The CSC has funded over 30,000 individuals to study in the UK and gain skills, acquire knowledge, and build networks to tackle global development challenges

Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) students can apply for the scholarships till October 17 (Tuesday) on the CSC portal.

The HEC’s website said that 26 nominations are available for masters, 30 for PhD and 10 for teaching faculty PhD.

Applicants are advised to visit the links to apply for the masters, PhD and teaching faculty (PhD) scholarships. 

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