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ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has launched a 120-day tax-free mobile registration facility for Overseas Pakistanis on each visit to the country.

In a statement, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Tuesday that to avail of this benefit, visitors can use the PTA’s free, automated Temporary Mobile Registration System, accessible through the Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) portal.

This initiative aims to ensure uninterrupted mobile connectivity for Overseas Pakistanis during their short stays in Pakistan, while also showcasing “PTA’s commitment to enabling digital inclusion and ease of access”.

Recently, there were claims that PTA has waived the tax it charged on imported mobile phones. However, the authority termed these claims baseless.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a fresh warning regarding flash floods and glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) events on Wednesday citing severe weather conditions, as heavy monsoon rains killed 63 across the country in one week. 

According to the NDMA, the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province reported the highest number of casualties due to rain-related incidents since June 26, 22, followed by Punjab with 21, Sindh with 15 and five in Balochistan. At least 113 were injured throughout the country, among them 45 children, 37 men and 31 women. 

The disaster management authority has warned provincial and local authorities to stay on high alert throughout the monsoon season, particularly in mountainous and low-lying areas, as heavy rains continue to batter parts of Punjab and KP. A deadly flash flood last week in the northwestern Swat Valley swept away 17 members of a single tourist family during a sudden rise in water levels. Twelve bodies have been recovered so far, according to rescue officials, with search operations ongoing for the remaining person. 

“National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) of NDMA has issued multiple impact-based weather alerts for various regions of Pakistan in light of forecasted severe weather conditions expected from 2nd to 8th July 2025,” the NDMA said. “These alerts highlight the growing risk of flash floods, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and urban flooding in different parts of the country.”

The NDMA said low to moderate rainfall is likely to continue until July 5, after which an active southwest monsoon system, coupled with a westerly wave, is expected to enter the country and generate moderate to heavy rainfall and localized thunderstorms.

“The most affected regions are upper catchments of major rivers including Central and Lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and the northeastern parts of Punjab, particularly Lahore,” the authority said. 

It warned of increased river flows across the country, River Kabul in particular and warning that inflows into Tarbela Dam may reach the low flood limit. The NDMA said flash floods in riverine areas, especially where nullahs and local streams converge, may pose threats to nearby settlements. 

“Simultaneously, the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and landslides has increased in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where ongoing high temperatures have accelerated glacier and snow melt,” the NDMA said.

“The situation is further aggravated by incoming moist currents and rainfall. Vulnerable glacial valleys and narrow mountain passes may face sudden GLOF events, flash floods, road blockages, and disruptions to infrastructure and tourism.”

The NDMA warned that in northeastern Punjab, including Lahore, Sialkot, and Narowal districts, local nullahs such as Aik, Deg, Bein, Basantar, and Palku may overflow, causing waterlogging and urban flooding in low-lying neighborhoods. In D.G. Khan and Rajanpur, hill torrents may also be activated, causing localized low-level flooding.

The authority urged the public to take precautionary measures, warning residents against unnecessary travel.

“Tourists are advised against visiting high-altitude and glacial regions during this period,” it said. “Municipal and district administrations are instructed to ensure readiness of flood response teams, clearing of storm water drains and nullahs, and maintaining rapid response capabilities.”

Pakistan, home to over 240 million people, is one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, facing increasingly frequent and intense weather events such as heatwaves, droughts and torrential rains.

In 2022, a combination of heavy monsoon rains and glacial melt caused catastrophic floods that killed more than 1,700 people and caused damage estimated at over $33 billion.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [Pakistan], July 2 (ANI): A bomb explosion in Bajaur district’s Khar tehsil on Wednesday killed at least five people, including an assistant commissioner, and injured 11 others. The blast targeted a government vehicle on Nawagai Road, causing significant damage, Dawn reported.

Bajaur District Police Officer Waqas Rafique confirmed that five people, including two policemen and a civilian, were killed in the explosion targeting a government vehicle on Nawagai Road in Siddiqabad railway attack area of Khar tehsil.

According to Dawn, the victims include Nawagai Assistant Commissioner Faisal Ismail, Tehsildar Abdul Wakil, Subedar Noor Hakim, police constable Rashid, and one civilian.

“The blast was so intense that the vehicle targeted was destroyed,” he said.

Security has been increased in the area, and relief activities are underway. The injured have been taken to Khar Hospital for treatment, where an emergency has been imposed.

KP Health Adviser Ihtisham Ali strongly condemned the blast and expressed grief over the loss of lives. He contacted the district health officer and the medical superintendent of the District Headquarters Hospital in Khar Bajaur and inquired about the well-being of those injured in the attack, as per Dawn.

“An emergency has been imposed in Bajaur hospitals, and health department staff have been alerted for first aid,” he said.

The health adviser assured the pubic that medical assistance would be provided to the injured.

KP Inspector General of Police (IG) Zulfiqar Hameed sought a report on the blast from the Malakand regional police officer (RPO).

He also ordered to speed up intelligence-based operations against the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group and directed the Counter-Terrorism Department’s additional inspector general of police to send a special team to Bajaur.

“A special branch is obtaining intelligence related to the incident,” Hameed said, adding that according to initial information, the TTP targeted the assistant commissioner’s vehicle.

Hameed said that teams were formed “to arrest the elements involved in the incident while all necessary evidence is being collected from the spot”, adding that bomb disposal teams were present on site. (ANI)

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