Category: 1. Pakistan

Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu on Sunday said the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was committed to advancing its capabilities in electronic warfare and cyber technologies.

He made the remarks while addressing the central Martyrs’ Day ceremony held at Air Headquarters in Islamabad, as the nation observes the Pakistan Air Force Day to honour PAF martyrs.

“He (ACM Sidhu) affirmed that Pakistan Air Force would remain committed to advancing its capabilities in space, electronic warfare, cyber technologies, niche domains and indigenous defence production to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation,” said a press release by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The PAF solemnly observed Martyrs’ Day across all its bases nationwide, ISPR noted.

The day commenced with special prayers and recitation of the Holy Quran, “dedicated to the martyrs of the 1965 and 1971 wars, as well as to all those who have rendered the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty since the creation of Pakistan”.

Addressing the ceremony as the chief guest, ACM Sidhu underscored the proud legacy of sacrifice, courage and professionalism that defines the PAF.

He emphasised that Martyrs’ Day “symbolises the extraordinary bravery, impeccable professionalism and unparalleled spirit of sacrifice demonstrated” by the armed forces.

The air chief stressed that well-cognisant of the fast-changing security dynamics, the PAF stood committed to its mission with singularity of purpose.

“The latest link in [the] chain of victories secured by PAF in Marka-i-Haq / Bunyanum Marsoos has once more proved our will and capability to guard the aerial frontiers of our motherland,” he was quoted as saying.

As New Delhi launched deadly air strikes on Pakistan in early May over allegations about the Pahalgam attack, which Islamabad denied, PAF downed six Indian jets in retaliation. After tit-for-tat strikes on each other’s airbases, it took American intervention on May 10 for both sides to finally reach a ceasefire.

The martyrs of Marka-i-Haq — the term used for the period of conflict with India — along with the country’s military and civilian leadership, were conferred with a total of 488 national awards on August 14. These included eight Sitara-i-Jurat, seven Sitara-i-Basalat, 23 Tamgha-i-Basalat and 79 Imtiazi Sanad for PAF personnel.

In his address today, the PAF chief reiterated his firm resolve to make “every possible effort for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan in the evolving global environment”, the ISPR statement said.

Paying “heartfelt tribute” to the fallen heroes of PAF, the air chief said, “We owe our heroes an eternal debt of gratitude for their supreme sacrifices, which serve as an enduring example for future generations.“

He further expressed unwavering solidarity with the people of India-occupied Kashmir in their “legitimate and indigenous struggle for the right to self-determination”, the press release added.

ACM Sidhu also laid a floral wreath at the Martyrs’ Monument and offered fateha for the departed souls to pay homage to the martyrs.

To mark the Defence and Air Force Day, the PAF released a new song titled “Shaheen”.

President, PM hail PAF’s ‘decisive role’ during India conflict

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the PAF’s “decisive“ role during the military conflict with India in May, when the air force shot down six Indian jets.

“In recent history, the Pakistan Air Force, together with the armed forces, played a decisive role in Marka-i-Haq [and Bunyanum Marsoos] and the way it defeated the enemy on all fronts amazed the whole world,“ PM Shehbaz was quoted as saying by the Associated Press of Pakistan.

“Undoubtedly, this high-level performance of the Pakistan Air Force was a manifestation of fearless leadership, the skill of the fighter sons, superior strategy, and effective implementation of multi-faceted combat capabilities,“ he added.

“The invincible multi-faceted combat capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force are a testament to its innovation in recent years.

“I am particularly proud that the Pakistan Air Force, while keeping its glorious historical tradition alive, defeated an enemy many times larger than itself,“ the premier emphasised.

“Our heroes of the Pakistan Air Force proved with their bravery that no matter how strong and well-armed the enemy is, it can never defeat passion and courage,” he observed.

The prime minister paid tribute to the PAF’s “unparalleled performance”, observing that the martyrs’ “immortal sacrifices are illuminated in history”.

PM Shehbaz said: “Undoubtedly, the founders of the Pakistan Air Force laid its foundation as a high-class and leading institution in accordance with the vision of the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

“Pakistan Air Force continues to perform well in all professional aspects and is no less than any other air force in the world in terms of professionalism,” the premier added.

“We are proud that the Pakistan Air Force has shown its professionalism and immense strength in [the] last decades during air combat.“

In his statement, President Zardari said: “Whether it was the 1965 war or the more recent Marka-i-Haq Bunyanum Marsus, our air warriors have always risen to the challenge, giving the enemy a decisive response and filling the nation with pride.”

The president highlighted that the world had “witnessed the remarkable skill and professionalism of PAF”, hailing its evolution into a “modern, capable, and highly professional institution”.

“My heart goes out in deep respect to our martyrs and ghazis whose courage and sacrifices continue to inspire the nation,” President Zardari said.

He recalled: “In 1965, our air warriors, against overwhelming odds, wrote a story of extraordinary bravery and determination. Their daring actions not only defended our skies but also lifted the morale of an entire nation.

“That spirit of sacrifice and excellence remains alive in every generation of the PAF,” he added. The president paid tribute to the martyrs’ families for bearing the “greatest sacrifice of all”, as well as the warriors for their resilience and dedication.

“I am confident that the Pakistan Air Force will continue to protect our skies and sovereignty with the same resolve and passion that has always defined it.”

---

Additional input by Nadir Guramani

The Provincial Rain and Flood Emergency Monitoring Cell has reported significant changes in Sindh’s water situation, with sharp increases in inflows and outflows at major barrages.

At Trimmu Barrage, water inflows surged by 112,576 cusecs over the past 12 hours, reaching 488,169 cusecs, with outflows recorded at the same level.

At Panjnad Barrage, inflow and outflow were steady at 345,047 cusecs, influencing conditions at Guddu and Sukkur barrages downstream.

Guddu Barrage recorded inflows of 366,151 cusecs and outflows of 328,487 cusecs, with a major flood wave expected to pass today.

Authorities have warned that fluctuating water levels may worsen the situation in nearby areas. Residents of Sehwan’s river belt have been instructed to evacuate.

Sindh Excise and Taxation Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla said all necessary arrangements had been completed to manage the floodwaters and that officials were monitoring developments closely.

Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Owais Qadir Shah, during a visit to Sukkur Barrage, said the true scale of the situation would be clear once the flood wave reached Panjnad and Guddu.

Read: Five people killed as boat capsizes during evacuation in Multan

At Sukkur Barrage, inflows were recorded at 329,990 cusecs and outflows at 281,985 cusecs, bringing unusual changes in water levels and affecting surrounding areas.

Kotri Barrage reported inflows of 245,452 cusecs and outflows of 226,497 cusecs, above normal levels and impacting river flows further downstream.

Rain death toll

At least 907 people have lost their lives and 1044 others injured so far in rain and flood-related incidents across the country, stated National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

As per the NDMA statistics, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) reported the highest number of fatalities with 502 deaths and 218 injuries. In Punjab, 223 people were killed and 654 injured, while Sindh recorded 58 deaths and 78 injuries during the monsoon season.

Balochistan reported 26 fatalities and five injuries, while Gilgit-Baltistan recorded 41 deaths and 52 injuries due to rains, flash floods, and landslides. In addition, 38 deaths were reported in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and nine in Islamabad.

The NDMA further noted that 6,180 livestock perished and 7,848 houses were damaged in rain and flood-related incidents.

Meanwhile, NDMA has issued an alert warning of potential urban flooding and lightning in parts of Islamabad and northern Punjab due to the development of a strong weather system.

According to NDMA, heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is expected in Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, and Jhelum. “The formation of towering cumulonimbus clouds, triggered by intense heat, may lead to heavy downpours and lightning strikes,” stated the NDMA.

Read more: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2565373/us-sends-humanitarian-relief-to-pakistans-flood-hit-areas

It warned that hilly areas could experience landslides, while heavy rains might damage weak infrastructure and cause power outages.

The NDMA advised residents to stay away from trees and weak structures, park vehicles in safe locations, and avoid unnecessary travel.

Boat capsizes

At least five people, including a woman and four children, lost their lives after a boat carrying flood victims capsized during an evacuation operation in Jalalpur Pirwala on Saturday, officials confirmed.

According to Rescue 1122, more than 20 people were on board when the boat overturned due to strong water currents. Rescue teams responded swiftly and managed to save over a dozen people.

“Our volunteers risked their lives and rescued over 12 individuals from the raging waters,” Rescue 1122 spokesperson said, adding that the unfortunate accident occurred during a flood relief operation in the Multan region.

PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia directed authorities to ensure the injured receive the best medical treatment and ordered that evacuation efforts must prioritise safety. “Private or official rescue boats must not be overloaded under any circumstances,” he said.

The Rescue spokesperson added that so far, over 9,000 people have been rescued from flood-hit areas in Multan, while more than 350,000 people and over 300,000 livestock have been evacuated in advance to safer locations.

aging floods have uprooted hundreds of thousands of people in Pakistan. Monsoon rains in August brought deluges from different directions. During first half of the month, Gilgit and Hunza were battered by intense rain spells on mountains that rolled down huge snow mass, boulders, mud and landslides. Scores of tourists lost their lives and hundreds were stranded in Chilas, Astore and adjoining areas for several days before being rescued. Buner, Shangla and Swat endured devastation due to abnormally high rains and flash floods in the third week of August. More than 300 people perished in these districts. The fury of monsoon barrelled towards the Punjab and Sindh in the last week of August, when torrential spates descending from India generated catastrophic floods after causing rampage in Himachal Pradesh, the Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. A prodigious flood then took strides towards Sindh, which has not yet fully recovered.

In 2010 and 2022, Sindh witnessed excruciating deluges. The 2022 flood was the worst ever in recent history affecting over 14 million people. More than two million houses were damaged or destroyed. Around 20,000 schools were damaged. Additionally, a large number of flood protection structures, roads and drinking water schemes were vandalised due to exceptional flows and stagnant sheets of knee-deep water for months. In 2010, more than seven million people were affected in Sindh.

Although, the two floods differed in their attributes, mass devastation was the common outcome. Since then, Sindh has had four high floods at the Guddu Barrage (exceeding 500,000 cusecs). This will be the fifth high flood and could swell to a super flood of 800,000 cusecs—last time experienced in 2010. These two floods exposed a lack of ability to mitigate the catastrophic impact and manage a humongous number of flood affected living in the camps. The enormity of the disaster dwarfed the capacity of the government as hundreds of thousands of flood affected remained shelterless for several months.

Both Guddu and Sukkur Barrages can safely pass a flow of one million cusecs. Nevertheless, the authorities are likely to adopt a more conservative approach. They might opt for an artificial breach, if the flow is seen approaching the super flood level. The Guddu and Sukkur Barrages are critically important for the province so that no government will risk possible damage to these structures. The Punjab, too, resorted to similar action to save the Qadirabad Barrage when Chenab exceeded the design discharge of the structure. Even if the flows remain within design discharge of Guddu and Sukkur Barrages, medium to high flood will displace thousands of families residing within the floodplain, locally called the katcha area.

Floodplains of the Indus are massively encroached in the Punjab and Sindh. This poses a risk to flood protection infrastructure. These encroachments include sprawling settlements and agriculture fields protected through illegally constructed dykes within the river bed. Influential people have illegally occupied large parcels of land in the floodplain.

Floodplains of the Indus are massively encroached in the Punjab and Sindh, posing a risk to flood protection infrastructure.

A report of the Flood Inquiry Commission constituted by the Supreme Court includes detailed observations on such encroachments. The report reads: “Thousands of acres of katcha lands have been illegally encroached upon by local influentials or have been leased out on nominal charges resulting in the erection of private bunds. Construction of houses and other built-up properties have been allowed along river banks and canals etc. The natural flow of water has been blocked. Unfortunately, the local and provincial governments have themselves indulged in encouraging illegal acts promoting encroachments. All such encroachments have contributed to obstructions in the flow of water resulting in flooding of many areas. Under the law, no construction of any infrastructure is allowed to be erected within a distance of 200 feet from banks of the rivers/ streams. The governments must correct that and ensure that no encroachments are permitted and no acquired lands are sold or leased out. Actions should be initiated by governments to remove all encroachments with a firm hand. It should also ensure that all such illegally constructed structures on government lands, which had been destroyed by the recent floods, are not allowed to be re-erected.”

In January 2021, the Sindh High Court also ordered that the removal of encroachments from the land of the Irrigation Department should be completed by June 30, 2021. On January 14, 2020, the SHC had directed the Sindh government to remove encroachments within a period of one month. After the devastating floods of 2022, the SHC issued another order in June 2023, asking the Sindh government to remove 11 obstructions in the waterway from Balochistan to Manchhar Lake. However, the provincial government demonstrated remarkable consistency in inaction.

In 2013, the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority developed a Regional Master Plan for the Left Bank of Indus. The consultants identified about a dozen blocked natural waterways and recommended their revival at an estimated cost of $357.5 million. For further relief, a storm water drainage network was proposed in the leftover areas at a cost of $253.1 million. The amount is only a fraction of the losses Sindh suffered in 2022 due to blocked waterways.

Encroachments on floodplain and blocked waterways are major causes of flood damage in the province. Administrative laxity, nepotism, corruption, political interference and lack of preparedness are other reasons that aggravate miseries of flood affected communities.

In August, Guddu Barrage safely passed two high floods of over 500,000 cusecs. While that necessitated temporary displacement of communities in the katcha area, it also brought smiles to a population of over two million people living in the deltaic districts of Sindh. After a year of dry bed, the Indus below the Kotri Barrage received a healthy flow of over 100,000 cusecs for several days. The much needed environmental flows in katcha and delta of Indus is expected to rehabilitate ecological impairment, at least for this year.

The first half of September is a challenging time for Sindh, when a very high flood will test embankments and administrative preparedness of the province.

---

The writer is a civil society professional. He can be reached at nmemon2004@yahoo.com.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shehrbano Naqvi has been selected for the prestigious Asia Society 21 Next Generation Fellowship, becoming the first female police officer in Pakistan’s history to achieve this honour.

According to a Punjab Police spokesperson, ASP Naqvi has been chosen for the Class of 2025 in recognition of her efforts to protect vulnerable groups in society and her commitment to systemic change.

Punjab Inspector General Dr Usman Anwar congratulated the officer, calling it a matter of pride for the country. “It is a matter of pride that the performance of Punjab Police officers is being recognised at the international level,” he said in a statement.

The Asia 21 Next Generation Fellowship is scheduled to take place from December 5 to 7, 2025, in the Philippines, where 30 outstanding individuals from 27 countries will be recognised.

ASP Naqvi rose to prominence in 2023 for her valiant act of saving a woman from a violent mob in Lahore’s Achhra Market — an episode that brought her widespread recognition as a symbol of bravery in the police force.

ASP Naqvi’s achievement follows a series of international honours earned by Pakistani women police officers in recent years.

In March 2025, police officer Anum Khan Muhammad Sher of Sargodha City Police Station won the Excellence in Criminal Investigation Award at the World Police Summit in Dubai for leading and solving two high-profile murder cases.

In October 2024, Rawalpindi Chief Traffic Officer SP Beenish Fatima received the IACP 40 Under 40 Award by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in Boston, recognising her leadership and service to law enforcement.

Kabul [Afghanistan], September 7 (ANI): The Taliban’s response to women affected by the earthquake has been hindered by strict gender rules and cultural restrictions, as even after 36 hours of the earthquake, the relief did not touch even a single woman, as laws regarding women barred it, New York Times reported.
The Taliban’s “no skin contact with unrelated males” rule prohibits male rescuers from physically assisting women, even in life-threatening situations. This has led to delays or denial of medical care to women trapped under rubble.
One of the survivors, a 19-year-old Aysha, from Andarluckak, in Kunar Province, lamented Taliban restrictions and cultural barriers that leave injured women and girls facing a dire lack of medical care, many without help.
She described a catastrophic humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, further worsened by the August 31 earthquake. She said that many women were left trapped under debris or untreated. “Some of them bleeding, were pushed aside,” said Aysha, as per New York Times.
“They gathered us in one corner and forgot about us,” she said. No one offered the women help, asked what they needed or even approached them.
The Taliban’s ban on women studying medicine and working in public roles has resulted in a severe shortage of female healthcare workers. This makes it difficult to provide medical care to women in rural areas.
Tahzeebullah Muhazeb, a male volunteer who travelled to Mazar Dara, also in Kunar Province, said that members of the all-male medical team there were hesitant to pull women out from under the rubble of collapsed buildings. Trapped and injured women were left under stones, waiting for women from other villages to reach the site and dig them out.
“It felt like women were invisible,” said Muhazeb, 33. He added, “The men and children were treated first, but the women were sitting apart, waiting for care.”
If no male relative was present, he said, rescue workers dragged dead women out by their clothes, so as not to make skin contact, as per New York Times.

Many women were left trapped under debris or untreated due to the lack of female rescue workers and the restrictions on male rescuers. Some women had to rely on strangers from neighbouring villages to rescue them.
Rescue teams often arrived late, and in some cases, women were ignored or not prioritised for medical care. Male rescuers would sometimes drag dead bodies by their clothing to avoid direct contact.
More than 2,200 people died and 3,600 others were injured in the magnitude six quake that flattened countless hamlets and villages, according to figures released by Afghanistan’s government.
The response to the quake on Sunday has epitomised the dual standards that women and girls face in Afghanistan, aid groups and humanitarian organisations say, trapped both under the rubble and the weight of gender discrimination.
“Women and girls will again bear the brunt of this disaster, so we must ensure their needs are at the heart of the response and recovery,” the special representative for UN Women Afghanistan, Susan Ferguson, said in a statement this week.
The United Nations and human rights organisations have expressed concern over the Taliban’s gender policies, which they say exacerbate the suffering of women in emergencies. They emphasised the need for gender-sensitive disaster response planning and policies that ensure equal access to aid for all individuals.
Though the Taliban have not released a gender breakdown of the casualties, women have faced an especially harsh ordeal, made worse by neglect and isolation, more than half a dozen doctors, rescue workers and women in areas hit by the quake said in interviews, as per New York Times.
Afghanistan faces a critical shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in the field of women’s health. Last year, the Taliban imposed a ban on women’s enrollment in medical education. The dearth of female doctors and rescue workers has been all too evident in the wake of the earthquake.
In Afghanistan, strict cultural and religious norms, enforced by the Taliban government, mean that only a woman’s close male relative — her father, brother, husband or son — is permitted to touch her. The same applies in reverse: Women are not allowed to touch men outside their family. In disaster zones, female rescuers are restricted from assisting men. But a woman can pull unrelated women out from under debris, as per New York Times. (ANI)