SAHIWAL: As three investigations into the deaths of 20 babies at paediatric ward of the Pakpattan DHQ Hospital continue, a letter by Senior Head Nurse Salma Tufail has surfaced online in which she had warned the hospital medical superintendent of impending oxygen shortage and the urgent need to maintain supply records.
The letter — dated first week of June — was circulated on social media. It contradicts the statements of Pakpattan district health authority chief executive officer Dr Sohail who had categorically stated that there was no shortage of oxygen in the pediatric ward during the first three weeks of June.
Dr Sohail told the media that the children had died due to malnutrition and that they were brought to the hospital in critical condition from ‘outside’.
Speaking to Dawn, Deputy Commissioner Maria Tariq questioned the letter’s authenticity, stating, “She (Salma Tufail) submitted that oxygen was available and her letter only requested better documentation”.
The DC confirmed that all relevant records had been confiscated for review. One of the most pressing issues is the reported disappearance of ward-level documents, including the pediatric death register and deceased children’s medication charts. These omissions have prompted earlier internal committees to recommend a “refresher course” on documentation protocols for pediatric staff.
Adding to the complexity, the whereabouts of the hospital’s contracted oxygen supplier remain unknown, raising serious concerns about availability and verification of oxygen inventory during the critical period.
The local administration remained on alert on Thursday amid rumours that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz might visit the hospital to meet the bereaved families and announce financial assistance for them.
On the other hand, Prof Dr Shahid, the head of ICU, Sahiwal Teaching Hospital and head of the high level inquiry, confirmed to Dawn that he had submitted his report to the commissioner but declined to share further details.
There are concerns among the stakeholder who raised the question as to how the inquiries by three separate authorities would be consolidated into a comprehensive and transparent account of the tragedy’s underlying causes.
Meanwhile, acting on directives from the chief secretary, senior divisional and district officials — including Commissioner Sahiwal Dr Asif Tufail, RPO Mahboob Rasheed, Deputy Commissioner Pakpattan Maria Tariq and a provincial government representative — held separate meetings with the grieving parents in Pakpattan city.
ISLAMABAD: Amid serious financial constraints and governance challenges, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed has reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s higher education sector under Vision 2047, with a strong focus on accessibility, technology integration, and institutional development.
Speaking to the media, Dr Ahmed stated that Pakistan currently spends less than 1.9 percent of GDP on overall education sector and around 0.2 percent on higher education which is the lowest in the region.
However, he said the government aims at ensuring modern educational facilities for 1.5 million youth.
He was optimistic that several universities would be among the top universities of the world in coming years.
Under the P-10 project, the top 10 universities in the country will be selected for targeted quality enhancement. In the first phase, 100 smart classrooms have already been established, while 200 more are under construction.
Highlighting the significant progress since the formation of HEC in 2001, Dr Ahmed noted that the number of universities has grown from 59 to 370 (both public and private), and the student population has increased from under 3.5 million to over 8.5 million. Yet, he stressed that this number is still insufficient given Pakistan’s growing youth population. “Our target is to expand access and capacity further, especially in underserved regions,” he said.
One of the most remarkable statistics he shared was that approximately 48 per cent of university students in Pakistan are female, a figure he called “a surprise to the world” and a testament to the country’s evolving education landscape.
Dr Ahmed emphasised the importance of technology in education. Under the High-Performance Computing (HPC) initiative and cloud computing, students can now attend classes remotely, and teachers can deliver lectures from home — a shift that ensures academic continuity during emergencies. He added that the reliance on expensive computing infrastructure is being reduced, making education more accessible.
Despite the progress, challenges remain. Only 28 per cent of university faculty holds PhDs, up from a previous 24 per cent, and efforts are underway to increase this ratio. Over 6,000 students have been sent abroad on scholarships, reflecting the country’s focus on building a skilled academic workforce.
He also acknowledged resistance from some Vice Chancellors regarding the implementation of the Higher Education Data Repository (HEDR), a system meant to improve digital governance in higher education.
The chairman stressed that academic-industry linkages are being promoted, with two universities recently recognised internationally for producing globally competitive graduates.
Meanwhile, the $400 million World Bank-funded Higher Education Development Project (HEDP) is supporting faculty development, research, innovation, infrastructure upgrades, and strengthening the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE).
Dr Ahmed concluded by stating that the HEC is not only enhancing higher education in urban centres but is also extending resources to backward regions to ensure equal opportunities for all. He emphasised that instead of merely increasing the number of institutions, the focus will remain on improving the quality and governance of existing universities.
KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister and Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon, has said that the Sindh government has made foolproof security arrangements for Muharram.
He stated that the Sindh chief minister held meetings with scholars from various schools of thought and reviewed the security plan for gatherings and processions during the mourning period. Memon added that 14,546 police personnel will be deployed for gatherings and 35,116 for Muharram processions, with over 14,000 additional personnel assigned to ensure the security of all events.
Addressing at a press conference in Karachi, Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, announced that a total of 49,662 police personnel will be deployed across Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Shaheed Benazirabad from the 8th to 10th of Muharram to prevent any untoward incidents.
Sharjeel Inam Memon stated that the Commissioner of Karachi had issued a notification on April 15, 2025, imposing a ban on the movement of rickshaws on 11 major highways in the city. He clarified that the ban does not apply to all of Karachi but is limited to specific main roads. This measure, he added, has been implemented under the Sindh Motor Vehicle Ordinance, 1965.
He stated that it is the administrative authority of the government to regulate traffic and ensure convenience for citizens. He also questioned whether rickshaws operate on major highways in any other part of the country.
Speaking about the education sector, Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the Sindh government has recruited 93,118 teachers across the province, including 58,613 men and 31,075 women. He added that 2,100 teachers were appointed under the minority quota, while 1,330 positions were filled by individuals with special abilities.
He said that the recruitments were carried out through the IBA test with complete transparency, leaving no room for criticism. As a result of these measures, 5,000 previously closed schools have been reopened. Currently, 5.5 million children are enrolled in government schools across Sindh, 4 million in private schools, and 1 million in Sindh Education Foundation schools.
Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon further stated that the Sindh government has taken revolutionary steps in key sectors such as health, energy, infrastructure, and climate change. He noted that after the devastating floods of 2022, the government successfully began achieving its target of constructing 2.1 million houses. He also emphasized that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari raised his voice on climate change at the global level, while the Sindh government undertook extensive mangrove plantation efforts to promote environmental protection.
Sharjeel Inam Memon remarked that Ali Amin Gandapur does not require an opposition, as he acts as his own opposition. He criticized the deteriorating law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that the Chief Minister is focused on making threats to attack Islamabad while remaining oblivious to the pressing issues within his own province.
He said that Jamaat-e-Islami has never fulfilled its responsibilities in Karachi and has consistently engaged in the politics of sedition. He said that while the Sindh government tolerates criticism, it will not allow anyone to dictate its policies. He added that the government had also proposed allocating a large designated area for protests to ensure that public life remains unaffected.
The federal government has started collecting taxes on all types of bank transactions for both filers and non-filers from July 1. The government has increased the tax rate for non-filers on cash withdrawals from banks, while filers are also subject to withholding tax for withdrawals exceeding Rs50,000 per day.
According to the new tax regime, filers will be charged 0.3% tax on withdrawals exceeding Rs50,000 per day, while non-filers will be charged 0.6%. Furthermore, banks have increased their charges, including ATM card fees, SMS alert fees, and fees for using other banks’ ATMs. These additional charges have led to disputes between bank customers and staff, with many expressing frustration over the increased costs.
As the banks revised their schedule of charges effective July 1, customers are facing double the burden in respect to increased costs. The ATM usage fee for other banks’ customers has been revised from Rs18 to Rs34 per transaction. Additionally, the ATM card fee has been increased by Rs700, and the SMS alert service fee has been hiked from Rs1,200 to Rs2,000, a rise of Rs800.
Non-filers will also face a deduction of Rs522 for cash withdrawals of Rs20,000 or more through a cheque. Furthermore, banks have set daily withdrawal limits for ATM users, with standard debit card holders able to withdraw up to Rs25,000 to Rs50,000 per day, premium card holders up to Rs500,000 per day, and foreign debit card holders the equivalent of $200 to $500 per day. The tax deduction will be automatic for transactions exceeding Rs50,000 per day.
In addition to the existing charges, banks will now deduct fees for international ATM transactions based on either the exchange rate or a fixed fee set by the bank.
The disputes have prompted banks to approach 1Link for revising the schedule of charges. Banks claim that these changes will impact banking transactions and promote a cash economy. The increased charges and tax rates have sparked frustration among bank customers, leading to a rise in conflicts with bank staff.
IN recent years, Pakistan’s foreign exchange market has presented a strange paradox: the rupee appears ‘stable’, official reserves have grown, and the informal/black market has receded.
But behind this illusion of calm lies a hollow economy, ie, exports remain stagnant, competitiveness is deteriorating, and industrial confidence is eroding. Is this the success of prudent macroeconomic stewardship or the triumph of administrative sleight of hand?
Despite the painful experience of at least six major currency crises, the state continues to obsessively fix the nominal rate. From 2023 to 2025, the authorities indeed managed to stabilise the currency and rebuild reserves. But at what cost?
The apparent stability has been engineered not through market trust or export dynamism, but through an elaborate system of administrative controls and currency rationing.
Today, Pakistan operates two distinct foreign exchange markets — one official, the other informal. This duality is a product of a long-standing desire to control the rupee.
The interbank market is tightly supervised by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), which apparently takes an upfront share of all foreign currency inflows from exports and remittances, and dictates to banks how much they may allocate towards import payments.
Letters of credit (LCs), particularly for so-called non-essential goods, are heavily restricted. The result is a deliberate throttling of demand, carefully orchestrated to sustain an artificial exchange rate.
The illusion is sustained by rising remittances, which have surged over the past two years. This rise is less a triumph of policy and more a symptom of a broken domestic economy.
A growing exodus of skilled and unskilled Pakistanis, unable to find opportunities at home, are sending more money back because inflation has increased the financial burden for families at home.
And in many cases, families that had once migrated have returned to Pakistan due to rising global living costs, prompting the bread earner to support them locally. These remittances have become the lifeline of our foreign exchange position, but are rooted in economic despair, not development.
Despite at least six major currency crises, the state continues to obsessively fix the nominal rate.
On the demand side, dollar outflows have contracted. The relocation of kosher capital (to escape an encumbering tax environment and the excessive and unpredictable cost of doing business) and capital flight driven by tax evasion, corruption and drug proceeds, has slowed due to tighter scrutiny in offshore jurisdictions.
Under-invoiced imports and smuggling, previously encouraged by high duties and GST, have receded in the face of weak consumer demand and a stagnating economy.
Foreign travel for education, pilgrimage and leisure has dipped due to the rupee’s depreciation and inflationary pressures, leading to an uptick in domestic tourism and greater reliance on private local universities. These declines, however, reflect contraction, not correction.
Increases in duties have often been employed as stopgap measures to suppress import demand and relieve pressure on the exchange rate. By raising tariffs, in particular on consumer and ‘non-essential’ goods, the government aims to reduce the outflow of foreign exchange, artificially easing the trade deficit.
This tactic, however, functions more as a tool of exchange rate defence than sound trade policy. While it may temporarily slow imports and delay the rupee’s depreciation, it raises input costs for domestic producers, discourages export competitiveness, and entrenches inefficiencies, ultimately undermining the very stability it seeks to preserve.
Meanwhile, enforcement has been used to fill the vacuum left by policy. The SBP has imposed hard caps on currency dealers, while the FIA conducts raids on the informal market — a theatre of suppression that conveniently lines the pockets of some enforcement personnel. It is a fragile peace, maintained through force and friction, not reform.
To justify the controls, the SBP continues to tout its Real Effective Exchange Rate as evidence of an undervalued rupee. Analysts quote it with reverence, but it is a meaningless number.
When trade is restricted, imports are rationed, and price signals are distorted, REER becomes little more than a statistical hallucination. Open up the market and the real rate will quickly emerge.
What we have, then, is not stability but suspension. The rupee’s apparent strength is not grounded in productivity, efficiency or a booming export sector. It is built on repression, rationing through administrative controls and borrowed credibility.
Exporters face rising input costs, shipment delays and disruptions in raw material supply chains, while international buyers grow wary of Pakistan’s reliability as a trading partner. The country is not becoming more competitive; it is simply freezing in place.
The question before us is not whether the rupee can hold its position. It is whether holding it in this manner serves the economic good. The longer we pretend that this engineered calm is sustainable, the more we strangle our industry, discourage investment and defer the inevitable reckoning. This is not macroeconomic management; it is macroeconomic theatre.
If Pakistan genuinely wants lasting stability, it must abandon its fixation with optics and return to the fundamentals. The foreign exchange market must be liberalised. Import restrictions through LC associated rationing must be replaced with prudent current account oversight.
Exporters must be supported with the real enablers of competitiveness, ie, energy, inputs, a rationalised import tariff configuration, logistics and regulatory certainty. Above all, the SBP must operate with transparency, not through coercion.
Ultimately, a lasting way to stabilise the exchange rate in Pakistan lies in credible fiscal correction. By curbing unnecessary spending, and improving a transparent and equitable tax structure with fair and consistent processes, the government can lower its reliance on external borrowing and money printing — two key drivers of currency pressure.
A sound fiscal position builds investor confidence, eases inflationary expectations and reduces the demand for foreign exchange, creating a more durable foundation for exchange rate stability than administrative controls or temporary inflows.
Until then, the rupee is simply a house of sand held together by borrowed time, borrowed dollars, and borrowed ideas. And sand, as we know, always slips through the cracks.
Nadeem Ul Haque is former deputy chairman, Planning Commission. Shahid Kardar is former governor, State Bank of Pakistan.
KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has announced that the provincial government has taken foolproof security arrangements for peaceful observance of 8th, 9th and 10th Muharram across the province.
Speaking at a press conference here, he said that a total of 49,662 police personnel will be deployed across Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Shaheed Benazirabad from 8th Muharram till Ashura to prevent any untoward incidents.
He said that 14,546 police personnel would be deployed for security of majalis, while 35,116 to protect Muharram processions. He said that over 14,000 additional personnel had been assigned to ensure security of all events.
He said that recently Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah held meetings with scholars belonging to different schools of thought and reviewed the security plan for majalis and processions during the mourning period.
Defends curbs on rickshaws
Mr Memon, who holds the portfolios of information, transport and mass transit said that the Karachi commissioner had issued a notification on April 15, imposing a ban on the movement of rickshaws on 11 major roads in the metropolis.
He clarified that the ban did not apply to all of Karachi but was limited to specific main roads.
This measure has been implemented under the Sindh Motor Vehicle Ordinance, 1965 and it is the administrative authority of the government to regulate traffic and ensure convenience for citizens, he added.
Sharjeel says 50,000 police being deployed in Sindh from today
He questioned as to whether rickshaws operate on major roads in any other part of the country.
Speaking about the education sector, Mr Memon said that the Sindh government had recruited 93,118 teachers across the province, including 31,075 women.
He said that 2,100 teachers were appointed under the minority quota, while 1,330 positions were given to differently abled persons.
He said that the recruitment process carried out through the Sukkur IBA test with complete transparency, leaving no room for criticism.
As a result of these measures, 5,000 previously closed schools had been reopened.
Currently, 5.5 million children are enrolled in government schools across Sindh, four million in private schools, and one million in Sindh Education Foundation schools, he said.
The minister stated that the Sindh government had taken revolutionary steps in health, energy, infrastructure and climate change.
WE just saw the release of the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25 and the presentation of the budget for 2025-26. There is a lot that can be said about the economy and the budget, but in this article I want to focus on education and what the Survey and the budget tell us about it and this government’s priorities. All figures in this article are taken from the Economic Survey 2024-25.
Empty vessels make the most noise, and the Economic Survey section on education is a poorly written chapter, which is clearly meant to hide more than to reveal, as well as to glorify while having nothing to extol. It tells us that enrolments at the pre-primary level have declined over the last year or so while those at the primary, middle and high school level have increased a bit and that college/ university enrolments have come down somewhat.
Do these statistics tell a story? Yes, they do, and a very strong one. They tell us that despite the prime minister’s declaration of an ‘education emergency’ and despite the fact that around 26 million five- to 16-year-olds are out of school, the government has neither a strategy for this category of children nor an actual plan that it is implementing. We are seeing trend movements in enrolments. If education was a priority, if there was a strategy, if a plan was being implemented, one would expect to see a strong movement — beyond the trend — in an upward direction. Instead, what we see is the usual drift. This is the story of education for the current government. In this regard, the story is no different from that for most governments of the past: education has not been a priority for any government.
The Economic Survey tells us that the national literacy rate stands at 60.5 per cent only: 68pc for men and 52.8pc for women. The urban literacy rate is 74.09pc — for urban men it is 78.13pc. For rural women, it is only to 41.67pc. So, the gender and rural-urban gaps continue to persist. But there is a story hidden in geography as well. Where the literacy rate for Punjab is quoted at 66.25pc, it is 42pc for Balochistan whereas for rural women in Balochistan, it is only 26.59pc, ie, only one in four women in rural Balochistan is literate.
It is clear that governments — federal and provincial — do not want to spend more on education.
The net enrolment rate at matriculation for boys in Balochistan is only 18pc and just 9pc for the girls in the province. And this is supposed to be a federation!
Any government, all governments, any society, all societies, should feel ashamed at these numbers. But we don’t. We are celebrating our ‘achievements’.
This is a quote from the education chapter in the Economic Survey. “Cumulative education expenditures by federal and provincial governments in FY25 (July to March) were estimated at 0.8pc of GDP. Expenditures on education-related activities during FY25 decreased by 29.4pc…”. They decreased from Rs1,251.06 billion to Rs899.6bn. Of course, there will be some spend from April to June but will it be 30pc? Unlikely. So, expenditure on education has gone down in nominal terms too. In real terms, given inflation, the drop would be much larger. And now we are spending only 0.8pc of our GDP on education, whereas UN agencies recommend spending a minimum of around 4pc of GDP on education. And the manifestoes of all major political parties promise that education expenditure will increase to 4pc of GDP.
The figure of 0.8pc includes all vanity projects such as the Daanish schools and the laptop schemes, especially in the federation and Punjab. I am sure it includes a portion of advertising spend of the provinces as well. But if you ask the ministers, the chief ministers or the prime minister, they will tell you, and emphatically so, that education is a top priority for their governments.
The Economic Survey headlines the news that the country now has 269 universities: 160 public sector and 109 private sector universities. But it does not dwell too much on the fact that the Higher Education Commission has not been given more resources for the new public sector universities. Some of the universities, even the older and bigger ones, are facing severe financial difficulties. Their budgets from the HEC have been more or less stagnant. Some cannot even make payrolls and have to cut pension payments. Some of the new universities in the public sector have not been given any support at all by the HEC. The government has done nothing to address these concerns. But launching new universities has been a priority.
The dialogue on education is quite broken. It is clear that governments — federal and provincial — do not want to spend more on education or on fixing the public sector education system. They believe they do not have the resources for it, nor do they have the patience and, possibly, the ability for medium- to long-term reforms. It is also clear that, given the thriving private sector in education, it is only the poor who depend on public sector provision of education and so, from a political point of view, there is no pressure on the government to fix education either: the poor are even more voiceless in this country than the middle- and upper-income classes.
And yet, in terms of rhetoric and public pronouncements, the government cannot be politically incorrect to admit all of the above. So, it will continue to pay lip service to the ‘education emergency’ and the ‘right to education’. And this game is bound to continue. Who will suffer? The young of the country and, therefore, the future of the country. But, for those in power, hunooz dilli dur ast, reality has not set in and political horizons are too short.
The writer is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Development and Economic Alternatives and an associate professor of economics at Lums.
• Flash flood risk in northern areas from July 7-12 • Heavy rain forecast across all provinces, GB and AJK • Second monsoon spell expected to affect most Punjab districts • PDMA Balochistan warns of flash floods in 20 districts • Tourists advised to avoid high-risk areas; citizens urged to stay indoors
RAWALPINDI / LAHORE / QUETTA: The National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued impact-based weather alerts ahead of predicted monsoon activity and a strong westerly wave expected to affect multiple regions of the country from July 6 to 10. Flash flood risks are also anticipated in northern areas from July 7 to 12.
Isolated rain and thunderstorms are expected in Islamabad and across Punjab, including Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Lahore, Kasur and Okara from July 6 to 10.
Widespread moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast across northern and central Punjab, while southern districts such as Multan, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, and Dera Ghazi Khan may receive low to moderate showers.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in Dir, Swat, Chitral, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Battagram, Swabi, Nowshera, Charsadda, Malakand, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Mardan, Haripur, Bannu and Kohat.
Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir will likely experience moderate to heavy rainfall, particularly during evening and night hours. Flash flood threats persist in Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, Astore, Diamer, Ghanche, Shigar, Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, Rawalakot, Haveli and Bagh.
The expected weather conditions could result in flash flooding in streams and nullahs, landslides, road closures and disruptions to power and communication lines.
In Sindh, isolated to moderate rainfall is expected in Sukkur, Nawabshah, Kashmore, Hyderabad, Karachi, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Thatta, Badin and Mithi. Heavier rainfall is likely in Ghotki, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Larkana, Jacobabad and Dadu, potentially leading to urban flooding, traffic congestion and infrastructure damage.
Scattered to heavy rainfall is also forecast in Balochistan, including Quetta, Zhob, Ziarat, Kalat, Khuzdar, Awaran, Barkhan, Jaffarabad, Kohlu, Sibi, Dera Bugti, Loralai, Lasbela and Naseerabad. Risks include waterlogging, traffic disruption and structural damage from strong winds and lightning.
The NDMA has urged the public to adopt precautionary measures, including avoiding unnecessary travel, staying indoors during severe weather and securing loose items and vehicles. Tourists are strongly advised against visiting high-altitude or flood-prone areas during the forecast period.
Local authorities have been directed to ensure the readiness of response teams, drainage clearance and public awareness campaigns. Motorists have been warned to avoid driving through flooded roads and underpasses. Emergency services remain on high alert for potential rescue and evacuation operations.
The NDMA asked citizens to monitor its advisories and use the ‘Pak NDMA Disaster Alert’ app for real-time weather updates and safety information.
Punjab on high alert
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued its own alert ahead of expected monsoon rains from July 5 to 10, warning of urban flooding and rising river levels.
It said the second monsoon spell is expected to affect most districts, including Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal and Faisalabad. Thunderstorms with heavy downpours are predicted in Okara, Kasur, Khushab, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Mianwali and southern districts such as Bahawalpur, Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia warned of potential flooding in hill torrents and rain drains from July 7 onwards. Urban flooding may also impact northern and central Punjab.
Departments including the Water and Sanitation Agency, Rescue 1122, health, irrigation and local government have been directed to remain on high alert. Citizens have been advised to stay indoors during storms, avoid travel and keep children away from waterlogged areas and electrical hazards.
PDMA’s recent rainfall data shows Jhelum recorded the highest precipitation at 31 millimetres in the past 24 hours, followed by Mangla (29mm) and Attock (14mm), with minimal rainfall in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Sialkot and Multan.
New monsoon spell in Balochistan
The PDMA Balochistan has also issued a weather alert for a fresh monsoon spell expected to hit 20 districts from July 4 to 8 July.
Heavy downpours are forecast in Sherani, Zhob, Ziarat, Musakhail, Duki, Loralai, Harnai, Sibi, Barkhan, Nasirabad, Usta Muhammad, Kalat, Lasbela, Surab, Khuzdar, Awaran, Sohbatpur, Jaffarabad, Dera Bugti and Kohlu, with flash floods likely in seasonal streams and rivers.
Tourists have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel, and residents are urged to stay away from dams and picnic spots. Deputy commissioners have been instructed to monitor the situation closely and deploy heavy machinery on key roads to maintain access.
PDMA district teams have been ordered to prepare for rescue and relief operations in the event of any damage caused by the rains.
PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrives at the Islamabad airport before his departure to Azerbaijan—APP
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Azerbaijan on Thursday for a two-day official visit to attend the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO).
Upon arrival at Fuzuli Airport in Shusha, the premier was received by Azerbaijan’s Minister for Culture Adil Karimli, Ambassador to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Qasim Mohiuddin and senior diplomats and government officials.
PM Shehbaz was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi.
The premier will address the ECO Summit being held in Khankendi, Azerbaijan. In addition, he will hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders participating in the summit.
According to the Foreign Office, the prime minister will “share Pakistan’s perspective on key regional and global challenges, reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to the ECO Vision 2025, and advocate for enhanced intra-regional trade, transport connectivity, energy cooperation, and sustainable development”.
He will also hold meetings with other ECO leaders on the sidelines of the summit to discuss matters of mutual interest, the statement added.
The theme of the summit is “New ECO Vision for a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Future”.
