Category: 1. Pakistan

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the district administrations to ascertain the scale of damage caused by recent floods in the province.

According to a statement, she directed the deputy commissioners to conduct surveys in flood-affected areas for the purpose.

She also directed the officials to provide clean drinking water, and carry out fumigation and dry germicidal sprays in flood relief camps and tent cities in the affected areas across Punjab. The regional additional chief secretary was directed to make the best possible arrangements for flood-affected people of South Punjab.

The chief minister directed the official to submit a detailed report with regard to rescue and relief operations.

She emphasised the need to provide shoes, clothes and other essential supplies to flood-affected families, especially women and children living in relief camps.

She said, “People have been forced out of their homes due to the flood emergency situation. We cannot leave them alone.”

The chief minister also pointed out a risk of disease outbreaks once the floodwater recedes, stressing the need for pre-emptive measures.

She ordered the authorities concerned to ensure the provision of mobile healthcare services in remote flood-affected areas.

The chief minister ordered the deployment of teams of gynaecologists, gastroenterologists and skin specialists to visit flood-affected regions.

She announced special allowances for doctors, paramedical and other personnel serving in flood-affected areas.

The chief minister issued directions that tents and living spaces must be provided while keeping in view the flood victims’ needs and convenience.

She ordered recruitment of agriculture interns to support farmers and emphasised that ample fodder and vaccination should be provided for livestock in the flood-affected areas. She also ordered measures to protect animals from diseases.

The chief minister was informed that livestock interns would be assigned responsibility of animal care.

She directed the deputy commissioners to work in close liaison with the relevant departments to ensure swift restoration of electricity, gas and other facilities after floodwater recedes, and stressed the importance of all departments staying on high alert given the flood emergency situation in the province.

She also ordered improvements in overall arrangements in flood relief camps, including cleanliness and sanitation.

The chief minister ordered the deployment of ‘Suthra Punjab’ programme teams in flood relief camps along with dustbins, garbage containers and covered waste bins.

She emphasised that precautions must be made to prevent the outbreak and spread of infectious diseases in flood relief camps. She reiterated the need for anti-mosquito spray in flood relief camps to prevent outbreak of malaria and other infectious diseases.

During a video address, she directed the commissioners and DCs to provide everythig necessary to people living in flood relief camps. She underscored that attention must be paid to sanitation and other issues in the camps.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also directed the administration, rescue and all other relevant departments to remain active for carrying out relief operations in view of the extraordinary flood situation across Punjab. She directed the authorities to ensure the provision of all necessary medicines at health centres in flood-affected areas, besides ensuring availability of medicines to treat diseases arising from stagnant rainwater.

She also ordered provision of sanitary kits to women in relief camps, and underscored that services of Clinics-on-Wheels, Field Hospitals, and Mother and Child Clinics should be provided in flood-affected areas across Punjab at the earliest.

The chief minister ordered improvements in medical relief camps in flood-affected areas. She directed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to immediately provide tents and other essential items in flood-affected districts as per need, besides making preparations in anticipation of potential flood emergency situations.

She was informed that the largest evacuation and rescue operation in Punjab’s history had been carried out swiftly.

She noted that Punjab is facing a super flood emergency situation, and said timely, effective arrangements have saved thousands of lives. She underscored that due to early evacuation of flood victims to safe places, 250,000 people remained safe.

LAHORE:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday granted post-arrest bail to Shahrez Khan, nephew of PTI’s founding chairman Imran Khan, in the Jinnah House attack case.

ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill, after reserving judgment on arguments presented by both sides, announced the decision allowing Shahrez’s bail.

During proceedings, Shahrez’s counsel, Rana Mudassar Umar, argued that the allegation of inciting the public against his client was baseless.

He said a thorough investigation, including geofencing, produced no evidence linking Shahrez to the May 9 incident.

He pointed out that while the police challan contained details of both nominated and unidentified accused, Shahrez’s name did not appear anywhere, suggesting what he called a “forged implication.”

The counsel further contended that Shahrez was arrested more than two years after the riots, describing the arrest as politically motivated.

He submitted affidavits claiming Shahrez was in Chitral from May 6 to 12, 2023, at the time of the violence.

Despite this, he said, police arrested him and even alleged recovery of a club from him after two years, which the defence termed a “mockery.”

He maintained that over 500 accused in the case had already secured bail, yet Shahrez was singled out for arrest. He also noted that Shahrez, an athlete, was being unfairly targeted, which could harm Pakistan’s image abroad.

The prosecution opposed the plea, insisting that evidence existed against the accused and urging the court to reject the bail. However, the court granted Shahrez post-arrest bail.

Meanwhile, the ATC also fixed hearing of the bail petition filed by Shahrez’s brother, Sher Shah, for September 4.

Police officials have been directed to produce the case record at the hearing.

Sher Shah’s counsel argued that his client was also implicated for political reasons. He said the police alleged Sher Shah appeared in a video with his cousin, Barrister Hassan Niazi—convicted earlier by a military court—at the crime scene. However, the defence maintained that mere presence in a video did not establish guilt.

Shahrez was arrested on August 21 and produced before court the next day, while his brother Sher Shah was taken into custody on August 22 and presented before court on August 23.

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif visited Qasim Bela Flood Relief Camp in Multan and mingled with the flood-affected children and women. She distributed chocolates, biscuits, and school uniform packets among the children and personally helped them wear shoes. She also presented clothes and other gifts to the women.

The Chief Minister interacted with the children at the flood relief camp, asked them various questions, and sat among them. She inquired about their knowledge of alphabets. She listened to the problems and needs of the affected families and assured the women of all possible steps to rehabilitate their homes.

She expressed satisfaction over cleanliness and other arrangements being made in the tents, and reviewed counters of health, rescue, and other services set up at Qasim Bela Flood Relief Camp. Commissioner Multan Aamir Karim and Deputy Commissioner Waseem Sindhu briefed the Chief Minister about ongoing arrangements for the rehabilitation of flood-affected people. She directed the district administration to provide food, milk, and other essential items to children in flood relief camps.

Moreover, on Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s directions, PERA Force has also reached flood relief camps to assist flood-affected people.

PERA teams visited various flood relief camps to review arrangements. They also inquired from flood victims about various facilities being provided to them by relevant departments and institutions.

PERA Force personnel served food to flood-affected people, besides checking quality of food and beverages being provided to them. Members of PERA Force remained busy rescuing livestock trapped in floodwaters, and shifted them to safe locations. One of the affected families thanked PERA Force personnel who carried a sick child in his arms and rescued him safely from the flood water.

PERA Force vehicles are also being deployed to transfer flood victims to safe locations. They continued to assist in retrieving belongings of flood victims from flood-affected areas. They actively remained engaged in rescuing flood victims stranded in flood torrents using boats. They also made announcements via loudspeakers to ensure timely evacuation of flood-affected people to safe places.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

ISLAMABAD: The Government has decided that sale/ disposal of assets of Utility Stores Corporation (USC), including the properties, shall be executed within the current financial year and the utilisation of Rs 15 billion available with Ministry of Industries and Production (MoI&P) as CFY budget for clearance of sugar subsidy arrears of TCP, sources close to SAPM on MoI&P told Business Recorder.

Sharing the details, sources said that on August 28, 2025, Ministry of Industries and Production briefed the forum that USC was established on 3rd September, 1971 as a government company to provide essential food items at subsidised rates and act as a price moderator. In 2007, its network was expanded to the level of Union Council, increasing the number of outlets from 1,023 to 5,557 and that of staff members from 3,892 to 12,749 by 2009. This necessitated the increase in substantial subsidies to sustain the operations of the USC. Despite support, the USC had been incurring continuous losses since 2013, with accumulated losses reaching Rs. 23.8 billion by June 2025.

On August 13, 2024, the Federal Cabinet placed USC in Phase-II of the active privatisation list. Later, on 16th August, 2024, the Federal Government was pleased to discontinue subsidies for the USC. To cut losses, USC Board approved a rightsizing plan in December 2024 which led to the reduction in the number of stores from 3,742 to 1,904 and employees from 11,614 to 7,710 by February, 2025. Despite these efforts for rightsizing, the projected annual losses remained around Rs. 8.315 billion annually. Accordingly, a case was presented to the Prime Minister on 28th June, 2025 with two options viz ;(i) closure of operations by 31st July 2025; or (ii) continuation of operations till its privatisation along with Rs. 14 billion grant to clear the vendor liabilities and stabilise cash flow.

‘Smooth’ USC closure: Rs30.216bn TSG approved by ECC

The Prime Minister approved the closure of the USC operations by 31st July 2025 and constituted a committee under the Finance Minister to oversee the closure, early privatisation, and modalities for payment of Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) to regular employees.

The USC’s Board of Directors approved the closure of its operations on July 31, 2025. The USC closed down 1,059 rented out stores and 1,230 franchise outlets between 3rd and 14th July, 2025. However, Collective Bargaining Agents (CBA) and staff unions staged a sit-in at the USC Headquarters, Islamabad, thereby halting the process. To address their concerns, the Prime Minister constituted a committee led by the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah to hold meetings with the collective bargaining agents and staff unions. The sit-in was called off as a result of the meetings held on the 25th and 31st July, 2025, respectively.

The Ministry of Industries and Production further apprised the ECC that the committee chaired by Finance Minister held four meetings on 16th July and 15th, 20th and 22nd August 2025 to review the process of closure. The committee also finalised the following package to lay-off USC employees with a cost ranging between Rs. 16 and Rs. 19.5 billion: (i) a severance package of Rs. 13.225 billion for regular employees; (ii) a compensation package of Rs. 2.192 to Rs. 6.337 billion for contractual and daily wagers employees, to be finalized after negotiation with CBA; however, this will not be used as a precedent; and (iii) terminal dues of Rs. 5.067 billion for employees and a compensation package of Rs. 684 million for widows of employees in line with the employment terms of the USC.

The ECC was apprised by the Ministry of Industries and Production that the USC stopped its operations nationwide on 31st July 2025 and started shifting stocks from stores to the warehouses for further disposal. It intended to lay-off majority of its staff by 31st August 2025. The Ministry of Industries and Production further informed the ECC that the USC employees have not been paid their salaries for the month of July and August 2025, as well as, salaries for half the month of April 2025. Hence, a total sum of Rs. 1.467 billion is required to pay the salaries of 7,710 employees.

The committee constituted under Finance Minister also instructed the USC to obtain fresh valuations for its 21 properties to partially meet the cost of laying-off staff and meeting other liabilities. In response, preliminary assessments conducted by State Bank of Pakistan approved surveyors stated that the total value of these assets is between Rs. 10.5 billion to Rs. 12.6 billion. Out of these properties, the title of properties belonging to the Roti Corporation of Pakistan acquired by the USC from the Privatization Commission has not been transferred to USC yet. To proceed with the sale, these properties first need to be transferred to USC which may involve additional costs. A formal request has already been made to the Privatization Commission for the release of the original documents. Furthermore, certain USC properties are subject to leasehold rights, require building completion certificates, and are liable for commercialization charges. Completion of record and obtaining aforesaid permissions will require extra expenditure.

The Ministry of Industries and Production further informed the ECC that from September to November, 2025 around 832 staff (for maintaining 88 warehouses and 44 regional offices) will be required to complete audit, stocktaking, reconciliation and auction. Personnel to deal with pending and emerging litigation will also be needed. This will entail an approximate expenditure of Rs. 210 million per month. Moreover, from December 2025 to June 2026, a further reduced workforce of 326 employees will be retained to assist in disposal of the USC properties and to perform any residual tasks at a monthly expense of around Rs. 115 million.

The ECC was further apprised that the committee instructed the Ministry of Finance and the USC to prepare a detailed cash flow plan mapping out monthly inflows and outflows. The cash flow plan was presented to the committee on 22nd August, 2025. The committee further urged for early disposal of USC properties to generate funds to payoff the liabilities and tasked the Secretary Law & Justice Division to explore legal avenues for expeditious disposal of properties within the framework of the Privatization Commission Ordinance, 2000.

The Ministry of Industries and Productions also shared with the ECC that the financial condition of the Utility Stores Corporation (Private) Limited remained critical, with no funds available to pay the salaries or incur the expenditures for severance and compensation packages, and other dues of its employees. Moreover, USC intends to lay-off its employees with effect from 31st August 2025 minus the essential staff as explained in the summary. Therefore, it is essential that the severance and compensatory packages may be approved at the earliest. Accordingly, ECC has been requested to approve Rs. 30.216 billion as a supplementary grant to Ministry of Industries & Production for USC, as per following details and cash flow plan: (i) Rs. 13.225 billion for severance package to regular employees; (ii) Rs. 5.751 billion for terminal dues of regular and contract employees and compensation for widows of employees who have died in service, as per terms of employment; (iii) Rs. 2.192 to Rs. 6.337 billion, exact amount to be finalized after negotiation with CBA as one-time compensatory payment to contractual and daily wage staff; (iv) Rs. 1.467 billion for payment of salary for April (15 days) and operational expenses for July and August 2025; Rs.630 million for retention of 832 staff from September to November 2025 and Rs.805 million for retention of 326 staff from December 2025 to June 2026; and (v) Rs. 2 billion for payment of liabilities of vendors while remaining Rs. 9,935 million to be budgeted in FY 2026-27.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility Wednesday for a suicide bombing that authorities said killed 15 people and wounded dozens more at a political rally in southwestern Pakistan.

The claim for Tuesday’s attack in Quetta, capital of restive Balochistan province, was made through the group’s propaganda arm.

Balochistan interior minister Hamza Shafqat gave an updated death toll of 15.

Dozens were also wounded in the attack by a suicide bomber with eight kilograms (17.5 pounds) of explosives in a stadium parking lot in Quetta, where hundreds of members of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) had gathered, Shafqat said.

Balochistan, a province on the border with Iran and Afghanistan, is regularly the scene of violence, often carried out by jihadists from the regional branch of the Islamic State, or Baloch separatists.

Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest and most resource-rich province, but also its poorest, with roughly 70 percent of the population living below the poverty line.

Baloch separatists claim to be fighting to end discrimination against the Baloch people on their land.

Pakistani forces have been battling an insurgency in the province for more than a decade. In 2024 the region saw a sharp rise in violence, with 782 people killed, according to the Center for Research and Security Studies in Islamabad.

While Islamic State jihadists consider political parties and state institutions to be heretical, they rarely attack Baloch activists.

But on Tuesday evening in the Quetta stadium parking lot as BNP rally participants were dispersing, a suicide bomber detonated explosives.

IS published a photo of the alleged attacker, his face hidden by a scarf.

BNP leader Akhtar Mengal, who at the time of the attack was leaving the rally after delivering a speech, posted on X that he was “safe, but deeply heartbroken at the loss of our workers.”

The BNP campaigns on a platform calling for greater rights and economic investment in the wellbeing of members of the Baloch ethnicity.

Since 2014, China has invested significantly in building a road-and-infrastructure project in Balochistan linked to its One Belt One Road initiative.

Many Baloch, however, say the benefits have been reaped only by outsiders.

Since January 1, according to AFP figures, more than 430 people, mostly members of the security forces, have been killed in violence carried out by armed groups fighting the state in Balochistan and neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Elsewhere in Balochistan on Tuesday, five paramilitary personnel were killed and four wounded when a homemade bomb exploded as their convoy passed through a district near the Iranian border, a senior local official told AFP.

In March, Baloch Liberation Army separatists carried out a spectacular hostage-taking of some 350 people on a train there. Authorities said at least 31 people were killed.

The federal government has dispatched 105 tonnes of humanitarian relief assistance to quake-hit Afghanistan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday.

The relief consignment was sent following a telephonic conversation between FM Dar and his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi.

A 6-magnitude earthquake, which struck Afghanistan on Sunday, killed a total of 1,469 people and injured more than 3,700, according to a new toll from Taliban authorities, making it one of the deadliest in decades to hit the impoverished country.

The consignment includes essential food items, medicines, tents, blankets, and bubble mats, aimed at supporting those affected by the recent earthquakes in Afghanistan.

“We extend our deepest condolences and prayers for the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” FM Dar wrote on X. He affirmed that Pakistan stood in solidarity with the brotherly people of Afghanistan in this difficult time.

The convoy crossed into Afghanistan via the Torkham border, aiming to provide immediate support to communities devastated by the recent seismic activity, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said in a statement.

A departure ceremony was held at the NDMA warehouse in Islamabad, with the Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Kheal Das Kohistani as the chief guest.

The ceremony was also attended by senior officials from the NDMA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On Wednesday, rescue teams struggled to reach survivors as night approached days after a powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, as access to remote areas remained obstructed.

Fearful of the near-constant aftershocks rattling the area, people huddled in the open air while others struggled to unearth those trapped under the heaps of flattened buildings.

The vast majority of the casualties — more than 1,450 — were in Kunar province, with a dozen dead and hundreds hurt in nearby Nangarhar and Laghman provinces.

Afghanistan also airdropped commandos to pull survivors from the rubble in areas ravaged by earthquakes, as a UN agency warned that food aid for victims would run out soon without urgent funding.

Dozens of commando forces were being airdropped at sites where helicopters cannot land, to help carry the injured to safer ground, in what aid groups said was a race against time to rescue those still stuck under rubble.

Time was also running out for those who survived the two devastating quakes in the remote eastern region of the impoverished country, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Wednesday.

John Aylieff, the head of WFP in Afghanistan, told Reuters that the agency only has enough funding and stocks for the next four weeks.

WFP funding for Afghanistan this year is just under $300 million, according to UN financial data, down from $1.7 billion in 2022, the first full year the country was ruled by the Taliban.

Resources for rescue and relief work are tight in the nation of 42 million people hit by war, poverty and shrinking aid. It has received limited global help after the disaster.

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Additional input from AFP, Reuters

The death toll in a suicide bombing near Shahwani Stadium in Quetta’s Sariab the previous night rose to 15 on Wednesday.

The attack occurred shortly after the conclusion of a public meeting of the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) held to mark the death anniversary of the late Sardar Attaullah Mengal. The banned militant Islamic State group claimed responsibility today for the attack, AFP reported.

Addressing a press conference today, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat said that the suicide attack claimed 15 lives and injured 32 others.

He said the explosion occurred approximately 500 metres from the exit point of the rally, adding that the rally had officially concluded hours earlier, with the blast taking place at 9:45pm in a poorly lit area near a graveyard.

Shafqaat said that the attacker was unable to breach the main gathering due to stringent security measures, including the deployment of 120 police personnel.

He added that this forced the assailant to detonate the device away from the crowd. “The remains of the bomber, believed to be under 30 years old, were recovered, and authorities estimate that around eight kilogrammes of explosives were used,” he said.

Shaqaat said that the chief minister had announced a compensation package of Rs1.5 million for families of the deceased, Rs0.5m for each injured individual and Rs 200,000 in support for minor victims.

He said Section 144 has been enforced across Balochistan till September 15 and a province-wide high alert remains in effect, adding that authorities have also prohibited public gatherings and processions after sundown, especially during Eid Miladun Nabi, to ensure public safety.

Shafqaat urged the public to trust law enforcement agencies, follow security protocols and report any suspicious activity.

CM Bugti orders swift action against perpetrators, calls for unity

Separately, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, declaring that terrorists would not be allowed to destabilise the province’s peace.

The chief minister expressed these remarks during a high-level meeting on law and order convened in the wake of the attack.

During the meeting, Shafqaat and Acting Inspector General of Police Saeed Wazir presented a detailed briefing on the incident. CM Bugti emphasised the need to strengthen security protocols and assured that there would be zero tolerance for lapses in public protection.

He directed Shafqaat to keep both the public and media informed with verified updates to counter misinformation.

“The terrorists behind the Shahwani Stadium blast will be brought to their logical conclusion and held accountable under the law,” Bugti added, reaffirming the government’s solidarity with the victims’ families.

He said that critically injured individuals would be transferred to Karachi via government air services if necessary to ensure optimal medical care.

The chief minister urged political parties and citizens to cooperate with law enforcement agencies during the current threat alert.

“This is a time for unity and collective resolve to defeat those who seek to spread fear,” he said.

In preparation for upcoming religious events, Bugti instructed officials to devise a comprehensive security plan for Eid Miladun Nabi processions. He appealed to the public to support authorities in maintaining peace during these gatherings.

He also visited Civil Hospital’s Trauma Centre and Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Quetta to enquire about the health of blast victims.

Health department officials briefed the chief minister on the medical facilities provided to the injured.

The chief minister met the injured and their heirs and asked about the quality of treatment.

Expressing his satisfaction over the steps taken for the treatment and care of the injured, he said that all possible medical facilities were being provided to the injured.

CM Bugti said that terrorists were showing cowardice by targeting innocent citizens and they would not succeed in their design to sabotage the peace of the province.

President, PM Shehbaz condemn blast

President Asif Ali Zardari vehemently condemned the blast, said a statement from the Presidency, adding he directed the relevant institutions to launch a comprehensive investigation into the incident and ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice.

The president expressed his profound grief and solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives in the attack, offering his condolences. He also prayed for the swift recovery of the injured and issued directives to concerned officials to provide them with the best possible medical treatment.

In a separate statement issued from the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently on an official visit to Beijing, also condemned the attack in the strongest terms. The premier expressed his deep sorrow and anguish over the loss of lives.

PM Shehbaz characterised the assault on the political rally as “damning evidence of the nefarious conspiracy by terrorists to spread chaos in Balochistan”. He asserted that “terrorists are the enemies of peace and development in Balochistan.”

He further declared, “We will continue the war against terrorism until the complete eradication of this menace.”

PM Shehbaz stated that attacks on innocent and unarmed citizens were “cowardly and condemnable”. The prime minister also instructed authorities to provide the best medical facilities to the wounded and to ensure the swift identification and prosecution of those involved in the bombing.

He also spoke with CM Bugti to extend his condolences.

“The terrorists involved in the blast will be traced and given exemplary punishment,” the prime minister said. “Terrorists are enemies of peace and development in Balochistan.“

• Aid includes essential food items, medicines, tents, blankets.
• Convoy enters Afghanistan via Torkham border, says NDMA.
• NDMA holds departure ceremony in Islamabad.

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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday that the federal government dispatched 105 tonnes of humanitarian relief assistance to quake-hit Afghanistan following his telephone call with Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi.

A 6-magnitude earthquake, which struck Afghanistan on Sunday, killed a total of 1,469 people and injured more than 3,700, according to a new toll from Taliban authorities, making it one of the deadliest in decades to hit the impoverished country.

The consignment includes essential food items, medicines, tents, blankets, and bubble mats, aimed at supporting those affected by the recent earthquakes in Afghanistan.

“We extend our deepest condolences and prayers for the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” FM Dar wrote on X. He affirmed that Pakistan stood in solidarity with the brotherly people of Afghanistan in this difficult time.

The convoy crossed into Afghanistan via the Torkham border, aiming to provide immediate support to communities devastated by the recent seismic activity, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said in a statement.

A departure ceremony was held at the NDMA warehouse in Islamabad, with the Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Kheal Das Kohistani as the chief guest.

The ceremony was also attended by senior officials from the NDMA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On Wednesday, rescue teams struggled to reach survivors as night approached days after a powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, as access to remote areas remained obstructed.

Fearful of the near-constant aftershocks rattling the area, people huddled in the open air while others struggled to unearth those trapped under the heaps of flattened buildings.

The vast majority of the casualties — more than 1,450 — were in Kunar province, with a dozen dead and hundreds hurt in nearby Nangarhar and Laghman provinces.

Afghanistan also airdropped commandos to pull survivors from the rubble in areas ravaged by earthquakes, as a UN agency warned that food aid for victims would run out soon without urgent funding.

Dozens of commando forces were being airdropped at sites where helicopters cannot land, to help carry the injured to safer ground, in what aid groups said was a race against time to rescue those still stuck under rubble.

Time was also running out for those who survived the two devastating quakes in the remote eastern region of the impoverished country, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Wednesday.

John Aylieff, the head of WFP in Afghanistan, told Reuters that the agency only has enough funding and stocks for the next four weeks.

WFP funding for Afghanistan this year is just under $300 million, according to UN financial data, down from $1.7 billion in 2022, the first full year the country was ruled by the Taliban.

Resources for rescue and relief work are tight in the nation of 42 million people hit by war, poverty and shrinking aid. It has received limited global help after the disaster.

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Additional input from AFP, Reuters