Category: 1. Pakistan

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued an alert for heavy rains expected across Islamabad and Punjab from September 1 to 3. The authority has cautioned that ongoing flood conditions could worsen with the new spell of heavy rains.

Flood-prone districts—including Murai, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, and Hafizabad—face heightened risk, while Lahore, Chiniot, Sialkot, and Faisalabad are also under threat due to the forecasted deluge.

Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Sahiwal, and Rahim Yar Khan are also on alert for emerging flood conditions.

Read More: Devastating floods have displaced nearly 2m people

Heavy downpours and swift currents may pose a critical threat at the Marala Headworks and may spill over into adjacent hamlets, NDMA cautioned.

Residents in low-lying areas adjacent to streams are advised to remain on high alert and avoid non-essential travel, as water levels may rise unexpectedly.

The authority also urged departments concerned to keep emergency machinery and pumps ready to protect infrastructure, and keep communities updated about potential hazards.

The warning came as Punjab faces another flood threat, potentially more severe than the recent one, following India’s release of massive amounts of water from the Salal Dam without official notice.

According to Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the release is expected to send an estimated 800,000 cusecs of floodwater into Chenab within 48 hours, raising fears of ‘extremely high flood conditions’ across multiple districts.

Also Read: Displaced Pakistani women face uncertainty amid rising floodwaters

PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said all districts along the Chenab have been placed on high alert, with commissioners and deputy commissioners have been instructed to remain in the field. “The next 36 hours are critical,” he warned, stressing that the water level could reach a dangerous level at Head Marala. The surge comes as flooding has already caused widespread destruction along the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers.

Meanwhile, with Tarbela Dam now at 100 per cent capacity and Mangla at 82 per cent, officials warn that the margin for absorbing further inflows is rapidly shrinking.

Strong tremors were felt in Delhi-NCR as well.

New Delhi: An earthquake hit Jammu and Kashmir at around 00:40 AM on Monday, 01 September 2025. Reports suggest that the earthquake was felt across northern Pakistan and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The estimated magnitude of the earthquake was 5.4 on the Richter Scale. It affected India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan.

LAHORE:

Punjab is under another flood threat, even greater than the recent one, after India releases massive water from Salal Dam without official notice.

According to Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the release is expected to send an estimated 800,000 cusecs of floodwater into Pakistan’s River Chenab within 48 hours, raising fears of ‘extremely high flood conditions’ across multiple districts.

PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said all districts along Chenab have been placed on high alert, with commissioners and deputy commissioners have been instructed to remain in the field. “The next 36 hours are critical,” he warned, stressing that the water level could reach dangerous level at Head Marala. The surge comes as flooding has already caused widespread destruction along the Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab rivers.

On the other hand, with Tarbela Dam now at 100 per cent capacity and Mangla at 82 per cent, officials warn that the margin for absorbing further inflows is shrinking.

Breaches of embankments in Bahawalpur have inundated thousands of acres of crops, displacing villagers who are now evacuating with their livestock by boat. In Jhang, rescue teams continue to evacuate stranded families from the village of Jangran, while in Muzaffargarh, rising water level in the Chenab has forced authorities to consider emergency breaches to reduce pressure.

In Multan’s Shujaabad tehsil, authorities warned that up to 800,000 cusecs of water may flow through the Chenab, posing serious threat to 140 villages. Commissioner Amir Karim said that if needed, controlled cuts would be made at Head Muhammadwala to safeguard downstream areas.

Meanwhile, in Narowal and Nankana Sahib, breaches in protective bunds have pushed floodwaters into both urban and rural settlements, destroying crops and livestock. At Head Ganda Singh Wala on Sutlej, officials reported ‘alarming flood levels’ that have already wiped out thousands of acres of farmland.

Disaster claims 33 lives

Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed said more than 2,000 villages have been inundated across the province, affecting nearly 2.06 million people. So far, over 760,000 people have been evacuated to safer areas. Authorities have set up 511 relief camps, 354 medical camps, and 333 veterinary centers, while more than 516,000 livestock have been shifted to higher ground.

The disaster has already claimed 33 lives, leaving dozens injured. The Punjab government has announced compensation for affected families and farmers, pledging that losses would be assessed and financial assistance disbursed accordingly.

Heavy rainfall forecast

With heavy rainfall forecast in upper catchment areas until September 3, PDMA has also issued flood alerts for the Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab and connected streams through September 5. Local administrations have begun mosque announcements in Wazirabad and surrounding areas, urging residents to move to higher ground.

The Meteorological Department reported that in the past 24 hours, Lahore received 158mm of rainfall, Hafizabad 121mm, Multan 112mm, Okara 79mm, Sheikhupura 66mm, and Faisalabad 55mm. The ongoing ninth monsoon spell is expected to persist until September 2, with further widespread showers likely.

Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed has directed the agriculture, irrigation, health, livestock, forestry and transport departments to remain alert and fully mobilised.

Dozens of schools across Lahore, Arifwala and Pakpattan have been closed and turned into relief camps. According to official figures, 18 government schools in Lahore are currently housing more than 4,000 displaced people, with another 65 schools identified as potential relief centres if evacuations increase.

Monsoon downpours have compounded the misery of flood-hit communities. In Lahore, heavy rain has left key roads including Mall Road, Gulberg and Davis Road under water, worsening conditions in areas already submerged by Ravi floodwaters.

In Chiniot, 144 villages are inundated, with families trapped in water up to ten feet deep. Jhang has reported 180 villages submerged, while in Dera Ghazi Khan washed-out roads have left families dependent on boats for food and supplies. Health risks are escalating rapidly.

Waterborne diseases rise in submerged areas

Flooded settlements have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, fuelling spikes in dengue and malaria. Contaminated water has led to outbreaks of cholera, diarrhea and skin infections, while children and elderly people are reporting fever and respiratory illnesses.

Emergency health camps have been set up in Shahdara and other affected towns, but doctors warn that clean water shortages and poor sanitation remain severe challenges.

Environmental experts caution that while emergency relief is critical, Pakistan’s recurring flood disasters underscore deeper systemic failures. They point to unchecked housing along riverbanks, weak flood protection infrastructure and chronic underinvestment in reservoirs and early warning systems.

As thousands of families shelter in overcrowded schools with insufficient bedding and kitchen utensils. Aid workers stress that immediate needs—food, medicine and clean water—must be met, and also warn that long-term solutions can no longer be delayed.

• Minister says consensus reached to provide Rs28bn package.
• Lauds USC role in providing commodities at subsidised rates.
• “Pakistan’s economy showing signs of improvement.”
  

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary on Sunday announced the closure of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) across the country.

Addressing a press conference alongside USC Managing Director Shabbir Khattak and Secretary General of the National Welfare Union of USC Raja Muhammad Miskeen, the minister assured that the rights of all USC employees — permanent, contractual, and daily wagers — had been fully protected under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

He said a consensus had been reached between the government and the USC employees’ union to provide a comprehensive severance package worth Rs28.2 billion.

Three days earlier, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved Rs30.216 billion for the Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) for almost 11,350 employees of the defunct USC.

The USC has been closed down, but a certain number of employees would be retained in order to dispose of its properties and assets in a smooth manner.

Addressing the presser today, Dr Tariq Fazal noted that USC, established in 1971, had played a vital role in providing essential commodities to the public at subsidised rates. By 2009, its network had expanded to more than 5,500 stores nationwide, employing nearly 12,750 workers. However, despite repeated government interventions, the corporation continued to suffer heavy losses.

“The premier has made it clear that employees must not suffer due to the closure,” he said, adding that a special committee chaired by the finance minister had been constituted to oversee the process. He further said the Ministries of Finance and Industries and Production also played a key role in finalising the severance benefits.

Highlighting the unprecedented scope of the package, Dr Fazal emphasised that this was the first time in Pakistan’s history that contractual and daily-wage employees were being included, ensuring fair compensation for all USC staff.

Turning to broader national issues, the minister said Pakistan’s economy was showing signs of improvement with key indicators moving positively. At the same time, he expressed grief over the devastation caused by recent floods, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where around 800 lives had been lost.

He praised the Pakistan Army, NDMA, provincial administrations, and civil society for their relief and rescue efforts, while lauding PM Shehbaz Sharif’s directive for urgent assistance to affected families.

Speaking during the presser, Raja Muhammad Miskeen expressed gratitude to the prime minister and the federal government for ensuring what he described as a fair and respectable settlement for USC employees.

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government announced the closure of all utility stores across the country, citing persistent financial losses despite multiple efforts to revive the organization.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Sunday, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the decision was taken on the prime minister’s directives, and the stores will be shut down from August 31. Senior officials of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) were also present at the briefing.

“The Utility Stores Corporation has played a significant role in the national economy since its establishment in 1971,” the minister said. “Despite continuous efforts, we failed to reduce the losses of the corporation, and therefore, it had to be closed down,” he added.

The minister revealed that USC currently employs 11,614 workers, who will receive a Rs28 billion severance package. “The rights of employees have been fully safeguarded, and even contractual staff will be compensated,” he added.

The minister further announced that all USC assets nationwide will be auctioned, ensuring transparency in the process.

Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik said on Sunday that nearly two million people have been displaced across Pakistan due to devastating floods, warning that the brunt of the crisis is falling on the country’s poorest families.
 
“Our first, second, and third priority is the poorest 40 percent—around 800,000 people—who do not have wealthy relatives to rely on and are in dire need of aid,” Malik told media.
 
Flanked by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, the Climate Minister urged the nation to stand with the poor. “If there is any NGO in your area or if you personally can help a displaced family, please do so,” he emphasized.
 
The government, he said, is prioritizing urgent relief measures including the distribution of food, medicines, mosquito nets, clean drinking water, water tanks, and temporary electricity supplies to flood-hit communities.
 
Authorities are also on high alert for the spread of epidemics in crowded makeshift camps.
 
Malik emphasized that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, despite being abroad, is receiving daily briefings and issuing guidance on relief operations. The same reports, he said, are shared with the country’s military leadership, Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir who is personally supervising the situation on the ground.
 
“The federal government is standing shoulder to shoulder with the provinces, and the Army, Rangers, NDMA, PDMA, and Rescue 1122 are all working together,” Malik said. “No one can stop a natural disaster, but we are making every effort to mitigate its damage.”
 
The minister noted that early simulations and community evacuation drills conducted over the past six months have helped reduce the loss of human life compared to previous disasters, even as property, crops, and livelihoods have been destroyed.
 
Floodwaters remain a major threat at Head Trimmu, Head Panjnad, and Kot Mithan, where several rivers converge. Authorities are working to keep water flows below one million cusecs but are preparing for higher surges. Controlled breaches in uninhabited areas are planned to protect larger populations from disaster.
 
Malik pointed to Punjab’s geography—where five rivers converge—as a challenge, warning that the Panjnad system could face flows as high as three million cusecs if conditions worsen.
 
Beyond the immediate disaster, Malik underscored that Pakistan’s plight highlights the global climate crisis. “What we are calling climate change is a reality. Rising temperatures are melting glaciers, and this melting is causing disasters such as flash floods and blockages,” he said.
 
He noted that Pakistan contributes less than one percent of global carbon emissions, yet bears the brunt of the consequences. “The top 8 to 10 countries in the world are responsible for 70 percent of these emissions,” he stressed.
 
In addition to praising the efforts of provincial governments and security forces in Narowal, Sialkot, and flood-hit parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Malik urged national unity and solidarity.
 
“Let me emphasize: no single institution can take credit for this. This responsibility belongs to Pakistan, and any relief being provided is for Pakistan,” he said. “Above all, the government stands with the poor.”

In a significant step toward expanding Pakistan’s global diplomatic outreach, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar today formally exchanged a Joint Communiqué with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, officially establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

A ceremony to this effect was held in Tianjin, China.

Marking a historic step forward, both the leaders affirmed their commitment to the principles and objectives of United Nations Charter and discussed possible avenues of cooperation including economy, education, culture, and tourism.

The two leaders reaffirmed their desire to work closely with each other at bilateral and multilateral fora, to achieve their shared objectives of peace, progress, and prosperity for the peoples of their two countries.