Category: 1. Pakistan

Islamabad: As Pakistan’s Punjab province battles one of the worst flooding in decades, at least 28 more people have been killed due to flash floods and urban inundation triggered by torrential monsoon rains, local media reported on Saturday.

According to the data from Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), more than 1.46 million people in 1,769 mouzas have been affected by the raging flood in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicts another spell of heavy downpour accompanied by wind and thunderstorms on Saturday across several regions.

It cautioned that flash floods, urban flooding, and landslides could hit Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Islamabad, and the Potohar region, while northeastern Balochistan, southeastern Sindh, and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan are expected to be hit by evening downpours.

The PMD warned that intense rainfall could cause floods in streams and nullahs in northern KP, Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and northeast Punjab. Additionally, the low-lying areas in cities Lahore, Gujranwala, and Sialkot are at risk of urban flooding. Landslides and mudslides could also block roads in the hilly region of KP and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, leading Pakistani daily ‘Express Tribune’ reported.

The PDMA also cautioned of a looming threat in Okara and Sahiwal, warning that Ravi’s rising surge could inundate Sadani within 36 hours. “When the water level is high at Balloki, problems will arise on the drain dyke,” the authority warned.

As torrential monsoon rains continue to lash Pakistan, three of the major rivers in Punjab, including Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej, have reached “super flood” stage and overflowed simultaneously for the first time in the country’s history.

Reports suggest that officials have deliberately breached the RRA-1 embankment to shield Kasur city from flooding as the River Sutlej has swelled to a record level since 1955.

The PDMA also warned of a looming threat in two Punjab districts, Okara and Sahiwal, cautioning that rising water levels in the Ravi could submerge the Sadani region within 36 hours.

“When the water level is high at Balloki, problems will arise on the drain dyke,” the authority further warned.

On Friday, rising flood water struck the country’s second biggest city, Lahore, and threatened to submerge the major town of Jhang, as the region faced its worst flooding in almost 40 years.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) announced a flood warning for the Chenab River at Head Marala in Punjab’s Sialkot district, sending out alerts via SMS to mobile phone users. The authority flagged high flood risk at Marala, Khanki, and Qadirabad headworks, advising residents to stay prepared for any emergency.

(IANS) 

The federal cabinet on Saturday approved a 15% increase in pensions under the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI).

Talking to journalists, following the cabinet meeting, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain said: “EOBI pensions have been increased.”

He said that the EOBI pensioners will be paid, including arrears, from September 1, the minister added. Hussain said that the EOBI would release Rs10 billion in monthly pension.

“Pensioners with long service will now be able to receive a pension of more than Rs30,000 per month,” the minister added.

He maintained that a committee had been formed to include the informal sector and domestic workers in the EOBI. The committee would also work towards including agricultural labourers in the EOBI system, Hussain added.

The fresh increase in pension is in addition to the 15% raise approved by the cabinet last month.

In July, the cabinet approved a 15% hike in pensions under the EOBI, which was to take effect from January 1, 2025.

Earlier this week, the EOBI assured the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development that the pensions would be released, with the minimum pension raised from Rs10,000 to Rs11,500 with effect from January 1, 2025 to be disbursed along with all arrears on September 1, 2025.

A police officer was martyred and three terrorists killed during a shootout in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat district on Saturday.

Kohat Regional Police Officer (RPO) Abbas Majeed Marwat said that the terrorists carried out a cowardly attack on the police personnel in Lachi area of Kohat, adding that the attack left one police officer, Inspector Ashfaq, martyred and two others injured.

In retaliatory fire, three terrorists were also neutralised, he added.

Police and law enforcement agencies in the province have long been facing a surge in terrorist attacks. Earlier this month, a terrorist attack on a checkpost in KP’s Bannu district left one police personnel martyred and three militants dead.

According to police, the terrorists had attacked the Fateh Khel checkpost with heavy weapons, after which an exchange of fire took place between the police personnel and the terrorists.

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in cross-border terror incidents since Taliban rulers returned to Afghanistan in 2021, particularly in the bordering provinces of KP and Balochistan.

According to a report released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank, the country witnessed 78 terrorist attacks during the month of June, which resulted in at least 100 deaths.

Among the fatalities were 53 security personnel, 39 civilians, six militants, and two members of local peace committees.

A total of 189 people were injured, including 126 members of the security forces and 63 civilians.

Altogether, the violence and operations led to 175 deaths in June — among them, 55 security personnel, 77 militants, 41 civilians, and two peace committee members.

The Pakistan International Airline (PIA) has temporarily shifted its flight operation from Sialkot to Lahore, viewing the flood situation.

In an official announcement about the flight operation in Sialkot, the PIA spokesperson said as per a Notam issued by the Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL), flight operation was temporarily suspended at the airport owing to the flood situation.

Notam is an official notification issued to alert pilots and aviation personnel about important information that may affect flight operations.

The official said all the PIA flights operating from the Sialkot airport would now be operated from the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore.

“Passengers are requested to contact the airline’s call centre at 786-786-111 for timely information and flight schedules, to avoid any inconvenience,” the PIA spokesperson said.

Downpour, water discharge by India likely to trigger ‘severe flood’ in Ravi river

Pakistan has for several weeks been battling monsoon rains, with more than 210,000 people displaced, including 40,000 who left voluntarily after flood warnings since August 14.

The official death toll from the country’s floods since the start of the monsoon season in late June stood at 831 on Saturday, half of them in August.

Sialkot is among the worst-hit cities, with receiving record downpour this year.

SIAL spokesperson Umair Khan has said a formal NOTAM has been issued regarding the suspension of flight operations as floodwater is being drained from the airport.

“All types of flight operations at Sialkot International Airport will remain suspended until 10:00 PM on August 31,” he said.

The spokesperson said that all officers and employees of SIAL are busy with the ongoing operation to drain flood water day and night.

All resources including dewatering pumps are being brought in and all the equipments installed at the airport is completely safe, he added.

When a young reporter went viral for squealing her way through “live coverage” on a rocking boat during floods, many thought BBC Urdu had found its quirkiest new correspondent.

But as it turns out, Mehrunnisa wasn’t holding a mic for the British Broadcasting Corporation at all — she was on duty for something entirely different: Bhai Bhai Channel.

Multiple rivers in Punjab, including Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab are witnessing increased water flow due to torrential rains coupled with the water discharge from India, killing at least 30 people.

Amid this devastation, social media users in Pakistan found a lighthearted moment in reporting of Mehrunnisa. It all started when the “BBC Urdu News Punjab TV” reporter was covering the Punjab floods from a rocking boat.

She kicked off her report with all the seriousness: “As you can see, the water pressure is rising.” But within seconds, the character broke, giving way to an unfiltered squeal: “Bohat dar lag raha hai, kabhi yeh iss side hoti hai kabhi uss — balance nahin ho raha humse (We’re terrified, the boat keeps tipping from one side to another, we can’t balance).”

And then came the sign-off that sealed her viral fame: “Bas aap hamare liye dua karein, guys” (Just pray for us, guys).

During this what some social media users say “cute reporting”, some identified the logo on her mic — which stated: “BBC Urdu” — resembling with an international media outlet’s one. However, this wasn’t the case.

After the video went viral, the BBC Urdu issued a statement to clear the air. “It has come to our attention that a digital media company called BBC Urdu News Punjab TV is operating in Pakistan while using the BBC’s name,” it stated.

“The BBC has no connection whatsoever with this organisation or its reporters, nor has it authorised the use of its name in this manner,” it said, distancing itself from the digital platform and the reporter.

The British broadcaster warned audiences to beware of impostors and requesting to “first verify the presence of any content published under the BBC’s name on the BBC’s official platforms.”

As expected, Mehrunnisa — now a viral sensation — didn’t back down and offered her own clarification.

“People say we copied BBC, but we didn’t. Their BBC stands for British Broadcasting Corporation, and our BBC stands for… Bhai Bhai Channel.” She squealed, she panicked, and she signed off proudly. 

‘Bhai Bhai Channel’ shuts down over BBC strike

Viral reporter Mehrunnisa has revealed that the British Broadcasting Corporation has struck down her social media platforms – YouTube and TikTok – by filing a copyrights complaint to the social media companies.

Speaking to Geo News, she said that her social media platforms have been shut down over copyrights complaints by the BBC. 

After her channels were shut down, Mehrunnisa appealed to the BBC to take back the strikes. She appealed: “It’s my appeal to the BBC to take back the strikes issued on my channels on youtube and TikTok.”

“Our accounts have been shut down over a copyright strike. We are a small, Lahore based channel. We have worked hard on it. We have no competition with you. Please restore us,” she added.