Category: 1. Pakistan

• Lower riparian takes measures to tackle inflows from swollen Indus tributaries at Guddu Barrage
• Irsa director says flood of about 650,000 cusecs likely at Guddu if current situation persists

HYDERABAD: As Sindh anticipates a very high flood between Sept 1 and 3 at Guddu Barrage — its first barrage on the Indus River — due to the swollen eastern rivers currently wreaking havoc in Punjab, the downstream province has asked the authorities to reduce outflows from Tarbela Dam to help it manage the deluge.

As multiple rivers submerge Punjab, Sindh has reached out to the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) to reduce outflows from Tarbela and retain water at Chashma Barrage — a request accepted by the authority.

The provincial irrigation authorities are keeping an eye on flows generated in the Chenab, Sutlej, and Ravi rivers, as all these rivers converge in the Indus at Mithankot after passing the Panjnad Barrage built over the Jhelum River. At Panjnad, all tributaries of the Indus meet on their way to the sea through Sindh.

“As of today, I foresee a flow of between 650,000 and 700,000 cusecs at Guddu Barrage once the flows start reaching here from the eastern rivers,” Jam Khan, Sindh’s irrigation minister, told Dawn on the phone from Karachi. “Right now it is a guessing game because nobody knows how the rainfall pattern behaves but we are making full preparations and accordingly managing staff at the dykes,” he added.

Zarif Kharif, the Sindh irrigation secretary, said a similar situation was witnessed in 2014 when Khanki Barrage on Chenab reported 947,000 cusecs flow on Sept 7, 2014 and Sindh had received about 475,000 cusecs.

“This time, the situation is a bit different because Guddu passed a high flood of 510,798 cusecs on Aug 24. As of Wednesday, Guddu was still showing an upstream discharge of 335,196 cusecs, he said, adding that the flows would increase once water from Punjab reached the barrage.

In order to manage the surge, the secretary confirmed that they reached out to Irsa Director Operations Khalid Idrees Rana for controlling outflows at Tarbela. An outflow of 154,500 cusecs was recorded at Tarbela at 6am on Wednesday, which notably increased to 256,200 cusecs at 6pm. This, coupled with the Kabul River, will reach Sindh’s barrages within a few days.

Tarbela Dam had attained the maximum storage level of 1,550 feet on Aug 21. After Irsa started discharging flows, the dam’s level stood at 1549.66ft on Wednesday at 6pm. Against this backdrop, the irrigation secretary asked Irsa to retain water at Chashma so that Sindh could manage its flows from the swollen eastern rivers.

“Yes, we have reduced flows from Tarbela (at Sindh’s request), where 155,000 cusecs outflow was recorded at 8pm Wednesday,” the Irsa operations director told Dawn. He also confirmed that “storage can be taken slightly higher than maximum storage of 1,550 feet. We can take it to 1550.2 or 1550.3 feet for now,” he argued.

He said that a positive sign was that there were no back-up flows in the Chenab. “We are observing nullahs like Palkhu, Basantpur and Bhimber currently,” he said. He pointed out that in view of the current situation, a flood of 650,000 cusecs or so was likely at Guddu and that too may last five to six hours. “We are struggling to manage flows in a way that Guddu’s discharge should remain below 600,000 cusecs.”

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2025

Punjab Education Secretary Khalid Nazir Watoo has denied rumours circulating on social media about extended school holidays until September 5. In a statement issued on Wednesday, he clarified that the notification about school closures, which has been circulating online, is fake.

“There has been no such notification issued by the Education Department regarding additional holidays,” he said. He further urged the public not to pay attention to these false claims, stating that no decision has been made regarding school closures.

He also recommended that the public check for authentic information on the official Facebook page of the School Education Department, where updates and announcements are made. The situation across Punjab has worsened as floodwaters swell following India’s release of water into eastern rivers.

The Pakistan Army has been deployed to assist in large-scale rescue and relief operations, with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirming that more than 210,000 people have been safely evacuated from vulnerable areas, with no casualties reported so far.

Read More: Punjab floods worsen after Indian water release

Water levels in major rivers and reservoirs remain critically high, with inflows surpassing 1.2 million cusecs and floodwaters continue to move downstream into Punjab.

Authorities reported both large-scale evacuations and extensive rescue efforts as concerns mounted over the safety of communities along the Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers.

According to the Water and Power Development Authority, the Indus River at Tarbela recorded an inflow of 240,000 cusecs and outflow of 245,400 cusecs.

At Mangla on the Jhelum, inflow was 34,000 cusecs and outflow 8,000 cusecs. Chashma saw inflows of 326,600 cusecs and outflows of 329,000 cusecs, while at Head Marala on the Chenab, inflows reached 107,500 cusecs against 89,500 cusecs outflow.

Another suspect in the torture of two brothers by street vendors in Raiwind was arrested, a lawyer representing the victims said on Wednesday.

The incident went viral on social media when a video clip showed some street vendors subjecting both brothers to severe torture on a road in the Raiwind area a few days back. They were lying in a pool of blood, and the suspected attackers, holding clubs in their hands, were spotted torturing them at a public place with many onlookers and passersby standing around. One brother died of severe torture marks at the spot, while the other succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.

The main suspect was arrested and handed over to the Crime Control Department (CCD) on Tuesday.

Ali Ahmed Awan, a lawyer representing the victims’ father, told Dawn.com that police have arrested the main suspect from Sahiwal.

“A total of six suspects are named in the case and so far, three have been arrested,” Awan said. “Police arrested the suspect from Sahiwal with the help of modern technology.”

The lawyer added that the suspect fled Raiwind after the incident and went into hiding in Sahiwal.

“The police are cooperating with us and we are satisfied with their performance,” Awan said. “Police raids are also being carried out to arrest the other suspects.

“All the suspects should be arrested and strict action should be taken,” he continued.

A first information report (FIR) of the incident was filed on the complaint of the victims’ father on August 22 at the Raiwind City Police Station under Sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 302 (murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

It said the incident occurred on August 21 at 5:45pm when the brothers were returning home and stopped to buy some fruit. “Due to a dispute over money, the owner of the fruit cart … and his brother … began beating my sons and called some other people,” the complainant said.

In June, Karachi police arrested a main suspect along with his two employees over charges of beating a citizen after a video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting authorities to take notice of it.

ISLAMABAD: Ninety Pakistani graduates have secured employment contracts and visas for jobs in the UAE under the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), Pakistani state media reported on Wednesday, saying the move would strengthen the country’s economy.

The NAVTTC is a Pakistani body that develops policies and strategies to enhance the quality and relevance of technical, vocational education and training programs in Pakistan. It also develops curriculum for that purpose, tests skills and maintains links with industries to ensure jobs for Pakistani graduates.

The 90 graduates have been recruited by the UAE-based Transguard Group of Companies and the Emirates Group of Companies for roles in security services, aircraft cleaning, and aviation loading, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said.

“By equipping young Pakistanis with globally relevant skills, we are opening doors to career opportunities abroad while also strengthening Pakistan’s economy,” Wajiha Qamar, Pakistan’s state minister for education, said at an event held in Islamabad to hand over the visa files to the graduates.

She said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to aligning youth training with international market demands.

“Partnerships with reputable international employers not only expand opportunities for our youth but also enhance Pakistan’s global workforce footprint,” Gulmina Bilal Ahmad, the NAVTTC chairperson, was quoted as saying by the APP.

APP said the starting salary package for the new recruits has been set at AED 2,500 [$680.66] per month, with two-year contracts renewable upon completion.

It said that out of the 90 candidates, 42 were NAVTTC trainees who had completed a six-month English language program to prepare for overseas employment.

Thousands of Pakistanis every year travel abroad for jobs in Gulf countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia for better work opportunities.

The remittances sent by Pakistani citizens employed abroad are crucial for the South Asian country as it seeks to shore up its foreign reserves, especially as it grapples with a prolonged economic crisis.

Last month, Pakistan’s Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment said it sent around 336,999 Pakistanis abroad from Jan. 1 to Jun. 30 this year.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast a fresh spell of rain accompanied by wind and thundershowers across the upper and central parts of the country from August 29 to September 02, with occasional gaps.

According to the PMD, strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are likely to penetrate northern parts of the country from August 29, while a westerly wave is also expected to approach the upper and central regions from August 30.

Under these conditions, widespread rainfall with scattered heavy downpours is likely in several areas.

Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan

Kashmir is expected to receive widespread rain with scattered heavy to very heavy falls from August 29 to September 02, particularly in Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Bagh, Haveli, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur. Gilgit-Baltistan, including Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar, may experience rain with isolated heavy falls from August 30 to September 1.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain-thundershowers with isolated heavy to very heavy falls are expected in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Waziristan, Tank and Dera Ismail Khan between August 29 and September 01.

Islamabad and Central Punjab

Widespread rain with scattered heavy to very heavy downpours is also predicted in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Lahore, Faisalabad and adjoining districts from August 29 to September 02.

South Punjab

Southern Punjab districts, including Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Layyah and Rajanpur, may also receive rain with isolated heavy falls during the same period.

Sindh

In Sindh, rain with wind-thundershowers is expected in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Dadu, Jacobabad, Sukkur and Larkana on August 30 and 31.

Balochistan

In Balochistan, Barkhan, Loralai, Zhob, Khuzdar and adjoining areas may receive rain with isolated heavy falls from August 30 to September 01.

The PMD has warned of flash floods in local nullahs and streams of Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi-Islamabad, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northeast Punjab from August 29 (night) to September 01

Urban flooding may also occur in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Nowshera and Mardan. Landslides and mudslides are likely in hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir. Strong winds, heavy falls, and lightning may damage weak structures, including kacha houses, billboards, solar panels and electric poles.

The public, travellers and tourists have been strongly advised to remain cautious, avoid unnecessary movement in vulnerable areas, and stay updated on the latest weather reports.
The concerned authorities have been directed to remain on high alert and take precautionary measures to prevent any untoward situation.

The Punjab government is set to decide on August 29 whether school holidays will be extended in light of the ongoing flood situation across the province.

Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar is expected to make an important announcement regarding schools, as authorities assess the risks posed by heavy rains and flooding.

According to a private news channel, the School Education Department is bringing together all provincial institutions on a single platform to develop a coordinated strategy for recovery and safety in flood-affected areas. The plan will be based on ground realities and aim to ensure the protection of students and communities.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has forecast that strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are likely to enter the upper parts of the country from August 29.

A westerly wave is also expected to approach the upper and central regions starting August 30, which could further intensify weather conditions.