Tens of thousands evacuated as nor thern China hit by torrential rain

BEIJING

Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from high-risk areas of Beijing and another northern city as much of China was lashed by torrential rain on Sunday

Deadly storm Doksuri has been sweeping northwards over China since Friday when it careened into southern Fujian province after battering the Philippines as a typhoon

The Chinese capital and surrounding region were drenched over the weekend, with officials warning of potentially hazardous conditions including floods swelling rivers mudslides and landslides

More than 27 000 people in high-risk areas of Beijing have been evacuated, and another 20,000 were relocated from parts of neighbouring province Hebei’s capital Shijiazhuang state media said

Hundreds of millions of people in northern China including in Beijing remain under a red alert the highest level for heavy rain through at least Monday afternoon

The alert covers Beijing s 22 million people and Tianjin’s 14 million, as well as parts of Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong and Henan provinces

It is the first time since 2011 that such a heavy rainfall warning has been issued according to local media

Chinese authorities have been cautious about heavy downpours since severe flooding in 2021 killed more than 300 people in central China mainly in the city of Zhengzhou

In Beijing residents were urged on Sunday not to go outside unless necessary advice that appeared widely heeded with the usually buzzing streets empty of many cars or pedestrians Companies were also told not to force their employees to come to work unless necessary

Many popular sites in the capital were temporarily closed including the Forbidden

City libraries and museums

The sprawling National Centre for the Performing Arts, located near Tiananmen Square, cancelled opera and musical performances scheduled for Sunday City officials ordered all school buildings to shut as some students and teachers were using the facilities for training or extracurricular activities like sports during the summer break

On Sunday, the Ministry of Water Resources raised its flood warning after some

Corporate Corner

IESCO notifies power suspension programme

AM to 12:00 Noon, Islamabad Circle, Highway, Zia Masjid, Service Road East, Iqbal Town Feeders Rawalpindi City Circle Fazahia Nogzi Bajnyal Azizabad People's Colony Feeders Rawalpindi Cantt Circle Rahmatabad-1feeder Chakwal Circle Chakaral Sarkal Latifal Feeders Jhelum Circle Express Mangala, Madu Kals Feeder, Attock Circle, Pind Pran, Valley, Gulshan Sehat, Sangjani, Shahullah Dutta, AWT 4, MVCHS, MPCHS B-17, Paswal, Sarai Kharboza Feeders and surrounding areas

AIOU commences final examinations from S ept 1

ISLAMABAD: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) is conducting examinations of open courses, certificate courses, Matriculation, FA, and ICom programs offered in the spring 2023 semester from September 1 2023 to October 5 2023 throughout the country

The date sheet is available on the university website www aiou edu pk, said the press release issued by the AIOU Roll number slips are being uploaded to students' CMS portal and will be dispatched to the students at their addresses as well

AIOU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood has instructed the examinations department to ensure transparency and provide all facilities to the students during the conduct of examinations

Examination centers are being established across the country in nearby and easily approachable vicinities of the students for their convenience Special teams will make surprise visits to the exam centers to eradicate the element of cheating and will check the identities of students PR

Pakistan faces another crisis to deal with human trafficking: sharmila

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Sindh MPA Ms

Sharmila Farooqui said on Sunday that besides the challenges of economic and political uncertainty

Pakistan also has another crisis to deal with human trafficking

"We must also enhance cooperation and coordination among law-enforcement agencies, non-government organizations and relevant stakeholders to combat human trafficking effectively Such collaboration can ensure a comprehensive response to the issue " she said in a statement on the eve of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2023 being observed today

Provincial governments must train police, labour inspectors, and social services to systematically and proactively identify trafficking victims, she maintained Sharmila said that the time to act against human trafficking is now so that the people could be to rescued protected and empowered By uniting against human trafficking we can pave the way for a brighter and more better future Let us stand as one against this scourge, dismantling the shadows and illuminating a path towards freedom, she added Sharmila said: "As the country grapples with one challenge after another its vulnerable citizens find themselves at the mercy of ruthless traffickers

Unstable economies and corrupt systems turn these vulnerable people into defenceless prey

She said that with rising poverty, unemployment, and inequalities, Pakistan has become a breeding ground for modern-day slavery People’s desperation urges them to conceal the horrors they face and continue to live a life of exploitation

This is especially so for women and children

She said that the escalating risks of trafficking in Pakistan are evident from an increase in trafficking victims In 2022, the government of Pakistan reported a staggering 35,309 trafficking victims, compared to 21 253 victims in 2021 – a significant increase of over 14 000 victims Traffickers continue to thrive here due to corruption and lax enforcement by lawenforcement agencies Sharmila added