PAKISTAN, BANGL ADESH AGREE TO REVITALIZE FRATERNAL TIES, SA ARC COOPERATION AS DAR MEETS PROF YUNUS
g PAKISTAN LAUNCHES ‘KNOWLEDGE CORRIDOR,’ OFFERING 500 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BANGLADESHI STUDENTS
g BANGLADESH, PAKISTAN EYE REVIVAL OF JOINT ECONOMIC COMMISSION AFTER TWO DECADES
g DAR HOLDS MEETINGS WITH BNP ’S KHALEDA ZIA, JAMAAT CHIEF RAHMAN AND OTHER POLITICAL LEADERS
Dar to attend extraordinary OIC CFMs’ Session in Jeddah on Palestine Crisis
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar will undertake an official visit to Saudi Arabia from August 25–26
agreements and memorandums of understanding following delegation-level talks between Dar and Bangladesh Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain g
Islamabad-Dhaka relations coming at a time when the two sides are
visited hospitals supervised rescue operations and coordinated with hospital administrations to ensure immediate medical facilities for victims Lower Dir Tragedy In Maidan, Lower Dir, three children lost their lives when the roof of their house caved in during the downpour Rescue 1122 identified the deceased as 10-year-old Qasim 11-year-old Murtaza, and 9-year-old Sohail Disaster response teams rushed to the spot to assist the family Widespread Damage in AJK Six more people including two women were killed while 14 were injured in rain-related incidents across four districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Commissioner Poonch Division said 129 homes were completely destroyed and 600 partially damaged The rains also claimed 40 animals destroyed 24 shops and washed away four vehicles He added that 60 kilometers of roads, 77 schools, and three health centers had been damaged Residents were advised to avoid unnecessary travel and stay clear of drains and streams
Rain Havoc in Punjab and KP In Mardan, one person was killed and two were injured after the roof of their house collapsed in Takht Bhai Meanwhile more than 150 tourists stranded in Kaghan Valley were shifted to hotels after debris was cleared from the road leading to Saiful Muluk Lake Heavy downpours in Rawalpindi and Islamabad triggered flooding in nullahs and low-lying areas with water entering homes and shops Authorities opened the spillways of Rawal Dam after water levels touched 1,752 feet The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) deployed heavy machinery at Committee Chowk and Murree Road to clear water and monitor drainage In Arifwala and its suburbs latenight rainfall plunged the city into darkness as several feeders tripped, suspending electricity supply KP CM Expresses Sorrows over Loss of Lives Chief Minister KhyberPakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property in DI Khan He prayed for the deceased, assured best possible medical treatment for the injured, and directed swift relief and rehabilitation for victims
and
n h a r v e s t e d T h e s e c
e t a r y e m p h a s i s e d t h a t r e v i v i n g c o tt o n w a s a n a t i o n a
the Sugar Factories Act However the LHC dismissed Fazal’s petition with respect to charges under Sections 342 and
506 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and directed the justice of peace to record the respondent s statement and proceed in line with the law
According to the allegations the respondent had supplied sugarcane to the petitioner s factory but was not paid despite repeated demands When he approached the petitioner s general manager with witnesses, he was allegedly ridiculed detained in a room at gunpoint and threatened by Fazal and his associates
two countries Foreign Service Academies, media collaboration between Associated Press of Pakistan and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, academic and research partnership between the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad and Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies and the launch of a Cultural Exchange Programme According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these agreements are expected to institutionalise cooperation in trade economic linkages training of diplomats academic exchanges media and cultural ties
Coinciding with the visit, Islamabad also announced the launch of the Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor,” a project that will provide 500 scholarships to Bangladeshi students for higher studies in Pakistan over the next five years One quarter of these scholarships will be dedicated to medicine while 100 Bangladeshi civil servants will also be trained under the initiative In addition, Pakistan has decided to raise the number of scholarships under the Pakistan Technical Assistance Program from five to twenty-five Dar s trip which began on
to Bangladesh in 13 years He is also the most senior Pakistani official to travel to Dhaka since 2012 Islamabad has described the development as a “significant milestone” in PakistanBangladesh relations On Sunday Dar held talks with Bangladeshi Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain The two sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations, including high-level exchanges, trade and economic cooperation humanitarian matters and people-to-people contacts They
CHINA-PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN TALKS YIELDING POSITIVE RESULTS, SAYS BEIJING SCHOL AR
Muqam visits swat relief camp as Army intensifies flood operations in KP
India exploiting T TP for anti-Pakistan agenda, says S ardar M asood K han
ISLAMABAD
N e w s D e s k
Former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan has alleged that India is backing the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to advance its anti-Pakistan ambitions In an interview with a private television channel Khan said New Delhi s use of terrorist proxies aims to destabilize Pakistan and undermine Islamabad s relations with Kabul He emphasized that eliminating terrorism and dismantling TTP sanctuaries on Afghan soil remains Pakistan’s foremost security priority
Discussing recent developments Khan noted that the Taliban administration in Kabul has repeatedly assured Islamabad over the past two years that Afghan territory will not be allowed to harbor TTP or other militant groups He added that while dialogue continues at the level of foreign ministers, interior ministers and special envoys, “it is now time to make practical progress
Party (BNP) Chairperson and ex-PM Begum Khaleda Zia recalling her 2006 visit to Pakistan and conveyed Pakistan s wellwishes He also called on Jamaat-i-Islami emir Dr Shafiqur Rahman, appreciating his contributions in politics and
ways to promote economic and commercial cooperation, with a special focus on enhancing trade and promoting connectivity ” the post said Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur National Board of Revenue Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan
of
Faisal Azad and High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan Iqbal Hussain Khan, according to the FO Last night, Dar and Kamal attended a reception hosted by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider
In his remarks at the reception the foreign minister underscored that the people of Pakistan had fraternal
and think tanks sportsmen artists
COMMENT
Dar in Dhaka
Impor tance of visit is because of changing regional dynamic
eputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq
DDar s visit to Bangladesh at the head of a delegation including the Commerce Minister comes at a particularly important time for both countries Both countries have got nearly the same tariff from the USA, 19 percent for Pakistan and 20 percent for Bangladesh, while their main competitors in the apparel industry, India and China have been given tariffs of 25 percent and 30 percent respectively though the former could go to 50 percent and 125 percent respectively While Pakistan and Bangladesh are both rushing in to replace India and China, there may be a need to coordinate action Also, both are also exploring the region after Pakistan s showing against India in the recent Pahalgam clash Itwas particularly liberating for Bangladesh to receive Mr Dar especially after Bangladesh has developed ots own problems with India One of the main problems in the relationship has been the tilt of India towards the Awami League which was ousted last year after students were killed in protests against it
It was noticeable that while Mr Dar met several party delegations, there was no Awami League delegation The passage of over 50 years has not apparently changed the latter ’s animus against Pakistan and thus its tilt towards India which has led it down the rabbit hole of making Bangladesh a kind of Indian colony The meetings with the Bangladesh National Party, the Jamaat Islami and National Citizens Party were not really with pro-Pakistan parties as with parties seeking a genuinely independent Bangladesh one which did not have to kowtow to India all the time One of the benefits Pakistan can offer Bangladesh is enhanced access to Central Asia for trade through Gwadar and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
It is a critical juncture for Bangladesh with the country due to hold elections by February next year Pakistan must not view Bangladesh as a country which was once part of it, or as part of a regional strategy involving India, but as an independent country with which it wishes to have close relations That potential should also be brought along in the D8, the bloc of the eight largest Muslim countries, as well as in SAARC, which Bangladesh helped found, but which has become a victim of Indian intransigence The Dar visit should not be seen as merely bilateral Because Pakistan is playing a role in diplomacy to supplement China and because Bangladesh is veering in that direction, this visit could have a ripple effect
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
T h e G o o d P e o
Tbecame one of the largest welfare organizations in the world This is not a failed society; it is a failed system trying to govern a still hopeful society Behavioral economics teaches us that people respond to incentives both positive and negative Human behavior is not just shaped by logic or self-interest but by perceptions of fairness social norms and expectations of reward or punishment When incentives are misaligned misbehaviour follows suit
CONOMIC policy, sadly, is not learning from its mistakes even not the graver ones including over-board practice of austerity policies More dangerously this is happening even as the world is faced with polycrisis, including the existential threat of climate change crisis– and the related Pandemicene phenomenon–which is fast unfolding resulting in significant increase in the frequency and intensity of climate catastrophes for example the recent rise in the frequency of earthquakes, and cloudbursts Hence, on one hand, economic, environmental, and epidemiological related resilience needs are increasing both in terms of adequately reforming underlying institutions organizations and markets and also in terms of financing needs which are rising in the wake of climate related disasters It was only in 2022 that Pakistan– which is among the top-ten climate change vulnerable countries– saw one-third of its land come under water due to climate change-induced heavy rainfall and floods with considerable loss to life and billions of dollars worth of damages caused to public infrastructure, and private property, while in recent weeks there have been a number of episodes of cloudbursts and flooding in the mountainous northern areas of the country which being one of the biggest repository of glaciers on earth is already under huge stress from fast melting of glaciers due to fast-increasing global warming
On the other hand, while it was not already a great cause of concern in the shape of weakening multilateral spirit especially in terms of provision of adequate level of climate finance and more broadly financing needs for meeting sustainable development goals (SDGs), both under the influence of Chicago boysstyle local policymakers, and as per the highly Neoliberalism-influenced policy prescriptions of International Monetary Fund (IMF) programmes there has been practiced– in the case of Pakistan and globally in general for a number of years– over-board austerity policies Identifying the financing needs to adequately deal with climate change crisis, and achieving SDGs-related targets an article published by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in March 2024 and titled ‘Trillion-dollar shift urgently needed to align global finance with climate and development goals pointed out in this regard
An estimated $4 trillion needs to be mobilized each year to fight climate change and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) UNCTAD’s latest Trade and Development Report says The estimated
p l e o f P a k i s t a n
In Pakistan, the prevailing incentive struc-
ture is warped Merit is rarely rewarded whereas connections and corruption often are Hard work is underpaid and unrecognized, while shortcuts and sycophancy are rewarded Dishonesty goes unpunished while integrity often becomes a liability Over time such distortions condition people to play the game rather than do the right thing When rules don t apply equally, why follow them? A salaried person pays taxes while a feudal landlord or an industrialist enjoys tax exemptions A student studies diligently but watches a less deserving peer get into a good university through influence A police officer tries to uphold the law, only to be transferred for not pleasing political or military masters These are not isolated incidents they form the behavioral ecosystem of the Pakistani system And when the system continuously punishes virtue and rewards vice even good people begin to lose faith For Pakistan to prosper the system must be rebuilt completely to reward the behavior that leads to collective progress The following principles, grounded in behavioral economics, can potentially help reorient the country toward a more functional future and better governance Reward transparency and competence: Public institutions must institute merit-based hiring and promotion systems, supported by performance metrics Digital governance tools like e-procurement, online portals, AI powered auditing can reduce opportunities for discretion and corruption Public praise and recognition for good service (like best teachers and doctors cleanest union councils most efficient departments) can shift social norms toward excellence Penalize corruption in a consistent and visible manner: Accountability should not be selective high-profile consistent penalties for corruption regardless of political affiliation set a powerful example Behavioral studies show that punishment only works when it is swift certain, and seen by everyone Pakistan s current accountability mechanisms are often none of those Creating independent, depoliticized watchdogs with enforcement authority is critical It is a given that no country can truly prosper without proper implementation of rule of law for everyone
financing needs represent just 1% of total global financial assets, currently valued at more than $470 trillion ’ Hence, while there has been highly inadequate provision of development/climate/SDG-related finance from both multilaterals and major advanced countries– some of which are also highly responsible traditionally for significantly increasing global warming– over-board use of policy rate to control inflation – and also to wrongly compete for otherwise highly volatile hot money or foreign portfolio investment (FPI) rather than improving economic institutional quality to bring-in much more durable form of investment in the shape of foreign direct investment (FDI)– when inflation is not just a monetary phenomenon, but at least equally a fiscal/governance/supply-side phenomenon, and requires a much more balanced aggregate demand- and supply-side policy emphasis has overall led to substantial increase in interest payments on debt
An article titled ‘Turning ambition into action will require systemic reform of trade, investment and finance to meet today s development challenges which was published by UNCTAD on July 7 pointed out in this regard ‘3 4 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt interest payments than on health or education ’] Rising interest payments, in turn, have markedly reduced the capacity of developing countries in terms of reduced fiscal space and negative impact on foreign exchange reserves especially those countries that are highly debt distressed, including Pakistan, especially at a time when their resilience, and rebuilding needs have increased a lot due to the fast-unfolding climate change crisis and due to significant increase in climate change related disasters
UNCTAD’s report ‘A World of Debt 2025’ published in June adds to a list of important reports that have been recently produced to raise alarm over the significant increase in global debt in recent years For instance an August 19 Project Syndicate (PS) published article An Agenda for tackling the debt and development crises’ pointed out in this regard ‘Recent reports that we each co-authored– Healthy Debt on a Healthy Planet, the Jubilee Report, and the Report of the UN Secretary-General s Expert Group on Debt –along with many other experts work have definitively established the severity and urgency of these intertwined crises and their devastating consequences In 2024, developing countries paid $25 billion more to external creditors than they received in new disbursements Given historical inequities and low bargaining power developing countries consistently face high borrowing costs and uneven incidence of prudential regulation Without measures to ensure transparency, accountability, and strategic investment planning, borrowing and lending policies have failed to mobilize the productive investments that drive sustainable growth Moreover capital flows are highly volatile with money flooding into developing countries during booms and flooding out in the wake of shocks Meanwhile, the laws and policies governing debt restructurings have long encouraged delay not resolution UNCTAD s report on debt referred to in the previous paragraph for instance indicated that public debt globally had been increasing at a very fast pace It strongly feels as if the world is for some time in deep waters of debt, where the depth is increasing
Decentralize power to align responsibility with outcomes: Centralized governance creates detachment between decisions and their consequences Local governments empowered with budgets and responsibilities can create more direct accountability When mayors are elected and held responsible for roads schools and sanitation, citizens can better reward or penalize them at the ballot box provided the ballot boxes are not stolen or replaced Proximity makes accountability real Hybrid systems or parallel systems of governance never work Nudge through defaults and social norms: Behavioral nudges like setting tax compliance as the default option or publicly displaying neighborhood cleanliness scores can shift behaviours without coercion People behave better when they know they are being observed and compared Highlighting “most honest departments” or “most tax-paying neighbourhoods or industries can set desirable norms Reinvest in civic identity and collective goals: A system built only on punishment is brittle Pakistan must reintroduce civic education, promote national unity beyond ethnic or sectarian lines, and celebrate stories of collective action Behavioral economics reminds us that identity matters People contribute more when they feel part of something larger than themselves What Pakistan needs is not just economic reform or political change, it needs a reimagining of its social contract The state must stop treating its citizens as subjects to be managed and start treating them as stakeholders in a shared project That contract must be built on trust and trust like broken glass is hard to piece back together There is no shortage of talent, resources, or patriotism in Pakistan The people are not the problem, they are the solution But they have been asked for too long to give more to a state that gives them too little in return The time has come to flip that equation Only then can Pakistan unlock the greatness its people have always had within them In the end, systems don t change people, people change systems But they need the right motivations, fair rules, and a chance to believe again
The author is a senior international banker with degrees in economics and political science from University of Pennsylvania and Brown University
Stamped out
Donkey dinner deal
Dr Omer JaveD
289 PALESTINIANS, INCLUDING 115 CHILDREN, DIE OF STARVATION: GA Z A HEALTH MINISTRY
HIran’s Khamenei says will not bow down to US
fighting halted between Iran and its sworn enemy Israel in a war that the United States had briefly joined and as Tehran is engaged in talks with world powers about its nuclear program The rare Israeli and US attacks in June, which targeted key nuclear sites and prompted Iranian retaliation, were designed to destabilize the Islamic republic, Khamenei argued He said that a day after “Iran was attacked” by Israel at the start of the war “American agents met in Europe to discuss what government should rule Iran after the Islamic republic Khamenei claimed that the United States was ultimately seeking to make Iran obedient to it To the leader, the country has emerged strong from the 12-day war in June, the most intense direct confrontation in its history with arch foes Israel and the United States The Iranian nation by standing firm alongside the armed forces the government and the system delivered a strong blow to its enemies Khamenei said The supreme leader, who has the final say on state affairs, also warned against internal divisions he said foreign powers were fomenting “The way forward for the enemy is to create discord” in Iran he said blaming “agents of America and the Zionist regime a reference to Israel for seeking to sow division Today thanks to God the country is united There are differences of opinion, but when it comes to defending the system, defending the country, and standing up against the enemy, the people are united,” Khamenei added Relations between Tehran and Washington were severed after the 1979 Islamic revolution and the subsequent hostage crisis at the US embassy Washington has since imposed successive waves of sanctions on Tehran most recently over its nuclear programme
Jaishankar rejec ts US mediation claim, defends India’s trade autonomy
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar criticised US President Donald Trump’s unconventional diplomatic style calling it a sharp break from established international practice while firmly rejecting Washington s claim of mediating in the recent India-Pakistan conflict
Speaking in New Delhi, Jaishankar said no past American president had conducted diplomacy in such a public manner He stressed that since the 1970s India s national consensus has been to reject third-party mediation in relations with Pakistan While acknowledging that international outreach took place during the skirmish he insisted that decisions were negotiated solely between India and Pakistan On trade Jaishankar pushed back against Trump s threats of steep new tariffs on Indian goods and defended New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil He dismissed Washington’s accusation that India was profiteering by refining and re-exporting Russian
crude, arguing that the criticism was misplaced coming from a probusiness administration “If you don’t like it don’t buy it ” he remarked pointing out that both Europe and the US continued to purchase oil and refined products from India He further underscored that protecting farmers, safeguarding small producers and maintaining strategic autonomy were non-negotiable for his government Negotiations with Washington he said, were ongoing despite the cancellation of a planned US delegation visit in August Jaishankar also rejected suggestions that India’s engagement with China was driven by friction with the US calling such assumptions simplistic In a pointed remark, he referenced America s historical ties with Pakistan, saying Washington had often chosen to “overlook that history ”
His comments come amid escalating trade tensions with Trump warning that duties on Indian exports could rise to as high as 50%, adding further pressure to an already strained relationship India temporarily suspends
postal deliveries to US amid tariff confusion
India’s Ministry of Communications has announced a temporary suspension of most postal deliveries to the United States citing confusion arising from the implementation of new U S tariff regulations under the Trump administration
The move comes just days before the U S is set to revoke dutyfree treatment for certain low-value parcels
The ministry said that US-bound air carriers have informed Indian authorities of their inability to accept postal consignments beyond August 25, 2025, due to lack of operational and technical readiness in handling the changes
As a result India s Department of Posts will suspend bookings of all types of postal articles destined for the U S starting Monday, with the exception of letters, documents and gift items valued at $100 or less
The decision is expected to impact small businesses e-commerce shipments, and international correspondence between the two countries No timeline for resumption has yet been provided
KURSK REGION, RUSSIA AG E N C I E S Ukraine launched a drone attack on Russia on Sunday, forcing a sharp fall in the capacity of a reactor at one of Russia’s biggest nuclear power plants and sparking a huge blaze at the major Ust-Luga fuel ex-
on the occasion Dr S Akbar Zaidi Executive Director IBA Karachi, emphasized IBACEJ s importance in academia and media practice He appreciated the continued support of the U S Consulate in Karachi Reflecting on the past decade he noted the rise of Artificial Intelligence and emphasized the need to re-examine the state of journalism in Pakistan He hoped this milestone would encourage meaningful dialogue between jamhooriyat (democracy) and sahafat (journalism) for the greater good of the public and the country
SAHIWAL s ta f f r e p o r t
FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited (FCEPL) has commissioned a 3 4-megawatt solar power system at its Sahiwal manufacturing facility in collaboration with REON Energy Limited The project was inaugurated by Mr Kashan Hassan Managing Director FCEPL who termed it a “major milestone in advancing sustainable operations and clean energy transition within Pakistan s dairy sector This investment reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the planet while nourishing Pakistan with high-quality dairy nutrition,” said Mr Kashan “we believe in doing dairy right and by integrating renewable
GL ACIAL L AKE THREAT IN GB SUBSIDES BUT FRESH RAINS RAISE FEARS OF MORE GLOFS
TH E glacial lake formed after
Ghizer
has receded to just
and no longer poses an immediate threat to nearby settlements but a fresh spell of rain has heightened fears of further glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) across the region, the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) government said on Sunday GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq confirmed that the lake in Talidas village of Gupis Valley where a GLOF struck early Friday had stabilized Thanks to the timely warning of a shepherd, around 200 people were safely evacuated before floodwaters inundated the village
“Currently there is no danger from
Nadir, described as a “defamed agent” linked to cross-border trafficking networks and his assistant Haider Initial investigations suggest the group was being facilitated to cross into Iran through established smuggling routes in Balochistan GILGIT-BALTISTAN
the lake,” Faraq said, acknowledging that Ghizer Gilgit and Diamer districts were earlier at risk
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said the outburst displaced around 3,000 people from 330 households, making it the second-largest displacement in GB since the 2010 Attabad disaster Displaced families are now sheltering in makeshift tent settlements Locals have complained of shortages of food drinking water and shelter materials Hundreds rendered homeless are struggling for basic necessities, one resident said GB Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) Director General Zakir Hussain said a technical team had devised standard operating procedures (SOPs) for controlled water release from the artificial lake to ensure community safety Work is also under way to temporarily restore the Gilgit-Shandur
it failed to function during the incident He alleged the funds were misused under the federal climate change ministry and demanded an inquiry Rehman suggested equipping communities with satellite phones instead of relying on non-functional billion-rupee devices installed in remote electricitystarved areas New threats from rain and climate
Flash floods kill 788, leave over 1,000 injured, destroy 6,630 homes nationwide: NDMA
ISLAMABAD s ta
Torrential rains and flash floods since June 26 have killed 788 people and left more than a thousand others injured across Pakistan the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Saturday
The calamity has also destroyed or damaged 6,630 homes and wiped out more than 5 500 livestock adding to the hardship of already vulnerable families Relief operations are underway as weather threats continue Heavy toll across provinces
restructuring of Sindh s education boards introduced earlier this year, where the government moved to centralise oversight and give the provincial cabinet greater say in appointments Critics argue the change would dilute board autonomy and weaken standards while the provincial government has maintained it is intended to streamline governance The bill has also become a political flashpoint A constitutional petition has been filed challenging the governor s conduct, alleging that his remarks on provincial matters amount to political partisanship inconsistent with his constitutional role For now the legislation cannot take effect unless it is passed again by the assembly either with or without the governor s suggested revisions FIA busts human trafficking bid at
Of the 788 fatalities, 200 were children 471 men and 117 women the NDMA reported Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was worst hit with 469 deaths including 81 children and 329 men Punjab followed with 165 fatalities, among them 71 children and 31 women In Sindh, 51 people died, while Balochistan recorded 24 deaths
Gilgit-Baltistan reported 45 fatalities Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) 23 and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) eight
A total of 1,018 people have been injured in flood-related incidents nationwide 279 children, 493 men and 246 women Punjab recorded the highest number at 584
injuries, while KP reported 285 Smaller tallies came from Sindh (71) GB (42) AJK (28) Balochistan (5) and ICT (3) Rescue and relief operations
Since late June 25 644 people have been rescued in 512 operations Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounted for the largest share, with 14 317 evacuations across 211 missions Punjab followed with 9 211 rescues in 245 operations
In other regions 1 027 people were rescued in Gilgit-Baltistan, 940 in AJK, 95 in Sindh, 35 in ICT and 19 in Balochistan NDMA said more than 83,600 relief items have been distributed in coordination with the Pakistan Army and partner agencies Supplies include tents blankets ration
hygiene kits, food packs and clean drinking water, while equipment such as solar panels de-watering pumps and generators has been deployed to aid recovery Infrastructure losses and camps Floodwaters have damaged 6,630 homes nationwide, with 1,562 destroyed completely and 5 068 partially Livestock losses have also been severe with 5 548 animals reported dead threatening the livelihoods of rural households To meet urgent needs,
Sindh minister S aeed Ghani’s brother booked in terror case over
s ta f f r e p o r t
Chanesar Town Chairman Farhan Ghani the brother of Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani on Sunday was nominated in a case under terrorism and multiple criminal provisions after a violent altercation with a government employee over cablelaying work on Sharea Faisal
According to the first information report (FIR) registered at the Ferozabad police station the complainant stated that on August 22 he was performing official duties and supervising the laying of fibre optic cable near a petrol pump along Sharea Faisal At approxi-
alleged assault on govt employee
mately 4:47 pm a convoy of three vehicles carrying between 20 to 25 men arrived at the location
The complainant alleged that the group, including Farhan Ghani, stopped near him and summoned him over demanding to know With whose permission are you digging the land? The complainant said he responded by clarifying that he was a government employee and the work was being carried out with a no-objection certificate from relevant institutions
The FIR narrated that the men accompanying Ghani then misbehaved with him ordered him to halt the work immediately, and, when he resisted, began abusing and physically assaulting him Accord-
ing to the complainant the suspects insisted he should stop the work because it was being done against the instructions of the sahib
The report further alleged that four or five armed individuals pointed pistols at him He claimed he was subsequently dragged into a room inside the petrol pump held in illegal confinement, and subjected to further beating until police arrived at the scene and secured his release
The FIR listed multiple charges against Farhan Ghani and four named suspects including rioting (Sections 147 148 149) obstructing a public servant (Section 186) attempted murder (Section 324), assault (Section 337A), wrongful confinement (Section 342),
