Wednesday, 26 August, 2020 I 6 Muharram, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 57 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition
CM deClares eMergenCy as rains wreak havoC in sindh KARACHI
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STaFF rEPOrT
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INDH Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah declared rain emergency in the province as heavy rainfall on Tuesday battered various cities of the province, including Karachi, as it fell victim to the destruction of property and lives at the hands of another spell of rain. Residents of Sindh had to bear numerous problems such as prolonged power failures, flooded roads, damaged infrastructure, traffic jams, vehicle breakdowns, improper drainage and sewage system, etc. The chief minister reviewed the rainfall situation at Nursery area in Karachi and directed the chief secretary on the telephone to issue a notification imposing rain emergency in the province. CM Murad cancelled holidays of all government employees and directed them to report to their departments. “The city has received heavy rainfall and some low-lying areas have submerged,” said the chief minister as he directed the PDMA to initiate relief activities in the metropolis. He said that the government would
Citizens bear prolonged power failures as parts of Karachi submerged in another spell of rain
not leave the masses alone at this testing time and he had visited parts of the city to ensure immediate clearing of rainwater from the roads. Later, spokesman of the Sindh government, Murtaza Wahab, also took to Twitter to share the decision of imposing rain emergency in the province.
The meteorological department on Monday had expressed its apprehensions regarding urban flooding in Karachi as it had predicted heavy rainfall until Thursday. Malir, Korangi, Landhi, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Saadi Town, Liaquatabad, Federal B Area,
North Karachi, Surjani Town and North Nazimabad were among the areas most adversely affected by the rain in the metropolitan. At least three feet deep water had accumulated on Karachi’s main artery — Shahrah-e-Faisal — after water could not be drained from either side of the road. Various transport vehicles got stuck in the water and broke down because of the water seeping into their engines. The first drop of rain initiated prolong power outages in many areas of the city which added on to the misery of the people. A K-Electric spokesperson said that power was shut down in many areas as a safety precaution. “Due to water entering houses in many of the low-lying areas of the city, we have turned off power as a safety precaution,” he said. The spokesperson added that resuming power during the flood-like situation in the city could be dangerous. “We are working with the relevant departments to restore power,” the spokesperson further said, adding that water had entered installations at Bin Qasim, Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Society. The heavy downpour resulted in the inundation of the road leading to Karachi
University, and accumulation of a few feet high rainwater on the road linking Hassan Square with Safoora Chorangi. Water entered people’s home and forced around 200 families to relocate form the low-lying areas in Surjani Town. Meanwhile, rainwater found its way through the roofs of the accountability courts halting the processes within. In a similar fashion, torrential rain pushed Hyderabad into crisis as well. Water rose few feet high outside several hospitals, and the heaviest hit areas included Latifabad and Qasimabad. According to the meteorological department, Hyderabad recorded 133mm of rain. It warned that intermittent rain showers will continue to hit the city. Separately, Shahdadkot, Thatta, Duggri, Tharparkar, Tando Allahyar, and Mirpurkhas also faced severe damages as a result of heavy rain. Met department has warned further that rain could hit the southern parts of Sindh from Monday to Wednesday and also upper parts of Sindh from Tuesday to Thursday. It further said that urban flooding and waterlogging could also be generated in Hyderabad, Thatta and Badin in addition to Karachi.
Qureshi cautions Afghan Taliban against ‘spoilers’ g
Foreign minister urges holding of intra-Afghan talks at the earliest ISLAMABAD Mian ibrar
Pakistan on Tuesday urged for implementation of United States-Taliban Peace Agreement in its ‘entirety ’, holding of Intra-Afghan talks at the earliest, cautioning the visiting Afghan Taliban delegation against ‘spoilers’ who did not wish to see return of peace in the region. The views were expressed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi during his meeting with a delegation of Taliban Political Commission (TPC), headed by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The foreign minister emphasised the implementation of the US-Taliban Peace Agreement, in its entirety, paving the way for the earliest possible commencement of intra-Afghan negotiations. The foreign minister also cautioned against ‘spoilers’ who did not wish to see return of peace in the region,” says an official handout issued following the meeting, which officials said was held in ‘frank and candid’ manner. During the meeting, views were exchanged on the current status of the Afghan peace process and the way forward. For its part, the foreign minister stressed that Pakistan will continue to
Coronavirus in
Pakistan
CONFIRMED CASES:
293,711
LAST UPDATED AT 9:33 AM ON AUGUST 25, 2020 DAY'S DEATH TOLL: NEW CASES:
9
RECOVERED:
450
DEATHS:
278,425 6,255 SINDH:
128,456
PUNJAB:
96,391
KP:
BALOCHISTAN:
AJK/GB:
ISLAMABAD:
35,796
12,560
2,257/2,720 15,531
support an Afghan-led and Afghanowned peace process for durable peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond. Welcoming the delegation, FM Qureshi underscored Prime Minister Imran Khan’s consistent stance that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and that a political settlement was the only way forward. Highlighting Pakistan’s positive contribution to the peace and reconciliation process, culminating in the US-Taliban Peace Agreement in Doha on February 29, 2020, the foreign minister underlined that this historic opportunity must be seized by the Afghan stakeholders to secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive negotiated political solution. FM Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s
commitment to a peaceful, stable, united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan. He also highlighted the importance of Pakistan-Afghanistan ties based on amity, shared history and ge-
PM Imran orders immediate repatriation of Nawaz Sharif g
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Faisal Vawda says Maryam Nawaz should’ve been arrested after clash outside NAB office Asad Umar says NA speaker should suspend membership of ‘abusive’ opposition lawmakers NEWS DESK
Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed his administration to review all the legal aspects of former premier Nawaz Sharif’s case, and to make efforts for immediate repatriation of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader, a local news outlet reported on Tuesday. The federal cabinet, which met in Islamabad, discussed the political atmosphere of the country. During the meeting, Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda, while expressing concern over authorities’ failure to arrest PMLN Vice President Maryam Nawaz after her party workers clashed with the security personnel outside the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) office in Lahore, said that the government will not allow her to leave the country, no matter what happens. The cabinet decided not to
ography and reaffirmed Pakistan’s abiding solidarity with the brotherly people of Afghanistan.
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more inside
Appointment of advisers is PM’s prerogative, IHC declares STORY ON PAGE 03
Active Covid-19 cases drop to four-digits STORY ON PAGE 02
give any concession to the former prime minister, saying that all were entitled to similar treatment under the rule of law. PM Imran categorically stated that “the government would not be blackmailed over the tactics to get an NRO in shape of relief to the corrupt”. The premier mentioned that two such National Reconciliation Ordinances (NROs) given by the previous governments incurred heavy financial losses to
the country, pushing it to the verge of collapse under debts. The cabinet noted that Nawaz misused the facility extended to him by the government. The cabinet was told that a request was made by the former prime minister in the court for bail on medical grounds and a guarantee for his return to the country was given by Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif.
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Shehbaz says Opp’s plan of action to be announced in next few days
STORY ON PAGE 02
Toshakhana case: Nawaz to be declared proclaimed offender on Sept 9 STORY ON PAGE 03