DHAKA: Deadly heatwaves in South Asia, including Pakistan, are likely to become more common in the future, with the region’s exposure to lethal heat stress potentially nearly tripling if global warming isn’t curbed, researchers said.
But the threat could be halved if the world meets a goal set under the Paris Agreement on climate change to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times, researchers said in a study published this week by the American Geophysical Union, an international scientific association.
“The future looks bad for South Asia, but the worst can be avoided by containing warming to as low as possible,” Moetasim Ashfaq, a climate scientist at the US-based Oak Ridge National Laboratory, said in a statement.
Still, with global temperatures already having risen more than 1C, “the need for adaptation over South Asia is today, not in the future. It’s not a choice anymore,” said Ashfaq, the study’s author.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said global climate-heating emissions must fall by about 45% by 2030, compared to 2010 levels, to limit warming to below 2C, the higher temperature goal in the Paris Agreement.
But updated plans to reduce emissions, submitted by at least 75 nations ahead of planned COP26 UN climate talks in November, barely made a dent in the huge cuts needed to meet the global climate goals a UN report said last month.
The new study used climate simulations and projected population growth to estimate the number of people who could experience dangerous levels of heat stress at warming levels of 1.5C and 2C.
It looked at the predicted “wet bulb temperature”, which accounts for humidity and temperature and aims to more accurately reflects what people experience on a hot day.
Health experts and scientists say that at a wet bulb temperature of 32C labor becomes unsafe and at 35C the body can no longer cool itself.
If warming hits 2C, the number of South Asians exposed to unsafe temperatures could rise two-fold, and nearly three times as many people could face lethal heat, the study said.
In a region home to a quarter of the world’s population that could have a big impact on the ability of workers to produce crops in breadbasket regions such as West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh in India and Punjab and Sindh in Pakistan, study authors said.
Workers in increasingly steamy cities such as Karachi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Peshawar could also be affected, particularly as many do not have access to air conditioning, the study noted.
Pakistan and India already experience deadly heatwaves, with one in 2015 causing about 3,500 deaths, the study noted.
As temperatures rise as a result of climate change, “a policy framework is...needed to fight against heat stress and heat wave-related problems,” said T.V. Lakshmi Kumar, an atmospheric scientist at India’s SRM Institute of Science and Technology, who was not involved in the study.
Climate change set to drive more deadly heat in South Asia, Pakistan at risk
https://arab.news/wywpk
Climate change set to drive more deadly heat in South Asia, Pakistan at risk
- Threat could be halved if world meets Paris Agreement goal to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times
- Pakistan and India already experience deadly heatwaves, with one in 2015 causing about 3,500 deaths
Pakistan, China ink MoUs worth $250 million in animal fodder, fruits and vegetables processing
- MoUs signed at Pakistan-China B2B Conference held in Beijing with participation of over 200 representative from both nations
- This is third B2B meeting this year, one held in Qingdao with focus on fishery companies, second in Guangzhou for footwear
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan have signed 13 memorandums of understanding worth $250 with China to export fruits and vegetables, seafood and animal feed and establish joint ventures in Pakistan, state media reported on Wednesday.
The agreements were signed at the Pakistan-China B2B Conference held in Beijing with the participation of over 200 representatives from business groups in both nations. Pakistani officials used the forum to provide insights into the investment potential of the animal feed and fruit and vegetable processing industries. Several incentives for foreign investors were highlighted, including 100 percent foreign ownership, unrestricted profit and dividend repatriation, and zero import tariffs on factory equipment and machinery.
This is the third sector-wise Pakistan-China B2B meeting this year, with the first held in Qingdao with a focus on fishery companies, the second in Guangzhou for footwear, and the fourth slated to take place in Suzhou in December.
“Pakistan and China have signed thirteen MoUs on fostering joint ventures in animal fodder, fruits and vegetables processing sectors,” Radio Pakistan said. “The MoUs valued at 250 million US dollars were signed between Pakistani and Chinese companies in Beijing.”
Ghulam Qadir, Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of Pakistan, told APP state news agency Pakistan’s competitive advantages in tariffs, labor costs, and raw materials could increase profit margins for businesses by up to 4.6 percent in fruit and vegetable processing. In the animal feed sector, particularly in the production of additives and supplements, profit margins could rise by as much as 3.6 percent.
“The Pakistani government is committed to creating a more business-friendly environment and has already addressed issues such as remittance challenges faced by Chinese companies,” Qadir said.
Mian Saeed Ahmed Fareed from Legend International Pvt. Ltd., a Karachi-based seafood exporter to China, said he had signed an agreement with an importer in Tianjin to export aquatic products to China.
“After COVID-19, our volume of export to China has been going up to about 700-800 metric tons of seafood annually including cuttlefish, squid, ribbon fish, croaker, etc. In recent several years, the demand for seafood in this vast market has increasingly diversified, ” he said.
A representative from a fodder company based in Weifang, an agricultural hub of China, appreciated the potential in bilateral markets, technology transfer, and raw material trade.
“The low labor and machinery cost in Pakistan provides us with opportunities for cooperation,” he told APP.
Tang Yaping, Director of the Tea Industry International Department, said she would lead a delegation of Chinese tea companies to visit Pakistan for the establishment of joint processing plants and warehouses.
Zhu Qianqiu, President of the Cross-Border Trade Development Committee in China, said the body was pushing for the establishment of a zero-tariff zone in Pakistan for trade in bilateral commodities.
Ceasefire fails in Pakistan’s northwest as sectarian clashes in Kurram kill 63
- The tribal district bordering Afghanistan has a long history of tribal and sectarian conflicts
- KP administration said it brokered a ceasefire after clashes followed the death of 41 people
PESHAWAR: At least 63 people have been killed and over 150 injured in the past three days in the northwestern Pakistani district of Kurram, as the seven-day ceasefire announced by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government failed to hold, and clashes between warring tribes continued.
Kurram, a former semi-autonomous tribal area bordering Afghanistan, has a long history of violent conflicts that have claimed hundreds of lives over the years. A major conflict in the district, triggered in 2007, lasted for years before being resolved by a jirga, or a council of tribal elders, in 2011.
The recent violence in the restive district erupted earlier this month when gunmen attacked a convoy carrying members of the minority Shiite community in the Uchat area of Lower Kurram, killing 41 people.
According to medical officials in the region, 63 bodies have been brought to two different medical facilities since the KP authorities said they had brokered the seven-day ceasefire.
“A total of 47 dead bodies and 132 injured people were brought to the hospital in the past three days,” a medical officer at the District Headquarters Hospital, who requested anonymity since he is not authorized to speak to the media, told Arab News on Wednesday.
Aziz-ur-Rehman, another doctor at BHU Mandori, also shared casualty figures over the phone.
“Sixteen dead bodies and 44 wounded individuals were brought to BHU Mandori during the recent clashes,” he said.
The KP administration announced the ceasefire on November 24, but Kurram continued to witness sporadic clashes.
According to Irfan Khan, a resident of the area, the situation remains “tense” in the district.
“The attacks intensify at night and relax during the day,” he told Arab News. “There is fear and tension all around as anything can happen at any time.”
Pakistani stocks rebound over 3,000 points after political clashes in Islamabad ease
- KSE-100 index recorded its largest-ever single-day decline on Tuesday, plummeting 3,506 points
- Analysts say the market has been performing well due to improved macroeconomic indicators
KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) rebounded significantly on Wednesday, rising over 3,000 points at the start of trade, following a steep drop a day earlier during major political clashes in the capital.
The benchmark KSE-100 index recorded its largest-ever single-day decline on Tuesday, plummeting 3,506 points, or 3.57 percent, amid political uncertainty triggered by a protest march on Islamabad led by supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, demanding his release from jail.
Khan’s followers retreated overnight after security forces conducted a large-scale operation in Islamabad, clearing the main thoroughfare near parliament and key government buildings.
Subsequently, the PSX surged by 3,260.99 points in the morning, trading at 97,835.15 as of 11:10 AM.
According to Shehryar Butt, portfolio manager at Dawson Securities, the stock market has been performing well lately due to improved macroeconomic indicators.
“The stock exchange came under pressure yesterday due to the political noise in the country,” he told Arab News. “The market stood on 99,700 points before it came down. Today, it is back on track since the political protest is over.”
Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Sunday that political protests had inflicted daily economic losses of Rs190 billion ($684 million), compounding the challenges faced by the nation’s struggling $350 billion economy.
Amid the unrest, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is leading a 68-member delegation in Pakistan to discuss enhanced economic cooperation.
Both nations on Tuesday signed 15 memoranda of understanding aimed at boosting trade and investment ties, which the government hopes will help stabilize Pakistan’s economy.
The government has also accused Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of attempting to sabotage Lukashenko’s visit and impede the country’s path to economic recovery.
PTI lawmakers have said, however, they planned the protest before information about the Belarusian delegation’s visit was made public, dismissing the government’s allegation.
ICC to decide fate of Pakistan’s Champions Trophy on Friday
- India has declined to play in Pakistan over security concerns, which the hosts have dismissed
- Last year, when Pakistan hosted Asia Cup, India’s matches were played outside the country
KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) will meet this week to determine the destiny of next year’s Champions Trophy after India refused to play in host nation Pakistan, a spokesman said Tuesday.
Earlier this month, the ICC informed the Pakistan Cricket Board that India would not tour Pakistan for the eight-team tournament, leaving the fate of the event hanging in the balance.
The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars since being carved out of the subcontinent’s partition in 1947 and that rivalry is often reflected on the cricket field.
A spokesman for the ICC based in Dubai told AFP they could “confirm an ICC meeting on Friday” where the issue will be on the agenda, without providing further details.
The PCB has already rejected proposals that would allow India to play in a neutral third country, insisting the full schedule from February 19 to March 9 must be staged on their turf.
India’s cricket board has not commented on the tournament.
Deteriorating political ties mean bitter rivals India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series for over a decade — squaring off only in ICC multi-nation events.
Pakistan suffered a years-long drought of matches at home as teams refused to visit after a 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore. International play only fully resumed in 2020.
When Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup, India’s matches were played outside the country.
But Pakistani cricket chiefs have rejected security fears for the Champions Trophy, pointing to their recent successful hosting of top teams including Australia, England, and South Africa.
The Champions Trophy will be the first ICC event staged in Pakistan since it co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
Pakistani capital returns to normalcy as supporters of Imran Khan call off protest
- PTI supporters dispersed from Islamabad after security forces launched a midnight raid
- Party says eight supporters killed in clashes, government says four troops dead
ISLAMABAD: The federal capital of Islamabad returned to normalcy on Wednesday morning after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of jailed ex-premier Imran Khan suspended protests to demand his release from jail after a sweeping midnight raid by security forces, the PTI said.
Thousands of protesters had gathered at the D-Chowk square in Islamabad on Tuesday after a convoy, led by Khan's wife Bushra Khan, and Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province where the PTI is in power, broke through several lines of security all the way to the edge of the city's highly fortified red zone, home to key government and diplomatic buildings.
A raid that started around midnight plunged the area into darkness as tear gas was unleashed on supporters, who dispersed.
“We are announcing the cancellation of our peaceful protest for the time being in view of the government’s brutality and plans to turn the capital into a slaughterhouse for unarmed citizens,” the PTI said in a statement, saying Khan would now announce the “future action plan” for supporters.
The party confirmed eight people were confirmed dead in the late-night clashes but “hundreds” more were feared to have been killed. The government says three paramilitary troops and one policeman had died since the PTI launched its protest on Sunday.
Addressing the media after the raid, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi voiced optimism that normalcy would return to Islamabad.
“You saw them fleeing— thousands, not just one or two or three,” he said, referring to the protesters. “For us, the most important thing is to restore all the roads in Islamabad that were blocked. Reopen mobile phone and Internet services. By tomorrow, you will find the roads operational.”
On Wednesday morning, residents woke up to city workers cleaning up debris as authorities removed the shipping containers that had blocked roads around the capital since Sunday. The heavily fortified red zone was empty of protesters but several of their vehicles were left behind, including the charred remains of a truck from which Bushra had been leading the protests.
An Arab News survey of major parts of Islamabad showed traffic on the roads, and shops and businesses open. Shipping containers that had been blocking roads inside the city since last week and had been used to disconnect the city from major motorways and highways had been removed.
“Containers have been removed. Clean-up is ongoing. Security is back to routine,” said Dr. Abdulla Tabassam, a spokesperson for the Islamabad district administration.
Local resident Naubat Ali expressed relief that the situation was returning to normalcy in Islamabad.
“The situation this morning shows that the roads are completely cleared, and people are now moving freely," he told Reuters. "Residents appear to be satisfied.”
Pakistan's benchmark share index jumped more than 3% in early trade on Wednesday, recovering losses made on Tuesday when the index closed 3.6% down over the news of political clashes.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the PTI had suffered a “major political failure,” saying their leaders had come to free Khan from jail but ended up with getting many of his supporters arrested.
“This has become a major political failure for them,” he added. “They have suffered significant losses and will not be able to recover from this.”
Khan, who was ousted from power in a parliamentary no-trust vote in 2022, has been in prison since last year. He faces a slew of charges from terrorism to corruption that he says are politically motivated to keep him in jail and away from politics. The charges kept Khan away from Feb. 8 general elections that his party says were rigged, an accusation denied by the election commission.
