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Pakistan’s disaster management body issues flood warning in Sutlej River

A flood-affected man dries his corns on a rooftop near the flooded area of Sutlej river on the outskirts of Kasur on July 18, 2023. (AFP/File)
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Updated 22 August 2023
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Pakistan’s disaster management body issues flood warning in Sutlej River

  • The authority says due to the flood, low-lying areas of Sulemanki village will be most vulnerable on Aug. 22
  • Jhelum River is also expected to experience a peak in flow from Aug. 23 to 25, which may affect Mangla dam levels
Updated 22 August 2023
Sarah B. Haider

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned relevant authorities to ensure prompt evacuation of people residing in low-lying regions of eastern Sulemanki village, adding that the Sutlej River was expected to reach the “highest flood level” in the area on Tuesday.

The river, traversing both northern India and eastern Pakistan, has undergone a significant surge following New Delhi’s release of excess water from reservoirs due to the ongoing monsoon season.

“The Sulemanki headworks will achieve a very high flood level by 22 August,” the NDMA stated on Monday while citing its flood forecasting division’s latest report.

The statement also highlighted that a peak in the flow of the Jhelum River was projected to occur from August 23 to 25, which would impact the levels of Mangla dam.

 

 

 

In view of the situation, the NDMA chairman, Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, provided clear directives to all the relevant departments to take appropriate measures, added the statement.

His instructions encompass timely clearance of settlements and encroachments near the riverbeds, vigilant monitoring of evolving situation, conducting flood damage assessments, and gleaning accurate data.

With several Pakistani rivers experiencing persistent flooding, approximately 238,202 individuals from vulnerable areas have been successfully evacuated to safer locations, according to the NDMA. The agency said it also mobilized 203 boats and 795 rescue personnel on the ground to assist in its efforts.

In 2022, torrential monsoon rains and glacial melt triggered devastating floods across various regions of Pakistan. The aftermath resulted in the loss of 1,700 lives, millions displaced, extensive agricultural land destruction, and an estimated $30 billion worth of damages as per government assessments.

Topics: Pakistan floods Pakistan Floods sutlej river

Pakistan says no human metapneumovirus case reported so far, monitoring flights from China

Updated 5 sec ago
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Pakistan says no human metapneumovirus case reported so far, monitoring flights from China

  • Human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, is a respiratory virus causing cold-like symptoms such as cough, fever and congestion
  • China has experienced a significant outbreak of the virus since last month resulting in overwhelmed medical facilities
Updated 5 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s health ministry has said the South Asian country has not reported any case of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) so far, but it is monitoring all flights from China that has reported a significant number of cases in recent weeks.
HMPV is a respiratory virus causing symptoms similar to the common cold, such as cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath. While it often leads to mild illness, young children, elderly and individuals with weak immune systems are at higher risk of severe complications.
Discovered in 2001 by Dutch researchers, HMPV spreads through close contact with infected individuals, exposure to respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, and touching contaminated surfaces like doorknobs or toys. In the United States, it’s more prevalent during winter and spring months.
China has experienced a significant outbreak of HMPV since last month resulting in overwhelmed hospitals, particularly in its Hunan province and surrounding areas, with videos shared online showing packed medical facilities reminiscent of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Currently, no [HMPV] cases have been reported in Pakistan, but the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation,” Dr. Nadya Jamil, the ministry’s focal person on HMPV, told Arab News on Monday.
“All flights arriving from China are under observation and authorities have instructed that any passenger exhibiting flu-like symptoms be tested and provided with appropriate care.”
The official said monitoring desks at airports, which were already screening passengers for monkeypox (Mpox), had now been tasked with screening for HMPV as well. She, however, said that HMPV was not new to Pakistan, with studies conducted on it as early as 2015.
“The virus can cause pneumonia in children under 14, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems,” Jamil said.
While infectious disease experts have urged caution regarding HMPV, they emphasize that it does not pose a threat on the scale of COVID-19.
Dr. Shobha Luxmi, an infectious diseases specialist at Aga Khan University in Karachi, said HMPV is a respiratory tract illness and usually its cases occur worldwide every year, but in small numbers.
“Since it is now being reported in large numbers in China, it is likely to eventually reach Pakistan, potentially in higher-than-usual numbers,” she told Arab News.
“So, the public should follow the same measures recommended during COVID-19, such as maintaining hygiene, wearing masks, and practicing social distancing.”
HMPV could be isolated through testing, and the disease itself was not “generally severe” and should not have been a “major concern,” according to Dr. Luxmi.
“It is not considered highly dangerous as the fatality rate is relatively low,” she said. “The government should issue public service messages to encourage people to wear masks and also increase screening at the airports to prevent its spread in Pakistan.”
Dr. Javed Usman, a health expert, told Arab News that HMPV could not be detected without a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test.
“The virus itself isn’t life-threatening, but it can cause pneumonia and other respiratory issues, particularly in children, elderly, and those with weakened immune systems,” he said.
“This is why vigilance and preventive measures are crucial, even if the virus doesn’t present the same level of danger as COVID-19.”

Topics: Human metapneumovirus HMPV National Institute of Health Research Islamabad airport

Pakistan PM says UAE has agreed to extend $2 billion debt due this month

Updated 07 January 2025
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Pakistan PM says UAE has agreed to extend $2 billion debt due this month

  • Shehbaz Sharif met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in southern Punjab on Sunday
  • UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner and a major source of foreign investment for Islamabad
Updated 07 January 2025
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told the federal cabinet on Tuesday that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has agreed to roll over $2 billion in debt for Pakistan due this month, days after he held a one-on-one meeting with the Gulf country’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
Sharif met the UAE president in Pakistan’s Rahim Yar Khan city on Sunday where they discussed a wide range of issues such as economic collaboration, regional stability, climate change, and the promotion of mutual interests on the global stage, Sharif’s office had said. 
The UAE has rolled over its $2 billion deposits with Pakistan’s central bank since 2023, helping the South Asian country shore up its foreign exchange reserves, strengthen its currency and secure financial bailouts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 
Speaking to members of his cabinet, Sharif told them that during his one-on-one meeting with the UAE president, Al-Nayhan told him that Pakistan’s payment of the $2 billion loan was due in January. 
“So, he said we [UAE] are happy that we are extending it,” Sharif said. “He proposed it himself and I thanked him.”
The Pakistani premier said he had requested Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to proceed with the UAE in this regard so that Islamabad can “take forward our matters related to investment with them.”
He said the UAE president had also spoken to him about enhancing bilateral ties and investment-related matters between the two countries. 
The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States (US), and a major source of foreign investment, valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the UAE foreign ministry. 
It is also home to more than a million Pakistani expatriates. Policymakers in Pakistan consider the UAE an optimal export destination due to its geographical proximity, which minimizes transportation and freight costs while facilitating commercial transactions.
In January last year, Pakistan and the UAE signed multiple agreements worth more than $3 billion for cooperation in railways, economic zones and infrastructure, a Pakistani official said, amid Pakistani caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s visit to Davos, Switzerland to attend 54th summit of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Topics: Pakistan UAE ties

Pakistan expresses condolences as powerful Tibet earthquake kills at least 95

Updated 7 min 53 sec ago
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Pakistan expresses condolences as powerful Tibet earthquake kills at least 95

  • Magnitude 6.8 earthquake strikes near one of Tibet’s holiest cities, injuring at least 130
  • Southwestern parts of China, Nepal and northern India are frequently hit by earthquakes
Updated 7 min 53 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan expressed condolences to China on Tuesday after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake rocked the northern foothills of the Himalayas near one of Tibet’s holiest cities, killing at least 95 people and injuring 130. 
The earthquake struck at 9:05 a.m. (0105 GMT), with its epicenter located in Tingri, a rural Chinese county at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. The US Geological Service put the quake’s magnitude at 7.1.
At least 95 people had been killed and 130 injured on the Tibetan side, China’s state-run news agency Xinhua reported, as rescue operations continue. 
“Pakistan expresses heartfelt condolences over the tragic loss of lives caused by the earthquake in Xizang,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said in a statement. “We extend our support to the people and government of China in their relief efforts.”

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, people stand amidst damaged houses in the aftermath of an earthquake in Tonglai Village, Changsuo Township of Dingri in Xigaze, southwestern China’s Tibet Autonomous Region on January 7, 2025. (Xinhua via AP)

The foreign office said Pakistan’s thoughts were with the persons who were injured or reported missing due to the earthquake.
“We also extend best wishes for the ongoing rescue operations,” it said. 
Southwestern parts of China, Nepal and northern India are frequently hit by earthquakes caused by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
A magnitude 7.8 tremor struck near Katmandu in 2015, killing about 9,000 people and injuring thousands in Nepal’s worst ever earthquake. Among the dead were at least 18 people killed at the Mount Everest base camp when it was smashed by an avalanche.
With additional input from Reuters

Topics: Tibet China earthquakes

Pakistan’s star batter Saim Ayub departs for London for urgent treatment

Updated 07 January 2025
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Pakistan’s star batter Saim Ayub departs for London for urgent treatment

  • Ayub suffered fracture in his right ankle last week while fielding against South Africa
  • Pakistan are scheduled to face New Zealand in Champions Trophy opener on Feb. 19
Updated 07 January 2025
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Star left-handed opening batter Saim Ayub has departed for London from Cape Town for urgent medical treatment, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Tuesday, as Pakistan races to get him fit ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 tournament scheduled to kick off in February. 
Ayub suffered a right ankle fracture while fielding in the second Test against South Africa at Newlands last week, with the injury ruling him out of competitive cricket for six weeks. 
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Monday that the board will send Ayub to London for medical treatment, hoping that he can be fit in time for the multi-nation Champions Trophy tournament scheduled to begin in February. 
“Ayub and Assistant Coach Azhar Mahmood depart from Cape Town to London,” the PCB said. “On the instructions of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, expert sports orthopedic doctors from England will check on Ayub tomorrow.”
It quoted Naqvi as saying that Ayub was a “valuable asset” for Pakistan cricket and that “all resources will be provided” for his treatment.
“I pray for Ayub’s full recovery,” he said. “I am in constant touch with the doctors regarding Ayub’s health.”
Ayub has cemented his place in Pakistan’s white-ball squad over the past few months. He was instrumental in Pakistan’s 3-0 whitewash over South Africa in the recently concluded ODI series last month. Ayub scored two ODI centuries in the three matches, winning Player of the Series award for his stellar contributions. 
Pakistan will play the Champions Trophy tournament opener on Feb. 19 against New Zealand in the eastern city of Lahore.

Topics: Saim Ayub

Pakistan raises alarm at Sudan’s worsening food security situation, calls for ceasefire

Updated 07 January 2025
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Pakistan raises alarm at Sudan’s worsening food security situation, calls for ceasefire

  • United Nations-backed committee’s report in December outlined famine in five areas of Sudan
  • Twenty-month-long war between Sudanese army, paramilitary group has killed over 24,000 people
Updated 07 January 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s United Nations Ambassador Munir Akram this week raised alarm at the Security Council over the worsening food security situation in Sudan, urging both warring parties to agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire as civil war in the African country rages on.
The UN-backed Famine Review Committee of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) published a report last month outlining famine in five areas, including in Sudan’s largest displacement camp, Zamzam, in North Darfur province. The IPC’s report also warned that famine will likely spread to another five areas— Um Kadadah, Melit, el-Fasher, Tawisha and Al-Lait, by May 2025.
Sudanese people have suffered due to a 20-month war between the army and a paramilitary group that has killed over 24,000 and driven over 14 million people from their homes, according to the UN. An estimated 3.2 million Sudanese have crossed into neighboring countries, including Chad, Egypt and South Sudan, to escape the horrors of the conflict. 
Akram said on Monday that Pakistan was “deeply grieved” by the current ordeal of the people in Sudan by the war. 
“We call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire,” Akram said. “The parties need to find a sustainable political resolution to the conflict through dialogue. It will not be resolved on the battlefield. War will only bring more death and destruction for the Sudanese people.”
He said that the worsening food security situation in the country is “alarming,” noting that over 24.6 million people in Sudan face high levels of acute food insecurity.
“We have reviewed the 24th December report of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC),” he said. “We note that the Sudanese government has questioned the IPC’s malnutrition data and assessment and its ability to collect data from conflict zones and those controlled by the Rapid Security Forces. These views need to be taken into account.”
The Pakistani envoy urged the international community to work with the Sudanese government in addressing the humanitarian crisis in the country, calling on Sudanese authorities to facilitate the delivery of aid to the needy.
“We appreciate the recent steps taken by the Sudanese authorities in opening additional air, sea and land borders for humanitarian aid and extending the Adre border crossing, which has brought some improvement in the humanitarian situation,” Akram noted. 
The Pakistani ambassador called on the international community to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and bridge the 36 percent funding gap for humanitarian appeals relating to Sudan. 
“The international community must unite to support a common vision for return to peace and normalcy in Sudan,” he said. “Foreign interference in the internal conflict of Sudan must stop. The UNSC arms embargo on Sudan must be respected.”
As the war reached its peak in April 2023, Pakistan joined other countries in evacuating its nationals from Sudan, rescuing about 1,000 people from the African nation.

Topics: Pakistan Sudan Ties Sudan war Pakistan at UN

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