AHMEDABAD/ISLAMABAD: Heavy rains battered India and Pakistan’s coastal areas along the Arabian Sea, flooding cities in western India’s Gujarat state and forcing thousands of people from their homes, with authorities predicting a cyclonic storm to develop by Friday.
People waded through waist-high waters that partly submerged vehicles and roads in parts of the state, visuals from Reuters television showed.
At least 28 people have died this week from rain-related incidents in the state, officials said, as meteorologists in India and neighboring Pakistan warned that more heavy downpours and strong winds were expected to lash the coast.
“There is no electricity for the last two days,” said Prabhu Ram Soni, who lives in Gujarat’s coastal city of Jamnagar. “I have an eight-month-old daughter and an asthma patient, my mother, who is on oxygen support.”
More than 18,000 have been evacuated since Sunday from cities near the coast, disaster management authorities said. The army was also involved in relief efforts in the state which was hit in last year by cyclone Biparjoy, damaging infrastructure and leading to the evacuation of more than 180,000 people.
Heavy rains also lashed Jamnagar, home to the world’s largest oil refinery complex, owned by Reliance, the district collector, B K Pandya, told Reuters.
At nearby Vadinar, Nayara Energy, backed by Russian groups including its largest oil producer, Rosneft, runs another refinery.
“They are operational,” Pandya said, when asked if rain had affected work in the refineries, adding that authorities were focusing on rescue efforts in the district.
A deep depression off Gujarat is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, but it was forecast to move away from the Indian coast over the next two days.
In Pakistan, the weather department warned fishermen to not venture into the sea until Saturday.
The IMD has forecast extremely heavy rainfall in Gujarat’s Bharuch, Kutch and Saurashtra districts on Friday.
Rain also triggered flash floods in the neighboring Pakistani port city of Karachi, causing power outages, media reported.
Pakistani authorities have also warned of flash floods in two districts of the southern province of Sindh, which is still recovering from the massive floods of 2022 which inundated large swathes of the country and damaged the economy.
Rains batter India, Pakistan coasts along Arabian Sea as authorities predict cyclonic storm
https://arab.news/bdaqj
Rains batter India, Pakistan coasts along Arabian Sea as authorities predict cyclonic storm

- The rains have been caused by a deep atmospheric depression off the coast of Gujarat, which has also affected the southern coast of neighboring Pakistan
- After recent heavy rains lashed the port city of Karachi, authorities have warned of flash floods in two districts of Sindh still recovering from the 2022 floods
China’s Xi, Pakistan’s Dar pledge unity as SCO faces regional strains

- President Xi Jinping emphasizes importance of the regional cooperation under the SCO framework
- India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is also attending the regional event
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday highlighted his country’s commitment to strengthening ties with China and reaffirmed a shared vision for regional peace and development during an interaction with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the joint call of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers in Beijing.
The interaction took place on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting, a key diplomatic gathering aimed at preparing the groundwork for the upcoming SCO Leaders’ Summit later this year. The CFM convened to review progress on multilateral cooperation and set the agenda for endorsement by heads of state.
“Delighted to meet earlier today with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing,” Dar said in a post on social media platform X. “Conveyed the warm greetings of the leadership, government and people of Pakistan. As iron-clad brothers and All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners, we remain committed to deepening Pak-China enduring friendship and advancing shared regional goals.”
Islamabad and Beijing are long-time allies and have been jointly working on multibillion-dollar infrastructure, energy and connectivity initiatives under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The corridor provides China direct access to the Arabian Sea through Pakistan’s Gwadar port, while enabling Pakistan to modernize its infrastructure and strengthen regional trade links.
The foreign office of Pakistan said in a statement released earlier today that President Xi emphasized the importance of regional cooperation under the SCO framework, an organization spanning the Eurasian landmass and representing a significant portion of the global population.
Also present at the conference was India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
The CFM conference comes nearly two months after a tense four-day military standoff between Pakistan and India, during which both sides exchanged missiles, drones and artillery fire before agreeing to a US-brokered ceasefire.
Pakistan reviews carbon market plans with UNEP-backed SPAR6C initiative

- Islamabad is advancing carbon policy launched at COP last year with focus on student training and new trading projects
- Pakistan has pledged to cut projected emissions by 50 percent by 2030, conditional on international financing and support
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s climate change minister has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to rolling out its first national carbon market, following a meeting on Tuesday with a United Nations-backed initiative helping the country build on carbon market policy guidelines launched last year.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik hosted a delegation from SPAR6C, the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation program, which is overseen by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The five-year project is helping Pakistan, Colombia, Thailand and Zambia develop the capacity to trade carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris climate accord.
“Pakistan is committed to building a robust, transparent, and inclusive carbon market,” Malik said, according to a statement released by his office, adding that deeper cooperation with international partners and the domestic private sector will be key to delivering on the country’s climate goals.
The ministry noted that the meeting reviewed support for Pakistani students who have been trained or conducted research on emissions trading under SPAR6C. Both sides also discussed “ongoing and upcoming carbon trading opportunities in Pakistan and potential projects under evaluation,” though no new agreements were announced.
Pakistan presented its draft carbon market policy guidelines at COP28 in Dubai last year and has been preparing to formally roll them out at COP29 in Baku later this year. Under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, countries can cooperate on cutting emissions by trading carbon credits, potentially unlocking new revenue streams for developing economies.
The South Asian nation does not yet have an operational carbon trading platform but has launched policy guidelines and is developing systems to implement its first market. It ranks among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, facing frequent floods and heatwaves, while contributing only a fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions.
It has pledged to cut projected emissions by 50 percent by 2030, conditional on international financing and support. SPAR6C’s work in Pakistan includes technical assistance, student training and pilot activities to help the country develop robust standards for carbon trading.
Pakistan seeks US tariff access, taps Mideast funds as it re-engages global markets

- Finance minister says improving macroeconomic indicators strengthening case to tap international markets
- Pakistan has successfully arranged $1 billion in commercial financing from Middle Eastern, Aurangzeb tells Moody’s
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is re-engaging with global financial markets, tapping funding from the Middle East and pursuing preferential tariff access with the United States as it works to stabilize its economy and attract fresh investment, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Tuesday.
Pakistan has “successfully arranged $1 billion in commercial financing from the Middle Eastern region” and plans to launch an inaugural Panda bond while exploring a Eurobond and other international debt markets as its credit ratings improve, Aurangzeb said during a briefing with the Moody’s rating agency on Tuesday.
“These changes, together with improving macroeconomic indicators and the reform momentum, would be positively acknowledged by rating agencies, further strengthening Pakistan’s case to tap international markets and deepen its external sector stability,” the finance minister said.
The virtual session, attended by the State Bank governor and senior officials, also highlighted “ongoing discussions with the United States on preferential tariff access,” which the minister described as “making encouraging headway.”
The finance team cited key progress under Pakistan’s IMF-backed economic plan. Recent reforms include “prudent fiscal measures” in the new budget, trade and tariff liberalization for export-led growth, and steps to rationalize spending.
Aurangzeb also pointed to signs of recovery, including a sharp drop in inflation, a lower policy rate, a stable exchange rate, a current account surplus and foreign reserves rising above $14 billion by the end of June.
He underlined plans to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio to 13–13.5 percent in the coming years through technology-driven tax administration, digitization and tougher enforcement.
Under the prime minister’s direct oversight, he said, a “Rs. 2 trillion revenue delta” was achieved this year through “autonomous efforts.”
Despite repeated external and fiscal pressures, Pakistan says it hopes improved ratings and renewed investor confidence will lower borrowing costs and keep the economy on a sustainable path.
“Pakistan is ready to carry forward this journey of resilience, reform, and recovery to unlock long-term, inclusive, and export-oriented economic growth,” Aurangzeb said.
UK launches eVisas for Pakistani students, workers

- New system will help applicants prove their status easily while keeping their passports
- British officials say eVisas will eventually cover all visa types for UK-bound travelers
ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom on Tuesday said it was replacing physical visa stickers with digital immigration status records, or eVisas, for most Pakistani students and workers to streamline the application process and make it easier to prove immigration status.
The change means that main applicants traveling to the UK on study or work-related visas will no longer need a physical sticker in their passport. Instead, they will use an online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to access and share proof of their status.
“These changes to the UK visa system will make it much simpler for students and workers to prove their identity and visa status. It also means applicants can hold onto their passports, saving them time,” British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said in a statement.
The rollout of eVisas for Pakistani nationals is part of a broader shift toward digital border and immigration systems across the UK. The government says millions of people already use eVisas on select routes, and the system is designed to be more secure and convenient than physical documents.
The new eVisa option covers routes including students (including short-term study), Skilled Workers (including Health and Care visas), Global Talent, International Sportsperson, Youth Mobility Scheme, and various Global Business Mobility and Temporary Work categories.
Holders will be able to link their passport to their UKVI account to make international travel smoother and can securely share their status with employers or landlords in England using the “view and prove” service.
Physical sticker visas will still be required for dependents, general visitors, or any applicants not traveling for study or work. Existing physical visas will remain valid until they expire.
The shift comes as the UK tightens immigration rules for some categories but aims to make the application process more efficient for students and skilled workers, two groups that make up a large share of Pakistani migrants to the UK each year. According to UK Home Office data, tens of thousands of Pakistani nationals travel to the UK annually for higher education and employment opportunities.
The British government said the eVisa system would eventually be expanded to cover all visa routes to create “a more secure and streamlined process for all UK visa customers.”
Nationwide strike looms as Karachi business leaders, transporters unite against ‘anti-business’ tax law

- Shutdown on July 19 could bring economic activity to a standstill, traders and transporters warn
- Business community is protesting over key provisions in government’s new Finance Act 2025
KARACHI: Pakistan’s largest business chamber has joined forces with goods transporters from across the country to call for a nationwide strike this week on July 19 in protest against key provisions in the government’s new Finance Act 2025, which they say threaten to paralyze economic activity and stifle trade.
The president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, announced the planned shutdown at a press conference on Monday, flanked by senior chamber officials and leaders of multiple transport alliances.
The strike, they warned, will halt the movement of goods and bring business operations to a grinding halt if the federal government fails to suspend what they describe as “anti-business” measures.
“Unless the government puts all these measures in abeyance, the nationwide strike scheduled for July 19 will take place with full force, bringing economic activity across the country to a grinding halt,” Bilwani said, according to the official statement.
The business community says more than 50 trade associations nationwide have pledged formal support for the strike, signaling what could be one of the biggest shutdowns in Pakistan in recent years if the deadlock persists.
The chamber has listed five key demands, including withdrawal of new sections that grant the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) powers to arrest traders, penalties on cash transactions above Rs200,000, mandatory digital invoicing, a new e-bilty requirement for goods transporters, and the restoration of the Final Tax Regime for exporters.
Bilwani said transporters’ associations had pledged “unwavering solidarity” with the business community and committed to a complete wheel-jam strike that will stop the movement of trucks nationwide on July 19.
“No vehicle will move… in absolute unity with the business community,” he said.
This is not the first time Pakistan’s business community has threatened mass shutdowns in response to tax measures. But the show of unity between traders and goods transporters has raised fears of significant supply chain disruptions.
Bilwani said while the Ministry of Finance has made informal contact with the chamber, there has been no official commitment to roll back the controversial measures. He insisted that “only upon suspension of these provisions” would the business community agree to any further talks with lawmakers.
Chairman of the Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala, also speaking at the event, warned that the strike was a last resort:
“While the business community does not favor frequent strikes, the prevailing conditions have left no other option,” he said, according to the KCCI statement.
Transport leaders, including representatives of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance and other associations, declared their “full and unconditional support” for the strike and pledged to remain aligned with KCCI’s demands “regardless of the consequences.”