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Pakistan’s Met Office forecasts fresh spell of rain from Oct. 5-8

Pakistan’s Met Office forecasts fresh spell of rain from Oct. 5-8
A family travelling on a motorbike uses a plastic sheet to shelter from the rain in Islamabad on April 15, 2024. (AFP/File)
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Updated 28 September 2024
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Pakistan’s Met Office forecasts fresh spell of rain from Oct. 5-8

Pakistan’s Met Office forecasts fresh spell of rain from Oct. 5-8
  • Torrential monsoon rains from July to September have killed 347 people, as per official data 
  • Pakistan to receive “less than normal rainfall” in post-monsoon period from Oct-Dec., says Met Office
Updated 28 September 2024
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (Met) has forecast another spell of rain from Oct. 5-8 in the upper parts of the country, state-run media reported this week. 

Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned this month that torrential rains from Sept. 26 to Oct. 1 are likely to trigger flash floods in the country’s eastern Punjab province and in some parts of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. 

“Director General Pakistan Meteorological Department, Mahr Sahibzad Khan, has said a spell of rain is expected in the upper parts of the country from the 5th to 8th of next month,” Radio Pakistan reported on Friday. 

Speaking at a news conference, Khan said “less than normal rainfall” is expected to take place in the post-monsoon period this year from October to December. 

“Sharing details of the water position in reservoirs, he said that Tarbela is eighty-six percent full while Mangla is seventy-six percent full,” the state broadcaster said. 

Torrential monsoon rains from July 1 till the first week of September have killed 347 people, including 175 children and 54 women, across the country, according to the NDMA. 

Global organizations, such as the United Nations, see Pakistan as among the countries most vulnerable to extreme weather patterns and climate change, with floods wreaking havoc in 2022, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing millions.

Scientists also attribute the country’s erratic weather changes to climate change effects. This year, the South Asian state recorded its “wettest April since 1961,” after recording 59.3 millimeters of rainfall, while some areas of the country faced deadly heatwaves in May and June.

Topics: Met office Pakistan Rain in Pakistan

Pakistan, regional states express concern over rising militant threat from Afghanistan

Pakistan, regional states express concern over rising militant threat from Afghanistan
Updated 57 min 44 sec ago
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Pakistan, regional states express concern over rising militant threat from Afghanistan

Pakistan, regional states express concern over rising militant threat from Afghanistan
  • The Quadrilateral Group of Pakistan, China, Iran and Russia discuss Afghanistan’s situation on UNGA’s sidelines
  • Participants agree on continued engagement with Afghan Taliban, vow close coordination among themselves
Updated 57 min 44 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif attended the Quadrilateral Group meeting of Pakistan, China, Iran and Russia to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, with participants expressing concern over the emerging threat of militancy from the post-war country, said an official statement on Saturday.
The group was formed after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 to coordinate efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and address security, migration and economic challenges in the region. Its key focus is promoting regional peace, stability and connectivity by involving Afghanistan.
Last year, the Quadrilateral Group held a meeting in Uzbekistan, while the latest gathering of the four countries took place on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
“The participants of the meeting expressed concern over the security challenges emanating from the territory of Afghanistan, particularly the terrorism threat and called on the Afghan interim government to fight terrorism and eliminate all terrorist groups and prevent Afghan territory from being used against its neighbors, the region and beyond,” the statement said.
“The meeting also emphasized the importance of engagement with Afghanistan and to continue close coordination between the four countries to strengthen regional efforts for the normalization of situation in Afghanistan and addressing its various challenges in a comprehensive manner,” it added.
Among the four regional states, Pakistan has voiced the most concern over the rise in militant violence, which it attributes to armed factions reportedly operating from Afghanistan.
Last year, officials in Islamabad accused the administration in Kabul of “facilitating” armed groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), before initiating a deportation drive against Afghan immigrants, leading to the expulsion of over 700,000 individuals.
Afghan authorities deny any involvement in Pakistan’s security issues and have opposed Pakistan’s decision to expel its citizens.
The TTP has also targeted Chinese nationals working on energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan.
In March this year, Russia reported a major militant attack near Moscow, in which operatives associated with Daesh’s Khorasan chapter, based in Afghanistan, killed 145 people and injured over 550.
Iran has similarly raised concerns about security and diplomatic challenges under the Afghan Taliban administration in the past.
There have been broader concerns about Afghanistan becoming a hub for transnational militancy, with recent UN reports underscoring the issue.

Topics: ministerial meeting on Afghanistan Quadrilateral meeting

Six dead as Mari Petroleum helicopter crashes in Pakistan’s North Waziristan

Six dead as Mari Petroleum helicopter crashes in Pakistan’s North Waziristan
Updated 28 September 2024
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Six dead as Mari Petroleum helicopter crashes in Pakistan’s North Waziristan

Six dead as Mari Petroleum helicopter crashes in Pakistan’s North Waziristan
  • Police say the incident happened due to technical fault, with no evidence of sabotage
  • The helicopter was flown by Russian pilots, two of whom have reportedly lost their lives
Updated 28 September 2024
REHMAT MEHSUD

PESHAWAR: A charter helicopter belonging to Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) crashed in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday after developing a technical fault, killing six people, including two foreigners, and injuring eight other crew members, police said.
Mari Petroleum is a leading Pakistani oil and gas company, primarily involved in the exploration, development and sale of hydrocarbons. The company’s principal activities include oil and gas drilling, along with providing energy solutions to the local market.
Rohanzeb Khan, a senior police official, said the crash took place in Pakistan’s restive North Waziristan that shares a border with Afghanistan and has experienced significant security challenges.
“The helicopter crashed near the Shawa Oil Field, a remote hilly area in the North Waziristan tribal district,” he told Arab News over the phone while confirming the death toll. “Initial information suggests the cause of the crash was a technical fault and no evidence of sabotage was found.”
“There were two to three foreigners onboard the helicopter but their identity is yet to be confirmed,” he added.
According to a statement released by the petroleum company, the helicopter was flown by three Russian pilots and carrying 11 passengers when the crash took place due to engine failure.
According to the Associated Press, two of the pilots have also lost their lives.
“The helicopter’s tail rotor hit the ground while making an emergency landing,” the police official said while sharing details of the crash.
However, he said further investigations were underway to ascertain the facts related to the incident.
Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where North Waziristan is located, expressed grief over the loss of “six precious human lives” in the crash, directing the district administration to ensure prompt medical treatment to those wounded in the mishap.

Topics: Mari Petroleum North Waziristan

IMF emphasizes broadening tax base while praising Pakistan’s commitment to economic reforms

IMF emphasizes broadening tax base while praising Pakistan’s commitment to economic reforms
Updated 28 September 2024
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IMF emphasizes broadening tax base while praising Pakistan’s commitment to economic reforms

IMF emphasizes broadening tax base while praising Pakistan’s commitment to economic reforms
  • A top lending agency official asks government to place ‘fairer burden on previously undertaxed sectors’
  • IMF highlighted ‘insufficient’ health and education spending, says it makes it difficult to address poverty
Updated 28 September 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reiterated its appreciation for Pakistan’s policies that restored economic stability over the past year in its latest statement on Friday, while emphasizing the need to increase revenue by broadening the tax net.
The IMF approved a 37-month, $7 billion loan program for Pakistan this week, recognizing the government’s commitment to implementing the stringent economic reforms it had recommended.
The government has already announced plans to improve its tax-to-GDP ratio and is reforming the revenue generation system by incorporating more integrated, automated technology to enhance efficiency and compliance.
“The implementation of sound policies over the past year has been critical to restore economic stability, reduce near-term risks and rebuild confidence,” IMF Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura said while highlighting continued structural challenges that require government’s attention.
He emphasized continued fiscal consolidation in the ongoing financial year and beyond through enhanced revenue mobilization.
“Increasing revenue mobilization by broadening the tax base, removing special sectoral regimes, and placing a fairer burden on previously undertaxed sectors (including industrialists, developers, and large-scale agriculture), will enhance fairness and efficiency and create needed space for essential investments in human capital, infrastructure, and social spending,” he added.
The IMF statement also highlighted “insufficient” spending on health and education, saying it had made it difficult to address “persistent poverty” in the country.
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb said this week the government wanted to eliminate the “non-filer” category by taking punitive actions against those who previously paid nominal amounts on various transactions to avoid filing tax returns.
He pointed out that measures were being taken to improve tax compliance and enforcement, which had previously remained weak.
The minister also said the government aimed to widen the tax net by incorporating the agriculture, retail and wholesale sectors, saying its “hand has been forced.”

Topics: Pakistan IMF Talks IMF bailout measures

Pakistan PM discusses expanding trade and investment ties in meeting with President Biden

Pakistan PM discusses expanding trade and investment ties in meeting with President Biden
Updated 28 September 2024
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Pakistan PM discusses expanding trade and investment ties in meeting with President Biden

Pakistan PM discusses expanding trade and investment ties in meeting with President Biden
  • The two leaders had a brief interaction, as Shehbaz Sharif attended a dinner hosted by Biden in New York
  • The PM highlights the ‘common desire’ of the two countries to enhance climate, technological partnership
Updated 28 September 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the “common desire” of Pakistan and the United States to enhance collaboration in trade, investment and other areas on Saturday after a brief meeting with President Joe Biden in New York.

Sharif was in the US to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly Session, where he spoke about the war in Gaza, India’s ‘occupation’ of Kashmir, Pakistan’s fight against militancy and its struggle to shore up its economy, among other issues.

He also held several bilateral meetings and attended a dinner hosted last night by the US president in honor of the heads of state attending the UNGA session.

“My brief meeting with US President Joe Biden @POTUS and First Lady Jill Biden during the President’s reception in New York was most warm and cordial,” he wrote in a social media post on X.

“We reaffirmed our common desire to enhance cooperation in key areas including trade, investment, technology, & climate action,” he added.

In recent years, Pakistan has focused on enhancing trade, investment and collaboration in areas like climate and technology, aiming to strengthen its global economic ties.

The US remains Pakistan’s largest trading partner, a cornerstone in these efforts. Despite fluctuating relations, Pakistan has continued to express its desire to broaden and deepen ties with Washington.

The two countries have also collaborated in the security field, with the Washington offering assistance to Islamabad in cou

Topics: Pakistan US Ties

KSrelief provides emergency support to 12,000 Pakistani families affected by floods

KSrelief provides emergency support to 12,000 Pakistani families affected by floods
Updated 28 September 2024
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KSrelief provides emergency support to 12,000 Pakistani families affected by floods

KSrelief provides emergency support to 12,000 Pakistani families affected by floods
  • Monsoon rains this year from July to September killed 347, damaged thousands of homes in Pakistan 
  • Shelter, non-food items kits to help 84,000 people in 20 flood-affected districts of Pakistan, says KSrelief 
Updated 28 September 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) announced on Saturday it has distributed 12,000 shelter and non-food items (NFIs) kits to families affected by torrential rains and floods in Pakistan. 

Heavy rains from July to September killed at least 347 people in Pakistan and damaged thousands of homes in the South Asian country. Pakistan is recognized as one of the world’s most vulnerable countries due to climate change effects where floods in 2022 killed over 1,700 people. 

The shelter and NFI kits were provided to those affected by the floods in all provinces of Pakistan, including the internationally disputed territories under its control such as Azad Kashmir and the Gilgit-Baltistan region, the agency said. 

“A total of 12,000 Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFIs) kits have been dispatched to meet the urgent needs of those impacted by the floods,” KSrelief said. 

It said the kits contain vital relief supplies, including emergency shelters, solar panels with LED lights, blankets, plastic mats, kitchen sets, water coolers and antibacterial soap. 

“The provisions are designed to support 84,000 individuals, providing critical assistance in this challenging time,” it added. 

KSrelief said the relief efforts would help recent flood victims living in 20 districts, including Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Dera Ismail Khan, Nasirabad, Usta Mohammad, Jhal Magsi, Killa Saifullah, Rajanpur, Kot Adu and Muzaffargarh. 

Other districts include Badin, Sajawal, Sanghar, Jacobabad, Astore, Ghizer, Kotli, and Bimber, the agency added. 

“KSrelief is working closely with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs), and local administrations to ensure effective distribution,” KSrelief said. 

The Saudi organization has one of the largest humanitarian budgets available to any aid agency across the world, which has allowed its officials to undertake a wide variety of projects in more than 80 countries.

Pakistan is the fifth largest beneficiary of its aid and humanitarian activities and has greatly benefited from its assistance since last year’s monsoon floods.
 

Topics: Pakistan Saudi Ties KSRelief

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