KARACHI: At least 17 people are dead and 13 others injured in Balochistan as heavy snowfall and downpours in the last two days wreaked havoc in the southwestern province of Pakistan, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed on Monday.
The spell of heavy snowfall that started Saturday night, continues to hit the main districts of Zhob, Qila Saifullah, Ziarat, Qila Abdullah, Kalat, Mastung, Khuzdar and other northern parts of the province.
"14 had died during the first 24 hours but the exact figure of fatalities can be shared once the deputy commissioners, who are overseeing relief activities in their respective districts, reach offices,” Imran Khan Zarkoon, director general of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority earlier told Arab News.
Emergency was declared in the most affected districts of the province on Sunday amid rising death toll.
The PDMA is trying to provide relief, and rehabilitation to those stuck in snowfall, Zarkoon said.
The Quetta-Karachi highways, he said, has been cleared but passengers are advised not to travel until the emergency is lifted. “Work is still underway on other major thoroughfares, including Quetta-Zhob highway,” he added.
Heavy rain in northwestern parts of Balochistan may continue to generate flash floods in districts which may also receive heavy snowfall today, according to Pakistan Meteoroidal Department.
Daud Khan, an official at the Pakistan meteorological department, said the province has recorded highest snowfall heaviest snowfall of the last two decades. “Qilla Saifullah has recorded up to four feet snow, whereas Ziarat had 18 inches of snow on Sunday,” Khan said.
Meanwhile, Malik Musleh ud Din Mengal, a focal person for chief minister Balochistan, said that district administration, communications, local bodies and irrigation departments as well as Frontier Corps, and Levies are on ground to assist PDMA in relief and rehabilitation activities.
17 dead as Balochistan receives record high snow
https://arab.news/gmdfk
17 dead as Balochistan receives record high snow
- Pakistan Meteoroidal Department has warned of flash floods amid heavy snow in most districts
- Emergency has been declared in six districts of the province
Uzbekistan president to arrive in Pakistan today to strengthen trade, energy cooperation
- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to lead high-level delegation of ministers, business leaders on Feb. 5-6 visit, says Pakistan foreign office
- Visit takes place days after Pakistan, Uzbekistan reaffirmed $2 billion trade target during intergovernmental commission meeting
ISLAMABAD: Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will arrive in Pakistan today, Thursday, with a high-level delegation to identify new avenues for bilateral cooperation in trade, defense, energy and other avenues, Pakistan's foreign ministry said.
The visit takes place after the 10th session of the Pakistan–Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) on Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation in Islamabad on Feb. 2. Both sides reaffirmed their $2 billion trade target and areed to push for regional connectivity, develop trade routes and accelerate cooperation in several sectors.
Mirziyoyev will lead a high-level delegation comprising senior ministers and business leaders on a two-day state visit, Pakistan's foreign ministry said.
"Discussions will focus on reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations and identifying new avenues to further deepen cooperation in diverse sectors including trade, energy, defense, education, people-to-people exchange and regional connectivity," the statement said.
The Uzbek leader's visit takes place two days after Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Islamabad to hold talks on trade, business and connectivity.
Pakistan and Kazakhstan signed 37 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and set a target of raising bilateral trade to $1 billion within a year during Tokayev's visit.
Pakistan and Uzbekistan have steadily increased economic ties in recent years as Islamabad seeks greater access to landlocked Central Asian markets, aiming to position itself as a regional transit and trade hub linking South Asia with Central Asia.
Pakistan was the first Central Asian partner with which Uzbekistan signed a bilateral Transit Trade Agreement, along with a Preferential Trade Agreement in March 2022, covering 17 items, which became operational in 2023.
Pakistan's finance ministry said last month that Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR was set to finalize an investment in the country’s oil and gas sector following high-level engagements at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
