ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly of Pakistan will meet on May 11 to discuss the coronavirus situation in the country after parliamentary leaders belonging to various political factions reached a consensus on necessary safety measures and rules of procedure, announced Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday.
The speaker of the assembly, Asad Qaiser, recently formed a committee to look into the possibility of holding an online session amid the growing number of COVID-19 infections in Pakistan.
However, most of the opposition parties said they were against the idea of holding a virtual meeting, wondering why could the legislature not convene a session when the other two organs of state – the executive and judiciary – were continuing their duties amid the pandemic.
Talking to Arab News earlier, the country’s former prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, said that he was against the idea since the dynamics of debate in a virtual environment would “be controlled by a technician.”
He also thought that the government would use the online session as a precedent to pass the national budget virtually.
A senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader, Nafisa Shah, also told Arab News previously that the rules did not allow a virtual sitting of parliament, adding that any amendment to these procedures would require the National Assembly to hold an offline meeting.
Most opposition members, however, criticized the government for the health care crisis triggered by the pandemic and insisted that the assembly needed to hold its session to discuss the government’s performance.
Qureshi also pointed out on Tuesday that COVID-19 would be the only discussion item on the agenda to allow legislators to share their suggestions and recommendations regarding the disease and to build national consensus on the issue.
He also added that they would try to reach an agreement on the modalities of budget sessions during the National Assembly sittings.
Pakistani Parliament to meet in first session since virus surge
https://arab.news/2txbc
Pakistani Parliament to meet in first session since virus surge
- The speaker of the house decided to explore the possibility of an online session that was rejected by most opposition members
- Lawmakers belonging to different political factions agreed on safety measures, rules of procedures on Tuesday
Pakistan warns of heightened glacial lake flood risk as temperatures rise
- NDMA says early heatwave conditions could accelerate glacier melt in northern Pakistan
- Authorities urge contingency planning, early warnings and evacuations in at-risk areas
PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s disaster management authority warned on Thursday of an elevated risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) starting next month as rising temperatures threaten to accelerate snow and glacier melt in the country’s northern regions.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said seasonal forecasts point to higher-than-normal temperatures and possible early heatwave conditions that could destabilize glacial lakes in Gilgit-Baltistan and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
GLOFs occur when water from melting glaciers breaches natural barriers and is suddenly released, triggering fast-moving floods downstream.
“Increasing temperatures during March to June 2026 may accelerate snow and glacier melt in Gilgit Baltistan and Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, heightening the risk of GLOF incidents,” the NDMA said in a statement. “Such events can trigger flash floods, causing damage to homes, infrastructure, agriculture, communication networks and may result in human casualties in vulnerable downstream communities.”
The advisory identified several potentially exposed areas, including valleys in Gilgit-Baltistan such as Ishkoman, Gulkin and Gulmit, as well as parts of Chitral and Upper Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The NDMA urged provincial and local authorities to review contingency plans, strengthen early warning systems and prepare evacuation arrangements where necessary.
Communities living near glacial streams were advised to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary movement in high-risk zones and follow official instructions.
Climate change has become a major concern for Pakistan, which is frequently ranked among the world’s most vulnerable countries to global warming despite contributing less than 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
In recent years, the country has endured devastating floods, prolonged droughts and record-breaking heatwaves that have killed thousands of people, damaged critical infrastructure and deepened food security challenges.
