KARACHI: The government in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province kicked off an evacuation drive in coastal villages and islands as a storm off India’s west coast has strengthened to become a powerful cyclone and could hit parts of India and Pakistan this week.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Cyclone Biparjoy is projected to pass between Keti Bandar in Pakistan’s Sindh province and the Indian Gujarat coast on the afternoon of Thursday, June 15.
The extremely severe cyclonic storm (ESCS) has continued to drift toward the Pakistani coastline in Sindh and southwestern Balochistan provinces, putting multiple key ports and cities at risk.
“The deputy commissioners of the coastal belt have been issued instructions to evacuate around 50,000 people, which amounts to 9,000 families, by tomorrow evening,” Syed Salman Shah, Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority Sindh, told Arab News.
“Currently, several thousand people from the areas around Keti Bandar and nearby islands have been evacuated. The deputy commissioners of Thatta and Sujawal districts have been instructed regarding the 100 percent evacuation of the coastal areas that may be submerged by water.”
Separately, heavy rains swept through Pakistan’s northwest on the weekend, causing several houses to collapse and leaving at least 27 people dead and 145 injured.
Last year, monsoon rains and flooding devastated Pakistan, killing more than 1,700 people, affecting around 33 million people and displacing nearly 8 million.
Evacuations begin in Pakistani coastal towns, islands as severe cyclone inches closer
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Evacuations begin in Pakistani coastal towns, islands as severe cyclone inches closer
- Storm off India’s west coast has strengthened to become a powerful cyclone
- Could hit India’s western state of Gujarat, southern parts of Pakistan this week
Pakistan PM invites UAE investment across tech and resource sectors at National Day event
- Shehbaz Sharif says the UAE remains a key economic partner and continues to lend ‘critical support’ to Pakistan
- UAE envoy says both nations have potential for cooperation in renewable energy, AI and economic diversification
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready to welcome investment from the United Arab Emirates across emerging technologies and resource sectors, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday, as both countries marked the 54th National Day of the Gulf country in Islamabad.
Speaking at the ceremony attended by senior ministers, diplomats and business leaders, Sharif said the UAE remained a key economic partner for Pakistan and continued to lend “critical support” to the country’s stabilizing economy.
“Pakistan takes great pride in its strategic partnership with the UAE, which continues to deepen across every domain of life,” he said. “With Pakistan’s economy stabilizing, we stand ready to welcome Emirati investment in renewable energy, AI, fintech, agriculture and minerals.”
Sharif praised the UAE’s leadership and recalled his earliest memories of the Gulf nation as “a land that believed in possibilities long before they became realities,” saying the country’s progress under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan commanded “profound admiration.”
UAE Ambassador Salem Al Bawab Al Zaabi said the Emirates was committed to strengthening ties with Pakistan in areas including the economy, energy and artificial intelligence.
He said the two countries shared a “deep-rooted friendship built on mutual respect, shared values and a common vision for regional peace and development.”
“We see tremendous potential for collaboration in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, sustainability and economic diversification,” the ambassador said, adding that the UAE aimed to broaden the scope of its economic relations with Pakistan.
The UAE hosts around 1.8 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the country’s largest overseas communities, who Sharif said contributed “tirelessly” to the Gulf state’s development.
Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also joined the UAE ambassador in a cake-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion.
