ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s disaster management authority on Sunday warned that the country’s Ravi River, a transboundary river crossing northwestern India and eastern Pakistan, was at the risk of experiencing “low floods” after India released about 185,000 cusecs of water from its Ujh Barrage.
Under the Indus Waters Treaty, which was brokered by the World Bank and signed between Pakistan and India in 1960, India has control over the waters of the three eastern rivers – the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej – while Pakistan controls the waters of the three western rivers — the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum.
“India has released approximately 185,000 cusecs of water from the Ujh Barrage [into] River Ravi,” the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) wrote on Twitter, citing the Pakistani Indus waters commissioner.
“As per flood limits of River Ravi at Jassar, LOW FLOOD in the flood plain areas is expected.”
Last year, the NDMA said, India had released 173,000 cusecs of water into the river, out of which 60,000 cusecs, which was approximately one-third of the released water, had flown to the Jassar town in the Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab province, causing low-level floods.
“Therefore, as per the PCIW, considering the previous record, approx 65,000 cusecs are expected to reach [Jassar] within the next 20-24 hours,” it said.
“The public is advised to stay informed and follow guidelines from relevant administrations.”
The authority said it had issued safety guidelines to deal with the possibility of floods, adding that local administration in vulnerable areas would be vigilantly monitoring the situation till July 20.
Relief agencies, backed by local administration of multiple districts, have set up camps along the river banks and canals to transport residents to safety in case of floods.
The flood warning comes at a time when Pakistan has been witnessing monsoon rains that have killed more than 50 people over the last two weeks.
The rains have returned to Pakistan a year after the climate-induced downpour swelled rivers and inundated at one point one-third of Pakistan, killing 1,739 people. The floods also caused $30 billion in damage in cash-strapped Pakistan in 2022.
Pakistan issues flood warning after India releases 185,000 cusecs of water into Ravi River
https://arab.news/29un7
Pakistan issues flood warning after India releases 185,000 cusecs of water into Ravi River
- Pakistan’s disaster management body says water may reach Punjab’s Jassar town within next 24 hours
- Relief agencies, local administrations set up relief camps to transport people to safety in case of floods
Pakistan, ADB reaffirm partnership to push IMF-backed reforms
- ADB signals further budget support aligned with Pakistan’s $7 billion IMF program
- Finance minister outlines focus on privatization, energy reforms, project execution
KARACHI: Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday reaffirmed their strategic partnership to accelerate IMF-backed economic reforms, as Islamabad seeks to sustain macroeconomic stabilization and deepen private-sector-led growth.
The commitment came during a meeting between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and a senior ADB delegation in Islamabad, where both sides reviewed Pakistan’s reform trajectory under the International Monetary Fund’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and discussed ways to improve development impact and project execution.
Pakistan has been pursuing wide-ranging fiscal, energy and structural reforms under the $7 billion IMF loan program after years of balance-of-payments stress and repeated stabilization cycles. While recent reviews have pointed to improved macroeconomic indicators, the government has stressed that sustained growth will depend on translating policy commitments into implementation, particularly in taxation, state-owned enterprises and the energy sector.
“ADB representatives expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s reform progress under the IMF program and confirmed ADB’s readiness to provide further budget support aligned with the EFF,” the finance ministry said in a statement.
“They outlined future areas of engagement, including insurance sector reforms, public-private partnerships, pension reforms, and continued support for climate resilience and social sector development.”
Aurangzeb told the delegation that the government was focused on improving project readiness and execution, noting that delays had historically weakened the impact of development spending, especially in social sectors and climate-related initiatives. He said visible progress on privatization and energy sector restructuring was essential to building investor confidence and sustaining reform momentum.
The finance minister highlighted recent steps, including the privatization of a small bank, renewed interest in strategic transactions and ongoing work to restructure electricity distribution companies. He also pointed to encouraging trends in exports, remittances and services, particularly information technology, while cautioning that growth needed to remain balanced and sustainable.
According to the statement, ADB officials reiterated the bank’s emphasis on results-based engagement and faster project implementation, saying streamlined processes were critical for timely disbursements and measurable outcomes. The delegation also flagged expanded support for private-sector development through guarantees, public-private partnerships and potential infrastructure transactions.
