KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over a traffic accident in the southwestern Balochistan province on Wednesday after a bus lost control and fell into a ravine, killing at least 28 people.
Fatal accidents are common in Pakistan, where traffic rules are rarely followed and roads, particularly in many rural and mountainous areas, are in poor condition.
Such incidents are particularly common in Balochistan where single carriage roads connect various cities and even some highways lack modern safety features.
“In this difficult time, we stand with the grieving families and express our heartfelt sympathy,” Sharif was quoted as saying by a statement circulated by his office.
The statement said the prime minister instructed the relevant authorities to provide all possible medical assistance to the injured and prayed for their speedy recovery.
Speaking to Arab News, Muhammad Ismail Mengal, the assistant commissioner in Baseema, where the incident occurred, said the bus was traveling from Gwadar to Quetta.
“When it reached Kalghali in the Baseema sub-division of Balochistan’s Washuk district, one of its tires burst, causing the bus to fall down [from the mountainous highway],” he continued. “As a result, 28 people, including three women and three children, died, while 27 others were injured.”
“Four of the injured are in critical condition, for whom a Pakistan Army helicopter will arrive shortly to airlift them to Quetta,” he added. “The remaining injured have been transferred to CMH [Combined Military Hospital], Khuzdar.”
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti also expressed sorrow and regret over the incident.
“Deeply saddened by the loss of valuable lives in the bus accident,” he said. “We share the grief of the relatives of the deceased.”
PM orders medical assistance as 28 killed in bus accident in southwestern Pakistan
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PM orders medical assistance as 28 killed in bus accident in southwestern Pakistan
- The incident took place in Washuk district when a Quetta-bound bus fell into a ravine after one of its tires burst
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructs the authorities to provide all possible medical assistance to the injured
Pakistan slashes power tariff for industries by Rs4.4 per unit to spur growth
- The development comes as Pakistan navigates a long path to economic recovery under a $7 billion IMF program
- The reduction in electricity tariffs will allow exporters to offer more competitive prices, increase profits margins
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced a Rs4.4 cut electricity tariffs for industrial consumers, saying the move is aimed at lowering production costs and spurring economic activity in Pakistan.
Sharif made the announcement while addressing businessmen and exporters at a ceremony in Islamabad, at which he presented awards to business figures who made significant contributions to the national economy.
He said the government would devise all future economic policies in consultation with the business community and there was no alternative to export-driven economic growth.
“Four rupees and four paisas per unit are being reduced in electricity tariffs for industry,” the prime minister announced at the ceremony.
“If it were up to me, I would reduce it by another 10 rupees, but my hands are tied.”
The development comes as Pakistan, which has long struggled with boom-bust cycles, seeks to boost foreign investment and increase exports, navigating a long path to economic recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
The reduction in electricity tariffs for industrial consumers is expected to lower production costs that will allow exporters to offer more competitive prices in international markets, increase profit margins and encourage higher capacity utilization at factories.
The prime minister announced lowering wheeling charges for industry by Rs9 per unit, noting the country’s economy had stabilized, inflation had come down to single digits and the policy rate stood at 10.5 percent.
In Pakistan, wheeling charges are fees paid by electricity consumers and generators to use the national grid’s transmission and distribution network to move electricity from suppliers to end-users under the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contracts Market (CTBCM).
“I think this should help you sell your power to neighboring industries,” he told businesspersons at the event.
