ISLAMABAD: The temperature in a small, enclosed room in Multan’s Nishtar Hospital is cooler than the temperature outside as three patients infused with an intravenous drip lay on beds and a round water cooler with the words “ORS,” meaning oral rehydration solution, sits at a table in the room.
This is the scene at the heat wave “bay,” a separate unit at the largest public hospital in the city, that is dedicated to heat stroke patients. The 1000-bed hospital, which has been functioning since 1953, has allocated two rooms of its Emergency Ward for patients who come in with cases of dehydration, high blood pressure, diarrhea and other risks associated with a heat stroke.
The initiative was taken after the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned of multiple heat waves in the country till June. Parts of Pakistan have seen temperatures as high as 52.2 degrees Celsius (126°F) over the last week as South Asia swelters in a hot summer — a trend scientists say has been worsened by human-driven climate change.
“Definitely there are heat stroke patients coming in here at Nishtar Hospital,” Medical Superintendent Dr. Muhammad Kazim Khan told Arab News on Friday. “There are daily two to three heat stroke patients.”
The hospital has also been treating patients for dehydration, hypertension and other similar problems in recent weeks.
Khan said the hospital’s “heat stroke rooms” were equipped with central air conditioning, with patients having access to all medicines and ORS, a solution of water, salts and sugar to replenish electrolytes lost through dehydration.
In case of a heat stroke, patients spend up to eight hours at the facility before being discharged upon the physician’s advice, according to the medical superintendent.
“Otherwise, if they suffer any complications, then we shift them to a ward where after spending a day or two, they are again discharged,” he said.
Muhammad Mazhar, 50, said he sought treatment at the hospital Thursday night after suffering from diarrhea and vomiting. He was put on a drip and discharged after his condition improved, only to find the symptoms worsened on Friday.
“I came here again an hour ago and have been put on a drip again,” Mazhar told Arab News. “Right now, I am feeling better.”
Aamna Bibi, 45, was shifted to the hospital after she complained of stomach pain.
“I have been sick for the past five years,” she said. “I faint [whenever the heat gets too much] and I am also a heart patient and I also have diabetes.”
Mazhar said the weather in Multan had become “unbearable.”
“The heat in Multan is severe,” Mazhar said. “When a person goes out, it feels as if he is stepping on coals.”
Khan urged people to be careful during heat waves, advising them to avoid venturing outdoors unnecessarily and stay hydrated at all times by increasingly consuming water and juices.
Diabetes, heart diseases and respiratory illnesses, associated with heat stroke, could become “very dangerous” for patients during a heat wave, he warned.
“If we don’t get a season of rainfall and the temperature continues to remain this high, then no doubt there can be a lot of disaster,” the official said.
“And there may be chances of heat wave patients increasing.”
Heatstroke cases rise in Multan as Pakistan bakes under blistering heat wave
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Heatstroke cases rise in Multan as Pakistan bakes under blistering heat wave
- Doctors at Nishtar Hospital say increasing number of patients coming in with heatstroke, dehydration and diarrhea
- Pakistan saw temperatures surge past 50 degrees Celsius recently as heat wave grips Pakistan and India
Saudi Arabia top contributor as Pakistan worker remittances grow 29% year-on-year
- Highest inflow of $681.3 million was recorded from Saudi Arabia, followed by UAE, UK, US
- Remittances bring billions of dollars annually from overseas Pakistanis and are vital to economy
KARACHI: Pakistan recorded year-on-year growth of 29 percent in workers’ remittances with inflows of $2.8 billion in September, the central bank said on Wednesday, with the highest contributions from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Remittances bring billions of dollars annually from overseas Pakistanis and are vital to Pakistan’s struggling economy. These inflows bolster foreign exchange reserves, stabilize the balance of payments, and support the Pakistani currency.
“Remittances inflows during September 2024 were mainly sourced from Saudi Arabia ($681.3 million), United Arab Emirates ($560.3 million), United Kingdom ($423.6 million) and United States of America ($274.9 million),” the central bank said.
In the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025 (Q1-FY25), Pakistan received $8.8 billion in remittances, representing a significant growth of 38.8 percent compared to the same quarter last year (Q1-FY24), central bank data showed.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday announced a three-time increase in monetary incentives for exchange companies to bring more remittances into the country.
The bank increased incentives to Rs4 per US dollar for exchange companies on home remittances effective Oct. 1. According to the circular, ECs will be paid on a fixed component with a base rate of Rs2 for each US dollar of home remittances surrendered to SBP-designated banks. On the variable component, ECs will be paid Rs3 for each incremental US dollar surrendered to encourage growth in home remittances up to 5 percent or $25 million (whichever is lower) than the previous year. Further, Rs4 per US dollar will be paid against incremental remittances above 5 percent or over $25m, compared to the previous year.
Root surpasses Cook’s 12,472 test runs as England reaches 232-2 in first test against Pakistan
- Root is now fifth on the all-time list of test run-scorers behind Sachin Tendulkar’s leading 15,921
- England lost Zak Crawley’s wicket in the first half-hour when he chipped a catch of Shaheen Afridi
MULTAN: Joe Root became England’s highest-run scorer in tests as the tourists continued to score at a rapid pace on the third day of the first test against Pakistan on Wednesday.
Root surpassed Alastair Cook’s 12,472 runs with a straight-driven boundary before lunch to reach 72 at the break and guided England to a brisk 232-2 in 45 overs.
Root is now fifth on the all-time list of test run-scorers behind Sachin Tendulkar’s leading 15,921.
Ben Duckett recovered from a thumb injury which denied him opening England’s first innings on Tuesday afternoon and was unbeaten on 80 off 67 balls as the tourists smashed 136 runs in the first session after resuming on 96-1.
England still trails Pakistan by 324 runs after the home team was bowled out for 556 on a placid wicket of Multan Cricket Stadium.
England lost the wicket of Zak Crawley (78) inside the first half-hour when he chipped a catch of Shaheen Shah Afridi (1-44) after adding 14 runs to his overnight score of 64. Jamal pounced on the opportunity on second attempt at short mid-wicket as Crawley tried to whip the fast bowler on the on-side.
But England continued to exhibit its ‘Bazball’ approach against both pace and spin on a benign wicket. Duckett and Root decoded the mystery spin of Abrar Ahmed with lot of aggression on an unresponsive wicket for the bowlers as the leg-spinner has so far conceded 79 runs off his 12 overs.
In an England-dominated session, Pakistan also lost two of its reviews when it went for a shocking caught behind referral against Duckett soon after the left-hander had completed his half century, but the television replays suggested the bat was nowhere near the ball.
Captain Shan Masood then went for a second referral against Root off the same bowler, but the TV replays showed the ball was missing the leg stump.
Shehroze Kashif becomes youngest Pakistani to summit all 14 of the world’s tallest peaks
- Kashif fulfilled his dream by summiting the 8,027-meter-high Shishapangma in Tibet on Wednesday
- The 22-year-old climbed Broad Peak in Pakistan, his first 8,000-meter mountain, when he was just 14
KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: Pakistan’s Shehroze Kashif has become the youngest high-altitude climber from his country to scale all 14 of the world’s tallest peaks following his successful ascent of Shishapangma in Tibet, the Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed on Wednesday.
The 14 peaks, often referred to as the “eight-thousanders,” are over 8,000 meters high and are considered the ultimate test in mountain climbing.
The 22-year-old Pakistani mountaineer began his career at the age of 11 and summited Broad Peak in his own country, which stands at 8,047 meters, when he was barely 14.
“On October 9, 2024, at 3:30 am PST, Shehroze Kashif successfully reached the summit of Shishapangma (8,027 meters), completing his journey of climbing all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks,” Karrar Haidri, the general secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, announced in a statement.
“This remarkable achievement makes him the youngest Pakistani to conquer these formidable summits,” he continued, adding: “Once again, Shehroze has proudly raised the Pakistani flag on one of the world’s highest peaks, marking a historic moment for him and the nation.”
Seven Summit Treks, a Nepalese tour company that arranged the expedition, also confirmed the achievement, listing Kashif in its list of summiteers.
“A team of international climbers and Sherpas (29 Total) from Seven Summit Treks reached the summit of Shisha Pangma today,” it said in a Facebook post. “This remarkable achievement marks a significant milestone for 12 climbers, completing their 14 Peaks challenge and entering the exclusive 8000ers club of mountaineers who have successfully climbed the world’s highest peaks.”
Speaking to Arab News, Salman Kashif, the father of the Pakistani mountaineer, said his family was celebrating the moment after his son successfully completed “Mission 14.”
“As a parent, Shehroze’s achievement is a huge, happy moment as today he has fulfilled his dream of summiting all 14 peaks above eight thousand meters,” he said over the phone.
“When he was stuck on Nanga Parbat last year, we thought he might give up climbing,” he continued. “However, his passion remained high since he had set himself a goal. That’s why he decided to climb the remaining peaks.”
Kashif’s father described his son as “a city boy who loved mountains” and started climbing at a young age.
“All of my family members were awake last night,” he added. “There is a celebratory atmosphere at our house now. People and relatives are visiting to congratulate us.”
He noted everyone at home was excited.
“We will warmly receive Shehroze and celebrate his achievement once he returns.”
High-level Saudi delegation arriving today in Pakistan to finalize $2 billion investment proposals
- Saudi Arabia’s investment minister is scheduled to visit Pakistan from October 9 to 11 ahead of the SCO Summit
- Pakistan’s deputy PM says Saudi Arabia has been ‘rock solid’ in helping Pakistan navigate economic challenges
ISLAMABAD: A high-level Saudi delegation, led by the Kingdom’s Investment Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, will arrive in Pakistan today, Wednesday, for a three-day visit during which $2 billion in business-to-business investment proposals are expected to be finalized.
Pakistan’s foreign office confirmed Al-Falih’s visit from October 9 to 11 earlier this week, noting that he would be accompanied by a high-level delegation. The visit by the Saudi minister and his team comes ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit next week and aims to enhance economic collaboration between the two countries.
Addressing his cabinet a day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed the anticipated signing of $2 billion worth of agreements with the incoming Saudi delegation. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also spoke about it at a ceremony in the federal capital.
“The Saudi Minister for Investment will arrive on Wednesday to finalize various business-to-business (B2B) investment proposals, which are estimated to exceed $2 billion,” Dar said on Tuesday.
“In recent times, Saudi Arabia has remained rock solid in helping us navigate difficult economic challenges,” he continued, adding the Kingdom’s support had been critical in enabling Pakistan to stand on its own feet.
“The two countries are on a path to forge ever closer strategic cooperation between people of the two countries,” he said.
Dar emphasized the need for both countries to maintain the current momentum in their bilateral relations to achieve the vision of their leaders, where both nations grow together into stronger and more prosperous states.
“On behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan, I extend my deep and sincere gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its continued support and assistance to Pakistan in good times as well as in difficult phases,” he said.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been working closely in recent months to increase bilateral trade and investment deals, with Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment earlier this year to expedite a $5 billion investment package for the South Asian country.
Pakistan has been seeking closer cooperation in trade, defense, energy and other sectors with regional allies as it aims to recover from a prolonged economic crisis that has drained its foreign exchange reserves and weakened its currency.
Pakistan evacuates 71 nationals from Lebanon and Syria amid Israeli strikes
- Pakistan issued an advisory earlier this year, asking its citizens in Lebanon to exercise caution
- The special flight brought back 67 Pakistanis from Lebanon and four from neighboring Syria
KARACHI: Pakistan evacuated 71 nationals from Lebanon and Syria on Wednesday, following the foreign office’s announcement of the plan a day earlier amid ongoing Israeli strikes in the region.
Israel has been actively targeting both Arab countries with a stated objective of dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure by launching airstrikes in areas like Beirut and the Bekaa Valley.
Additionally, it has carried out airstrikes in Syria, saying that its forces are targeting sites linked to Hezbollah and Iranian forces, which are believed to be facilitating the transfer of weapons into Lebanon.
Pakistani authorities issued a travel advisory to its nationals earlier this year amid fears of the Gaza war spreading to other parts of the region, asking its citizens to exercise caution in Lebanon.
“A special flight carrying Pakistani nationals evacuated from Lebanon will arrive in Karachi early tomorrow morning,” the foreign office announced on Tuesday.
“The flight carries sixty seven Pakistani nationals repatriated from Lebanon who traveled to Damascus, Syria by road before being airlifted to Pakistan,” it added. “Four Pakistanis from Syria are also being evacuated with this flight.”
The foreign office said the security, transport and food arrangements for these nationals were made by the Pakistani diplomatic missions in Lebanon and Syria to ensure the safe evacuation from Lebanon.
Speaking to Arab News, Saif Ullah, the spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed the arrival of the flight this morning.
“Cham Wings, a Syrian airline, brought 71 Pakistani passengers to Karachi on flight 6Q 661 at 0300 hours,” he said.
