18 killed in road accidents across Pakistan’s Punjab on first day of Eid 

Members of Rescue 1122 team, shift a burnt body of a victim to a hospital following an overnight collision between a passenger bus and an oil tanker in Multan on August 16, 2022. (AFP/File)
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Updated 18 June 2024
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18 killed in road accidents across Pakistan’s Punjab on first day of Eid 

  • Over 1,900 accidents reported across Punjab on first day of Eid Al-Adha, says Rescue 1122 service
  • Most accidents were reported in Lahore, where 418 people sustained injuries in 382 accidents

ISLAMABAD: Eighteen people were killed in various accidents across Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province during the first day of Eid Al-Adha, a rescue service confirmed on Tuesday. 

People from various parts of the country travel to their native cities and villages to meet family members during the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Adha. Road accidents in Pakistan, where traffic rules are rarely followed, are common especially during these holidays. 

“As many as 18 people died in different road accidents across the province on the first day of Eid Al-Adha,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said. 

“According to Rescue 1122, the rescue team responded to 1903 accidents in Punjab on the first day of Eid and provided first aid treatment to 2089 people.”

As per the rescue service, most of the accidents were reported in the eastern city of Lahore, where 418 people sustained injuries in 382 different accidents. One hundred and twenty-five accidents were reported in Faisalabad, 120 in Multan, and 108 in Gujranwala cities on Monday. 

At least 173 incidents of fire were reported at scattered places in the province, the state-run media said. 

Thirty-three fire incidents were reported in Lahore on the first day of Eid Al-Adha. Fire incidents were also reported in Rawalpindi, Attock, and Faisalabad cities of Punjab.

“Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmed urged citizens to contact the department in case of any emergency,” APP said. 


Pakistan backs Bahrain, calls for de-escalation as Iran war continues

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Pakistan backs Bahrain, calls for de-escalation as Iran war continues

  • Dar speaks with Bahrain’s foreign minister, conveys concern over recent attacks in the Gulf
  • Both officials call for regional peace a day after Bahrain’s oil exporter declared force majeure

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan called for dialogue and de-escalation to resolve the ongoing Iran war, an official statement said on Tuesday, expressing concern over its continuing spillover into neighboring Arab states following Tehran’s attacks in the Gulf region.

Tensions in the Gulf have surged since coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran on Feb. 28, diminishing prospects of a diplomatic settlement to Tehran’s long-running dispute with Western countries and Israel over its nuclear program.

Iran subsequently said it was targeting American military bases in Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, prompting condemnations from those governments, which said several strikes had hit civilian infrastructure.

Pakistan condemned both the initial strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks across the region, urging all sides to halt hostilities.

“Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 spoke late last night with Bahrain’s Foreign Minister H. E. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani,” Pakistan’s foreign office said in a social media post. “They exchanged views on the developments in the Middle East and the wider region, conveying grave concern over recent attacks, including in Bahrain.”

“DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with Bahrain and its people, highlighting the need for de-escalation, dialogue, and efforts for peace and stability in the region,” it added.

The Iran war has disrupted regional energy infrastructure and oil trade.

Bahrain’s state oil company Bapco declared force majeure on its group operations on Friday following an attack on its refinery complex.

Bapco is a major exporter of fuels including diesel, jet fuel and naphtha to markets across the Middle East and Asia.

On Tuesday, Iran launched fresh attacks in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.

Saudi Arabia also said it had destroyed two drones over its oil-rich eastern region and Kuwait’s National Guard said it had shot down six drones.

Dar told Pakistan’s Senate earlier this month that the government was actively striving to defuse tensions in the region. He has also remained in touch with top officials in both Iran and Arab countries.