ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province announced the deaths of three children due to heavy rains and flash floods on Tuesday, as more downpours were forecast in several districts of Punjab in the next 24 hours.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab has reported 54 people lost their lives during this year’s monsoon season in Pakistan, with 141 others injured in various rain-related incidents in the province.
Most of the fatalities were due to lightning strikes and the collapse of dilapidated buildings, highlighting the severe impact of the heavy rains.
Similar incidents have plagued KP since the onset of the monsoon, exacerbating the region’s vulnerability to such natural disasters.
“Monsoon rains are likely in most districts of Punjab in the next 24 hours,” the Punjab PDMA informed in a statement. “In the last 24 hours, Murree recorded 18 mm, Rahim Yar Khan 17, Chakwal 12 and Joharabad also recorded 12 mm of rain.”
“Due to monsoon rains, the water level in rivers, dams and canals is increasing,” the statement added.
PDMA officials in KP also released 24-hour tabulated data up until 1 PM on Tuesday, reporting the deaths of two children in the Mohmand tribal district and one in Mansehra during that period.
The Punjab PDMA chief, Irfan Ali Kathia, said all necessary arrangements had been made in anticipation of a possible flood situation in parts of the province.
He added that financial assistance had been provided to the families of those who lost their loved ones during the monsoon.
“The precious loss of life can be avoided by taking precautionary measures,” he emphasized.
The Punjab PDMA also urged people to avoid weak and dilapidated buildings.
Three children die due to floods in Pakistan’s northwest as Punjab braces for downpours
https://arab.news/csr9r
Three children die due to floods in Pakistan’s northwest as Punjab braces for downpours
- Officials in Punjab say all necessary arrangements have been made in anticipation of a possible flood situation
- The country has witnessed most monsoon deaths due to lightning strikes and collapse of dilapidated buildings
Pakistan, China to sign multiple MoUs at major agriculture investment conference today
- Hundreds of Chinese and Pakistani firms to attend Islamabad event
- Conference seen as part of expanding CPEC ties into agriculture, trade
KARACHI: Islamabad and Beijing are set to sign multiple memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to boost agricultural investment and cooperation at a major conference taking place in the capital today, Monday, with hundreds of Chinese and Pakistani companies expected to participate.
The conference is being billed by Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research as a platform for deepening bilateral agricultural ties and supporting broader economic engagement between the two countries.
“Multiple memorandums of understanding will be signed at the Pakistan–China Agricultural Conference,” the Ministry of National Food Security said in a statement. “115 Chinese and 165 Pakistani companies will participate.”
The conference reflects a growing emphasis on expanding Pakistan-China economic cooperation beyond the transport and energy foundations of the flagship China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into agriculture, industry and technology.
Under its first phase launched in 2015, CPEC, a core component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, focused primarily on transportation infrastructure, energy generation and connectivity projects linking western China to the Arabian Sea via Pakistan. That phase included motorways, power plants and the development of the Gwadar Port in the country's southwest, aimed at helping Pakistan address chronic power shortages and enhance transport connectivity.
In recent years, both governments have formally moved toward a “CPEC 2.0” phase aimed at diversifying the corridor’s impact into areas such as special economic zones, innovation, digital cooperation and agriculture. Second-phase discussions have highlighted Pakistan’s goal of modernizing its agricultural sector, attracting Chinese technology and investment, and boosting export potential, with high-level talks taking place between planning officials and investors in Beijing.
Agri-sector cooperation has also seen practical collaboration, with joint initiatives examining technology transfer, export protocols and value-chain development, including partnerships in livestock, mechanization and horticulture.
Organizers say the Islamabad conference will bring together government policymakers, private sector investors, industry associations and multinational agribusiness firms from both nations. Discussions will center on investment opportunities, technology adoption, export expansion and building linkages with global buyers within the framework of Pakistan-China economic cooperation.
