Pakistan warns of ‘strong’ spell of monsoon rains from Aug. 26 to 30

Commuters make their way along a street during rainfall on the outskirts Dadu on August 4, 2024. (AFP/File)
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Updated 23 August 2024
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Pakistan warns of ‘strong’ spell of monsoon rains from Aug. 26 to 30

  • Heavy monsoon rains have triggered flash floods in several parts of the South Asian country since late June
  • Pakistan has reported 232 deaths in rain-related incidents since July 1, with Punjab reporting 91 of them

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday warned of a “strong” spell of monsoon rains from August 26 till August 30, which would likely impact Balochistan, Sindh and southern parts of the Punjab province.

Heavy monsoon rains have triggered flash floods in several parts of Pakistan since late June, particularly in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and eastern Punjab provinces.

The South Asian nation has reported 232 deaths in rain-related incidents since July 1, with Punjab reporting the highest 91 deaths, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

In an interview with state-run PTV News channel, Pakistan’s Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz said the fresh monsoon spell would potentially disrupt public life in parts of the country.

“The expected monsoon spell is likely to bring heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds, which may lead to flash flooding, landslides and power outages,” he said.

“By staying informed and taking proactive measures, citizens can minimize the risks associated with this weather event.”

The chief meteorologist highlighted the significance of preparedness and contingency plans by local authorities. “By working together, we can reduce the risks and ensure a safer, more resilient community,” he added.

To a question, Sarfraz replied the intensity of this monsoon season could gradually reduce after September 10-12, marking the end of the rainy season.

“This transition will bring a welcome relief to the people, as the suffocating humidity and rainfall will give way to a more pleasant weather pattern,” he said. “As the monsoon withdraws, the region can expect a decrease in temperature and humidity.”

Pakistan is recognized as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change effects. This year, the South Asian country recorded its “wettest April since 1961,” with 59.3 millimeters of rainfall while some areas of the country faced a severe heat wave in May and June.

In 2022, unusually heavy rains triggered flash floods in many parts of Pakistan, killing over 1,700 people, inflicting losses of around $30 billion, and affecting at least 30 million people. Scientists have attributed Pakistan’s erratic weather patterns to climate change effects and called on countries around the world to take urgent steps to tackle the crisis.


Saudi Arabia top contributor as Pakistan worker remittances grow 29% year-on-year

Updated 13 sec ago
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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

Updated 33 min 26 sec ago
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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

Updated 27 min 5 sec ago
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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

Updated 09 October 2024
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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

Updated 54 min 3 sec ago
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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.