Punjab | Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed federal ministers to immediately visit flood-affected districts of Punjab and personally supervise evacuation and relief operations amid the threat of very high-level flooding in the Chenab, Sutlej, and Ravi rivers.

The Pakistan Army has been called in to assist the civil administration in Punjab after India released water into the River Ravi, triggering a sharp rise in water levels and creating a potential flood situation.

LAHORE: Residents and shop­keepers in upscale localities across Punjab will start receiving ‘cleanliness’ utility bills from Sept 1, and these neighbourhoods will subseq­ue­ntly be declared ‘zero-waste’ are­as with penalties for littering. Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) Chief Exec­utive Officer Babir Sahib Din told Dawn that all residential and commercial property owners in Lahore’s upscale localities, including Gulberg, Johar Town, Muslim Town, New Mus­lim Town, Shadman, Faisal Town, Garden Town, Upper Mall Scheme, and the localities facing the Canal Road, Mall Road, and Jail Road will receive their bills next month. Private housing schemes are exempt, however, because they have their own disposal system. “This was in the works for long and finally the government decided to impose a clea­n­liness fee in a bid to ensure excellent cleanliness in all area­s, starting from the posh ones in the first phase,” he revealed. Penalty The proposal to introduce a cleanliness fee regime had been approved by the P...

ISLAMABAD, LAHORE - Over 150,000 people from flood-affected districts of Punjab have so far been relocated to safer places as the province braces for heavy rains and floods, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Tuesday.

Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab, Irfan Ali Kathia, has said that the water level in major rivers of the province is continuously rising.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Tuesday warned of heavy rainfall across several districts of Punjab and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) over the next 12 to 24 hours, urging residents and local authorities to remain vigilant.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the National Disaster Management Authority to expedite the rescue operation in the districts of Punjab province affected by the flooding in the Sutlej River The prime minister instructed the NDMA chairman to take immediate steps for the evacuation of people stranded in flood-affected areas and to.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday issued orders to evacuate the people living in areas around rivers and low-lying ones ahead of heavy rains and flood predictions across the province. Punjab is on high alert for floods before the arrival of a fresh monsoon spell as the provincial government on Saturday evacuated thousands of people along the Sutlej River, as the river surged to a high flood level at Ganda Singh Wala, recording a dangerous flow of 129,866 cusecs. A statement by the chief minister’s office said that CM Maryam issued orders “to ensure timely evacuation of the stranded population in view of [the] arrival of flood torrents”. She ordered access to “all possible available resources” to prevent loss of life, relocation of population from around rivers and low-lying areas to safe places, and prompt measures for the timely relocation of livestock to safe places, it added. The chief minister directed authorities to “vigilantly monitor the flood situation of Sutlej River and other rivers”, mak...

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued a warning of medium to high flood in major rivers of the province as strong monsoon activity continues to grip the region.

In a bid to improve public convenience, Director General of Passports Mustafa Jamal Qazi has announced a new administrative structure for passport services across Punjab.

The World Bank on Monday approved a $47.9 million grant to improve primary education in Punjab, saying the project will expand early childhood schooling, re-enrol out-of-school children and strengthen teacher support. The move came over a month after the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the World Bank teams conducted the 12th and final mission to review and evaluate progress against the targets set under the Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project. “The World Bank has approved a US$47.9 million grant, funded by the Global Partnership for Education Fund, to help improve girls’ and boys’ participation at pre-primary and primary levels in Pakistan’s Punjab province,” the organisation said in a press release dated August 23, shared on social media today. According to the press release, the GRADES-Balochistan project will also improve the responsiveness of the education sector to climate change and emergencies. Among the four million children that the project aims to benefit are 80,000 out-of-...

Several cities in Punjab received heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms on Sunday, bringing cooler temperatures and pleasant weather conditions for residents.

• High alert in multiple districts as Sutlej flows in high flood, Chenab and Ravi rivers stable • GB survivors face shortage of essentials; over 3,000 displaced in Ghizer; Glof-II project probe demanded LAHORE: A day before the arrival of a fresh monsoon spell, the Punjab government on Saturday evacuated thousands of people along the Sutlej River, as the river surged to a high flood level at Ganda Singh Wala, recording a dangerous flow of 129,866 cusecs. The Provincial Disaster Manag­ement Authority (PDMA) initiated evacuations and emergency operations across multiple districts amid a new and intense monsoon spell forecast on August 24-27. According to a hydrological report by the Board of Revenue, the situation at Ganda Singh Wala was critical and expected to persist for the next 48 hours. In response, district administrations in central and southern Punjab were racing against time to relocate communities living along the riverbanks. Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad said that over 19,000 people were eva...

Party pushes for Punjab seats under 'runners-up formula'

LAHORE: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, has denied allegations that the Punjab government was involved in the alleged abduction of Aleema Khan’s son, Shahrez Khan. Responding to accusations made by Aleema Khan, sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Rana Sanaullah said, “Until proven, these are mere allegations, terming the […]

A collision between a bus and a rescue ambulance on Thursday killed six people, including four rescue personnel, and injured two others in Punjab’s Rahim Yar Khan district, according to officials. A statement issued by Punjab Rescue Spokesperson Farouk Ahmed said the accident occurred on the Rahim Yar Khan Road in the Kot Samaba area. “Six people, including four rescue personnel, died in the accident,” he said. According to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Adnan Shabbir, the incident took place at 3:21pm. He said the two injured people were taken to Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital for treatment. Rahim Yar Khan District Police Officer Irfan Ali Sammon had reached the spot to monitor the relief activities. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Khuram Javed condoled the families of the deceased rescue officials and sought a report from concerned officers. The Rescue 1122 statement added that the emergency services secretary instructed the district rescue officer to provide an immediate report of the accident. “Provincial Minis...

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif met Seishiro Eto, Chairman of the Japan-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship League, during her official visit to Japan and discussed ways to expand cooperation between Punjab and Japan.

LAHORE - On the second day of her five- day Japan visit, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced a series of initiatives to modernize Punjab’s healthcare, industrial, and transport sectors through strategic cooperation with Japan.

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that Punjab will benefit from Japan’s expertise in curbing environmental pollution, improving waste management and developing modern cities on advanced lines, according to a handout issued by the Information Department here on Monday.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday ordered the adoption of modern Japanese technology and methodology in managing sewage and waste treatment in the province. Pakistan generates millions of tonnes of solid waste annually, but only a small fraction of sewage is treated. Inadequate sanitation in urban areas leads to recurring floods, waterborne illnesses and the resurgence of preventable diseases such as cholera, dengue and polio. The chief minister is currently on a five-day visit to Japan. A statement from her office said CM Maryam issued the order during a visit to Japan’s largest wastewater treatment plant in Yokohama today. “Japan’s modern technology and methods will be used for sewage and waste management in Punjab,” the statement quoted her as saying. The statement added that she inspected the waste treatment systems of Asahi, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, Washimaku and Yodogawa. According to the statement, the chief minister was given a detailed briefing on methods of collecting garbage and wastewat...