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Prime Minister Imran Khan says the government is fully cognisant of the suffering of the people in the wake of the heavy rains, especially the people of Karachi. In a series of tweets, the prime minister said that he is personally monitoring the relief and rescue operations and is in constant contact with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chairman and Sindh governor for regular updates. Khan said that he has directed the NDMA chairman to not only rescue stranded people but also provide emergency medical assistance, food and shelter to all those in need. He also directed the NDMA chairman to ensure the restoration of utilities. The prime minister said the government will be announcing a plan for a permanent solution to the problems caused by floods by cleaning of nullahs, fixing of the sewage system, and resolving the huge challenge of water supply to the people of Karachi. He said that master plans for all major cities of the country are being devised to prevent the damage caused by urbanisation. Khan said that, in this regard, the Ravi Riverfront Urban City in Lahore and the Bundal Island City in Karachi are being developed the pattern of the federal capital. He said these projects will help curb overpopulation and food insecurity.

Dozens of people have been killed in accidents and floods caused by torrential rains that have lashed Pakistan for days on end, officials yesterday. Precipitation reached record levels in Karachi, the country’s largest city, where waist-deep rivers of trash-strewn floodwater swept down streets and into homes and businesses. Eighteen people died in the southern city on Thursday “in various rain-related accidents”, a police spokeswoman said. Around 2mn people were feared trapped in Karachi, with neighbourhoods still inaccessible for rescuers because of severe flooding across the city, local police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said. At least 23 people were killed on Thursday alone, said Faisal Edhi, head of Pakistan’s largest Edhi Foundation charity that runs a network of ambulances and morgues. The death toll was expected to go up sharply when rescuers reach inaccessible areas, Edhi said. Pakistan’s army said military and civilian rescuers were mounting a huge operation using helicopters, boats and heavy vehicles to reach victims in flooded streets with food and medicines. Once the rains stop, it will take authorities at least a week to drain the water from the city streets, said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. A record 230mm of rain was recorded in Karachi, home to about 20mn people, compared to the average of 130mm for the time of year, the city’s meteorological service chief Sarfraz Ahmed said. Meteorological officials said the rains were expected to continue in the city until at least Monday. The provincial government declared a public holiday to avoid residents having to commute yesterday, with Chundrigar Road, home to the central bank, stock exchange and head offices of several banks, flooded. Chief Minister Shah ordered schools be used to accommodate displaced families, whose homes had been damaged or were unreachable. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 16 people were killed in flash floods yesterday, with landslides damaging 67 houses. And in Punjab, local officials said four workers were killed when a warehouse roof collapsed yesterday. Several thousand villagers in the province were being evacuated as at least two of the region’s five rivers flooded. The spillways of two dams near the capital Islamabad were opened on Thursday as they were filled to capacity, causing flooding in nearby towns. The monsoon, which usually lasts from June to September, is essential for irrigating crops and replenishing water supplies across the subcontinent, home to one-fifth of the world’s population. However, each year, the intense rainfall also brings a wave of destruction. Apart from floods in rivers caused by rains on the Himalayas, climate change has posed challenges like urban flooding and glacial lake outburst flooding in recent years. In total, floods killed 103 people this month in Pakistan: 54 in Karachi, 33 in Punjab and 16 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, according to official figures compiled by AFP.

The Meteorological Department’s prediction about light to moderate rain did not come true as heavy showers pounded Karachi for hours yesterday, flooding roads and underpasses. A day ago, the Met Office had predicted that the monsoon rain system had weakened and that it was likely that the metropolis would be provided with much-needed relief from the torrential rains. In its new weather alert, the Met office redacted its earlier rain prediction that heavy showers in the city could last until 4pm, saying that now it would last till 11pm. The Met Office said that the weakened system had merged with another system coming in from Baluchistan, gaining intensity and resulting in heavy rain pelting the city. Rainwater inundated the KPT underpass that connects Do Talwar to Teen Talwar at Clifton, while the same situation was observed with the underpass near Punjab Colony. In a video that went viral on social media, containers brought for security measures in Muharram could be seen swept away by rainwater. Due to the situation at the two main underpasses, the flow of traffic came to a halt as traffic officials urged the masses to use alternate routes. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi took to Twitter to share a video clip in which cars were seen to be driving around in the city’s DHA Phase 6 area in high water. According to weather experts, Karachi has been sandwiched between the systems generating rainy clouds, with humidity from the sea exacerbating the situation. The dark clouds hovering above the city that are causing the showers are at a height of 35,000’-40,000’. Normally, such clouds are at a height of 2,000’-3,000’. Experts said that the high altitude of the clouds was the reason for the intensity of the rain. Sindh Governor Imran Ismail tweeted yesterday that Prime Minister Imran Khan is monitoring the situation that has arisen in Karachi due to the torrential rains and has assured “to take any action required”. “Briefed PM @ImranKhanPTI over Sindh rain situation, Karachi needs special attention. This is unusual and abnormal rain situation which requires emergency response. “PM is monitoring the situation and assured to take any action required,” tweeted Ismail. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reacted to the “super monsoon torrential rains”, urging people to keep those in their thoughts who were working 24/7 to assist citizens during the natural disaster. “As of yesterday, Sindh had seen its worst monsoons in 90years. Today super monsoon torrential rains & floods continue unabated. “Please keep all those in your thoughts who have already been working 24/7 to assist citizens during this record breaking unprecedented natural disaster,” he tweeted. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah reacted to the situation, stating that the destruction in the city had been caused due to the torrential rain. He directed authorities to help stranded people in Malir and other areas of the city. Murad directed the Karachi commissioner to evacuate school buildings in Malir so that people in affected areas could be given shelter there till the rain situation improves. He also issued directives for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to help people during the crisis. Many areas of Karachi were experiencing power outages. Power was suspended in several areas as a precautionary measure, Karachi Electric spokesperson said. Additionally, Karachi Commissioner Mohamed Suhail Rajput urged people not to leave their homes. A relief and rescue operation by the Sindh Rangers is underway. The Rangers are also co-ordinating with NGOs to distribute ration packages in areas where food supply has been affected. Rangers teams have been constituted to hasten the rescue operation. Rangers have urged residents to call helpline 1101 or contact on 0347-9001111 via WhatsApp for assistance. The recent monsoon spell has once again exposed the poor infrastructure in the metropolis where several areas have been submerged by rainwater, which is yet to be drained. The flooding damaged vehicles and property and resulted in the deaths of a number of people. The death toll from rain-related incidents on Tuesday reached 11, after rescue services recovered five more bodies on Wednesday.

The armed forces of Pakistan continued with relief and rescue efforts in the metropolis yesterday after torrential rains left residents of several low-lying areas stranded and without help. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), “army engineers’ machinery including heavy plant effort is in progress to stop water flow from Malir Nadi by fortifying the breached areas.” Water in Malir Nadi has been reduced and backflow from Quaidabad to Malir Nadi has started, said the military’s media wing, adding that boats have been deployed in various areas to shift stranded people to safer places. The ISPR disclosed that more than 200 families have been marooned on rooftops due to heavy flooding in Malir Nadi, Kohi Goth and Dur Mohamed Goth. “Cooked meals are being provided to the affected population stranded due to heavy rains. Owing to strong water current, army helicopters will be dispatched to rescue these families on getting weather clearance,” it added. Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has directed the military troops to set up relief operations in Karachi to assist the people affected by the rains. “Troops must reach out to the affected population in distress and extend all necessary care,” the army chief said. According to local media, the Met Office has confirmed that the 90-year rainfall record for August in Karachi was broken after yesterday’s downpour. The 90-year record was broken after a 345mm downpour was recorded at Karachi’s PAF Faisal Base this month, making it the wettest month since 1931. According to the Met Office, 114mm rain was recorded in Gulshan-e-Hadeed, 83mm in Sadar, 81mm in Landhi, 77.8mm at University Road, 76.6mm in Nazimabad, 70.8mm in Saadi Town, 65.8mm at Jinnah Terminal, 49.8mm in North Karachi, 42.8 in Surjani and the lowest amount of  21.9mm in Keamari. The Met Office has forecast heavy rainfall in the city today, warning that flooding could take place in the city. Power breakdowns were also reported in many areas of the city, with almost 90% of the metropolis experiencing power outages. Electricity supply remained suspended for several hours in Surjani Town, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, North Karachi, various areas of District Central, old city areas, vast areas of district Malir, Korangi, Landhi, Keamari and adjoining areas. K-Electric said its teams were working to restore power while in many areas, electricity supply had already been restored.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for the use of all options to bring back former premier and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif from London, where he had left for medical treatment. Khan’s comments came during a meeting at the Parliament House, where party leaders, federal ministers, and some spokespersons were present. The premier during the meeting vowed not to give in to the opposition parties’ blackmailing over legislation pertaining to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). He also advised against any conditional dialogue with the opposition parties over the FATF legislation. “There can be no compromise on national interests with the opposition,” he said, according to an announcement. The premier was apprised of the progress to date over the legislative matters, with his legal team presenting various different options in this regard. Last week, adviser to the prime minister on accountability and interior, Shahzad Akbar, said Nawaz had not fulfilled any of the conditions under which he was allowed to leave Pakistan for medical treatment. As the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) stepped up efforts to continue proceedings in the two cases against the former premier, Akbar said the PML-N supremo was permitted to get medical treatment abroad subject to returning within the stipulated time frame. Nawaz was also bound to submit his periodical medical reports and updates on his treatment to the court and the government of Punjab, he added, but claimed that the PML-N leader had submitted “no such report”.The NAB has filed an appeal in the Islamabad High Court for Nawaz’s seven-year imprisonment sentence in the Al Azizia Steel Mills case to be extended to 14 years. Justices Amir Farooq and Mohsin Akhtar Kayani were scheduled to preside over a hearing of the case on September 1. Moreover, a hearing against the former premier’s acquittal in the Flagship Investments case would also be held that same day, for which another appeal was filed by the anti-graft watchdog. The adviser had added that the Islamabad High Court had on August 18 declared Nawaz “an absconder” as his bail had expired. “The federal government has decided to take matters forward with the help of the NAB,” he said. “This dual standard of accountability cannot take place in Pakistan as common people who hardly get parole return (to serve their sentence) and Nawaz who has been disqualified for life by the Supreme Court and found guilty in two cases is enjoying his life in London.”

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said yesterday that another spell of rain is expected in Karachi and parts of Sindh today and tomorrow, warning that there is danger of urban flooding yet again. “Rain/wind thundershowers, with isolated heavy to very heavy falls, are expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Tharparker, Nagarparker, Mirpurkhas, Islam Kot, Umar Kot, Sanghar, Sukkur and Larkana from Monday to Wednesday,” a weather advisory by the department said. “Heavy rainfall may generate urban flooding/water logging in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta and Badin from Monday to Tuesday. “Heavy downpour may generate flash flooding in hill torrents of Kalat, Khuzdar and Lasbela during the period,” it said. The Met office also predicted rain-thundershowers with isolated heavy falls in Lasbela, Khuzdar, Awaran, Barkhan, Zhob, Musa Khel, Loralai, Kohlu and Sibi. “Widespread rain/wind-thundershowers (with few heavy falls) are expected in Kashmir, Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa and Gilgit-Baltistan from Tuesday to Thursday. “Heavy rainfall may generate urban flooding in Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, Haripur, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Jhelum, Sialkot, Hafizabad, Sargodha, Lahore and Faisalabad on Wednesday and Thursday and may trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and KP,” the department said, urging all authorities concerned to remain alert. “There is a prediction of rain because of the system present in Sindh and Rajasthan and the humidity in the Arabian Gulf,” Met director Abdul Qayyum Bhutto said. He forecast heavy winds and rain in Karachi for the next three days, adding that the metropolis, in particular, could experience thunder and heavy rains. “There is a danger of urban flooding in Sindh and Karachi,” he said, adding that the province could see between 100-150mm of rain combined during this period. Last week’s monsoon spell, the fifth one of the season, brought devastation to Karachi once again, claiming the lives of at least seven people and inundating roads in various parts of the city. According to the Met department, the highest amount of rainfall, 185.7mm, was recorded in Surjani Town where people had to be evacuated after the rainwater flooded their homes. The movement of traffic came to a grinding halt due to roads being submerged by rainwater while the power supply system showed no improvement as many areas were deprived of electricity till late in the night. During the fourth spell earlier this month, at least nine people died in separate incidents in the city. Seven of the deceased lost their lives due to electrocution, while two boys drowned while swimming in accumulated rainwater, according to officials and rescue services. Karachi has a network of 550 storm drains which zig-zag through the metropolis and flow out into the Arabian Sea, but many are obstructed by illegal construction, waste and sludge. The city’s infrastructure is struggling to cope with heavy monsoon rains, as seen this year. Sardar Sarfaraz, Karachi head of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, said that rainfall of as little as 50mm (2”) could cause urban flooding in some of Karachi’s low-lying areas, with the most recent downpour easily exceeding that across the city.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has been named “Man of the Year 2020” by The Muslim 500, a Jordanian annual publication which ranks the most influential Muslims. Published by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan, the 11th issue of The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims 2020, honoured Prime Minister Khan mainly for his quest for lasting peace with India since he assumed power in 2018. The publication highlighted his efforts to normalise ties with India and avoid confrontation, in particular over Kashmir. It said that there is a certain and perhaps necessary apparent naiveté to Khan’s efforts for a lasting peace, as demonstrated in India’s move in August last year to impose a military curfew in the Indian-administered Kashmir, and arrest of thousands of Kashmiris. The prime minister has meanwhile stated that the country’s economy is on the right track. In his tweets yesterday, he said that the nation’s current account balance swung upwards to a surplus of $424mn in July this year. This, he said, was after the current account balance posted a deficit of $613mn in July last year and a deficit of $100mn in June this year. The prime minister said that this strong turnaround is a result of continuing recovery in exports, which rose 20% compared to the month of June, and record remittances. He also expressed the resolve to serve the people through the agenda of national development. In a Facebook post, he said the government is focusing on four priority areas to expedite development process: increasing exports, use of legal channels for remittances, foreign investment, and curbing money laundering. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Office has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to reopen 565 complaints registered at the Pakistan Citizen Portal and ensure their resolution on merit. The Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit (PMDU) has received a report regarding the performance of FBR officials. According to the report, strict warnings have been issued to 10 senior FBR officials over their poor performance. The officials have been directed to improve their performance regarding the resolution of public complaints. The report indicated that strict action will be initiated in case the public complaints are not addressed in a satisfactory manner. Earlier, the FBR intensified action against irregularity, corruption, and inefficiency, and suspended 10 more officers. The suspended Customs officers were seven Inspectors, two superintendents, and one appraising officer. Since July, 36 officers and 19 officials have been suspended and three employees have been dismissed. Furthermore, an Integrity and Performance Management Unit (IPMU) has been established in the FBR to address the complaints of the taxpayers against any employee.

Pakistan has invited key Taliban negotiators to its capital to push for peace talks to end the conflict in neighbouring Afghanistan, Islamabad’s foreign minister said yesterday. The visit coincides with a decision by Taliban chief Malawi Haibatullah Akhundzada to set up a 20-member team of negotiators to begin peace talks with the Afghan government. Akhundzada has included at least half of his close allies from the Taliban council known as the Quetta Shura in his team. Most of them are based in southwestern Pakistan. The Taliban and the Afghan government had signalled that they were prepared to start talks immediately after the Eid al-Adha, which ended earlier this month, but the process remains bogged down over a controversial prisoner swap. Both sides have fought for nearly two decades in a conflict that has left tens of thousands of people dead. “The delegation is in Islamabad and we will have a round of talks with them tomorrow as part of efforts aimed at (building) mutual confidence,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told a press conference. He said that Islamabad had invited the Taliban to Pakistan to stress the importance of talks, saying negotiations were the “the only way forward” in Afghanistan. “This is for Afghans to reconcile, and our task is that of facilitator,” he added. “The main objective is to secure peace and the next phase should be the start of intra-Afghan dialogue.” Under the prisoner exchange, Kabul has released about 4,680 insurgent detainees while the Taliban says it has freed 1,000 members of Afghan security forces, broadly fulfilling an agreement outlined in a deal reached between the US and the Taliban. But the swap has stumbled over the final few hundred prisoners, with Kabul reluctant to release what it says are dangerous Taliban fighters tied to deadly attacks. Meanwhile Abdullah Abdullah, who is leading the Afghan government’s peace process, called for the prisoner exchange to be wrapped up. “We are calling for the completion of the prisoner exchange, & immediate beginning of the intra-Afghan talks to put an end to agony of a nation,” Abdullah said on Twitter. In October 2019, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban co-founder who spent eight years in Pakistani custody, led a delegation to Islamabad ahead of a deal the insurgents signed in February with Washington. Islamabad has said that its influence over the Taliban – which ruled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, when it was ousted by a US-led invasion – encouraged the militants to join talks with the US. Tensions remain high between Islamabad and Kabul, with the administration of President Ashraf Ghani frequently lashing out at Pakistan for allegedly sheltering, funding and supplying the Taliban. Pakistan, which was one of only three countries to recognise the Taliban regime in the 1990s, denies the claims. On Sunday, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted that Baradar and other negotiators would discuss “recent developments in Afghanistan’s peace process, relaxation and facilitation of people’s movement and trade between the two neighbouring countries”. Baradar is expected to have a meeting with Qureshi today.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said that a sum of at least $10bn is required to modernise Karachi’s infrastructure. “The city’s issues are not new: they have been here for some time. In the past four years, we have worked a lot to clear the storm drains in the city,” he said, noting that a new monsoon spell began on July 26-27, with the heaviest rainfall last recorded in 1977. “There was a lot of rain back in 2007, when nearly 200 people had died,” he noted. The Sindh government has been giving funds to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to clean the nullahs (storm drains) in the city, the chief minister added. “In the last four years, we cleared many nullahs in the city. Despite the heavy rainfall, water was cleared within three to four hours,” Shah said. “The major problem is due to a major structure, which has blocked all nullahs in Karachi, which are the responsibility of the cantonments and DMCs (district municipal councils). “In recent times, the responsibility to clean the storm drains lie with the KMC, and Sindh government has given money to clear the nullahs.” The spokesperson for the Sindh provincial government, Senator Murtaza Wahab, said that he would much prefer to identify the issues that are plaguing the metropolis, rather than engage in mudslinging. “Until and unless we all understand the challenges that Karachi faces, they cannot be resolved,” he added. Responding to the Sindh chief minister’s remarks about the KMC having the responsibility to clear up drains in the city, Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar said the city did not fall under the domain of one man. “One person does not have entire city’s domain,” he said, adding that the issues stemmed from the fact that the powers were not vested with one person. “Until the local governments are given power, nothing can be done. Clearing nullahs is my responsibility, but I (could) only do so when I have the resources,” he added, stressing that had Article 148 been imposed, the city would not have been facing these issues. However, the nullahs would not be cleared until the DMCs had funds and resources, he stated, adding that the KMC was short of Rs130mn in salaries. Meanwhile, as many as 200 families in Karachi’s Surjani Town were forced to evacuate as rains continued to wreak havoc in the metropolis. Residents of Yousaf Goth, Bismah Town, Sector 4-B and other low-lying areas in Surjani Town had to evacuate due to flooding in the area. The residents were moved with the help of Rangers and Edhi workers in trucks and boats to safe locations. Low-lying areas in the city have been the hardest hit with the fifth spell of rain as nullahs overflowed. In New Karachi’s sector 5-E and the Hyderi Market, rainwater flowed from the storm drains which could not be cleared in due time due to encroachments extending into streets. The rains were followed by subsequent power outages across the city, with several areas of the metropolis plunged into darkness after nearly 600 K-Electric feeders tripped. Areas that had experienced power outages included Surjani Town, Orangi Town, North Karachi, New Karachi, Liaquatabad, Jamshed Quarters, FC Area, Khamosh Colony, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Ahsanabad, Shadman Town, Safoora Goth, FB Area, Power House, and parts of Clifton, among others. Meteorological Department director Abdul Qayyum Bhutto had said that the city might receive 100mm of rainfall, with some areas receiving heavy or moderate showers. He had warned that the monsoon spell can last with intermittent rain showers until Wednesday, adding that heavy rains could cause urban flooding once again. Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar has meanwhile said that the federal government is committed to resolving the issues faced by the people of Karachi. Speaking at a function in Karachi, he said that water shortage, sewerage, transport and solid waste management issues faced by the city’s residents will be resolved through co-ordinated effort with the provincial government. Later, the minister also held a meeting with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh leadership in Karachi and discussed the city’s issues. During the meeting, it was agreed that work on development projects in Karachi, the economic hub of the country, is to be expedited.

Coronavirus cases continue to decline in Pakistan, with data from the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) stating that only four people died over the past 24 hours, and the country reporting only 591 cases of the virus on Sunday. The highly-contagious coronavirus causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease. According to data from the government body, the total number of active cases in Pakistan is 10,964 as of August 23. As many as 591 people tested positive for the coronavirus on August 22, out of a total number of 24,956 who were tested. The total number of people who have recovered from the virus and tested negative for it amounted to 275,836. The NCOC stated that there were no patients on ventilators in Baluchistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Out of 1,920 ventilators in the country, 121 are occupied. The total death toll stands at 6,235. “A total of 292,765 cases detected so far: Azad Jammu and Kashmir AJK 2,245, Baluchistan 12,507, Gilgit-Baltistan 2,657, Islamabad Capital Territory 15,493, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 35,720, Punjab 96,178, and Sindh 127,965),” stated the NCOC. Planning Minister Asad Umar had warned earlier this month that the nation must not to fall back into old habits after Covid-19 restrictions were eased in almost all sectors, keeping in mind that the coronavirus is still very much a threat. The minister had said that he heard people saying that the coronavirus pandemic had been eliminated. “Ever since this announcement [lifting lockdown restrictions] was made, I have been hearing from people that coronavirus has ended. “I wish coronavirus would have been eliminated. However, unfortunately, the situation is not like that at the moment. “We can’t say at this moment that coronavirus has been eliminated,” the minister had said. Speaking of a decline in cases, Umar had credited the people of Pakistan, saying that they were the “real heroes” with whose co-operation the government had managed to bring about a drastic reduction in the infection. “Whatever steps were taken by the state and the government, could not have been effective if the public had not co-operated,” he said. “A large part of the society helped the government.” “I would like to thank the media as well for sending our message to the public on what to do [to ward off the coronavirus],” he added.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to enact a law to ensure safety of health workers and patients in view of the increasing incidents of violence in hospitals. “Yes, we are working on the bill for protection of the healthcare providers. The proposed law will be put before the cabinet for approval, after which it would be submitted to provincial assembly to make it an Act,” Health Secretary Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah said. The latest spree of acts of violence in the hospitals against healthcare providers has prompted the government to renew efforts to pass the long-delayed piece of legislation, according to officials. They said that the government is satisfied with the performance of the healthcare providers, who not only ensured better services to the patients, but also did not observe any strike or protest during the coronavirus pandemic despite violence. The coronavirus causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease. Officials said that healthcare providers experienced at least half a dozen incidents of violence during the last two months, but continued their work to ensure unhindered treatment of the Covid-19 patients. The Provincial Doctors Association, the Young Doctors Association, the Nursing Association, and the Paramedical Association had long demanded enactment of a law to protect them against violence during duty hours, they said. Two months ago, the government decided to implement it in the shape of an ordinance, but it was again delayed, and two days ago a committee was formed to make recommendations for the passage of the law from the assembly, officials said. In this regard, a meeting of representatives of health, labour, law and Ushr and Zakat departments was held, wherein they decided to go through the document and make recommendations for its earlier passage from the assembly. “The bill, which seeks to protect health workers, patients and their attendants from violence and prevent loss to the property, has already been vetted by the law department and now the committee would make a final decision,” said officials. They said that a few observations raised by law department in the past were already cleared, and that now it needed to be placed before the assembly. Health Minister Taimur Salim Khan has also directed the health department to speed up the legislation and put an end to the series of violent actions committed against health workers. The proposed law makes any act of violence against health workers or damage or loss to property in a healthcare service institution punishable, and any offender shall be punishable with imprisonment for a period, which may extend to three years, and with fine, which may extend to Rs50,000. Additionally, the violator of the law shall also be liable to pay to the healthcare service institution a compensation of twice the purchase price of medical equipment damaged and the loss caused to the property as may be determined by the court trying the offence. In case of offender’s failure to pay the compensation, the said sum shall be recovered as if it is an arrear of land revenue due from him. Any offence committed shall be cognisable and non-bailable, according to the proposed law. The law also makes it obligatory upon the hospitals to provide full reports of treatment to the patients.

Pakistan and China have agreed to collectively take measures to safeguard their common interests and promote peace, prosperity, and development in the region. The consensus to this effect was reached during the second round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Hainan, China. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi represented Pakistan while the Chinese side was represented by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. According to a joint press release issued by Foreign Office in Islamabad yesterday, the two sides exchanged views on the coronavirus pandemic, bilateral relations, and international and regional issues of mutual interest. Both sides agreed to further strengthen co-operation in developing a vaccine to defeat the pandemic, and strive to promote establishment of China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future and Community of Common Health. They agreed to continue their firm support on issues concerning each other’s core national interests. Both sides underlined that a peaceful, stable, cooperative and prosperous South Asia is in common interest of all parties. The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, including its concerns, position and current urgent issues. The Chinese side reiterated that the Kashmir issue is a dispute left over from history between India and Pakistan, which is an objective fact. It said the Kashmir dispute should be resolved peacefully and properly through the UN Charter, relevant Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. China opposes any unilateral actions that complicate the situation. Both sides also agreed to strengthen co-operation on the Afghan issue and appreciated the efforts made by Afghan government and the Taliban to initiate the Intra-Afghan Negotiations. Meanwhile, Wang said that China and Pakistan are true friends and good brothers sharing weal and woe. At a media conference with Qureshi, the Chinese minister said that since outbreak of the coronavirus, China and Pakistan had worked together to help each other in times of difficulty. He said that both countries shared experiences in epidemic prevention and fight, and provided medical supplies to each other, setting an example of inter-country co-operation in fight against the epidemic.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved a project to introduce specialised education in 400 higher secondary schools of the country. Presiding over a meeting, the prime minister gave his consent to the launch of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) project in collaboration with universities in 400 higher secondary schools. The meeting was attended by Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, the finance secretary, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman and other senior officials. According to the Prime Minister Office, in the first phase special laboratories for science and technology, engineering and mathematics will be established in 40 schools. Around 100,000 children in 400 schools will have access to education and training in modern sciences through this project. Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said the country’s development is linked to the promotion of science and technology, and directed early finalisation of related projects. Chaudhry briefed the prime minister about the key projects and achievements during the last two years and future plans for the promotion of science and technology. The prime minister was also informed about the progress on the proposed University for Engineering and Emerging Technology to be set up at the Prime Minister House.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has expressed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to fight the “curse” of terrorism. In a statement issued on the occasion of International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, he said that the resilient Pakistani nation has shown that the values of enlightenment, compassion and empathy that bind us together are much stronger than the forces of intolerance, hatred and violence. Qureshi said that Pakistan has suffered the most from terrorism as it lost more than 70,000 lives and suffered economic losses of $120bn. He said thousands of soldiers and law enforcement personnel have laid down their lives in defending the motherland. The minister said that as the nation commemorates the day, everyone must remember the situation in the Indian-administered Kashmir. Qureshi called upon the international community to look into what is going on in the Indian-administered Kashmir. The minister said that on its part, Pakistan is committed to show victims of terrorism that they are not alone and that the international community stands in solidarity with them, wherever they are. Qureshi, who is presently in China, said that he is representing Pakistan in the strategic dialogue with China. In a statement, he said, that besides discussions on co-operation in different sectors including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Qureshi said that Pakistan is grateful to China, whose support in the UN Security Council allowed discussions on the Kashmir dispute to be held three times after a gap of 55 years.

An accountability court has again issued bailable arrest warrants for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a reference pertaining to a 34-year-old land allotment transaction also involving Jang group editor-in-chief Mir Shakilur Rehman. Earlier, a police report filed with the court said that the summons could not be served at the Model Town residence of Sharif due to his unavailability. Presiding Judge Asad Ali asked a police official if the former premier had only one residence in Lahore. The official said that there was another residence (of Sharif in the city) in Jati Umra, but the summons were not sent to that address. The judge issued fresh bailable arrest warrants for Sharif and ordered the police to ensure service of the summons at all known addresses of the suspect. The judge also extended judicial remand of Mir Shakilur Rehman till next date of hearing on September 3. Rehman was not produced before the court by the jail authorities due to coronavirus pandemic standard operating procedures (SOPs). The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in its reference alleged that Rehman illegally obtained exemption of 54 plots, each measuring one kanal, situated in Block-H, Johar Town. It alleged that the land was allotted in connivance with then-Punjab chief minister Nawaz Sharif against the exemption policy and the laws for monetary gains. It said the suspects caused a loss of Rs143.53mn to the national exchequer through allotment of the land in violation of exemption policy. In this case, the NAB had arrested Rehman, while Sharif had been declared an absconder for his continuous non-appearance before the investigation team. Sharif is in London for his treatment following permission granted by the courts. The other two suspects were not arrested by the NAB, but interrogated only. An accountability court has meanwhile completed scrutiny of a money laundering-cum-illegal assets reference against the family of Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, filed by the NAB. Presiding Judge Jawadul Hassan was set to start formal hearing of the reference. A total of 20 persons had been nominated in the reference, including the four approvers – Yasir Mushtaq, Mohamed Mushtaq, Shahid Rafiq, and Aftab Mahmood. The main suspects are Shehbaz Sharif’s wife Nusrat Shehbaz, his sons, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz and Suleman Shehbaz (absconder), and his daughters Rabia Imran and Javeria Ali. Other suspects are alleged benamidars and business partners of the family, including Nisar Ahmad, Qasim Qayum, Rashid Karamat, Masroor Anwar, Fazal Dad Abbasi, and Shoaib Qamar. In this case, Shehbaz Sharif is on pre-arrest bail granted by the Lahore High Court, Hamza Shehbaz is on judicial remand, while Suleman Shehbaz has been declared an absconder as he failed to return from London. A panel of lawyers filed their powers of attorney on behalf of Shehbaz Sharif and his niece Maryam Nawaz, vice-president of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), before a civil court hearing a suit accusing them of illegally occupying 4,000 kanal of land in Jati Umra, Raiwind. Civil Judge Fozia Saira allowed the lawyers time to file replies on behalf of the defendants and adjourned the hearing till September 12. Dr Abdul Rauf, a professor of the Punjab University, filed the suit alleging that the land in question was his inherited property which his forefathers purchased in 1911 from the British government. He asked the court to get the property vacated from alleged illegal possession of the defendants and hand it over to him. He also sought a direction for the defendants to pay him Rs50bn as rent for the period they kept the land in their possession.

President Dr Arif Alvi recounted the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s performance over the past two years in his address to a joint session of parliament, praising Prime Minister Imran Khan for withstanding pressure over his coronavirus strategy. The prime minister, who met National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser shortly before the session started, was also present in the House, as were former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Raza Rabbani, Mushahidullah Khan, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Maulana Asad Mehmood, and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Top Opposition leaders Shehbaz Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari, and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, however, were not present. Neither was Baluchistan National Party – Mengal (BNP-Mengal) leader Akhtar Mengal, who has contracted the coronavirus. Members of the Opposition parties protested and chanted slogans against the PTI government while the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazlur (JUI-F) staged a walkout shortly after the session commenced. In his speech, President Alvi congratulated the House for completing two years, saying that he was honoured to be speaking there for the third time. He also lauded the PTI government for its performance, saying that he would present its wins to the House. “Pakistan is at that point where it should be reviewed what has been done so far, what should have been done, and what should be done in the future,” he said. The nation has had three lessons in the past, he added, noting that no chance should be wasted to remind the people of Pakistan of what they have learnt and what they have achieved, and how they are on the way to becoming a great country. “We all collectively fought terrorism. Pakistan is the only nation that fought terrorism,” he added, congratulating the politicians and armed forces for the “win” for the country. “We also provided (refuge) to the 3.5mn Afghan refugees, we welcomed them with open hearts, and no politician or government spoke ill of them,” he added. The president highlighted how “100 refugees were stranded in the Mediterranean” after “global powers that lectured us on refugees refused to let them in”. “Pakistan set up an example, Pakistan told the world how it lectured us but showed how we welcomed the [Afghan] refugees,” he added. Alvi also listed a third victory the battle against extremism. “The importance of this one is even more, considering what’s going on in our east-side neighbouring country, where extremism is rising,” he explained. He underlined how, when the incumbent government came into power, there was “a huge burden of debts, corruption was rife, and the economy was on a downtrend”. “The first year, I, too, was worried; people advised me to sign a deal with the IMF [International Monetary Fund] or ask for assistance from friendly nations. “But whatever we decided has led to positive effects on our economy,” he added. The president lamented how the situation at present was such that “good news is not promoted”. “Our nation is young. Instead of giving it strength, there’s more talk in the media and elsewhere of what it didn’t do. “[This leads to] depression being created that a nation that should be growing ends up losing motivation. “This is a major injustice and I challenge you here that this is the time when you tell the nation to rise up and stand up, instead of telling it that it won’t be able to do so,” he said. “I give you the example of last year when the coronavirus [pandemic] hit, and there was pressure for a total lockdown. “Nations are built based on strong and visionary decisions, not just on science and data, but on basis of compassion. “Speaking of science and data, I’m reminded of [Muslim military commander] Tariq ibn Ziyad. “Science and data and realism dictated not to burn the boats, one is in a new country but one should keep open the way back regardless of whether one wins the battle or not,” he said. “But [Tariq ibn Ziyad] burned his boats. I believe the vision and priorities should be clear in the mind of the nation and only then it becomes a true vision. “So what was the vision that we created? That we will not let the poor die of starvation. “We made use of foresight. What we did was completely different to all the pressure, all the data, and whatever the rest of the world was doing. “With regard to the mosques, daily and taraweeh prayers stopped in mosques in 57 Muslim countries, but through the SOPs [standard operating procedures], the ulema in collaboration with the government took a good step to allow people to continue praying in the mosques. “There was a smart lockdown for coronavirus two or three days ago, I met a few journalists who used to say they failed to understand this; but you and I, we are able to understand, right?  “God only helps those who care for the common people and the poor and the ummah. “Our smart lockdown led to (fewer) deaths and reduced exposure [to the coronavirus] and today, just before coming here, I read that in India, on Wednesday, 70,000 new cases were identified. “And in Pakistan? Only 600. “There must be something we did, right? We’re genetically similar, we have same atmosphere and resources, but we did something good.” The president stressed that there was no moment in Pakistan’s history as far as he could remember when the world had looked up to Pakistan to learn from it. There were two nations – Japan and Philippines – that admitted it was possible to learn from Pakistan with respect to the coronavirus pandemic. The president lauded the media for encouraging and reminding people to follow the SOPs, as well as the ulema, doctors, and paramedical staff for their services. He also appreciated the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and Prime Minister Khan for withstanding pressure and remaining steadfast. With regard to the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme, he said 16.9mn benefited from Rs12,000 per family, effectively translating into 80-90mn people assisted by the government of Pakistan. “This compassion is something that God probably liked and then He helped us in the coronavirus [pandemic],” he noted. The president, while speaking about the Single National Curriculum (SNC), said it would help create one nation. “It won’t be that the children of wealthy parents learn differently,” he added, noting that graduates of elite institutes, such as the Aitchison College, were a different class than the common people. “We provided 50,000 scholarships in one year. This is important because in the past 17 years, only 23,000 scholarships were awarded,” he noted. There was exemplary work done in health and machines readied. “It had been said earlier that people would die on the roads, but we set up hospitals, and none of the facilities there such as ventilators were used more than 40-60%. “People could say we are a poor nation and our preparations cannot match but we ‘over-matched’,” he added. However, Alvi said that some battles still remained for Pakistan, including tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis – “9% of Pak population suffers from hepatitis” – as well as malnutrition and stunted growth. “The prime minister’s experience in health helped the nation, he spoke of stunting, as well as of population growth. “According to the Holy Qur’an, breastfeeding can help reduce malnutrition and stunting, and instructions provided in the Holy Qur’an can show the way ahead for people. “I appeal to ulema, media, and everyone, to speak about healthy population, the gap [in pregnancy and childbirth], and the recovery [of mothers],” he said. Speaking of the special needs people, the president said that Pakistan should “not forget them” and to bring them into the mainstream. “The laws are present and only implementation is needed. I’m working on this in the universities and efforts are being made in the commercial organisations,” he added.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that his biggest achievement in last two years of government is setting Pakistan’s direction towards becoming a welfare state. In an interview with a private news channel on the completion of two years of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, the premier said that the “Riyasat-e-Madinah” (the “Charter or Constitution of Madinah) was a unique Riyasat, in which uplifting downtrodden segment of society was the foremost priority. Khan said the Ehsaas Programme is proving a milestone in steering the poor segment of society out of poverty. He said that the government had laid special emphasis on the construction sector in order to provide employment opportunities to downtrodden segment of the society. The prime minister said that the government is committed to provide cheap electricity to the people, and that several steps have been taken in order to achieve this. Regarding the coronavirus pandemic, Khan said that the situation is much better and under control in Pakistan. He said that the government’s smart lockdown proved very helpful in overcoming the pandemic. Khan said that future of the country is in the rule of law, and that the government is committed to ensure this, in the best interest of the country. The prime minister also said that Pakistan enjoys excellent and cordial relations with Saudi Arabia, which has always supported Pakistan in the hour of trial. He added that, as per the vision of Quaid-e-Azam, Pakistan will never recognise Israel until the people of Palestine attain their due rights. The prime minister said that future of Pakistan is connected with China, pointing out that politically, China has defended Pakistan at every forum. Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs and Shipping Ali Zaidi says that the PTI government has achieved a lot in the short span of two years, winning appreciation and acknowledgement by international organisations. Speaking with a private news channel, the minister said that work has commenced on long-abandoned mega projects, such as the Diamer Bhasha Dam, the Karachi Development Plan, the Kahuta Hydro Project, the Lahore Ravi project, and the Rawalpindi Islamabad Circular project connected with the New Islamabad Airport, besides successful negotiations with various IPPs (independent power producers) to reduce the price of electricity On the economic front, the minister said that the government has realised a drastic reduction in the current account deficit, bringing it down to $3bn, granted major incentives to the construction industry, resolved the remittance issue, and ensured foreign currency reserves of up to $19bn. The Federal Cabinet has meanwhile paid tribute to Prime Minister Khan for steering the country out of multiple crises with his visionary approach. The Cabinet meeting in Islamabad was chaired by the prime minister. The cabinet members said that Pakistan under Khan’s leadership has set an exemplary precedent by tackling the coronavirus pandemic, including the setting up of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), which handled the situation scientifically.

Pakistan born, astrophysicist Dr Nergis Mavalvala, has been named the new dean of Massachusetts Institute of Technology-MIT’s School of Science, from September. The Karachi-born Dr Mavalvala will succeed Michael Sipser, who will return to the faculty as the Donner Professor of Mathematics, after six years of service, informed MIT. “We’re in this moment where enormous changes are afoot,” Mavalvala says while talking about her new role in the present scenario. “We’re in the middle of a global pandemic and economic challenge, and we’re also in a moment, at least in US history, where the imperative for racial and social justice is really strong. “As someone in a leadership position, that means you have opportunities to make an important and hopefully lasting impact,” she added. Professor Mavalvala was born to a Parsi family. She did her initial schooling from Convent of Jesus and Mary before leaving for the US where she graduated with a BA in physics and astronomy from Wellesley College in 1990. She then did her PhD in physics in 1997 from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology-MIT. Back in 2016, Dr Mavalvala was among the team of scientists who verified Albert Einstein’s 1915 general theory of relativity. Mavalvala, the then associate department head of physics at MIT, along with her team detected ripples in gravitational waves, hypothesised by the legendary physicist Albert Einstein a hundred years ago. The discovery was hailed as a scientific milestone that was made possible by the giant laser detectors in the US, located in Louisiana and Washington State, completing the quest to confirm the existence of these waves. The scientist has received several honours and awards in her career including the Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, as part of the LIGO team, awarded to her in 2015. In 2017, she was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. She is also the first recipient of the Lahore Technology Award, given by the Information Technology University, a public university in Pakistan.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi explained the government’s four-point strategy over dealing with India and emphasised that in a changing world, there would have to be a greater reliance on national strength rather than looking towards international structures. Participating in a webinar on “Annexation of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir: Lessons for Regional Security”, organised by Islamabad Policy Institute (IPI), the foreign minister said there was a “new world, brave or grave, that is upon us, and with which we have to contend. “This world is more uncertain, less predictable, and for these reasons, perhaps more dysfunctional.” While emphasising that “the buffers and support systems of international organisations and international law” had not come up to expectations, Qureshi said countries would have to depend on their own strengths rather than looking towards those structures. Explaining the government’s strategy on dealing with India’s expansionist designs, he said a four-pronged strategy was being pursued. It entailed confronting, exposing and pushing back against New Delhi’s intentions; deterring it through military preparedness, conflict resolution and confidence-building; and not being distracted by India’s actions and continuing with regional integration projects through participation in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, and the Economic Co-operation Organisation. Efforts were being made for revival of the South Asian Association of Regional Countries, the foreign minister added. Dr Shireen Mazari, Minister for Human Rights, listed the areas in which she believed diplomacy was lacking. She had last week railed against the Foreign Office over its handling of the Kashmir issue. Dr Mazari said there was more focus on the political dynamics rather than looking at it from a wider spectrum. She suggested the sufferings of women and children in India-administered Kashmir be highlighted aggressively. “We have not appealed enough to women’s organisations on the plight of Kashmiri women,” she maintained. Dr Mazari contended that India was moving up the escalation ladder and therefore the threat of war was getting more imminent. The impact of a conflict, she warned, would not remain limited and affect others in the neighbourhood as well because of “unintended consequences”. She proposed pursuing the model of ‘Good Friday Agreement’ in 1998, which brought together all parties to the conflict in Northern Ireland and ended decades of violence, as a possible approach for resolving the Kashmir dispute. The webinar was attended, besides Pakistanis, by scholars and think tank representatives from India-administered Kashmir, China, Iran, Turkey, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Remittances from Pakistani workers employed abroad hit the highest level for a single month in July, officials said yesterday, increasing 36.5% year on year, mostly thanks to less spending on Haj pilgrimages because of the coronavirus pandemic. The global economic slowdown had raised fears that remittances, key to Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, would decline given falling employment in countries from where most of the money is sent — particularly Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. But July remittances rose to $2.768bn, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said, adding the increase was up 12.2% from June, when remittance numbers were also high. “More good news for Pakistan economy,” Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted. “Remittances from overseas Pakistanis reached $2,768mn in July 2020, highest ever amount in one month in the history of Pakistan.” Remittances from Saudi Arabia in July amounted to $821.6mn, the United Arab Emirates $538.2mn, the United Kingdom $393.9mn and the US $250.6mn. “Given the impact of Covid-19 globally, this increase in workers remittance is encouraging,” Pakistan’s central bank said in a statement. It added that the growth rate compared to the same month in 2019 was around twice as high because of decreased spending over the Eid al-Adha season. “Not much cash movement on flights or Haj and Umrah pilgrimages has taken place this year. This trend can continue for some months, which is a positive development for the economy,” Saad Hashemy, executive director BMA Capital Management, told Reuters. Pakistan has opened all sectors of the economy in a bid to revive its hard-hit economy. The country has reported 289,215 positive Covid-19 cases of which 269,087 have recovered, with 6,175 deaths. The State Bank of Pakistan pointed out that several factors have likely supported the growth in remittances to date, including orderly exchange rate conditions and policy steps taken by the state bank and the federal government under the Pakistan Remittance Initiative and reducing the threshold for eligible transactions from $200 to $100 under the Reimbursement of Telegraphic Transfer (TT) Charges Scheme, an increased push towards adoption of digital channels, and targeted marketing campaigns to promote formal channels for sending remittances. Meanwhile, Zulfi Bukhari, special assistant to the prime minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources, said the government has decided to provide a digital banking facility to overseas Pakistanis Bukhari disclosed overseas Pakistanis will now be able to make direct banking payments and investments in the country. He said the government is giving the Pakistani overseas community a great opportunity to invest in the country. The initiative would allow overseas Pakistanis to operate all the banking functions without coming to Pakistan. The government wants to make the overseas Pakistani community a key stakeholder in the country’s development, he added. Bukhari said the digital banking facility was a long-standing demand of overseas Pakistanis. This plan has been prepared according to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, he added. As part of the measures to facilitate the digital payments mechanism, the State Bank of Pakistan has decided to introduce a new system to enable companies in the country to make instant payments for acquiring digital services from the globally recognised digital service providers. In a statement, the state bank said now the local companies can access various services from these global companies instantly without any regulatory approval process.