Part 1
Part 2
Monday, August 2, 2010
MQM MPA, guard gunned down in Karachi
Updated at: 1818 PST, Monday, August 02, 2010
KARACHI: Raza Haider, MQM leader and member Sindh Assembly, and his guard have been gunned down here in Nazimabad on Monday, Geo News reported.
Unknown armed motorcyclists fired shots at Raza Haider as well as his guard when he was preparing to attend a funeral prayer at Jamia Masjid of Nazimabad Block No.2.
Raza Haider, who received a bullet in his head died when he was being rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The guard later succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical aid at the hospital.
The MQM leader was elected from PS-94 Karachi 6.
Separate incidents of firing were reported in different parts of the city shortly after the fatal attack on MQM leader while two vehicles were set on fire in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Gulshan-e-Iqbal.
The incident sent a wave of fear and panic across the metropolis, as shopkeepers pulled down their shutters in view of any violent reaction by enraged people.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik condemned the incident, urging the people to remain calm.
He termed the targeted killings in Karachi as a ‘latest formula’ being used to destabilize the country.
Rehman Malik urged MQM leaders to wait for investigation and called upon the people to observe restraint.
He said he would soon hold a meeting with MQM leaders.
MQM leaders Babar Ghauri and Haider Abbas Rizvi expressed profound grief on the tragic incident.
“It would be difficult to put a cap on the chapter opened (today),” Babar Ghauri asserted.
Layyah declared calamity-hit; taxes waived
Updated at: 1528 PST, Monday, August 02, 2010
LAYYAH: The government of Punjab, declaring Layyah as calamity-hit, waived off agricultural taxes, abiyana (water tax) and maliya, Geo News reported Monday.
A special Relief Fund worth Rs15 million has been set up for flood relief operation.
Now, the flood is heading towards Muzaffargarh, DG Khan and Rajanpur, where special arrangements relating relief tents, helicopter service and boats, have been completed.
According to Punjab’s Relief Commissioner Akhlaq Ahmed Tarar, the provincial government issued Rs10 million each for Mianwali, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur for the relief activities there.
The provincial government waived off the agricultural tax, abiyana (water tax) and maliya (Land Revenue tax) after declaring calamity status in all areas affected by the flash floods.
The government communique said at least 80 trucks packed with edibles and other goods have been sent to the flood-ravaged areas; while, the relief goods would be dispatched to affectees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir as well.
A Flood Control Room has been set up at Civil Secretariat, Lahore headed by Punjab’s Chief Secretary, where 21 officers of grade 18 to 20 have been deputed for relief and rehabilitation work.
The Punjab government said the flooding would impact at least seven districts from Attock to Rajanpur.
The erosion by River Jhelum in Khushab’s Tetri village, has posed threat to the local residents.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is today visiting the affected areas. He will inspect the relief activities and flood situation in the affected areas including Mianwali, Layyah and Jhang today.
The members of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Kamran Michael, Ajasam Sharif, Naveed Anjum and Chaudhry Allah Rakha left for Dera Ghazi Khan with relief goods worth Rs2.5 million.
Also, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan set up relief camps for the people hit by flash floods.
LAYYAH: The government of Punjab, declaring Layyah as calamity-hit, waived off agricultural taxes, abiyana (water tax) and maliya, Geo News reported Monday.A special Relief Fund worth Rs15 million has been set up for flood relief operation.
Now, the flood is heading towards Muzaffargarh, DG Khan and Rajanpur, where special arrangements relating relief tents, helicopter service and boats, have been completed.
According to Punjab’s Relief Commissioner Akhlaq Ahmed Tarar, the provincial government issued Rs10 million each for Mianwali, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur for the relief activities there.
The provincial government waived off the agricultural tax, abiyana (water tax) and maliya (Land Revenue tax) after declaring calamity status in all areas affected by the flash floods.
The government communique said at least 80 trucks packed with edibles and other goods have been sent to the flood-ravaged areas; while, the relief goods would be dispatched to affectees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir as well.
A Flood Control Room has been set up at Civil Secretariat, Lahore headed by Punjab’s Chief Secretary, where 21 officers of grade 18 to 20 have been deputed for relief and rehabilitation work.
The Punjab government said the flooding would impact at least seven districts from Attock to Rajanpur.
The erosion by River Jhelum in Khushab’s Tetri village, has posed threat to the local residents.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is today visiting the affected areas. He will inspect the relief activities and flood situation in the affected areas including Mianwali, Layyah and Jhang today.
The members of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Kamran Michael, Ajasam Sharif, Naveed Anjum and Chaudhry Allah Rakha left for Dera Ghazi Khan with relief goods worth Rs2.5 million.
Also, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan set up relief camps for the people hit by flash floods.
More rains likely in next 12 hours
Updated at: 1350 PST, Monday, August 02, 2010
ISLAMABAD: The Kashmir, Punjab, Hazara Division, southeastern parts of Balochistan and parts of Sindh would receive monsoon rains during next 12 hours, Meteorological department said.
According to Met office, a fresh spell of monsoon will likely hit Sindh, Punjab, Kashmir and eastern parts of the country, which will lasts till August 5.
ISLAMABAD: The Kashmir, Punjab, Hazara Division, southeastern parts of Balochistan and parts of Sindh would receive monsoon rains during next 12 hours, Meteorological department said.According to Met office, a fresh spell of monsoon will likely hit Sindh, Punjab, Kashmir and eastern parts of the country, which will lasts till August 5.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Diseases break out as flood toll mounts to 1,400
Updated at: 0727 PST, Monday, August 02, 2010
ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: The death toll from the country's worst floods in living memory topped 1,400 on Sunday, as outbreak of water-borne disease emerged and penniless survivors sought refuge from the raging torrents.
"The floods have killed more than 1,100 people in different parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and affected over 1.5 million," Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Information Minister for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said.
"This is the worst flood in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the country's history," said the minister. "At least 713 people died in Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda while the death toll in Shangla and Swat districts is over 300," he added.
A senior official at the provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed the toll. Massive devastation has been reported in Swat and Shangla, where link bridges and thousands of houses were washed away.
Eleven members of the same family were killed when the roof of their houses collapsed in Kabal area of Dardial. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been the worst hit in the recent flooding, as 90 highways were damaged, 58 big thoroughfares were closed for traffic, while 104 people are still unaccounted for.
Hundreds of survivors sought shelter in schools in Peshawar and in Muzaffarabad after escaping the floods with children on their backs. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has waived all provincial taxes, the Punjab lifted agricultural tax and Balochistan announced to write off all agri-loans, private news channel reported on Sunday.
Similar devastation triggered by driving rains and subsequent flooding, is in full swing in the Punjab, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, where 494 people were killed, raising the overall death toll in the country.
China, which has also been hit by severe flooding, announced a 10 million yuan (1.5 million dollar) donation, according to the official Xinhua news agency, which cited a government website.
More than 300 people hit by floods rallied in Peshawar on Sunday, chanting slogans against the provincial government for not providing them with adequate shelter.
"I had built a two-room house on the outskirts of Peshawar with my hard-earned money but I lost it in the floods," said 53-year-old labourer Ejaz Khan, who joined the rally. "The government is not helping us... the school building where I sheltered is packed with people, with no adequate arrangement for food and medicine," Khan said.
Waseyullah, 33, said his two brothers had worked as labourers in Saudi Arabia for the money with which he had built the small furniture factory he lost in the floods. "I expect the provincial government to help me financially to rebuild this factory," he added.
More than 3,700 houses have been swept away by the floods in the country and the number of people made homeless is rising, said the KP information minister. "Our rescue teams are also trying to extricate some 1,500 tourists who are stranded in the Kalam and Behrain towns of Swat district," he said.
"We are also getting confirmation of reports about an outbreak of cholera in some areas of Swat," Hussain added. The Army said it had sent boats and helicopters to rescue the stranded people and its engineers were trying to open more roads and divert swollen rivers.In Azad Kashmir, officials said Army helicopters had been urgently requested in the worst-hit Neelam valley.
"It has been cut off from the rest of Kashmir and we still don't know how many people were killed, injured and displaced there," State Disaster Management Authority chief Farooq Niaz said.
Manuel Bessler, head of the UN's Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Assistance in Pakistan, said communications had broken down in areas across the northwest. "We have a planning figure of one million people affected directly by the floods."
However, authorities said they had repaired a damaged portion of the Islamabad-Peshawar motorway to restore the northwest region's road links with the rest of Pakistan. Disastrous flash floods trigged by torrential rains also badly affected over 0.2 million people in Barkhan, Kohlu, Sibi and Naseerabad districts.
On Sunday, relief activities continued in affected areas, however, there is a dire need to take relief steps on war footing basis. Minister for Sports Mir Shahnawaz Marri has revealed that 10 villages of Kohlu had been completely washed away by flash floods, while 29 others were badly affected.
According to a statement issued here on Sunday, he emphasised the need to issue six-month ration cards to affected people instead asking them to queue for getting food. According to sources of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, flash floods washed away hundreds of houses, schools, hospitals, link brigs and roads. Dozens of persons had lost their life in recent flash floods in Balochistan, sources maintained.
Presently, thousands of people were sitting under open sky as their houses had been washed away. It was also learnt that due to lack of funds, district administrations had failed in providing relief to all affected people. Meanwhile, Pakistan Army contingents have been dispatched to vulnerable areas of Sindh following a formal request from government of Sindh in view of the impending flood.
Pakistan Air Force continued the relief operations on the fourth day in the flood-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkwa. C-130 aircraft have transported more than 500 stranded people, including six foreigners, from Gilgit and Skardu. C-130 sorties continued to arrive at PAF Base, Peshawar, and PAF Academy, Risalpur, carrying relief goods, which included rations and mineral water, says a press release.
Pakistan Navy Search and Rescue (SAR) Operation MADAD in flood hit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is also continuing for the fourth day. Pakistan Navy SAR teams have been augmented with two additional SSG(N) / Marine teams along with requisite equipment from Karachi. Pakistan Navy SAR teams, after completing rescue operation in Charsadda area, has been reassigned to Nowshera Kalan region. Reportedly, 5,000 personnel were stranded in the area. Due to continuous day and night extensive flood relief operations, despite experiencing technical/ logistic problems, the PN personnel have so far rescued over 2000 personnel from Nowshera Kalan, says a press release.
ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: The death toll from the country's worst floods in living memory topped 1,400 on Sunday, as outbreak of water-borne disease emerged and penniless survivors sought refuge from the raging torrents."The floods have killed more than 1,100 people in different parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and affected over 1.5 million," Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Information Minister for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said.
"This is the worst flood in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the country's history," said the minister. "At least 713 people died in Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda while the death toll in Shangla and Swat districts is over 300," he added.
A senior official at the provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed the toll. Massive devastation has been reported in Swat and Shangla, where link bridges and thousands of houses were washed away.
Eleven members of the same family were killed when the roof of their houses collapsed in Kabal area of Dardial. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been the worst hit in the recent flooding, as 90 highways were damaged, 58 big thoroughfares were closed for traffic, while 104 people are still unaccounted for.
Hundreds of survivors sought shelter in schools in Peshawar and in Muzaffarabad after escaping the floods with children on their backs. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has waived all provincial taxes, the Punjab lifted agricultural tax and Balochistan announced to write off all agri-loans, private news channel reported on Sunday.
Similar devastation triggered by driving rains and subsequent flooding, is in full swing in the Punjab, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, where 494 people were killed, raising the overall death toll in the country.
China, which has also been hit by severe flooding, announced a 10 million yuan (1.5 million dollar) donation, according to the official Xinhua news agency, which cited a government website.
More than 300 people hit by floods rallied in Peshawar on Sunday, chanting slogans against the provincial government for not providing them with adequate shelter.
"I had built a two-room house on the outskirts of Peshawar with my hard-earned money but I lost it in the floods," said 53-year-old labourer Ejaz Khan, who joined the rally. "The government is not helping us... the school building where I sheltered is packed with people, with no adequate arrangement for food and medicine," Khan said.
Waseyullah, 33, said his two brothers had worked as labourers in Saudi Arabia for the money with which he had built the small furniture factory he lost in the floods. "I expect the provincial government to help me financially to rebuild this factory," he added.
More than 3,700 houses have been swept away by the floods in the country and the number of people made homeless is rising, said the KP information minister. "Our rescue teams are also trying to extricate some 1,500 tourists who are stranded in the Kalam and Behrain towns of Swat district," he said.
"We are also getting confirmation of reports about an outbreak of cholera in some areas of Swat," Hussain added. The Army said it had sent boats and helicopters to rescue the stranded people and its engineers were trying to open more roads and divert swollen rivers.In Azad Kashmir, officials said Army helicopters had been urgently requested in the worst-hit Neelam valley.
"It has been cut off from the rest of Kashmir and we still don't know how many people were killed, injured and displaced there," State Disaster Management Authority chief Farooq Niaz said.
Manuel Bessler, head of the UN's Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Assistance in Pakistan, said communications had broken down in areas across the northwest. "We have a planning figure of one million people affected directly by the floods."
However, authorities said they had repaired a damaged portion of the Islamabad-Peshawar motorway to restore the northwest region's road links with the rest of Pakistan. Disastrous flash floods trigged by torrential rains also badly affected over 0.2 million people in Barkhan, Kohlu, Sibi and Naseerabad districts.
On Sunday, relief activities continued in affected areas, however, there is a dire need to take relief steps on war footing basis. Minister for Sports Mir Shahnawaz Marri has revealed that 10 villages of Kohlu had been completely washed away by flash floods, while 29 others were badly affected.
According to a statement issued here on Sunday, he emphasised the need to issue six-month ration cards to affected people instead asking them to queue for getting food. According to sources of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, flash floods washed away hundreds of houses, schools, hospitals, link brigs and roads. Dozens of persons had lost their life in recent flash floods in Balochistan, sources maintained.
Presently, thousands of people were sitting under open sky as their houses had been washed away. It was also learnt that due to lack of funds, district administrations had failed in providing relief to all affected people. Meanwhile, Pakistan Army contingents have been dispatched to vulnerable areas of Sindh following a formal request from government of Sindh in view of the impending flood.
Pakistan Air Force continued the relief operations on the fourth day in the flood-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkwa. C-130 aircraft have transported more than 500 stranded people, including six foreigners, from Gilgit and Skardu. C-130 sorties continued to arrive at PAF Base, Peshawar, and PAF Academy, Risalpur, carrying relief goods, which included rations and mineral water, says a press release.
Pakistan Navy Search and Rescue (SAR) Operation MADAD in flood hit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is also continuing for the fourth day. Pakistan Navy SAR teams have been augmented with two additional SSG(N) / Marine teams along with requisite equipment from Karachi. Pakistan Navy SAR teams, after completing rescue operation in Charsadda area, has been reassigned to Nowshera Kalan region. Reportedly, 5,000 personnel were stranded in the area. Due to continuous day and night extensive flood relief operations, despite experiencing technical/ logistic problems, the PN personnel have so far rescued over 2000 personnel from Nowshera Kalan, says a press release.
Nawaz urges President not to go on UK trip
Updated at: 2254 PST, Sunday, August 01, 2010
NOWSHEHRA: Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif Sunday urged President Asif Ali Zardari not to undertake UK visit as planned at a time when the nation is undergoing a test due to heavy flooding.
During his visit to Nowshehra to assess the devastation caused by heavy floods in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Nawaz Sharif called upon the politicians to rise above political their interests and to extend every possible help to the victims of the calamity. The government should utilize all the available resources to deal with the flood situation, he added.
“I have never seen such widespread devastation across the country including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa caused by the worst flooding in the country’s history,” the PML-N Chief noted.
He said no Pakistani should hold himself back from helping his fellow countrymen in this time of trial.
During his visit, Nawaz Sharif met with the affectees of the flood besides assessing the damage unleashed by the natural calamity.
NOWSHEHRA: Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif Sunday urged President Asif Ali Zardari not to undertake UK visit as planned at a time when the nation is undergoing a test due to heavy flooding.During his visit to Nowshehra to assess the devastation caused by heavy floods in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Nawaz Sharif called upon the politicians to rise above political their interests and to extend every possible help to the victims of the calamity. The government should utilize all the available resources to deal with the flood situation, he added.
“I have never seen such widespread devastation across the country including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa caused by the worst flooding in the country’s history,” the PML-N Chief noted.
He said no Pakistani should hold himself back from helping his fellow countrymen in this time of trial.
During his visit, Nawaz Sharif met with the affectees of the flood besides assessing the damage unleashed by the natural calamity.
Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway temporarily closed for traffic
Updated at: 2040 PST, Sunday, August 01, 2010
ISLAMABAD: Motorway from Peshawar to Islamabad has been closed for traffic, causing a 15-kilometer long queue of vehicles.
According to the spokesman of Morway Police, the Motorway from Peshawar to Islamabad has temporarily been closed for traffic due to a damage caused by floods to a portion of the road near Charsadda bridge.
He said the Motorway will be reopened as soon as repair work is completed.
ISLAMABAD: Motorway from Peshawar to Islamabad has been closed for traffic, causing a 15-kilometer long queue of vehicles.According to the spokesman of Morway Police, the Motorway from Peshawar to Islamabad has temporarily been closed for traffic due to a damage caused by floods to a portion of the road near Charsadda bridge.
He said the Motorway will be reopened as soon as repair work is completed.
Flood death tally mounts to 1300
Updated at: 1020 PST, Sunday, August 01, 2010
PESHAWAR: The number of deaths caused by surging flash floods and lashing downpours in the country, skidded past 1300 thus far, Geo News reported Sunday.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has waived off all provincial taxes, Punjab lifted agricultural tax and Balochistan announced to write off all agri-loans.
At least 800 people hitherto lost their lives in rains and flooding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
At least eight hotels and over 300 houses were swept away in floodwater. Also, massive havoc was wrought in Swat and Shangla, where link bridges and thousands of houses were washed away.
Eleven members of the same family were killed when the roof of their houses came down on them in Kabal area of Dardial.
The province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the worst hit in the recent flooding, as over 567 houses were absolutely razed down to ground by flash floods, 90 highways were damaged, 58 big thoroughfares were closed for traffic; while, 104 people are still unaccounted for.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said 12 teams have been constituted for rescue efforts.
The same spell of devastations triggered by driving rains and subsequent flooding, is in full swing in Punjab, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, where 494 people were killed, raising the overall death toll in the country.
The United Nations said the rains and floods affected over one million people.
According to the statement of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), besides Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 37 were killed in Punjab, 19 in Balochistan, 32 in Azad Kashmir and at least six people had to lose their lives in Gilgit-Baltistan in floods.
PESHAWAR: The number of deaths caused by surging flash floods and lashing downpours in the country, skidded past 1300 thus far, Geo News reported Sunday.Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has waived off all provincial taxes, Punjab lifted agricultural tax and Balochistan announced to write off all agri-loans.
At least 800 people hitherto lost their lives in rains and flooding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
At least eight hotels and over 300 houses were swept away in floodwater. Also, massive havoc was wrought in Swat and Shangla, where link bridges and thousands of houses were washed away.
Eleven members of the same family were killed when the roof of their houses came down on them in Kabal area of Dardial.
The province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the worst hit in the recent flooding, as over 567 houses were absolutely razed down to ground by flash floods, 90 highways were damaged, 58 big thoroughfares were closed for traffic; while, 104 people are still unaccounted for.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said 12 teams have been constituted for rescue efforts.
The same spell of devastations triggered by driving rains and subsequent flooding, is in full swing in Punjab, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, where 494 people were killed, raising the overall death toll in the country.
The United Nations said the rains and floods affected over one million people.
According to the statement of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), besides Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 37 were killed in Punjab, 19 in Balochistan, 32 in Azad Kashmir and at least six people had to lose their lives in Gilgit-Baltistan in floods.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)