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Forecast for further rains with winds in KP; PDMA issues alert

By
Waseem Iqbal
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PESHAWAR, Apr 15 (APP): The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Monday issued an alert letter to all district administrations in the wake of a forecast for more widespread rains with winds in the province till April 21.
DG, PDMA Muhammad Qaiser Khan directed all the district administrations to ensure availability of manpower and machinery to cope with any emergency situation including flooding in the low-lying areas due to heavy rains and landslides in the upper districts.
The PDMA asked the district administrations to issue tourists advisory besides instructing the local population to take precautionary measures.
It said that PDMA’s emergency operation center was fully operational and people could report any untoward incident to 1700.

HEC asks young digital artists to showcase their skills in ECO Youth Award

By
NNPS Desk
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ISLAMABAD, Apr 15 (APP): The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has asked young digital artist with a knack for rich cultural themes to showcase their talent in digital art for a chance to win the ECO Youth Award with a $1000 cash prize.

According the details, the ECO Youth Award Celebrating Young Talent in the ECO Region called all young digital artists to submit their entries for the award, celebrating the best in digital art and graphic design from the vibrant ECO member states.

Their designs should be original, creative, and effectively communicate a message; and contribute to the culture and heritage of the ECO region, reflecting its diverse and rich traditions.

Submissions can be made on website:

https://www.ecieco.org/en/special/ecoyouthaward.

The Deadline to apply for the award is May 15, 2024.

It is worth mentioning here that there is a need for the expansion of relations among the peoples in the ECO region, along with the significant role of youth as a major driving force for the ECO countries’ development, which has increased the importance of planning to maximize their optimal participation in the activities implemented by the ECO Cultural Institute. The ECO Youth Award initiative has been developed to support the plan above.

As per the scope of the proposal, the ECOCI Youth Award initiative has been proposed with the aim to discover young talents and to pave the way to further popularize the ECO Cultural Institute.

The proposal focuses on a purposeful and constructive competition within each member country to introduce the talented nominees (between 18 to 30 years of age). Given that there is one winner from each member country, there will be no competition between countries.

The ECOCI Youth Award will be presented to individuals between 18 to 30 years of age with outstanding contribution or achievement demonstrated by tangible results or impact in research projects/arts (preferably regional) / sociability/culture/sports; in particular, the achievements that may contribute to the goals and objectives of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)/ ECO Cultural Institute (ECOCI).

The award is presented annually to the winners selected from the nominations made by ECO member countries on occasions such as ECOCI Day / ECO Day.

In order to identify the ECO top youth, the call for nominations will be published on ECOCI website and the Ministry of Culture of each ECO member state will nominate persons( who have already registered on the ECOCI website) up to a maximum of three.

The Award Committee, comprising the Cultural Attachés of ECO member states in Tehran, will judge and select one winner from each country.

The identification and selection of the top three candidates in the ten member countries shall be entrusted to the Ministries of Culture and the corresponding organizations, to be finalized by the Award Committee in Tehran which is consistent of Cultural Attachés / representatives nominated by each member country.

The Committee shall select one top youth from the three nominations of each member state.

ECO Award will be presented during a hybrid ceremony on the occasion such as ECO Day / ECOCI Day and the like.

The nominations shall be made using a registration form available on the ECOCI website at least three months in advance.

The member states of the ECOCI will consider applications within two weeks and convey to the ECO Cultural Institute a shortlist of three nominations in the specified category along with their CV.

Dera’s Rescue 1122 prepares plan to tackle floods

By
Waseem Iqbal
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DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Apr 15 (APP):The district emergency service- Rescue 1122 has prepared a comprehensive emergency rescue and recovery plan to effectively meet any emergency in the wake of possible flash floods.
District Emergency Officer, Awais Babar has issued special directives to rescuers to remain alert to effectively tackle any emergency.
As part of the plan,  the emergency service has put the emergency response teams, including firefighters, rescue personnel, and recovery equipment positioned in readiness to ensure prompt response in case of emergency.
The district emergency officer Awais Babar would be personally overseeing the operation and stressed the need for swift and coordinated action to protect the lives and properties of citizens during flash floods.

PIEDRR 2024 to be rescheduled amid unavoidable circumstances

By
Waseem Iqbal
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0
ISLAMABAD, Apr 15 (APP):The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Monday announced that the first ever Pakistan’s International Expo on Disaster Risk Reduction (PIEDRR-2024) has been rescheduled due to unavoidable circumstances and administrative instructions.
In a post on the social networking and microblogging website X erstwhile Twitter, the NDMA wrote on its official handle, “It is to inform that due to unavoidable circumstances & administrative instructions, the PIEDRR Pakistan’s 1st International Expo on DRR – 2024 (planned from 23 to 25 April 2024) at Islamabad, Pakistan has been rescheduled.”  However, it added that fresh dates would be communicated in due course of time; to all the participants.

ANF nabbed 15 accused, recovered 165 kg drugs in massive operations

By
Waseem Iqbal
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0
RAWALPINDI, Apr 15 (APP): Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) has nabbed 15 accused and recovered more than 165 kg of drugs during 13 massive operations against drug trafficking across the country.
Spokesman ANF informed that ANF’s countrywide crackdown against drug trafficking was continuing during which various operations were conducted at different airports and places. According to details, 700 grams of heroin was recovered from a passenger going to Bahrain at Multan Airport.
During operation at Lahore Airport, 523 grams of ice was recovered from a passenger going to Doha and 61 heroin capsules were recovered from a passenger going to Jeddah. During two operations conducted at Peshawar Airport, 1 kg of ice was recovered from two passengers going to Doha.
In other miscellaneous crackdowns in Islamabad, 67 grams of heroin were recovered from a parcel being dispatched to the UK at a private courier office, while 1 kg of heroin, 6 kg of hashish and 375 grams of ice were recovered from two suspects in two operations near M-1 Motorway Islamabad.
In Faisalabad, 97 kg hashish was recovered from Sahyanwala. In two operations in Lahore, 21 kg of opium, 1.4 kg of heroin and 15 kg of hashish were recovered from three suspects.
In a crackdown in Karachi, 22.8 kg hashish was recovered from three suspects near Rashid Minhas Road and 512 grams of weed was recovered from two suspects in Bahria Town.  The spokesman said that cases under the Anti-Narcotics Act have been registered against the arrested accused and investigation has been started.

47 premises sealed for violating dengue SOPs

By
Waseem Iqbal
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RAWALPINDI, Apr 15 (APP):District Health Authority (DHA) had sealed 47 premises and lodged 47 FIRs on violations of anti-dengue SOPs from January 1 to date, said District Coordinator Epidemics Prevention and Control Dr Sajjad Mehmood here Monday.
Giving details of the penalty actions, the health officer said that the district administration, in collaboration with allied departments had issued tickets to 112 and a fine of Rs 199,000 was imposed on violations of dengue SOPs in 2024.
Dr Sajjad informed that around four confirmed cases had been reported in the district this year, while the number was two in 2022, and 2023 during the period.
The health officer further stated that during indoor vector surveillance, the teams checked 1,177,167 houses and larvae were detected at 2,254 sites while during outdoor surveillance larvae were found at 557 spots while inspecting 305,512 places.
He said the present spell of rains has increased the threat of  dengue larvae, which needed to be tackled  on  urgent basis as Met office has forecast more rain in the next days.
Dr Sajjad called upon the residents to keep an eye on junkyards, schools and under construction buildings which lead to spread of dengue larvae and leave no place wet or with stagnant water.

PM for maximum utilization of renewable energy resources, improving transmission system

By
Ishtiaq Rao
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ISLAMABAD, Apr 15 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday emphasising the improvement of power transmission network, directed the energy ministry to maximize the utilization of renewable energy resources to reduce the country’s oil import bill by billions of dollars.

“Ultimately, we have to move to renewable energy. The oil import worth billions of dollars can be controlled by using alternative resources like solar, wind and hydel. Make cold calculations and I believe, you will be the winner in the long term,” he remarked addressing a meeting he chaired to review the power sector’s performance.

The prime minister said utilising renewable energy resources would also ensure riddance from the crude oil tanker mafia acting as parasites and eating up the national money.

He pointed out that the country currently imports oil worth $27 billion to meet its power and transportation needs, a figure that could be significantly reduced by transitioning to alternative energy sources.

Discussing the ongoing drive against power theft, he lauded the performance of the Punjab government and expressed the hope that the other provinces would also follow suit to overcome the challenge.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said that strengthening the country’s power transmission system required utmost efforts and investment otherwise the power production and investments in the sector would go down the drain unless the flaws in the transmission network were removed.

He asked the energy ministry to engage world-class consultants to suggest the government ways forward to boost the country’s power transmission system.

Additionally, the prime minister mentioned the heavy rains affecting parts of the country and expressed condolences for the lives lost.

Prime Minister Shehbaz told the participants that he had asked the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to coordinate with the provinces and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities to dispatch relief items to the affected areas.

Torrential rain stuck life in Hazara division

By
Waseem Iqbal
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0
ABBOTTABAD, Apr 15 (APP):Three days of continuous torrential rain have paralyzed life in the Hazara division, severing many road connections and triggering landslides that have blocked several roads, including the Karakoram Highway (KKH) in Kohistan. Flash floods have engulfed residential areas in Abbottabad.
According to reports, the persistent heavy downpour in upper Hazara division, including Abbottabad city, Galyat, Kaghan, Naran, Kohistan, Battagram, and Thandyani, has resulted in numerous road blockages due to landslides. Flash floods have also breached defenses, entered homes and caused widespread destruction.
In Havelian, Abbottabad, Qalandar Abad, and Manshra, the KKH has been blocked at multiple points by flash floods, leaving thousands of vehicles stranded in the water.
Heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, has caused significant damage to electricity transmission lines and telecommunication systems across most parts of Hazara division. Several link roads throughout the division have been cut off due to flash floods and landslides.
In Abbottabad city, the overwhelmed sewerage system has led to the inundation of streets and homes with filth carried by flash floods, sweeping away furniture and household items in various parts of the city. Key roads such as KKH, Main Murree Road, Kakul Road, Mandian, Supply Bazaar, and Link Road Abbottabad have turned into virtual cesspools.
Numerous thoroughfares and connecting roads in Galyat, Thandiani, Mansehra, Battagram, and the Kaghan Valley have been destroyed by heavy rain, landslides, and flash floods. In Mansehra, structural collapses and other incidents triggered by windstorms and heavy rain have been reported.
The meteorological department has forecasted more rain and thunderstorms in the next 24 hours for the Hazara division, particularly in the upper parts, which may exacerbate flooding and landslides.

Shipping Activity at Port Qasim

By
Waseem Iqbal
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0
KARACHI, Apr 15 (APP):A ship ‘Nicholas’ with 56,277 tonnes of Coal, berthed at Pakistan International Bulk Terminal on Sunday.
Meanwhile, four more ships, Fast, MSC Nilgun, High Trader and Navigation Vega also arrived at outer-anchorage of Port Qasim during the last 24 hours.
A total of seven ships were engaged at PQA berths during the last 24 hours, out of them an edible oil carrier ‘TTC Vishaka’ left the Port today morning while another ship ‘Lusail’ is expected to sail today.
Cargo volume of 103,652 tonnes, comprising 9,419 tonnes of export cargo carried in 441 Containers was handled at the port during last 24 hours.
There are 8 ships at Outer Anchorage of Port Qasim, out of them three ships, Fast, Gall and MSC Nilgun& two more ships, MSC Vilda-X and XT Brightness are scheduled to load/offload Cement, Palm oil, Container and Chemicals are expected to take berths at MW-2, LCT, QICT and EVTL on Monday, while three more container ships, MSC Spring-III, MSC United-VIII and Sea-span Jakarta are due to arrive at Port Qasim on Tuesday.

CM makes surprise visit to girls’ school Murree

By
NNPS Desk
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0

RAWALPINDI, Apr 15 (APP): Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif visited a Government Girls High School Murree here on Monday.

Despite heavy rainfall, the surprise visit by the chief minister created a great contentment for school students and teachers. The Chief Minister visited various classes and intermingled with the students.

She exchanged views with students about their studies. She also inquired about any problems or issues being faced by then in the school. If there is any problem or need, let me know, she asked the students. The Chief Minister expressed compassion to the girls and appreciated their passion for education.

During the interaction with the students, the chief minister directed for provision of best medical treatment to a girl with a disability in one arm. She also appreciated the arrangements of the school for delivering education.

Earlier, upon her arrival at the school the chief minister was warmly welcomed by the principal and staff. The school administration, teachers and students expressed great joy for having CM Punjab with them. Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman also accompanied the chief minister during the visit.

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