Pakistan’s policy endeavours on track to achieve disaster resilience against floods: Solangi

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Mon, 19 Feb 2024, 8:51 PM

ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP): Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi on Monday told the Senate that the country’s policy endeavours keeping in view its growing vulnerability due to climate catastrophes were on track to achieve disaster resilience against floods.

Responding to a motion tabled by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Senator Mohammad Humayun Mohmand to discuss the pressing issue of water resources, floods and water mismanagement in Pakistan, especially in the wake of the devastating floods in 2022 and in 2010, the minister provided a brief overview of the country’s response to floods through policy interventions.

He said that after three years deliberations post 2010 floods, the Ministry of Water Resources had finalized the National Flood Protection Plan-IV, which was approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) on May 2, 2017.

However, all the four provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, after the enactment of Model River Act 2016, were instructed to change and implement the law according to their requirements, he added.

“The Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces have implemented the law whereas it’s approval in the other provinces is in different stages,” the minister said,

Solangi noted that under the National Plan for Flood Telemetry Programme, some 707 telemetry stations would be established on different small and big rivers across the country.

The project concept or PC-I had been made, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had assured its assistance for developing 45 stations, he added.

The Punjab and Sindh provinces, he said, continued to work rapidly on expansion and innovation of all their barrages, whereas the work had been completed in Punjab and progress on Sukkur and Guddu barrages in Sindh was underway.

Moreover, the minister mentioned that the Rs 27 billion flood damage restoration project was completed in Sindh.

Solangi said that the CCI also approved Water Policy in 2018 and the Federal Flood Commission had made the framework of the policy and submitted to the Ministry of Water Resources.

Commenting on the 2022 floods, he said the meteorological department predicted that there would be 40% more rain in June 2022 than the previous years. “All these assumptions proved wrong as over 175% rain on average occurred across the whole country.”

Murtaza Solangi added that 70% more rain on average occurred in Punjab, Sindh received 425% more rain, 450 percent more rainfall took place in Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan received 107 percent more rain than average.

The floods of 2022 were not riverine but rather pluvial floods in nature due to more rains and it had less depth and more spread that caused more destruction, he added.

“The prime minister in 2022 directed to update the National Flood Protection Plan-IV in August 2022 and the ADB (Asian Development Bank) expressed its interest and provided technical assistance in this regard. The provinces also helped to update plan that was approved and under completion in the Planning Division.

“Moreover, the Flood Protection Sector Project 3 PC-I has been approved and the Economic Affairs Ministry is exploring funding opportunities with multilateral donors,” he ended.

Senator Humayun Mohmand while moving the motion said the country never focused the water sector seriously as rising global impacts were driving glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and drought like situation.

Pakistan, he said, was among 17 world countries which would acute water shortage in the future.

“We have to change our mindset to transform our world like the developed world save every drop of water for resilient future,” he said.

He added that Pakistan was blessed with the Indus River flowing naturally through a gravitational pull irrigating all the four provinces from the North to the South as the Himalayas had Ganges River at one hand, and Yellow River on the other and Indus Basin upfront.

“From 30-50 million acres feet (MAF) water is wasted in Pakistan despite the national asset of Indus River flowing from North to South but was poorly managed,” he added.

From 1975-2001 and 2001-2021, there had been 8.89% decline in Indus water, 16.5% in Jhelum River and 17.7% in Chenab Rivers, he added.

According to WADPA, he said the country had 145 million cusecs feet water available in its system, but it had the capacity to only consume or utilize only 102-105 million cusecs feet freshwater that could irrigate only 40 million acres land out of the total 83 million acres available arable land.

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani apprised Senator Mohmand that the Upper House had a dedicated caucus on water that the International Parliamentary Union had also recommended it which was working properly.

IHC suspends notifications of Islamabad’s 3 NA seats winners

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Ali Ali

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Mon, 19 Feb 2024, 8:29 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP):The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday suspended the notifications of the candidates winning from the three National Assembly seats of NA-46, NA-47, and NA-48 Islamabad.

The IHC bench comprising Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir suspended the victory notifications of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidates Anjum Aqeel from NA-46, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry from NA-47 and Raja Khuram Shehzad from NA-48 Islamabad.

The bench took the decision while hearing comprising Justice the separate intra-court appeals of independent candidates Shoaib Shaheen, Aamer Mughal and Ali Bokhari Advocate.

During the course of proceedings, Shoaib Shaheen Advocate said that he had received all the Forms-45 of 380 polling stations in the election night and approached the returning officer to point out the irregularity. Form-47 was not issued till 1 a.m. and his workers staged a sit-in in protest, he added.

The lawyer said that firstly he filed an application before the returning officer and then to the district returning officer. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stopped the RO from issuing the Form 47 and also sought a report within three days, which had not been filed as yet.

Shoaib Shaheen said that the RO was supposed to prepare the Form-47 in the presence of all candidates. However, the ECP later issued the notification declaring Tariq Fazal Chaudhry winner without consolidation of the results.

Aamir Mughal’s lawyer claimed that there were 343 polling stations in his client’s constituency and as per the results he was leading.

The petitioners prayed the court to issue directives to the ECP for withdrawal of the victory notifications of the three PML-N candidates in aforesaid constituencies as their complaints were already pending with the electoral body.

PSL security reviewed, more arrangements decided

By

Ali Ali

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Mon, 19 Feb 2024, 8:27 PM

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MULTAN, Feb 19 (APP):The security for the ongoing mega event of the Pakistan Super League ninth season was reviewed and the decision was made to make more arrangements for ensuring foolproof security during the matches.

In a meeting held here on Monday which was chaired by the City Police Officer (CPO) Sadiq Ali.

It was decided in the meeting that police with other law enforcement departments would ensure foolproof security arrangements during the PSL and the monitoring of the routes would be through the latest technology and drones.

SSP Operations Arsalan Zahid, SSP Investigations Rana Muhammad Ashraf, Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Jalil Imran Ghalzai and other concerned officers also attended the meeting.

RWMC cleanliness activities continue during rains

By

Ali Ali

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Mon, 19 Feb 2024, 8:12 PM

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RAWALPINDI, Feb 19 (APP):Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) had deputed additional sanitary workers to clean and dredge major drains to avoid urban flooding.

According to the RWMC spokesman, the RWMC carried out the cleanliness of nullahs and choked drains during continued rainfall from the last two days to ensure sanitation in several city areas.

He said that additional staff had been assigned duties in three shifts to ensure cleanliness round the clock so that some sanitation-related problems could not become hurdles in the smooth flow of water.

He informed that RWMC workers removed hundreds of tons of waste in the Rawalpindi city areas while drains blocked during the rain had been opened immediately to have no problem with drainage in the city.

He said that complaints received on social media platforms were also being addressed promptly.

Meanwhile, the RWMC was making all-out efforts to keep the hill station clear for tourists during snowfall. He said that heavy machinery and excavators were being used to remove snow and rubbish from the roads, adding salt was also being sprinkled on the roads to ensure a smooth traffic flow.

In case of any complaint, citizens were asked to register their complaints on helpline number 1139, which would be rectified immediately, he added.

RWMC has appealed to the citizens not to throw garbage and plastic bags in nullahs and drains, which cause obstruction, adding that RWMC would utilize all resources to keep the city environment friendly.

IHC seeks report about audio recording procedure

By

Ali Ali

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Mon, 19 Feb 2024, 8:08 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP):The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday directed the telecom operators to submit a report on the procedure of audio recordings.

IHG’s Justice Babar Sattar, who heard the the audio-leak case involving Najmus Saqib and Bushra Bibi, also sought a report from media representatives to explain the mechanism of airing unverified audios.

During the course of hearing, Justice Babar expressed displeasure over the absence of senior government officials, including the PTA chairman, PEMRA chairman, FIA director generals and others despite court orders.

He observed that how the officials had themselves decided not to appear before the court, and why the court should not issue their arrest warrants for non-compliance of its directions,.

Justice Babar Sattar further directed for the submission of medical reports of the ailing government officials on the next date of hearing.

Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing for two weeks.

China opposes, condemns acts against civilians in Rafah, Gaza: Mao Ning

By

NNPS Desk

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Mon, 19 Feb 2024, 8:08 PM

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BEIJING, Feb 19 (APP): China on Monday opposed and condemned acts against civilian and international law and called on Israel to stop military operation immediately in Rafah in southern Gaza.

“China is closely watching the developments in Rafah. We oppose and condemn acts against civilians and international law,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Mao Ning told reporters at a regular briefing while stating China’s position concerning the recent developments in Rafah.

“We call on Israel to stop military operations as soon as possible, do everything possible to avoid casualties among innocent civilians and prevent a more devastating humanitarian disaster in Rafah,” she added.

In response to a question about Israel prime minister’s statement that his country won’t accept an international mandate for a permanent solution to the Palestinian issue, the spokesperson said that the Two-State solution was the universal consensus of the international community to settle the Palestinian question.
“Implementing the Two-State solution is the only way to end the cycle of conflict between Palestine and Israel,” she added.

Mao Ning said that China stands ready to work with all parties to hold a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference as early as possible, formulate a concrete timetable and the roadmap for the implementation of the Two-State solution.

“China supports Palestine and Israel in resuming peace talks soon for the ultimate peaceful coexistence between the two states of Palestine and Israel,” she added.

Regarding the International Court of Justice open hearings about Israel’s historical occupation of Palestinian territories, she said that on the ICJ advisory opinion, China had submitted its written statement on July 25 last year.

The Chinese side will take part in the public hearings of the ICJ to have an in-depth elaboration on China’s policy propositions on the question of Palestine, state China’s positions on relevant international law issues regarding the right to self-determination, international humanitarian law, international human rights law and State responsibility, and express China’s firm support for the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights and interests, she added.

Mao Ning said that China stood ready to work with the rest of the international community to continue making positive contributions to an early settlement of the Palestinian question and the realization of lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.