PM pledges full support for KP flood victims, announces cabinet’s one-month salary

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Mon, 18 Aug 2025, 3:19 PM

FAISALABAD, Aug 18 (APP):The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) marked National Tree Plantation Day with awareness walk and tree plantation drive at the campus.

Department of Forestry and Range Management in collaboration with the Green Youth Movement Club organized the walk which commenced from Faculty of Agriculture and culminated at Admin block.

In his message, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali said:” The tree plantation is not just an activity but it is our national and moral responsibility to safeguard our environment for the future generations”.

He said that every individual must play his role in making the country greener and cleaner.

He said that tree plantation must become a regular feature of lives to ensure long-term environmental benefits.

Dean Social Sciences Dr Babar Shehbaz, Dean Veterinary Sciences, Dean Food Sciences Dr Imran Pasha, Dr Shahid Mahmood, Dr Ahmad Sattar, Registrar Dr Asif Kamran, Chairman Forestry Dr Irfan Ahmad, Director CABB Dr Bushra Sadia, Chairman Entomology Dr Waseem Akram, Dr Nadeem Abbas, Chairman Plant Pathology Dr Abdul Rehman, Dr Fahad Rashid, Dr Naveed Farah, Dr Shakeel Ahmad, Dr Asif, Dr Haroon Rashid, Dr Muhammad Farrukh, Librarian Umar Farooq, Principal Officer Jahanzaib Tariq and other notables were also preset.

They said that increasing greenery is essential to combat climate changes and protect biodiversity.

Sports Minister announces package for flood victims

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Mon, 18 Aug 2025, 3:18 PM

BUNER, Aug 18 (APP):Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Syed Fakhar Jehan, visited flood-affected areas of Tehsil Chagharzai in Buner where he inspected relief operations.

Syed Fakhar Jehan, accompanied by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, reviewed the situation in the affected villages including village councils Gunbad, Batara, and Ganshal.

The provincial minister met with affected families and local elders and listened to their concerns.

He offered heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the flood and prayed for the deceased.

“The government will not leave the victims alone,” said Syed Fakhar Jehan, adding the provincial minister directed that immediate relief be ensured for the affected families.

He also instructed that the continuous supply of essential items and the restoration of basic infrastructure should be carried out on an emergency basis.

He said the government has announced a special package for the victims.

A compensation package of Rs. 2 million for the martyrs and Rs. 500,000 for the injured will be provided, he added.

The completely destroyed homes will be rebuilt, he said.

Electricity restoration in Chagharzai will be completed soon, said Syed Fakhar Jehan.

Heavy machinery is working to clear debris and clean roads, the minister informed.

The Chief Minister conducted a special visit to Buner to assess the damages, said Syed Fakhar Jehan.

The Chief Minister has issued clear instructions to ensure that no shortcomings remain in the relief and rehabilitation efforts.

“All available resources will be utilized to alleviate public hardships,” Syed Fakhar Jehan affirmed.

The provincial minister assured the affected people that the government stands with them.

Minister dedicates Hub Rally Cross to “Victory of Pakistan”

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Mon, 18 Aug 2025, 3:14 PM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (APP):Dedicating the 12th Hub Rally Cross to the “Victory of Pakistan,” Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Khalid Hussain Magsi Monday said the international off-road racing event has become a symbol of national pride and youth inspiration.

Khalid Hussain Magsi attended the final day of the 12th Hub Rally Cross 2025 as the chief guest, on behalf of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

He said the Hub Rally was the only global outdoor rally held on a 50-kilometer track in the rugged valleys of Gadani, which has now gained international recognition.

Magsi stressed that such events not only provide healthy entertainment for the public but also highlight the immense talent present in Pakistan that must be promoted and supported.

“Under the Prime Minister’s vision, programs like the Hub Rally engage people in positive and constructive activities,” he noted, adding that motorsport festivals like this serve as a source of hope, excitement, and inspiration for the youth.

The minister also extended his gratitude to the Prime Minister for his special support in ensuring the successful organization of the rally, which continues to strengthen Pakistan’s image on the global stage.

New cotton variety poised to revolutionize Pakistan’s cotton sector

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Mon, 18 Aug 2025, 3:13 PM

LAHORE, Aug 18 (APP):Pakistan’s cotton sector may be on the verge of a major breakthrough as a newly developed seed variety has shown the potential to nearly triple per-acre yields and withstand extreme heat, raising hopes for revival of the country’s struggling textile backbone.

The new seed, named CEMB-33, had been developed after 25 years of research by the Centre for Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB) at the Punjab University in collaboration with a private agri research company, said a press release issued here on Monday.

It is Pakistan’s first indigenously engineered genetically modified cotton seed.

Field trials in southern Punjab districts, including Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, and Vehari, recorded yields of 40–45 maunds per acre compared to the national average of 15 maunds.

The variety maintained strong boll retention in temperatures above 47°C, produced 10–15 percent more than conventional seeds and delivered better fiber length and uniformity.

Agricultural experts said the results could mark a turning point for cotton farmers who had faced declining production due to early boll drop, flower shedding and pest attacks worsened by climate change.

Cotton was cultivated in 15–18 districts of Sindh and Punjab and remains vital for the economy, contributing nearly 1% to GDP and more than 50% of export earnings through the textile sector.

Private Agri Research Company Chairman Engr Javaid Saleem Qureshi told Wealth Pakistan that CEMB-33 incorporates advanced Bt gene technology, making it resistant to bollworms, tolerant of extreme heat and immune to Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV).

He said the variety also reduces Pakistan’s long-standing reliance on imported Bt seeds.

National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetics Engineering Faisalabad Founding Director Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik told Wealth Pakistan that institutions like NIAB, NIBGE, and CEMB have the capability to develop climate-resilient varieties of cotton, wheat, and other crops.

He noted that Pakistan’s average temperature has already risen by about 1.5°C and cotton and wheat were the biggest victims. Developing crops that could survive heat and drought was now critical for food and fiber security.

Dr Malik, who also heads the federal consultative group on biotechnology, said the group was revising national biosafety guidelines to facilitate the commercialization of locally developed GM seeds like CEMB-33.

Analysts said that the seed’s commercial rollout could restore farmers’ confidence in cotton cultivation, reduce the country’s reliance on imported fiber and strengthen Pakistan’s most vital export industry.

Monsoon threat to persist by August end, NDMA warns ; relief, search operations intensify

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Mon, 18 Aug 2025, 3:10 PM

ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (APP):National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider on Monday warned that monsoon conditions will remain precarious until the end of August, with normalization expected by late September.

Speaking at a joint press briefing with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Climate Change Minister Dr Musadik Malik, NDMA chief stated that the ongoing monsoon spell is expected to subside by Friday. However, he warned that the country remains at risk of further torrential downpours, with two to three additional spells likely in the coming weeks. Last spells will be ended by September 10. He added that the overall situation is expected to normalize by the end of September.

The NDMA chief revealed that the ongoing monsoon season—has triggered 670 deaths and over 1,000 injuries, with 80 to 90 individuals still missing. Search operations are underway, and if the missing are not found, they will be added to the official death toll.

More than 425 relief camps have been set up in flood-hit areas, offering essential supplies and medical care. Displaced families are also being accommodated in government buildings, including schools. Food distribution under the Prime Minister’s Ration Programme is ongoing, in coordination with provincial governments and relevant authorities.

Lt Gen Haider said special Army units have been deployed on the directions of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), critically injured individuals were being airlifted to hospitals. Field ambulances are actively transporting patients, and major hospitals are fully engaged. The National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) remains on high alert, continuously releasing multi-source data to support relief efforts.

Pakistan Army Aviation bases have activated reserve systems to support emergency evacuations during the ongoing monsoon emergency. Severely injured individuals will be airlifted to major hospitals, while large Combined Military Hospitals (CMHs) across the country have been placed on high alert.

The NDMA is coordinating closely with the Armed Forces and provincial authorities to ensure swift medical response and logistical support in flood-hit regions.

He said climate change is accelerating glacial melt, unleashing water and debris that inundate low-lying areas and damage vital infrastructure. Rehabilitation of roads, bridges, and essential services is in progress.

The NDMA chief added that the losses survey in Gilgit-Baltistan has been completed, and consolidated damage data will be shared by September 10. Rain-related damage assessments are being compiled through an integrated mechanism involving federal and provincial departments.

Pakistan has achieved economic stability: Aurangzeb

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Mon, 18 Aug 2025, 3:01 PM

KARACHI, Aug 18 (APP):Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday said that Pakistan has achieved economic stability and is moving towards sustainable growth.

Appealing to the corporate sector to go through the cycle, he said that the private sector has to come forward and lead the country.

He expressed these views at the inauguration ceremony of the PHC Job Fair and Education Expo 3.0 here. The Finance Minister, Aurangzeb, said that three rating agencies were on the same page and praising Pakistan.

He said that the national tariff policy has been introduced to increase exports, etc. He said that the young women and men who were here were the future leadership of Pakistan and good to interact with them.

He was of the view that the corporate sector was missing from the exhibition.

Earlier, the Minister visited and reviewed government institutions and bank stalls at the fair and expo.

Woman poisoned to death by husband

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Mon, 18 Aug 2025, 2:59 PM

FAISALABAD, Aug 18 (APP):A woman was poisoned to death by her husband in D-type colony police limits on Monday.

The police arrested the accused, Faheem, and registered a case against him.

According to the police, the accused had often quarreled with his wife Ayesha.

Today, the accused poisoned her to death.

The police had initiated legal action against the accused.

China expresses deep condolences over loss of lives in floods in Pakistan

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Mon, 18 Aug 2025, 2:56 PM

BEIJING, Aug 18 (APP):A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday expressed deep condolences over loss of lives caused by flash floods in different parts of Pakistan.

“We have noted the severe rainfall disasters in multiple regions, which have caused casualties and property losses. We express our deep condolences for the deceased and extend our sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured,” Mao Ning said during her regular briefing here.

She informed that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has also conveyed his condolences to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

“We believe the Pakistani people will surely overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes,” she added.

Mao Ning said, “At present, we are not aware of any Chinese citizens having lost their lives in the disaster. Our embassy in Pakistan is still working to verify the situation.”

Gold prices increase by Rs.1,500 to Rs 357,700 per tola

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Mon, 18 Aug 2025, 2:50 PM