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  • UN to launch $160m appeal for the flood victims in Pakistan

    UN to launch $160m appeal for the flood victims in Pakistan

    The United Nat­ions (UN) will launch a $160 million Flash Appeal to help millions of people affected by unprecedented monsoon rains in Pakistan that triggered massive floods.

    “A UN Flash Appeal is going to be launched on Tuesday 30 August simultaneously from Geneva and Islamabad,” said Foreign Office Spokesman Asim Iftikhar.

    “As you can see, the scale of the disaster is so huge that it requires urgent cooperation and support from the international community. We are grateful to the UN, IFIs, and a host of our partners and friendly countries who are stepping forward with assistance,” he said.

    UN Flash Appeal is an internationally recognised tool used to quickly secure funds for United Nations Agencies and non‐government organisations (NGOs), to support a government’s response to an emergency.

    The process is undertaken under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator and in line with clear priorities set by the government.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his interaction with a group of envoys and diplomats on Friday, August 26, said the government was reaching out to friendly countries, donors, and international financial institutions for their continued cooperation at this difficult time.

  • PM orders discos to suspend staff leaves and work nonstop to correct electricity bills

    PM orders discos to suspend staff leaves and work nonstop to correct electricity bills

    The staff of power distribution companies (DISCOs) must work nonstop to correct the electricity bills of consumers using less than 200 units per month, following a directive from Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    He gave the order for all staff members’ leaves to be ended, the bills should be corrected right away, and a report should be given to him. In order to deposit electricity bills in the upcoming days, he continued, the banks should be instructed to stay open.

    PM Shehbaz gave the orders while presiding over a high-level meeting to address the issues facing electricity consumers.

    Furthermore, a high-level committee was formed by the prime minister to address the issues of power users.

    The gathering was informed that efforts are being made to ensure the adoption of the relief package for power consumers that the prime minister had announced. According to him, bill adjustments are being made as part of the relief for 16.6 million consumers related to the change in fuel prices.

    The relief measures must be put into effect right away, according to directives issued by the prime minister.

  • Four friends waiting to be rescued swept away by the flood

    Four friends waiting to be rescued swept away by the flood

    Four friends lost their lives on Friday in the Sanagai area of ​​Lower Kohistan District after being stuck in the floods for three continuous hours. According to the details, five friends were stuck in flood water and they climbed on a rock to save themselves.

    The victims lost their lives after being stuck in the floods for three continuous hours but no rescue team reached the spot to save them.

    According to area residents, a helicopter could have arrived from Peshawar or Gilgit and it could have saved their lives.

    The local residents could only save one person out of five.

    At least 937 people have died in floods caused by heavy rains in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. According to the data issued by the National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA), 234 people have lost their lives to rain and flood-related incidents in Balochistan and 306 people have lost their lives in Sindh. 165 people have lost their lives in Punjab and 185 have lost their lives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

  • Bykea expands to car-hailing service

    Bykea expands to car-hailing service

    The bike taxi and logistics company BYKEA has recently launched its car-hailing service. The service has only been made available by Bykea in Karachi and Islamabad so far, but it will likely be expanded in the coming months.

    The launch of the new service was confirmed by the company through a social media post.
    “Hum ho gaye hain 2 se 4,” tweeted BYKEA’s official account.

    https://twitter.com/bykeapk/status/1563111486989299712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1563111486989299712%7Ctwgr%5E14b12e65edff4173732ad6b26f8eaa4238d042c0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthecurrent.pk%2F%3Fp%3D194223

    Earlier this month, the company hinted that it will start offering a car-hailing service. However, it did not publicly announce its plans or inform its regular users. A tweet from its official account suggested that the company is launching a car-hailing service.

  • Three low-cost housing societies approved for Punjab

    Three low-cost housing societies approved for Punjab

    Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal, Punjab’s Minister for Housing and Urban Development, approved the launch of three low-cost housing societies on Thursday.

    This was announced at the 86th meeting of the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) board, which was presided over by the Housing Minister, at the agency’s office.

    These housing schemes will offer locals access to high-quality, low-cost homes:

    1. Al-Rasheed Garden, Gujranwala
    2. Al-Noor Garden Residencia, Sangla Hill
    3. Campbellpur Greens, Attock  

    According to The News, a monitoring committee was also formed to oversee the housing developments. The delegates also agreed on the development of pension laws for PHATA workers, as well as other administrative issues.

    Furthermore, in each of the housing complexes, a 20 per cent quota was set aside for the Naya Pakistan Housing Program (NPHP).

    The Minister stressed the need of assisting developers in order to promote a smooth working environment and stated that corruption or dishonesty will not be allowed in his team.

    He went on to say that the NPHP is a key priority for the province administration and that it intends to finish as many housing schemes as feasible in the shortest amount of time.

    Earlier this month, the Housing Minister stated his aim to accelerate the creation of low-cost housing projects, saying, “Low-cost housing schemes should be finished quickly by working day and night.”

    He also stated that a special cell will be established to encourage foreign Pakistanis to engage in the housing business.

  • Fawad Chaudhry says Khan will not apologise in contempt case

    Fawad Chaudhry says Khan will not apologise in contempt case

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry has said that former prime minister Imran Khan will not tender an apology to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a contempt of court case.

    Fawad said that it was “really sad” that a full bench was hearing the contempt of court case. He said that PTI leader Dr Shahbaz Gill was tortured and the IHC directed the IGP to hold an inquiry despite confirmation of a medical board that Gill was indeed tortured.

    Fawad said that Gill’s “private parts were given electric shocks and they [police] should feel ashamed of such barbaric acts”.

    He called on the political forces to play their part in making Pakistan a truly democratic country. Fawad added that PTI, during its tenure, had made it clear that institutions should reduce their interference in the government.

  • US Congressman expresses concern over the flood crisis in Pakistan

    US Congressman expresses concern over the flood crisis in Pakistan

    United States (US) Congressman Gregory W. Meeks has expressed sympathies and offered condolences over the loss of hundreds of lives due to the catastrophic situation of floods in Pakistan.

    Meeks, who is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, held a meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Masood Khan.

    During the meeting, Khan thanked Chairman Meeks for expressing solidarity with the flood victims, saying that the country is trying to deal with this natural catastrophe, reports Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

    Khan also thanked the US for its financial assistance for the Pakistani flood victims and relief activities.

    Earlier, US Secretary Antony Blinken had announced $1 million to build resilience against natural disasters in addition to $100,000 in immediate relief for the flood victims of Pakistan.

    Meeks visited Pakistan in 2020. During the visit, he met Pakistani parliamentary and government leaders and members of civil society.

    On Thursday, the Pakistani government declared the ongoing flood situation in the country a “national emergency”. 

    At least 937 people have died in floods caused by heavy rains in Sindh and Balochistan provinces.

    According to the data issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 234 people have lost their lives to rain and flood-related incidents in Balochistan and 306 people have lost their lives in Sindh. 165 people have lost their lives in Punjab and 185 have lost their lives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

  • Asia Cup 2022: Hasan Ali to replace Wasim Jr

    Asia Cup 2022: Hasan Ali to replace Wasim Jr

    The Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Friday that fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr has been ruled out of Asia Cup 2022 due to a side strain. “He had picked up the injury while bowling in Pakistan’s practice session on Wednesday. The bowler was assessed by the team medical staff, and MRI scan in Dubai confirmed the diagnosis,” said the PCB.

    The findings were discussed with PCB Medical Advisory Committee. The medical team will closely monitor Wasim and his return to competitive cricket will be reassessed before series against England.

    Hasan Ali has been named as Wasim’s replacement

    Hasan will depart for the UAE after an approval by the Event Technical Committee (ETC).

    Pakistan will be playing against India on August 28 (Sunday). Losing another pacer would be a huge blow for Pakistan.

    Earlier this month, Shaheen Shah Afridi had been ruled out of the Asia Cup because of a knee injury. He was replaced with Mohammad Hasnain.

    Read more: Mohammad Hasnain to replace Shaheen Shah Afridi in Asia Cup 2022

    Shaheen Shah Afridi is still part of Pakistan cricket team’s travelling squad and is currently undergoing on-tour rehabilitation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared a video yesterday in which Indian cricketers, including Virat Kohli, met Shaheen Shah Afridi and inquired about his health.

  • No voice and data services in several flood-affected areas

    The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced that voice and data services have been disrupted in several flood-affected areas.

    “Due to torrential rains & flash floods in Balochistan and damage to optical fibre cable, voice and data services have been impacted in Quetta, Ziarat, Khuzdar, Loralai, Pashin, Chaman, Panjgor, Zhob, Qila Saifullah and Qila Abdullah,” PTA said in a tweet on Friday (August 26).

    “Efforts are being made to resolve this unprecedented situation. PTA is monitoring the situation and further updates will be shared,” it added.

    Read more- Pakistan officially declares the flood situation a ‘national emergency’

    At least 937 people have died in floods caused by heavy rains in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. According to the data issued by the National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA), 234 people have lost their lives to rain and flood-related incidents in Balochistan and 306 people have lost their lives in Sindh. 165 people have lost their lives in Punjab and 185 have lost their lives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

  • ‘Threatened govt officials’: FIR registered against Rana Sanaullah for spreading terror

    A case was registered by the Punjab police against Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Thursday on charges of terrorism under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). A complainant named Sheikh Aslam registered a First Information Report (FIR) at the Industrial Estate police station of Gujrat.

    In the FIR, Aslam stated that Rana Sanaullah appeared on Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’ on August 21. During the show, Aslam said that the anchor [Shahzad Iqbal] ran some old clips and statements of Sanaullah that were aired on different TV channels on April 16, 2021 and January 29, 2022, respectively.

    In the clips, the minister had threatened the judiciary, the Punjab chief secretary, commissioner, other government officials and their children with dire consequences. Moreover, the FIR stated that Sanaullah threatened to kill government officials’ children and said they wouldn’t get any help from the judiciary.

    “Rana Sanaullah’s statement was to terrorise the judiciary, chief secretary and other government officials so they can’t do their job and fulfil their legal responsibilities”, added the FIR.

    The development was confirmed by Punjab Home Minister Hashim Dogar. In a tweet, the home minister said that the charges levelled in the FIR are serious and action would be taken in accordance with the law.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Moonis Elahi also shared a copy of the FIR: “You [Sanaullah] make false cases against Imran Khan, now the Pakistani nation has registered a true case against you.”

    An official source told Dawn that the complainant was “wanted” by the Islamabad Police in some cases lodged with Kohsar and Aabpara police stations. The police had already issued him notices and they have initiated the process to declare him a proclaimed offender.