The Government of Sindh has announced a public holiday in Karachi and Hyderabad today (August 18, Thursday) due to heavy rainfall.
The decision has been taken amid heavy rainfall in most parts of the province.
The Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) has also rescheduled its annual exams for August 18.
In its latest forecast on torrential monsoon rains and urban flooding in Sindh and Balochistan, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) advised authorities to remain on high alert.
Actress Urwa Hocane opened up about the plight of Pakistani Television and the glorification of toxic masculinity in an interview with journalist Maliha Rehman. The Punjab Nahi Jaungi star said that PEMRA issued multiple notices to the producers of her drama Udaari for highlighting child abuse, which is a serious issue in the country.
She also agreed with the host’s stance that domestic violence and toxic masculinity are being romanticised in recent dramas, which is extremely problematic.
“We have romanticized domestic violence, domestic harassment, and martial rape we have romanticized all that and it’s wrong. Have you lost your mind?”. While she added, “And if a girl is silent we consider it as a heroine?”.
she added, “I’ve come up to the point that I end up singing on the script that is less problematic”.
“And I hope that I get to convince the director to make the story slightly better, there are full of angry heroes in stories until they pull your head and until they torture you, you can’t fall in love with them. Is it really good what we are portraying over television screens? Someone harassed you and later you fall in love with that man?”.
The Neeli Zinda Hai actress also shed light on her journey, “I started working as a VJ at the age of 17, but actually I the first time I started earning was the age of 14 when I started giving tuitions. I had a thought in my mind that we should never put a burden on our parents and I always wanted to be independent.”
Hocane shared her take on a man’s importance in a woman’s life, “What do you need a man for? You don’t need a man to live your life. I’m sure you would like to have one but it’s not compulsory. In my opinion, there’s no need of having a man in your life.”
Urwa was dragged into a controversy when actor Aijaz Aslam appeared with his wife Sabeen on The Couple Show hosted by Aagha Ali and Hina Altaf earlier this year.
On being asked about a leading lady who has attitude problems, unprofessional and needs to work on her behaviour, the Nand star gave a shocking answer.
Aijaz named Urwa Hocane and stated, “Although I haven’t worked with her but I have heard (from friends and colleagues) that it is Urwa, she gets very angry on the sets, quickly loses her temper and even instructs the director on creative aspects.”
The hosting duo kept nodding while Aslam was talking, however, Aagha mentioned later that he recently met the Tich Button diva at an event and felt that she was grounded.
Hocane then issued a statement, responding to the “baseless allegations” that were circulating about her. She explains that she is respectful of her seniors in the fraternity, and emphasizes that seniors too must be mindful of the responsibility they have towards younger actors, keeping in mind how their words can deeply impact the “image, mind, and even work” of these younger stars.
She called herself “creatively charged,” and states that she always indulges in “healthy discussions” with her directors and producers.
The Amanat star also stated that she is certain that the senior actor meant no harm, given that they do not know each other personally, nor have they ever starred together. However, she does state that “irresponsible statements leave us at a mercy of internet trolls, therefore everyone must watch what they say in public about someone else, especially when it’s mere hearsay.”
She concluded by thanking Aagha and Hina, who understood the gravity of the situation and did not become party to it.
Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Iqbal Memon on Tuesday imposed a complete ban on bathing, diving, boating and swimming in the sea/beaches and Hub Canal in the territorial limits of Karachi under Section 144. The ban was imposed on August 2 and will stay effective till August 17.
The decision has been taken in the wake of ongoing torrential rains and high tides caused by the sea.
“The Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners of Karachi Division are hereby authorised to take action against the violators in coordination with the concerned Senior Superintendents of Police and get the violators booked under section 188 PPC in writing in the concerned Police Stations for the violation of Section 144 Cr. P.C,” says the notification.
At least six people have died recently in different incidents of drowning.
Muhammad Ramzan Chhipa has also requested people to avoid going to the beach.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday said that monsoon rains will continue this week.
The PMD warned that the ongoing monsoon system may trigger further urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Faisalabad, Lahore and Gujranwala.
As per the PMD, flash flooding is also expected in local nullahs of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Shakargarh, Sialkot, Narowal, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Dir, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Kashmir from July 27 to July 31.
Read more- Heavy rains, flash flooding in Balochistan kills at least 102 people
“Rainfall may trigger landslides in Kashmir, Galiyat, Murree, Chillas, Diamir, Gilgit, Hunza, Astore, Ghizer and Skardu during the forecast period.”
The Met Department advised travellers and tourists to observe caution during the forecast period.
As Karachi continues to suffer after record rains, residents of the city are taking to the streets and social media to express their anger and rage and are demanding accountability of those responsible for the mess.
Among those lashing out at the government and authorities are celebrities including Mehwish Hayat, Ayesha Omar, Aijaz Aslam, Sanam Jung, Sanam Saeed and Feroze Khan.
“My anger knows no bounds,” wrote Mehwish. “How can a modern city like Karachi not have the infrastructure to cope with rain in today’s age?”
Demanding accountability, the actor added, “Enough is enough!”
“It’s time for accountability. It’s time to speak up. It’s time to take ownership. It’s time to demand our rights. Its time to heal. It’s time,” wrote Ayesha on Twitter.
Aijaz Aslam, Sanam Saeed and Sanam Jung voiced similar concerns and demanded answers from the authorities.
Anoushey Ashraf, Mansha Pasha and Fahad Mirza also expressed their distress and disappointment and called out those in power for making false promises.
Feroze Khan wanted to know where his tax money went.
Meanwhile, residents of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) on Monday gathered within the premises of Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) to protest against the lack of monsoon infrastructure and the administration’s failure to provide them basic amenities.
“We wish to register our legitimate right to get the supply of basic amenities of potable water, stable electricity, effective discharge and flow of drains and sewerage, elimination of hanging electricity wires & data cables, fixing of broken poles, providing of security [as well as] repair and re-carpeting of broken roads,” read a statement by the residents of DHA Karachi ahead of Monday’s protest.
A second protest for later this week has also been announced by the aggrieved residents to take up their demands with DHA outside the Phase-I office on September 3 at 12:30 pm.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced that both the centre and Sindh will be working together to bring much-needed relief to the people of Karachi.
A city once known as the ‘city of lights’ has now been without electricity for almost three days and counting.
Karachi resembles a dump now with dilapidated roads, virtually no sewerage system, no government public transport, buildings on top of each other without following any safety laws, no emergency response system, nothing. Recent visuals on our television screens, social media and WhatsApp following the monsoon rains in Karachi are horrendous. Cars floating around, houses drowning in sewerage water and rainwater, people being electrocuted, no electricity, no food, no relief in sight. A wheelchair-bound woman drowned in her house due to the mismanagement of those in power, someone who had a heart attack could not reach the hospital in time due to flooding…each story is worse than the other. More than 80 people have so far lost their lives.
The ‘resilience’ of the people of Karachi has been taken for granted but Karachi has had enough!
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has been in power in Sindh for the last 12 years. In those 12 years, we have not seen the provincial government take any responsibility whatsoever for the woes of the provincial capital. Blaming the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) because it ruled Karachi for almost a decade before the PPP government came to power can only be done so much. If the Opposition parties tell the ruling PTI to stop blaming past governments and focus on their own performance, then the same rule should apply in Sindh. The MQM may not have done as much as it should have back then but it is no excuse for a government that has been ruling the Sindh province for over a decade now.
It will also not paper over the fact that the local bodies system is so weak that no city government can be blamed for anything catastrophic. If the PPP wants to shift the blame, it should have had a fully empowered local bodies system in place. When a government does not want to devolve power and then not do anything itself, then who is to blame? Climate change may be another reality but it is not something that has come out of the blue. Where is the emergency relief system to work in times of natural disasters? If it were not for the Edhi foundation and Chhipa and other private organisations, the city of Karachi would have been an orphan city. Private citizens are helping each other out rather than the government. Where is the empathy of the rulers? Some of the tweets by provincial ministers are full of apathy towards the people of Karachi; clearing a few roads of rainwater do not make the problems of Karachi go away.
Now that a committee has been formed with all stakeholders to address the issues plaguing the largest city of Pakistan, it is hoped that regardless of their political affiliations, all stakeholders would work towards reaching a solution and not play politics at the cost of innocent lives. The people of Karachi have witnessed ethnic warfare, sectarian killings, mafias, crime and much worse. They deserve a break now. The Sindh government and all other stakeholders need to work together in order to bring some semblance of normalcy back to a city that is the heart of Pakistan.
With rains lashing Karachi, as many as 19 people died in various rain-related incidents in the port city on Thursday, taking the tally of deaths during the three-day monsoon spell in the city to 30.
Meteorological officials said downpours in August have shattered the 90-year-old record for the city. Some 484mm (19 inches) of rain has fallen this month so far, 130mm on Thursday alone, they said.
According to data released by the Met Office, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Faisal Base recorded 130 millimetres of rain while Nazimabad has recorded 105.6mm since Thursday morning. Mausamiyat received 74.3mm of rain, while Saadi Town recorded 72mm. About 98.5mm of rain was recorded in PAF Masroor Base, Surjani received 73mm while Kemari recorded 82.5mm.
Many major arteries witnessed severe traffic jams. Power was suspended in several areas as a precautionary measure, a K-Electric spokesperson said. Karachi Commissioner Muhammad Suhail Rajput urged people not to leave their homes during the spell which, according to a Met Office prediction, is expected to continue for another two days.
Videos and photos making rounds on social media showed submerged cars and motorcycles and water entering houses and buildings, wreaking havoc in the provincial capital.
Given the devastation in Karachi, several celebrities and notable personalities including Feroze Khan, Shahid Afridi, Fatima Bhutto, Ayesha Omar, Samina Peerzada and Ali Safina have lashed out at the Sindh Government for being incompetent and “destroying” the city.
Feroze expressed his outrage by hitting out at PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and demanding answers from him and his government.
When a Twitter user asked him to hold the PTI government accountable as well, Khan said that they “have literally just come in and I at least can’t expect them to over night work everything around”.
Former captain Shahid Afridi expressed his disappointment with the management and those in charge of the city.
“Who will save Karachi,” questioned the cricketer. It is pertinent to mention here that Afridi’s foundation Shahid Afridi Foundation has stepped up to help those affected by the flooding in the city.
Fatima Bhutto, Ayesha Omar, Gohar Rasheed, Yasir Hussain, Ali Safina and Samina Peerzada also expressed outrage over the government’s negligence.
Meanwhile, other celebrities including Humayun Saeed, Wasim Akram, Shaniera Akram, Farhan Saeed, Ali Rehman Khan, Ali Zafar, Bilal Ashraf, Hira Mani and Maya Ali sent prayers for the city and those affected by the catastrophic rains.
Ayeza Khan shared a dua that can be recited while it is raining.
The Sindh Wildlife Department has clarified that no crocodiles have escaped from the shrine of Mangho Pir and the pictures being circulated on social media are fake.
The department shared a video of the areas where the crocodiles were reportedly seen and of the Manghopir Shrine where the crocodiles live. Officials of the Sindh Wildlife Department said that after doing a survey of the area, they concluded that no crocodile escaped the shrine during the rains.
Officials present at the shrine further said that the crocodiles cannot escape the enclosures as the cages are high, adding that CCTV cameras have also been installed to keep a check on everything happening at the shrine.
News of crocodiles on the loose in the Karachi began to do the rounds on social media after rain water flooded the streets of Karachi. PTI MNA Aamir Liaquat also shared a picture of a crocodile and asked residents of Surjani Town, Khuda Ki Basti and Nayi Karachi to be careful.
Some social media users have claimed that the picture is from Philippines. The Current could not independently verify this claim.
According to a report published in 2018, the Mangho Pir shrine is home to over 100 crocodiles that waddle between the devotees near a swampy green pond where they have lived for generations.
Meanwhile, heavy rain has inundated Karachi and lack of proper infrastructure has submerged half the city.