Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

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Heavy rain causes flooding, traffic disruptions across Abbottabad


Abbottabad: Heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds lashed Abbottabad and its adjoining hilly areas on Friday, causing streams and nullahs to overflow and inundating major roads across the city.



Several feet of rainwater accumulated on the Karakoram Highway, Murree Road, PMA Road, and other key arteries, including Mandian, Supply, and Jinnahabad, severely disrupting the flow of traffic. Water also entered low-lying areas and link roads, creating difficulties for residents, while long queues of vehicles were reported on major highways due to flooding and traffic congestion.



According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), intermittent heavy rainfall is expected to continue over the next 24 hours in Abbottabad and other parts of Hazara Division. The department has warned that intense downpours may trigger urban flooding in low-lying areas, flash flooding in local streams and nullahs, and landslides in vulnerable hilly regions.



The PMD has advised tourists planning to visit Galiyat, Nathiagali, Thandiani, Kaghan Valley, and other mountainous destinations to stay updated on weather conditions and road status before travelling. Local residents have also been urged to avoid unnecessary movement, particularly near rivers, streams, and flood-prone areas, and to exercise extreme caution during periods of heavy rainfall.



Meanwhile, local authorities have appealed to the public to avoid unnecessary travel until weather conditions improve. Citizens undertaking essential journeys have been advised to use alternate routes where possible and drive with extreme caution to ensure their safety.



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Excise Dept recovers 1,010g of ice


Peshawar: The Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, through its Excise Bureau of Intelligence and Investigation (EBI), Squad B-I, carried out a successful intelligence-based operation near H Gol Chowk here and arrested an ice smuggler identified as Bin Yamin, son of Sawad Khan, a resident of District Bajaur.



According to Excise Dept on Friday, during the operation, the squad recovered 1,010 grams of Ice (crystal methamphetamine) from the possession of the accused.



He was arrested on the spot and an FIR has been registered at Excise Police Station Peshawar. Further investigation and legal proceedings are underway.



According to the Excise Department, intelligence-based operations against drug traffickers, particularly those involved in the smuggling of Ice will continue across the province without interruption.



The department remains committed to eliminating the menace of narcotics and will continue to take all possible measures to protect society from the harmful effects of drugs.



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Madar-e-Millat remembered on 133rd birth anniversary


Lahore: Madar-e-Millat Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah was remembered here and across the country on Friday as a fearless leader and the trusted sister and adviser of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, on the occasion of her 133rd birth anniversary.



Born on July 31, 1893, in Karachi, she went on to become one of the most prominent leaders of the Pakistan Movement. She earned a degree in Dental Surgery from Calcutta and established her own dental clinic in Bombay, before dedicating herself to the political struggle alongside her brother.



She stood firmly beside Quaid-e-Azam throughout the Pakistan Movement, playing a vital role in awakening political awareness among Muslim women and mobilising them for the cause. In 1937, she founded the All India Muslim League Women’s Committee, which proved instrumental in spreading the movement’s message among women across the Subcontinent.



Following the creation of Pakistan in 1947, she worked tirelessly for the rehabilitation of refugees and the provision of medical assistance. In later years, she emerged as a champion of democratic values, notably challenging the military rule.



The nation continues to remember her national, democratic, and social services with deep respect and gratitude, with her efforts remaining a beacon of light for generations.



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PM reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to reforms, sets up high-level committee to review WB’s fiscal federalism report


Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan’s constitutional federal structure, provincial autonomy, and cooperation and consultation between the federation and the provinces were of fundamental importance for the country’s development and stability.



The prime minister made these remarks while talking to a World Bank delegation led by its Country Director for Pakistan, Bolormaa Amgaabazar, who called on him here, a PM’s Office news release said.



Welcoming the delegation, the prime minister lauded Pakistan’s longstanding partnership with the World Bank and appreciated the institution’s role in the country’s socio-economic development. He thanked the World Bank for its continued support to Pakistan’s development journey.



The prime minister said the government was vigorously pursuing implementation of its reforms agenda to put the economy on the path of stability and sustainable growth.



The prime minister termed the World Bank’s analysis, along with the comparative review in light of international experiences, commendable, and said such studies played a key role in providing useful guidance for the policymaking process.



He directed the constitution of a high-level committee to comprehensively review the report. The committee will examine the recommendations presented in the World Bank report in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the provinces, keeping in view Pakistan’s constitutional and federal structure, so that workable proposals could be considered in the public interest.



During the meeting, the World Bank Country Director presented the report titled “Strengthening Fiscal Federalism in Pakistan” and briefed the prime minister on its contents.



The World Bank delegation shared key findings of the report, highlighting the evolution of fiscal federalism in Pakistan following the 18th Constitutional Amendment and the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, along with its analysis and observations on revenues, expenditures, federal-provincial fiscal relations, institutional coordination, and utilisation of public resources.



The delegation also presented a number of policy recommendations aimed at promoting fiscal discipline, effective utilisation of resources, improved service delivery, and enhanced coordination between federal and provincial institutions.



Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Ahad Khan Cheema and Ahsan Iqbal, Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Syed Tauqir Shah, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, and senior government officials also attended the meeting.



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Drizzle in city, more showers likely till August 4


Lahore: Drizzle was recorded at isolated locations in the provincial capital on Friday, however Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast more monsoon rains till Tuesday, with occasional breaks.



According to a spokesperson of Pakistan Meteorological Department, rain-wind/thundershowers (with scattered heavy falls at times very heavy) is expected in Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Khushab, Mianwali, Layyah, Bhakkar, Noorpurthal, Sargodha, Sahiwal and Pakpattan till 04th August with occasional gaps.



Rain-wind/thundershowers (with scattered heavy falls) is expected in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Khanpur, Multan, Vehari, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur till 03rd August with occasional gaps.



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Kitchen items’ prices fall by 0.91pc


Islamabad: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)-based weekly inflation decreased by 0.91 percent during the week ended on July 30, 2026, for the combined consumption group, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Friday.



According to PBS data, the SPI for the week under review declined to 357.61 points from 360.88 points recorded in the previous week. On a year-on-year basis, the SPI increased by 9.05 percent.



The weekly SPI, with base year 2015-16=100, covers 17 urban centres and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups.



The SPI for the lowest consumption group (up to Rs 17,732) decreased by 1.19 percent to 345.63 points from 349.80 points.



Likewise, the SPI for consumption groups of Rs 17,733-22,888, Rs 22,889-29,517, Rs 29,518-44,175 and above Rs 44,175 declined by 1.37 percent, 0.97 percent, 0.81 percent and 0.68 percent, respectively.



During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 27 items (52.94 percent) increased, six items (11.77 percent) decreased, while 18 items (35.29 percent) remained unchanged.



On a week-on-week basis, the items that witnessed decrease in prices included tomatoes which declined by 22.96 percent, followed by chicken 11.20 percent, electricity charges for Q1 9.06 percent, bananas 0.70 percent, sugar 0.16 percent and pulse moong 0.15 percent.



On the other hand, the prices of onions witnessed the highest increase of 7.62 percent, followed by diesel 4.17 percent, eggs 3.16 percent, petrol 2.46 percent, wheat flour 2.00 percent, potatoes 1.93 percent, LPG 1.90 percent, pulse gram 1.44 percent, vegetable ghee (2.5kg) 0.71 percent, pulse mash 0.69 percent, pulse masoor 0.64 percent and firewood 0.15 percent.



On the other hand, prices of tomatoes declined by 22.96 percent, followed by chicken 11.20 percent, electricity charges for Q1 9.06 percent, bananas 0.70 percent, sugar 0.16 percent and pulse moong 0.15 percent.



On a year-on-year basis, prices of potatoes declined by 30.89 percent, followed by pulse gram 19.89 percent, chicken 19.56 percent, sugar 17.48 percent, salt powder 14.09 percent, pulse masoor 12.80 percent, eggs 8.38 percent and pulse moong 7.38 percent over the corresponding week of last year.



Major annual increases were recorded in the prices of tomatoes by 228.71 percent, followed by onions 95.36 percent, wheat flour 78.65 percent, LPG 51.76 percent, diesel 37.42 percent, petrol 23.28 percent, gents sponge chappal 16.69 percent, mutton 16.06 percent, chilies powder 15.20 percent, bananas 14.69 percent, beef 13.44 percent and bread 9.69 percent, according to the PBS.