Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in a coal mine explosion in the Sorange area of Quetta, where several workers were killed.

In separate statements, the president and the prime minister directed the relevant authorities to rescue all workers trapped in the mine and ensure the provision of the best possible medical treatment to the injured.

They extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the elevation of the ranks of those who lost their lives in the incident. They also prayed for grant of strength to the bereaved families to bear the loss with patience.

They emphasized the need for strict implementation of safety measures in coal mines to protect the lives of workers and prevent such tragic incidents in the future.

President Asif Ali Zardari said the contribution of workers to the country’s development was invaluable and that ensuring their safety was a shared responsibility of the state.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and other relevant departments to continue rescue operations in an effective and expeditious manner until all affected workers had been rescued and provided with the necessary relief.

He said the country’s workers were a valuable national asset and stressed the need for permanent safety measures to safeguard the lives of coal mine workers.

Islamabad: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Friday announced that the spillways of Rawal Dam will be opened at 6am on Saturday after the reservoir’s water level rose to 1,748.30 feet amid ongoing monsoon rains, prompting authorities to issue warnings for a likely increase in water flow in Korang Nullah and alert residents living along its banks.

According to the NDMA, all relevant federal, provincial and local authorities have been informed in advance to ensure preparedness and public safety measures before the controlled release of water from the dam.

The authority warned that water levels in Korang Nullah are expected to rise significantly once the spillways are opened.

Residents of communities located along the nullah have been advised to remain vigilant and closely follow instructions issued by local administrations and emergency services.

NDMA urged the public to avoid entering the nullah or attempting to cross temporary bridges and low-lying crossings if water flow intensifies.

The authority said precautionary measures were being taken to minimise risks to life and property, while emergency response agencies remained on alert to deal with any eventuality arising from the increased discharge.

Citizens were advised to stay updated through official alerts and avoid unnecessary movement near waterways during the release operation.

Islamabad: Deputy Chairman of the Senate, Syedaal Khan Nasar, said on Friday that the services rendered by the Kashmiri community residing in Balochistan for the province’s development and prosperity were invaluable and deserve due recognition.

He reaffirmed that every possible effort would be made to address the issues faced by the Kashmiri community, emphasising that Balochistan was the shared home of all its people and that its progress and prosperity required collective efforts.

He expressed these views while meeting with various delegations in Quetta, including representatives of the Kashmiri community residing in Balochistan, said a message received here.

The delegations included Advocate Tariq Butt, Javed Ahmed Khan, Jahangir Khan Khuroti, Sameera Khan, Mir Zaman Lehri, Mir Liaquat, Liaquat Rajput, and others.

During the meetings, discussions were held on the country’s overall political situation, ongoing federally funded development projects in Balochistan, and other matters of public importance.

The delegations apprised the Deputy Chairman Senate in detail of the issues being faced by the local population, upon which he assured them that all possible measures would be taken to resolve their concerns.

Deputy Chairman, Senate Syedaal Khan Nasar reiterated that Pakistan had consistently extended its unwavering support for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people and had always strongly condemned the atrocities committed against them by India. He affirmed that Pakistan would continue to stand firmly with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He further stated that the Kashmiri community had been living in Balochistan for centuries in an atmosphere of brotherhood and harmony, making significant contributions to the province’s socio-economic development.

He emphasised that Balochistan belonged to all communities residing in the province and that safeguarding its development and prosperity was a shared responsibility.

He assured that every possible effort would be made to address the issues faced by Kashmiris living in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan. During the meeting, the Deputy Chairman Senate’s Coordinators briefed him on their performance over the past month and provided a detailed overview of the public issues brought to their attention across the province.

Syedaal Khan Nasar said that Coordinators had been appointed to maintain close contact with the people, identify their problems, and communicate them directly to him so that practical and timely measures could be taken for their resolution.

He further stated that President Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attached special importance to the development of Balochistan and had allocated substantial funds in the federal budget for development projects in the province.

He expressed confidence that the completion of these projects would significantly improve the provision of essential public services and enhance the quality of life of the people.

The Deputy Chairman Senate concluded by assuring the Coordinators and the visiting delegations that every possible step would be taken to resolve the issues they had highlighted.

Islamabad: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Friday issued a nationwide flood alert from July 31 to August 2, warning of rising river flows, possible flash floods, urban flooding and landslides across several parts of Pakistan due to ongoing monsoon rains, while directing local administrations to take precautionary measures and urging citizens to avoid unnecessary travel in vulnerable areas.

According to the NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC), a medium-level flood is continuing at Guddu Barrage on the Indus River, while low-level flooding persists at Kalabagh, Chashma and Sukkur.

The authority warned that water flows in the Chenab River could rise to medium-to-high levels at Marala, while Khanki and Qadirabad may experience low-to-medium flows over the next two days.

Low-to-medium flood levels are also expected in the Jhelum, Ravi and Kabul rivers, as well as their associated streams and tributaries. Authorities forecast a significant increase in water flow in nullahs linked to the Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi rivers.

The alert highlighted the risk of intense flows in hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur, while flash flooding is also feared in seasonal streams across central and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Balochistan.

NDMA identified Mohmand, Bajaur, Buner, Mardan, Kurram, South Waziristan, Shangla and Peshawar among the districts where streams and nullahs could overflow.

In Balochistan, flash floods may occur in the Nari, Bolan, Kangri and Lehri river systems due to heavy rainfall in upper catchment areas.

The authority also warned of urban flooding and water accumulation in low-lying areas of several Punjab cities, including Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Sahiwal and Faisalabad.

In Sindh, urban flooding is feared in Nawabshah, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Khairpur, Mithi, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar and Tharparkar.

Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda and Mardan are also identified as vulnerable to urban flooding during the ongoing spell.

NDMA advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel to flood-prone areas and warned that landslides, debris flows and flash floods could occur in mountainous regions during the monsoon season.

Citizens were urged not to cross flooded roads, streams or fast-flowing water on foot or by vehicle, as even shallow water currents can sweep away people and vehicles.

The authority further advised travellers to carry drinking water, dry food, first-aid supplies, flashlights, power banks and emergency contact information, and to stay updated through the official Pak NDMA Disaster Alert mobile application.

Local administrations have been directed to remain vigilant, implement preventive measures and ensure preparedness for any emergency arising from the evolving monsoon situation.