Monday, 19 August, 2024 I | 13 Safar, 1446
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 50 I 8 Pages Lahore Edition
NDMA WARN OF HEAVY RAINFALL, FLOODING AS MONSOON WREAKS HAVOC ON COUNTRY
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11 PEOPLE KILLED, DOZENS INJURED IN VARIOUS ROOF COLLAPSE AND ELECTROCUTION INCIDENTS IN PAST 24 HOURS
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PDMA ALERTS DEPARTMENTS TO POTENTIAL FLOODING IN SOUTHERN PUNJAB, CLARIFYING INDIA HAS RELEASED NO EXCESSIVE WATER ISLAMABAD
SALEEM JADOON
HE National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Sunday issued warning of heavy and intense rainfall in the next 24 to 48 hours, raising concerns about potential urban flooding in major cities. The alert comes as torrential rain spell of the monsoon season has wreak havoc in various parts across the Sindh Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, claiming 11 lives in various incidents of roof collapse and electrocution in the past 24 hours. In its alert on Sunday, the NDMA directed all relevant departments to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions. According to the advisory, there is a significant risk of urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, and Sialkot.
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Torrential rains claim 195 lives across Pakistan since July 1: NDMA ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
At least 195 people have been killed and 362 were injured in separate rain-related incidents caused by torrential rains of the current monsoon season in different parts of the country from July 1 to August 17, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said in its report released on Sunday. The disaster management authority elaborated on the devastation caused by continued wet spells, which resulted in a great loss of lives, properties, crops and livestock since the beginning of the monsoon season. According to the report, seven deaths were reported within the 24 hours till Saturday, August 17, 2024, including six deaths in Punjab and one in Balochistan. The total number of deaths has soared to 195 with today’s casualty figures.
Subsequently, at least 30 persons sustained injuries in the same period, with the highest number of casualties reported in Punjab, up to 29. The total number of injuries caused by the devastating rains was recorded at 362. The NDMA further stated that the recently released death toll was reconciled with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Balochistan which experienced disastrous outcomes of heavy rainfalls this season. Flash floods after heavy rains in low-lying areas caused damage to a total of 22 houses across the country in a day, taking the cumulative damages to infrastructure and private properties 2,293, including 1,559 partially and 734 fully damaged from July 1 to August 18. The wet spells have also affected over 44km of roads and 30 bridges in the same period.
Govt proposes fuel price adjustment mechanism for gas bills, mirroring electricity charges g
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS MONTHLY OR QUARTERLY GAS RATE ADJUSTMENTS AMID CONCERNS OVER ENERGY SECTOR STABILITY ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
A government committee focused on addressing challenges in the petroleum sector has recommended the introduction of a fuel price adjustment mechanism in gas bills, similar to the existing system in electricity bills. The proposal emerged during a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime
Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, where key issues affecting exploration and production (E&P) companies were discussed. The meeting brought together ministers of petroleum, finance, and energy, as well as representatives from both the public and private sectors. Ishaq Dar underscored the critical role of the energy sector in driving economic growth and stressed the need to support both local and interna-
tional companies to attract further investment. Heads of E&P companies raised concerns about the sector’s stability, particularly in light of the growing circular debt. Private sector representatives also emphasized the importance of opening the downstream gas sector to private companies to enhance its stability.
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