ARMY, NDMA STEP UP RESCUE AS RAGING RIVERS ‘THREATEN’ PUNJAB AFTER INDIAN DISCHARGE
g ARMY LAUNCH MASSIVE FLOOD RELIEF DRIVE, EVACUATED 28,000 AND DISTRIBUTED 225 TONS OF RATION: DG ISPR
g 29 ARMY MEDICAL CAMPS TREAT OVER 20,700 FLOOD VICTIMS IN PUNJAB, KP, GB AND AJK: LT-GEN CHAUDHRY
g KKH REOPENED, 104 ROADS CLEARED, AND THREE KEY BRIDGES REPAIRED IN KP AND GB DESPITE HARSH WEATHER: DG
g TWO SOLDIERS EMBRACE MARTYRDOM DURING OPERATIONS; ARMY VOWS CONTINUED NATIONAL RESPONSE
g PM SHEHBAZ CLOSELY MONITORING SITUATION, TO VISIT FLOOD-HIT AREA S SOON: TARAR
on Wednesday India has opened all gates of major dams on rivers in its part of the Kashmir region following heavy rains, and has warned neighboring Pakistan of the possibility of downstream flooding
Addressing a press briefing Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Wednesday said that, on the special directives of the Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) one engineer brigade along with 19 infantry and medical units had been deployed to carry out relief and rescue operations in flood-hit districts across the country
g ARMY TROOPS REQUISITIONED IN EIGHT PUNJAB DISTRICTS, INCLUDING LAHORE, FAISALABAD, OKARA, SIALKOT, NAROWAL, KA SUR AND OTHERS
s rivers following discharges by India” while the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) evacuated more than 210 000 people to safer places predicting widespread torrential rains over the next 48 hours
The fresh data released by the NDMA shows that more than 800 people have been killed across Pakistan since the monsoon season began on June 26 while the worst rains spell that began on Aug 15, still ongoing, with the latest surge of floodwaters in the Sutlej Chenab and Ravi rivers turning Punjab into the hardest-hit region Large swathes of the province are inundated and the government has called for the deployment of army units in multiple districts, including Lahore, Kasur, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Narowal, Okara, Hafizabad and Sargodha, for rescue and relief operations Reuters reported
Flanked by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and the Director General of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt Gen Chaudhry said that Army flood response units had already been mobilized in Punjab Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) So far, around 28,000 people have been rescued during ongoing operations, he added He informed that the Army had established 29 medical camps across Punjab KP GB and AJK where more than 20 700 people have received treatment while over 225 tons of food rations had been distributed among flood-affected communities
Pakistan, Belarus finalize extradition treaty, agree on counter-narcotics, police training
ISLAMABAD
S ta f f R e p o R t
Pakistan and Belarus on Wednesday finalized an extradition treaty and signed a protocol for its implementation, as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Belarusian counterpart Ivan Kubrakov held wide-ranging talks in Islamabad to expand security and labour cooperation
Held at the Ministry of Interior the two sides accompanied by senior officials discussed cooperation in counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, border security and institutional capacity building Both sides described the signing of the extradition protocol as a major step towards curbing transnational crime and strengthening judicial cooperation It was also agreed to establish a Joint Working Group between the two interior ministries to provide a structured platform for sustained dialogue “The formation of this group will prove beneficial in
promoting relations between Pakistan and Belarus ” Minister Naqvi said after the meeting Both countries decided to soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding on counter-narcotics, while an exchange program for police training will also be launched Officials noted that the collaboration would enhance Pakistan’s law enforcement capacity and provide Belarus access to Pakistan s counter-terrorism expertise On the economic front Naqvi welcomed the signing of a separate MoU between Belarus and Pakistan’s Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, under which thousands of Pakistani workers will be
ployed in Belarus We will ensure that only the best workforce is sent after thorough scrutiny he assured Belarusian Interior Minister Kubrakov reaffirmed his country’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Pakistan, praising its people as hardworking and skilled He extended an invitation to Naqvi to visit
PAKISTAN PREPARES FOR PANDA BOND ISSUE AS PART OF
i l l p r o v i d e t e c h n i c a l a s s i s t a n c e during the event Other measures include formali s i n g a c o a l g a s i f i c a t i o n p r o j e c t w i t h C h i n e s e p a r t n e r s , p r o d u c i n g h i g h - q u a l i t y v i d e o s o f S E Z f a c i l it i e s i n C h i n e s e , a n d d e v e l o p i n g s e c t o r- s p e c i f i c i n v e s t m e n t m o d e l s in agriculture industrial
TH E USA s placing of a tariff of 19 percent on Pakistani goods was bound to hit hard, for Pakistan, while running an overall balance of trade deficit, has a trade surplus with the USA Though this trade surplus is more varied than is sometimes thought, it consists mostly of textile exports This was perhaps inevitable considering that the textile sector is an export staple in an economy running a chronic trade deficit However because the textile industry has such importance over such a long time it has come to claim a special position This has allowed the accusation of rent-seeking behaviour to be made especially of the export sector That rent-seeking behaviour translates into seeking to obtain advantages from the government to make profits, rather than focusing on the market they wish to explore Other sectors, like rice, salt, surgical goods, and sports goods also export
The problem before Pakistani manufacturers is quite specific It is not that they will be priced out of the market anytime soon US manufacturers, even if they take advantage of the new tariffs, will take time to be up and running Meanwhile Pakistan has found its competitors in the US textile market at the receiving end of even higher tariffs which has created the opportunity of substituting for these competitors Since the real growth sector is in what is called fast fashion which consists of apparel meant only to be worn on a few occasions before being discarded, the real challenge is market penetration The measures that have been proposed
help exports as because they help the exporters
In a way the demands being made are ones which should have been implemented already There is no word but sad for the demand that held-up refunds should be paid That should be done by any honest state, and for all manufacturers, not kept as some sort of special
Dedicated
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
IF writing is thinking on paper (and there can be no doubt that good writing is), then the ability to read intelligently is a crucial ingredient when it comes to the art of critical thinking What with non-readers and bad readers everywhere one looks is it0 any wonder critical thinking skill is in such short supply? Reading nonfiction has at least two distinct merits One: it causes the reader to grow in knowledge insight and (sometimes) wisdom Two: it provides pleasure and entertainment to those who are not amused by the clandestine amorous activities of celebrities cockfighting and the like Now the good reader while he is certainly not averse to deriving pleasure out of his reading ensures that it is never at the cost of compromising on the cognitive element which remains his primary motivation Consequently, even his lighter reading has a distinct intellectually stimulating flavour to it The Quran offers an enticing challenge to its readers: it encourages them to try and find inconsistencies in its text This is useful because it makes readers who accept this challenge read the text critically not casually or superficially This habit is of utility for reading in general, for all texts must be read critically [Unfortunately, when it comes to the Quran, instead of being critical most outsiders approach the task in a quite antagonistic manner with a strong prior agenda So the first thing that remotely looks like an inconsistency (a judgment which only a little consideration would reverse) is deemed justification enough to put the book down ] Critical reading calls for high degrees of sincerity and academic integrity Not only does it require the reader to be ruthlessly critical but at the same time to be fair (even sympathetic when the author of the text is thought to belong to the other camp) But the reward of successfully negotiating this tightrope is worth every bit of the hard work involved For if no effort is shirked in comprehending the work as it is (as opposed to its straw man version), then whether eventually it is rejected or accepted in any degree the judgment is based purely on the work s merit The whole exercise therefore ends up benefiting and enriching the reader in either case It works the other way around too: reading texts favourably with a view to defend them also sees to it that the critical switches in the brain are all switched on So it is that a sound piece of advice given to young scientists is to get hold of a hypothesis (any hypothesis) and try and see how far they can defend it If they succeed in doing so they have obviously made progress But even if they end up failing their effort will still have been worthwhile because they
will have proved that there is no use pursuing that particular avenue The trap to watch out for here is that one can very easily be a little too fond of a text for one’s own good So it is that many individuals read texts just to reinforce and confirm their biases and inclinations They carefully choose works with theses that they wholeheartedly agree with (even before reading them) – on hearsay or based on the
PRISM+ and Pakistan’s growth ahead
on digital modernisation alone without inclusivity at its core At the same time, PRISM+ directly addresses the challenge of informality Pakistan’s economy has long been constrained by the dominance of cash-based unregulated transactions that erode tax revenues and weaken the formal sector By digitising flows, PRISM+ enhances transparency, expands the tax base, and strengthens state capacity to mobilise resources In the long run, this can alleviate fiscal deficits and reduce dependency on external borrowing an outcome with significant strategic implications for economic sovereignty However optimism must be tempered with realism The promise of PRISM+ rests on widespread adoption and effective regulation Pakistan’s digital divide persists, with limited financial literacy in rural areas persistent infrastructure gaps and cultural resistance to digital tools that hampers uptake Cybersecurity presents another formidable challenge Real-time systems are inherently attractive targets for fraud and cybercrime While SBP has mandated robust anti-money laundering and fraud detection frameworks, the effectiveness of these measures will depend on regulatory vigilance and public trust Global instances suggest that digital payment ecosystems thrive only when security and reliability are demonstrably ensured Pakistan must therefore pursue a parallel agenda of capacity-building, awareness campaigns, and investment in cybersecurity resilience There is another question of ensuring equitable access If PRISM+ becomes a platform serving only urban elites its transformative potential will be diluted Policymakers must therefore adopt an approach integrating PRISM+ with e-commerce platforms, incentivising fintech startups, and leveraging partnerships with telecom operators to reach remote populations Without deliberate inclusionary policies the system risks reinforcing existing divides rather than bridging them
Another dimension worth noting is PRISM+ s capacity to foster innovation ISO 20022 s structured data format allows for the creation of value-added services such as advanced fraud analytics automated reconcilia-
tion, and smarter cash-flow management
These, in turn, could attract foreign direct investment into Pakistan’s fintech ecosystem positioning the country as a regional hub for digital finance Given Pakistan s young demographic profile and entrepreneurial potential the spillover effects could be considerable The global financial order is shifting towards digitisation, and economies that adapt swiftly stand to gain not only economic efficiency but also strategic relevance By launching PRISM+ Pakistan signals that it is no longer content to remain on the periphery of digital finance Instead it aspires to embed itself within the global payment architecture, where competitiveness increasingly hinges on speed, transparency, and inclusivity This aspiration is not misplaced If harnessed effectively PRISM+ can transform the financial landscape and unlock sustainable growth
It is more than a technical reform but can be a strategic instrument for Pakistan s economic future It symbolises proactive governance, collaborative stakeholder engagement, and alignment with global best practices While challenges remain in cybersecurity literacy and equitable access these are surmountable with sustained commitment and investment At stake is not just the efficiency of financial transactions but the very ability of Pakistan to chart an independent, resilient, and inclusive growth trajectory If executed with foresight, PRISM+ could indeed be remembered as the moment when Pakistan’s digital economy truly came of age
The Writer works as a Researcher with an Islamabad-based policy think tank the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad He is also a Research Fellow at Hanns Siedel Foundation Pakistan He can be reached at abuhurrairahah@gmail com
Lost youth
Unpaid doctors
ABu HurrAirAH ABBASi
Crisis of modern slaver y
HU M A N trafficking, a staggering human rights infringement and contemporary form of servitude impacts millions worldwide Moreover involuntary slavery forced labour and sexual exploitation are examples of exploitative uses for human trafficking Coordinated international measures based on solid data, all-encompassing regulations and unyielding political will are necessary to combat human trafficking The issue in Pakistan is complex with particular difficulties stemming from the social economic and geopolitical environment of the nation The theme of world day trafficking in persons (TIP) 2025, “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation,” emphasizes that stopping this serious injustice necessitates destroying intricate criminal networks safeguarding victims and calling for international cooperation Pakistan, which is located at the intersection of important migration routes, is a country that sees a variety of trafficking activities such as forced prostitution child trafficking and bonded labour To comprehend human trafficking clarity on a few fundamental ideas is necessary Human trafficking is the illegal recruitment or transfer of individuals, usually for work or sexual exploitation, by deceit, coercion, or force The quantitative and qualitative information gathered on human trafficking cases is referred to as Trafficking in Persons (TIP) data This information is essential for adjusting interventions and assessing their effectiveness A serious kind of human trafficking that is common in South Asia is bonded labour, which binds individuals to forced labour in exchange for oppressive terms to repay debts Lastly the legal medical psychological and social services required to assist victims in their recovery and reintegra-
tion into society are included in survivor protection and rehabilitation The Pakistani government has made significant progress in combating human trafficking by implementing data-based tools and policy reforms after realizing these difficulties These initiatives are in line with global frameworks and demonstrate a growing recognition that stopping human trafficking necessitates multifaceted approaches that incorporate partnership prosecution prevention and protection In an effort to enhance legislation against human trafficking and migrant smuggling the Parliament of Pakistan has passed the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Emigration (Amendment) Bill 2025 Furthermore The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) created the International Classification of Trafficking in Persons (IC-TIP) framework, which is one of the most critical worldwide developments Countries may now discuss trafficking trends and occurrences in a common language thanks to this historic initiative which offers a standardized framework for gathering and evaluating data connected to human trafficking
A pragmatic strategy based on four essential pillars including prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership buttress the battle against human trafficking By addressing underlying issues including poverty prevention seeks to empower and raise awareness in order to lessen the estimated 50 million victims worldwide The focus of protection is on identifying and helping victims; even if more than 75,000 victims were identified in 2022, rehabilitation depends on improved strategies including survivor-centric support Traffickers are held accountable through prosecution although worldwide conviction rates are remarkably low (about 5,000 per year, a 38 percent decrease since 2015), calling for more robust legal frameworks and international collaboration Additionally, the equally glaring fact is that as many as 800 000 people are leaving Pakistan annually according to the report of thr 4 h Migration Trends Analysis Report for Pakistan published in the 1s Quarter of 2024
The analysis of the latest surveys of UNODC, ILO, IOM and walk free are massively eye opening Further delving deep, it reveals that UNODC reports a 25 percent increase in trafficking victims in 2022 in comparison to pre-pandemic 2019 depicting
US measures have sent shockwaves through Indian societ y, shattering the illusion of an unshak able US -India alliance
completely abandon the Quad mechanism Pro-American forces in India remain strong and India has not given up on its expectations regarding the US Economic and trade frictions are only one aspect of the US-India relationship Both countries still share common interests in countering China within the “Indo-Pacific Strategy,” and military cooperation between them will continue The US strategic community still values India s geopolitical significance However US tariff pressure has severely undermined India s enthusiasm and trust in participating in the Quad India has realized that cooperating with the US to foster division and confrontation in the Asia-Pacific region does not yield economic returns India may use its role as the Quad host to reduce the exclusivity and confrontational nature of the group, returning to the positioning Modi articulated at the 2018 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore: That India “does not see the Indo-Pacific region as a strategy or as a club of limited members nor as a grouping that seeks to dominate And by no means do we consider it as directed against any country A geographical definition, as such, cannot be
playing its military aspect US
iffs will heavily impact India s economic development not only reducing foreign manufacturing relocation to India but potentially causing Indian manufacturing to
seek alternative
children and forced labour cases are surging at an alarming rate Further, vulnerable groups including women and girls remained the multitude of victims particularly in sexual exploitation and forced labour The International Labour Organization (ILO) International Organization of Migration (IOM) and Walk Free estimate around 50 million people reside in the grips of modern slavery across the globe, including 28 million in forced labour and 22 million in forced marriages
Pakistan has made some progress despite obstacles like poverty illiteracy social shame and institutional lethargy By international norms, officials have integrated aspects of victim support and contemporary policing
The creation of national action plans that prioritize the identification rescue rehabilitation and reintegration of survivors is one example of this The destruction of trafficking syndicates through improved investigative methods and judicial reforms is another goal of these initiatives President Asif Ali Zardari also emphasized the need for international and collective cooperation at recent international gatherings To combat human trafficking he advocated for increased crossborder cooperation legal changes and public awareness initiatives His remarks underscored that Pakistan s approach, while still a work in progress, demonstrates a commitment to tackling the issue holistically Pakistan’s endeavours on the global scene are a part of a larger patchwork of regional and international projects that have yielded encouraging outcomes Through more vigorous trafficking prosecutions, more financing for victim services and the establishment of inter-ministerial groups tasked with coordinating nations like Bulgaria and Poland have institutionalized antitrafficking efforts These nations have constructed shelters set up victim counseling facilities, raised the number of convictions and given survivors restitution awards This is setting benchmarks that Pakistan and other nations can emulate Such reforms
In
highlight the benefits of an integrated approach combining legal rigour victim support and interagency cooperation Notwithstanding, the incumbent DG Raja Riffat Mukhtar has significantly enhanced the FIA’s endeavours against human trafficking Recent reports reflect multiple coordinated crackdowns leading to the arrest of dozens of individuals involved in trafficking, visa fraud and illegal currency exchange networks Reports from July 2025, for example, describe the capture of 10 individuals, including “most-wanted human smugglers,” and the seizure of large amounts of illegal money These unsparing steps along with increased internal responsibility within the FIA itself demonstrate a strong commitment to destroying these illegal businesses and safeguarding those who are most in need Trafficking necessitates laws that prioritize protection and prevention while penalizing offenders Raising awareness is essential for changing attitudes and lowering demand for exploitative services both in vulnerable populations and among the general public Adopting victim-centred law enforcement strategies that protect the rights and dignity of survivors is equally essential When combined with specific national objectives Pakistan s continuous adoption of international standards such as IC-TIP enhances accountability and resource allocation guaranteeing data-driven and actionable initiatives
Additionally, human trafficking is a pervasive issue that intersects with organized crime syndicates gender inequality migration and poverty Conditions of vulnerability when people are exposed to lies or compulsion due to economic desperation are ideal for exploitation Traffickers posing as employment facilitators may prey on migrant workers traveling overseas or relocating within the nation Due in part to persisting cultural and social biases that restrict their access to social protections and economic opportunities women and girls are disproportionately victims of sexual exploitation It is crucial to address these underlying factors in addition to providing urgent law enforcement and survivor support Given that traffickers act internationally and take advantage of weaknesses in legal
systems and enforcement international col-
N D I A and China are drawing closer after years of heightened tension Just in the last few days Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had been in New Delhi, meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior Indian officials as direct flights between the neighboring nations are set to resume for the first time in five years Wang’s meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar was only the second such meeting between the two sides since the 2020 border skirmishes killed at least 20 Indian troops and four Chinese soldiers Wang s positive meetings seems to have laid the groundwork for Modi’s first visit to China in seven years later this month where he will meet China’s President Xi Jinping The rapprochement is being analyzed through the Trumpian lens as India-U S ties grow turbulent President Donald Trump has imposed staggering 50% tariffs on Indian imports the highest in Asia White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro has alleged that India serves as a global clearinghouse for Russian oil by refining embargoed crude and exporting it at high value effectively funneling much-needed dollars to Moscow In language echoing Cold War rhetoric, Navarro has warned: “If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of
the U S , it needs to start acting like one ” India has ramped up its purchase of Russian oil but it was the U S under the previous Biden Administration that had asked Delhi to buy oil from Russia to help stabilize the global energy market But such arguments have no currency for Trump, whose hopes for an early trade pact with India have been met by Delhi’s tough negotiating stance likely the true rationale for the tariffs from a man who has often praised Russia over Ukraine Whatever the case Indian public attitude toward Trump is souring as he publicly humiliates the country and its leadership This is further constraining the ability of Indian officials to reach a deal with Washington on tough issues like trade But it may also have the effect of endangering the carefully crafted Indo-Pacific policies of both nations as questions arise about the future of the Quad Alliance in which India has joined Australia, Japan, and the U S to manage China’s growing influence in the region The recent U S -India spat is therefore an opportunity that Beijing has been waiting for opening up new possibilities for China to work with India on certain issues to rebuild its ties but also to blunt the sharper edge of a once-burgeoning India-U S partnership Yet it would be a mistake to view this primarily as a response to Trump’s behaviour While Trump’s actions may have accelerated the Sino-Indian engagement this process of cautious normalization has been
going on since October when India and China reached a deal on patrolling arrangements in an attempt to de-escalate tensions along the disputed Himalayan border Ever since the 2020 clashes
Dr MuHAMMAD rizwAN BHATTi
UN nuclear watchdog chief says inspec tors ‘ back in Iran’
C hina’s trade with SCO member states hit record high in 2024
CORPORATE CORNER
UNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday personally reviewed the flood situation at Shahdara and approved the deployment of army personnel in seven districts Lahore Kasur, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Okara, and Sargodha as she directed the
SITUATION AT SHAHDARA, RAVI RIVER The chief minister visited Shahdara Ravi
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari, said that on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, all institutions have been fully active from the very first day to tackle the flood situation Despite record-breaking rainfall in Sialkot after eleven years and an extraordinary rise in the Ravi River after thirtyeight years affected citizens were rescued in time and no loss of life occurred Azma Bokhari informed that during her return flight from Japan, the Chief Minister held a high-level meeting on the flood situation and even today continues to directly monitor the situation through continuous meetings She stated that the Punjab government always plans ahead of emergencies which is why people are never left alone in difficult times She further said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz works sixteen hours a day, takes no salary, does not take leave, and even bears the expenses of official trips from her own pocket Speaking about the recent official visit to Japan, Azma Bokhari said that the Chief Minister visited on the invitation of the Japanese government where different
These views were expressed by Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari Communications Minister Suhaib Ahmad Bharath and Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq during a joint press conference at DGPR The Information Minister clarified that the Chief Minister has already issued strict instructions to control flour prices
15th meeting of the
Authority (CDA) Board was
at CDA Headquarters Islamabad under the chairmanship of CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa The meeting was attended by Member Admin and Estate Talat Mahmood, Member Finance Tahir Naeem, Member Environment Esfandyar Baloch, Member Planning, Dr Khalid Hafiz Member Engineering Syed Nafasat Raza and Professor Dr Muhammad
emphasized the health and financial benefits of exclusive breastfeeding A comprehensive panel discussion moderated by Dr Naz concluded the seminar The panelists included Dr Khalid Shafi Associate Professor DUHS; Ms Zehra Khan, Women s Rights Activist; Dr Ayesha Khalid, Research Manager, Public Health,
Kar tarpur Corridor completely under floodwater leaving hundreds stranded
ment Authority (PDMA) and Rescue 1122 are actively responding to the crisis Rescue teams have been using boats to evacuate flood-affected individuals, including children women and the elderly to safer locations Relief camps have been set up to accommodate displaced families offering food, clean water, and medical supplies As of Wednesday, over 32,500 people have been evacuated from vulnerable areas, with efforts continuing throughout the day to assist the affected population O
had entered the compound with some sections of the gurdwara submerged under nearly three feet of water The main courtyard and staircase have been inundated, preventing pilgrims from visiting the sacred site It was announced that visits would resume only after draining and cleanup efforts are completed
RELIEF OPERATIONS INTENSIFY: Flood relief operations are in full swing, with the Pakistan Army coordinating rescue efforts across six districts of Punjab, including Lahore Faisalabad Okara Kasur Sialkot and Narowal The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Provincial Disaster Manage-
Authorities report that floodwater levels in major rivers, including the Indus, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej, and Jhelum, remain dangerously high Reservoirs are under significant pressure and large-scale evacuations continue as floodwaters move downstream The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) reported that the inflow and outflow at major reservoirs like Tarbela, Mangla, and Chashma are reaching critical levels, with ongoing concerns for communities along the rivers Despite these challenges authorities remain optimistic that floodwaters will recede safely with drainage and flood management efforts continuing in affected areas Efforts to manage the flood situation are ongoing, with the Pakistan Army deployed to ensure the safety of residents and minimize damage
