Monday, 5 september, 2022 I 8 safar, 1444 I Rs 40.00 I Vol XIII no 67 I 44 Pages I Islamabad edition
NatioN workiNg iN uNisoN to overcome flood devastatioN: Pm g
SAYS IT’S TEAMWoRK THAT CoULD YIELD RESULTS IN TRYINg TIMES
KACHHI/QUETTA
P
staff report
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said during the current situation which arose after the monsoon rains and floods, the entire nation was working in unison and inspiration to overcome the problems which was very important. Expressing his view after getting a briefing from the relevant authorities over the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts of road, rail and bridges infrastructure in the area, the prime minister said that it was a matter of satisfaction that all the people had been involved to overcome the enormous issues after the natural calamity hit the country. Appreciating the efforts of the district administration authorities and others, the prime minister said their commitment and devotion had been a source of inspiration for the general public. He said that he saluted all those who had been involved in the relief and rehabilitation efforts. The chief minister and the chief secretary had been coordinating and working with all the relevant authorities, he added. It was your commitment to the nation, he said, adding that their efforts would serve as a beacon of light for the people. It was the teamwork that could yield results in trying times, he opined. The prime minister announced Rs5 million relief grant for the labourers who were working there in the difficult situation and another amount of Rs1 million for the staff that was working for the restoration of gas pipelines. A committee would be set up to dispense the amount on merit. The prime minister said the floods had caused large-scale damages across the country, affecting all the provinces. About 1300 lives were lost, livestock swept away, while the economic and infrastructure damages were enormous.
In this district, the prime minister said, recent floods had swept away Bibi Nani bridge, disrupting traffic from Quetta to Sukkur and leaving about 6000 people stranded on both ends. He appreciated the NHA, law enforcement jawans and other authorities who restored the damaged bridge within 8 hours, adding that they did a great national service. The prime minister said that when a catastrophe hit, the whole nation stood up and march in unison by working hard to overcome the challenges. The prime minister announced
Rs3 million for those labourers working on the restoration of Bibi Nani bridge. National Highway Authority Chairman Khurram Agha also briefed the prime minister about the restoration of Bibi Nani bridge. About 106 kms road around Bibi Nani and Pinjar Bridges were largely affected. The chief minister thanked the prime minister for his visits and continuous support to the floodaffected areas of the province. He said the FC personnel had played a major role in the restoration of connectivity bridge. He also announced Rs2 million for the labourers and workers. PM ARRIVes In QuettA to ReVIew RelIeF ACtIVItIes: Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Quetta on Sunday to assess the ongoing relief activities in the flood-affected areas of Balochistan. The prime minister arrived in Quetta to inspect the restoration efforts on the road and railroad infrastructure damaged by the floods. PM Shehbaz received a detailed briefing from National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman Khurram Agha regarding the flood-affected roads in Balochistan and the current restoration work. The PM had earlier made an announcement on a grant of Rs10 billion for flood victims in Balochistan. He also urged the wealthy people to step up and help with the relief operations. Balochistan has suffered significantly as a result of the eight massive and severe monsoon spells. Pakistan’s devastating floods have cost the country between $10 billion and $12.5 billion in economic losses in addition to the lives lost.
PM commends ministry, NHA for rehab of washed away road infrastructure ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has commended the Ministry of Communications and National Highway Authority (NHA) for the construction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges in flood-affected areas across the country. According to NHA, Secretary Communications and Chairman National Highway Authority Captain (R) Muhammad Khurram Agha gave a detailed briefing to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the flight at Bibi Nani on the flood-affected roads and the ongoing rehabilitation work on the link bridges and Pinjarra Bridge. The Prime Minister lauded Federal Minister of Communications Maulana Asad Mehmood, Chairman NHA and his team for their keen interest and efforts on ongoing rehabilitation work on the bridges, highways etc. The recent heavy rains and floods have severely damaged the national highway network in Balochistan and the province’s land connectivity with other provinces has been cut off, due to which not only the movement of traffic but also the delivery of goods and relief activities were facing difficulties. Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo said that there was no example of how quickly and in a short spam NHA restored the Pinjarra bridge and Bibi Nani for the movement of traffic. Further, the land connection from Swat with Bahrain has been also restored with the efforts of the minister and Corps Engineers of Pakistan Army, NHA, District Administration have also played a vital role in this regard. The NHA staff was also at the forefront of relief activities in the country. The national highways of Sindh province have been greatly affected by the recent rains and floods. Passengers were requested by NHA to get information from NHA zonal office before travelling while the road of National Highway N55 from Dadu to Nasirabad (35km) has been submerged in flood water. The district administration has also closed N55 for traffic and diverted N55 traffic to N-5. Therefore, due to the traffic of N55, there has been an additional load of traffic on N-5. However, the Motorway Police was trying to restore traffic on N5. The NHA officials have also contacted the Chief Secretary Sindh and IG Sindh and asked for police presence to restore the flow of traffic. Under the direction of the minister, the architects and field staff of NHA were busy day and night in restoring all the damaged highways. staff report
Finance Minister wants nation to live within its means ISLAMABAD staff report
Federal Minister for Finance, Miftah Ismail on Sunday said that the nation has to live within its current national resources by which the government can move towards self-reliance. The Minister said that the damage in this flood is estimated at 10 billion dollars, which can help the rehabilitation of the flood victims. Import payments should equal dollar inflows, which means curbs on luxury items may remain in place for longer than currently anticipated, Miftah Ismail said in an interview with Bloomberg News at his home in Karachi. “I want to see a Pakistan that lives within its means,” the Finance Minister told adding, nothing can happen in one year, but we can start”. Less than a week ago, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) gave Pakistan $1.16 billion, he said. The Minister said that Pakistan also secured pledges for a total of $9 billion in investments and loans from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Ismail said he expects a $1 billion investment in listed state-owned companies to materialize in about a month. Pakistan on Aug. 29 secured a bailout from the IMF to avert an imminent default as the country deals with political turmoil and deadly flooding. Since taking up his post in April, Miftah Ismail has made efforts to narrow Pakistan’s yawning trade gap and current account deficit a priority. Ismail expects economic growth of more than 3.5 percent for the fiscal year that started in July, down from an initial target of 5 percent. He predicts that inflation, running at the highest in 47 years and the second highest in Asia, is close to its peak and will average 15 percent for the year. Vegetable prices, a key component, have already started to come down after shooting higher following the floods, he said.
in today’s issue
DUBAI Mohammad Rizwan hit an attacking 71 as Pakistan beat India by five wickets in a last-over Super Four thriller at the Asia Cup on Sunday. Chasing 182 for victory, Pakistan achieved their target with one ball to spare in Dubai thanks to a key 73-run stand between Rizwan and Mohammad Nawaz (42). Rizwan was out after his second successive half-century in the 17th over but Khushdil Shah, with his unbeaten 14, and Asif Ali, who made 16 off eight balls, made sure Pakistan got over the line against Arshdeep Singh. Reprieved after Arshdeep dropped an easy catch at short third man, Asif hit a six and two fours before falling with two balls left, leaving Iftikhar Ahmed to knock off the remaining two runs. Earlier,
Virat Kohli’s 60 guided India to 181-7 after being put in to bat first. Pakistan started their chase cautiously and lost skipper Babar Azam for 14 with leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, luring the batsman into a chip straight to mid-wicket. The in-form Rizwan, who made 43 and 78 in the previous two matches, hit back with three boundaries off pace bowler Hardik Pandya and a six in the next over. He put on 41 runs with Fakhar Zaman who played a scratchy knock of 13 before falling to Yuzvendra Chahal’s leg spin. Pakistan promoted the lefthanded Nawaz, primarily a spinner, in the batting order to up the scoring and he delivered by promptly hitting a four and six. Rizwan, who hurt himself keeping wicket after landing awkwardly on his right leg but was able to continue, anchored the innings and reached fifty in 37 balls. Nawaz smashed five fours and two
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Rizwan stars as Pakistan edge India in Asia Cup thriller agencies
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sixes in his 20-ball blitz and stood firm with Rizwan before getting out to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Pandya removed Rizwan as India sensed a turnaround but the lefthanded Khushdil and Asif pulled off the chase as Pakistan avenged their loss to India in the group stage. Kohli, who hit 60 off 44 balls before being run out in the final over, helped India survive a middle-order stutter to post a competitive total. Leg-spinner Shadab Khan stood out with figures of 2-31 from his four overs. PM CongRAtulAtes nAtIon, CRICket teAM on wIn In AsIA CuP: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday congratulated the nation and Pakistan cricket team for win against India in the Asia Cup 2022. In a statement, he said the Pakistani cricket team had won hearts of the nation. “Well done Team Pakistan.”