63 KILLED AS RECORD 427MM RAINFALL BATTERS PINDI DIVISION; MORE RAIN PREDICTED In partnership with
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Friday, 18 July, 2025 | 22 Muharram, 1447
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PUNJAB DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY IN SEVERAL DISTRICTS ALONG WITH IMPOSITION OF SECTION 144
PINDI DC DECLARES A ONE-DAY HOLIDAY, ADVISING RESIDENTS TO STAY INDOORS UNLESS NECESSARY
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ISLAMABAD/LAHORE
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 10 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
FLOOD TRIGGERED BY CLOUDBURST CAUSES A BREACH IN CHAKWAL DAM, PROMPTING MASS EVACUATION OF POPULATION
PM directs ‘national disaster management’ response as monsoon toll hits 178 ISLAMABAD
staff report
that led to flooding, prompting the district administration to declare a rain emergency,” the NDMA said, adding that in the Chakri Rajan village, three people were rescued, while 27 individuals were evacuated from Chakwal and Khanpur. Additionally, 10 people were rescued from Chak Monjo, 31 from Dhok Bhadr, and 38 in the Darapur area. The NDMA said that recent downpours have triggered severe flooding and building collapses across various regions, especially in Punjab, with most fatalities resulting from the collapse of weak roofs in vulnerable homes. The flood triggered by
Investigation deepens into Humaira Asghar’s mysterious death, former staff under scrutiny KARACHI
news desk
ARMY HELICOPTER AIRLIFT STRANDED PEOPLE FROM FLOOD-AFFECTED AREAS
PUNJAB MOBILISES ALL RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS AND DEPLOYS BOATS, AMBULANCES, HELICOPTERS, AND SPECIALISED RESCUE VEHICLES TO RESPOND TO THE CRISIS
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AKISTAN Army on Thursday deployed helicopters and personnel for rescue operations as Punjab declared state of emergency in several districts along with imposition of Section 144 in response to cloudburst and heavy monsoon rains that triggered flooding, claiming 63 lives across the province, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said. According to the NDMA, since the start of the monsoon season on June 26, the death toll in Punjab has reached 103, with 393 injured. It said that army helicopters were dispatched to rescue people stranded in floodwaters in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, and other affected areas. “Pakistan Army carried out large-scale relief efforts, focusing on hard-to-reach areas to assist residents stranded by the devastating floods,” Radio Pakistan reported. As part of immediate relief efforts, numerous individuals from flood-hit regions have been relocated to safer locations. Residents in rain-affected regions were also provided with life jackets, along with essential relief supplies. “Record 427 millimeters of rain, recorded in Chakwal and its suburbs in only 10 hours
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The investigation into the death of actress and model Humaira Asghar, whose decomposed body was found in her flat in the Defense area of Karachi, has intensified, with local authorities examining multiple angles of the case. Asghar, who was found dead in her flat on July 8, 2024, had been unreachable since October 7, 2024, prompting police to investigate the circumstances of her death thoroughly. The provincial police, led by DIG South Asad Raza, have expanded the investigation to include Asghar’s former housekeeper, the building’s management, and the watchman. These individuals had reportedly been in contact with the actress until October 2024, shortly before her death. It has been revealed that Asghar’s former housekeeper left her employment earlier in 2024, and no CCTV footage was available from outside or around the flat, leaving the police to rely heavily on questioning the people who interacted with her. One of the significant findings in the investigation was the discovery of three keys to the flat’s main door, all found inside the residence, which had been double-locked from the inside. This finding has raised further questions about the circumstances surrounding her death. Additionally, evidence such as utility bills and rent slips up to May 2024 was found inside the flat, further complicating earlier assumptions that she was financially distressed. Preliminary reports indicated that Asghar might have been facing financial difficulties, with her last commercial shoot taking place in September 2024. However, a closer examination of her bank account showed a balance of over Rs 398,000, with regular withdrawals ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.
the heavy rain caused a breach in a Chakwal dam, which led to mass evacuation of the population residing in nearby areas. Rainwater entered people’s homes, forcing them to spend the night under open skies. The floodwater has entered Kattas Raj temples in Chakwal with a number of areas including Ararr Mughlan, Takiya Murad Shah, Mohra Mast, Khanpur, Choasaidan Shah were facing the flood situation. In the last 24 hours alone, 63 fatalities have been reported, with 290 people injured. The deaths include 15 in Lahore, nine in Faisal-
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and federal ministers for climate change to join heads with the provinces for developing a comprehensive disaster management plan based on the lessons learned from this year’s devastating rains and cloudburst events, as this year’s death toll from monsoon rains reached 178. The prime minister visited the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) headquarters, where he was briefed on the country’s monsoon situation, disaster response efforts, and the increasing intensity of weather patterns. The prime minister commended NDMA’s efforts and lauded the role of modern technology and skilled human re-
abad, five in Sahiwal, three in Pakpattan, and nine in Okara, the Punjab Provincial Disaster
No Trump visit scheduled to Pakistan ‘yet’: White House g
FO SPOKESPERSON ALSO SAYS, ‘WE HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MATTER’ WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD
sources at the authority. He said, “NDMA always provides an encouraging environment, and it is because of its modern infrastructure and highly capable team. This is my second visit here, and I am pleased to see the dedication.” The prime minister highlighted recent cloudbursts and heavy downpours in Chakwal, Lahore, Islamabad, and hilly areas, acknowledging the severity of weather conditions. He remarked that while southern parts of the country saw less rainfall impact, the northern and central regions continue to face significant risk. PM Shehbaz appreciated the provincial governments for their response, especially Punjab under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, for their effective disaster handling and coordination with NDMA and PDMAs, resulting in comparatively fewer losses. He also prayed for those who lost their lives and wished a swift recovery for the injured, while stressing the need for proactive preparations.
Management Authority (PDMA) reported.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
‘2nd this month’: Two killed, three injured as another Lyari building collapses KARACHI
staff report
staff report
The White House on Thursday said that no visit of United States President Donald Trump was scheduled to Pakistan “at this time” after widespread reports of a trip. Earlier in the day, some local television news channels reported, citing sources, that Trump was expected to visit Pakistan in September. The news channels said that Trump would also visit India after arriving in Islamabad in September. The channels later withdrew their reports. The White House dismissed the rumors. “A trip to Pakistan has not been scheduled at this time,” a White House official said. Earlier, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said, “We have no information about this matter.” Similarly, a US embassy spokesperson in Islamabad told Reuters, “We have nothing to announce,” and said that the White House might be able to provide confirmation on the president’s schedule. According to a British news agency, if confirmed, this would mark the first visit by a US presi-
dent to Pakistan in two decades. The agency also reported that President Trump is scheduled to visit the United Kingdom from September 17 to 19 at the invitation of King Charles. George W Bush was the last US president to visit Pakistan in 2006. US-Pakistan relations saw a major boost when Trump hosted Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House last month in an unprecedented meeting.
India is due to host the summit of the so-called Quad countries this year, but dates for the meeting have not been announced yet. The Quad grouping includes the US, India, Australia and Japan and is focused on countering China’s rise in the Indo-Pacific region. Britain’s King Charles will host Trump from September 17 to 19 for his unprecedented second state visit to Britain, Buckingham Palace said on Monday.
Two women were killed and three others sustained injuries on Thursday after the roof of a six-storey building caved in near Lyari’s Khadda Market, the second this month, rescue officials confirmed. According to rescuers, the sixth floor of Ghani Mansion building, near Bilal Masjid and Peshawari Hotel, caved in and fell onto the fifth floor, which triggered the collapse of the roof onto the next. Soon after the incident, Rescue 1122 teams, along with other emergency services, reached the site and launched a rescue operation. Police also cordoned off the area and helped coordinate rescue operations, which are yet underway. Earlier this month, a similar tragedy unfolded in Lyari’s Baghdadi area, where a five-storey residential building collapsed, claiming 27 lives and leaving 10 others injured. It had taken 50 hours of the rescuers to complete the operation. DIG South Syed Asad Raza confirmed that two women died in the incident, and three others reported to be their daughters were injured, adding the bodies were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi. One of the victims was identified as 45-year-old Hurmat Rafiq, according to a spokesperson for the Edhi Foundation, while the identity of the other woman could not be ascertained yet. All five victims were residents of the building. Officials stated that the injured were receiving medical treatment, and their conditions were being monitored. Following the tragedy, the authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse and assessing structural damage to the surrounding area.
Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan seal UAP Railway project accord in Kabul moot KABUL/ISLAMABAD staff report
Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with the Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, on Thursday headed the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the UzbekistanAfghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway, reaffirming the shared commitment to peace, connectivity, trade, and regional development. The signing ceremony of the UAP Railway Project was held in Kabul on Thursday. Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar made the announcement through a post on X from Kabul, where he arrived earlier today on a day-long visit for the signing. “I congratulate the people and governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan on the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the Naibabad–Kharlachi rail link under the UAP Railway Corridor. “I also thank the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan for their support and commitment to the timely signing of the agreement. We remained closely engaged
throughout the negotiation process to finalize the details.” He hailed the UAP Railway Corridor as a major milestone in advancing regional connectivity and economic integration that would connect Central Asian countries to Pakistani seaports through Afghanistan. Dar said the signing of today’s agreement was a result of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership and commitment, who had tasked him as finance minister of the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government to lead the effort with the countries. “We collectively laid the foundation for this transformational project.” Later, Dar held a trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. The meeting reinforced the strong ties between the three nations and their mutual commitment to peace, connectivity, trade, and regional development. The participants highlighted the importance of continued cooperation to unlock the region’s economic potential and ensure sustained prosperity for their peoples. In 2023, the three countries agreed on the UAP Railway project to build a rail link,
which will pass through Termiz in Uzbekistan, Mazar-i-Sharif and Logar in Afghanistan, and enter Pakistan via the Kharlachi border crossing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The project will facilitate regional, transit, and bilateral trade amongst participating countries while supporting both passenger and freight services. Dar arrived in Kabul earlier Thursday, accompanied by Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, the special representative for Afghanistan, and the secretary of the Ministry of Railways. Dar and Abbasi later met acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. According to the Foreign Office (FO), both sides called for maintaining “the momentum in bilateral relations” and expanding cooperation in the trade, transit, and security sectors. “They agreed to remain engaged to achieve the full potential of regional economic development, including through [the] realization of trans-regional connectivity projects,” the FO wrote on X. On the sidelines of the signing ceremony of UAP Railway Corridor, Dar met with Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad
Hassan Akhund. The two leaders exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including peace and security, trade and transit cooperation, and regional connectivity. The two leaders discussed key issues of mutual interest, including peace and security, trade and transit cooperation, and regional connectivity. Recalling their previous meet-
ing on April 19, 2025, both reaffirmed their commitment to sustained engagement and agreed to continue high-level contacts to enhance bilateral relations. In a meeting with acting Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, both sides held in-depth discussions on security matters and reaffirmed the importance of eradicating threats to regional countries.