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PTI social media faces internal differences, group…

ByJustpaste.in

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has acknowledged that the party is facing internal differences and grouping, saying that the lack of contact with party founder Imran Khan for the past nine months has made decision-making much more difficult.

In a post on X, Salman Akram Raja said that, for the first time in the party’s history, there has been no contact with Imran Khan for nine months. He said that issues and disputes that were previously resolved within minutes through the party founder’s guidance now become the subject of long discussions.

His remarks suggest that the absence of the jailed PTI founder has created a leadership gap, allowing disagreements within the party to become more visible.

Raja also admitted that PTI had faced what he described as a “planned campaign” to weaken the party during this period. According to him, efforts were made from within the party to create problems, but senior leaders remained united and resisted those attempts.

“I am grateful to Imran Khan’s senior colleagues who stood firm against these failed attempts,” he said.

The PTI secretary general also claimed that another challenge comes from social media, where he said three different groups are active against the party’s interests.

According to Raja, the first group consists of people who are formally linked to the media teams of PTI’s political opponents. The second group, he said, includes people within PTI who are seeking party positions and view certain leaders as obstacles to their ambitions.

His statement is being seen as a rare public acknowledgment that internal rivalries and competition for positions exist within the party.

Raja said the third group includes sincere PTI supporters who genuinely want Imran Khan’s release and the party’s success. He described them as passionate young people and older supporters who may not be fully aware of all developments.

He argued that while emotional slogans are easy to raise, developing and following an effective political strategy requires patience, understanding and careful planning.

Referring to calls for immediate action, Raja said that a political revolution cannot be achieved simply by gathering “one truck and 20,000 to 30,000 people.” He stressed that successful movements require well-thought-out strategies rather than emotional decisions.

He added that every PTI worker wants Imran Khan to be released as soon as possible, but said the party must adopt practical and successful methods instead of relying on slogans alone.

Raja’s comments come at a time when PTI has faced repeated speculation about internal divisions, disagreements over strategy and criticism exchanged on social media by supporters of different leaders.

While he blamed external forces for trying to weaken the party, his remarks also indicate that internal competition, differences over leadership and disagreements about political strategy have become significant challenges for PTI during the prolonged absence of direct communication with its founder. His statement is likely to fuel further debate about unity within the party as it continues to navigate political and organisational challenges.

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    Rain forecast for several parts of Pakistan as flood risk rises

    ByJustpaste.in

    LAHORE: Rain is expected in several parts of Punjab, Balochistan, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir on Sunday, with authorities warning of possible flooding in urban centres and watercourses following increased rainfall. According to the latest weather forecast, scattered showers are likely to affect different areas of the country, while parts of Punjab may experience intermittent rain during the day. The weather in Lahore turned pleasant on Sunday morning after rainfall was reported in various parts of the provincial capital. The early-morning showers brought temporary relief from the prevailing heat and humidity, with residents experiencing relatively cooler conditions. Rain was reported in several localities, adding to the likelihood of water accumulation on roads and low-lying areas if the spell continues. Meanwhile, the National Emergency Operation Center has warned that rainfall could lead to a rise in water levels and flows in major rivers across the country. The situation has prompted authorities to remain vigilant and closely monitor river channels, drains and vulnerable urban areas. Officials have also highlighted the possibility of low to moderate-level urban flooding in several Punjab cities, including Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Okara and Lahore. Heavy or persistent rainfall in these areas could result in water accumulating on roads, underpasses and other low-lying locations, potentially disrupting traffic and routine activities. Relevant departments have been advised to remain prepared to respond to any emergency arising from the weather system. The risk is not limited to Punjab. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, low to moderate flooding has also been forecast in rivers, streams and rain-fed waterways in Chitral, Upper Dir, Abbottabad, Shangla, Khyber, Orakzai, Kohat, Tank and North and South Waziristan. Authorities have urged local administrations and disaster-management agencies in vulnerable districts to maintain close coordination and monitor developments, particularly in areas located near rivers, streams and seasonal rain drains. Residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas have been advised to exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rainfall and stay informed about weather and flood alerts issued by the relevant authorities. The latest warnings come as the country continues to monitor the impact of the ongoing monsoon activity, which can cause sudden increases in river flows and urban flooding in areas receiving intense or prolonged rainfall.

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    Pakistan’s Pharmaceutical exports reach 20-year …

    ByJustpaste.in

        ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports have reached a 20-year high of $457 million, stressing that the pharmaceutical industry must establish a clear contribution towards the country’s ambitious target of generating more than $100 billion in exports by 2035. Speaking at a roundtable conference in Islamabad organised to facilitate pharmaceutical exports under the government’s Uraan Pakistan initiative, the federal minister said the industry needed to adopt a long-term strategy to expand its presence in international markets. Ahsan Iqbal called on representatives of the pharmaceutical sector to hold consultations over the next month and prepare a comprehensive roadmap for the industry’s development through 2030 and beyond. He said Pakistan’s objective should be to transform the country into a global hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and exports. The minister emphasised that Pakistan needed to secure a significant position in the international pharmaceutical market by improving the competitiveness and quality of locally manufactured products. He said cooperation between the government and private sector could help the industry compete more effectively at the global level. According to the minister, continuity in government policies and the creation of a business-friendly environment are essential for the sustainable growth of the pharmaceutical sector. He stressed that investors and manufacturers require predictable policies and a supportive regulatory framework to make long-term investments in production, research and exports. Ahsan Iqbal also highlighted the need to reduce Pakistan’s dependence on imported pharmaceutical inputs and increase domestic manufacturing capacity. He said approximately 85 percent of the raw material used by the pharmaceutical industry is currently imported, creating challenges for the sector and increasing its exposure to international supply disruptions and currency fluctuations. He called for strengthening the local pharmaceutical value chain so that a greater proportion of raw materials, intermediate products and finished medicines could be produced within Pakistan. The minister said enhancing domestic production would not only reduce the country’s import bill but could also improve the competitiveness of Pakistani pharmaceutical companies in international markets. A stronger local supply chain could help manufacturers reduce production costs, improve efficiency and develop products that meet international standards. He further stressed the importance of developing a coordinated strategy involving government institutions, pharmaceutical manufacturers, researchers and other stakeholders. Such cooperation, he said, would be necessary to identify the major obstacles facing the sector and develop practical solutions. The roundtable conference was held as part of efforts under Uraan Pakistan to promote exports and strengthen productive sectors of the economy. The initiative aims to improve Pakistan’s economic performance by encouraging investment, increasing exports and promoting sustainable industrial development. Ahsan Iqbal said the pharmaceutical industry had significant potential to contribute to Pakistan’s export growth if its structural challenges were addressed. He urged industry representatives to use the consultation process to develop realistic targets and identify measures that could help Pakistan increase its share in the global pharmaceutical market. The minister’s remarks come as Pakistan seeks to diversify its export base and reduce dependence on traditional export sectors. He said the pharmaceutical industry could become an important contributor to this effort by improving domestic production, investing in innovation and expanding access to international markets. The government, he added, would continue working with the private sector to create conditions that encourage investment and promote the long-term growth of Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry.

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    Why Lahore sinks whenever it rains in the city? 

    ByJustpaste.in

    The rain on July 22 almost sank most parts of Defence Housing Authority. Those low-lying areas of the city were also under water. And this happened as the city was lashed with 343 millimetres of rain for two days, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). That spell has gone and when you are reading these lines, the city is undergoing a second rain spell. Pakistan’s Meteorological Department has issued a fresh weather advisory, warning that another active monsoon spell is expected from July 29 to August 5 across much of the country. The department said rain, wind and thundershowers, along with scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall, may trigger urban flooding, flash floods and landslides in vulnerable areas. This will keep the residents of low-lying areas, mainly of Lahore’s south, and DHA on the toe. Reacting to this advisory, environmental activist Rafay Alam explained why cities like Lahore keep flooding every monsoon season, and what is really behind the crisis. He said the Met Department had already notified that rain would continue for two days and people were warned in advance that urban flooding would take place, not just in Lahore, but in several cities across Punjab, including Gujranwala and Sialkot. He then pointed to last year’s floods for comparison. “Those floods were caused by heavy rains in the northern areas of the country, which caused rivers to swell,” he said. On top of that, India had released water from the Pong Dam and Bhakra Dam. He said a gate at the Madhopur headworks also broke, causing water levels in the Ravi river to rise sharply. Alam said the situation today is different. The flooding happening now is not caused by river floods or dam releases. Instead, it is simply due to heavy rainfall occurring within Pakistan itself. He said that if people read the Met Department’s advisory carefully, the heaviest rain in the coming days is expected in the northern areas once again, not directly over Lahore. He advised people to check whether they live in low lying or high lying areas, since this makes a big difference during heavy rain. However, he said that the real issue lies in the sheer intensity of rainfall being recorded now. “Some areas have received around 150 millimetres of rain within just a few hours,” he said. He added that 20 or 30 years ago, when the drainage systems and infrastructure in these areas were built, climate change was never part of the planning. Nobody at that time imagined that such intense rainfall could happen within just a few hours. As a result, the old infrastructure simply cannot handle the kind of rain Pakistan is now experiencing. Dr Farid A Malik, a resident of Defence Phase 5, witnessed the entire flood attack first hand. He said that when he was growing up in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, rainwater never used to stand in Lahore. At that time, he said, the city was much smaller and the population was far lower, yet even then, the city did not face standing water after rainfall the way it does today. “Whenever the rain would stop, we children used to go out on our bicycles looking for standing water, just for fun. And there were really only two places where water would collect. One was near Shahdara, and another was near the Do Moriya Pul area close to the railway station. That area of Shahdara was a low lying area,” he said. He recalled that in the 1970s, when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s government came into power, and the People’s Party had a lot of support from that area of Lahore at the time, the government promised that they would install pumps in Shahdara and set up a proper system to drain the water out. And they actually did this. Heavy duty pumps were installed in Shahdara, and they used to successfully drain the water out. Dr Farid said the sewerage system Lahore has today simply cannot handle rainwater, because the amount of water that comes with heavy rain is very large, and the system does not have the capacity to handle that much water. He explained there are two separate problems here. First, the underground sewerage system is not cleaned properly. The pipes, whether four feet wide or six feet wide, have become clogged with scaling inside them over time. So even though a pipe might be four or six feet in diameter, the actual open space left for water to pass through has shrunk down to just one or two feet, meaning the whole system does not flow properly. Second, even if the sewerage system was clean, it still cannot handle rainwater on top of regular sewage. For this reason, Lahore used to have separate storm drains, called nalas in Urdu, which carried rainwater away separately into the Ravi river. Because of this separate system, rainwater never used to accumulate in the city. He said this has changed because storm drains have been blocked, either through neglect or construction on top of them. “An entire market has been built on top of a storm drain along Hall Road,” he said, adding that similar encroachment has happened along the Ravi river itself. Last year, water that should have gone into the river ended up flowing into housing societies instead. Dr Farid also pointed out that when Lahore had open drains instead of an underground sewerage system, the drainage actually worked better. Since the city moved underground, cleaning has become irregular, flow has suffered, and pumping stations work only some of the time. He said Lahore’s expansion added to the problem, since new areas were given sewerage systems but no proper storm drain network for rainwater. 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    Eva Mendes calls out fake AI photo of Gosling and Depp at comic-con

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    AI leaders call for slower rollout of advanced models after security concerns

    ByJustpaste.in

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    Pakistan, FAO strengthen partnership to boost food…

    ByJustpaste.in

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