Rain triggers flooding, power outages in twin citi…

  The Karachi Traffic Police have announced a comprehensive traffic management plan for the city’s central Chehlum procession, informing residents that M.A. Jinnah Road will remain closed to traffic throughout the event. The special arrangements have been introduced to ensure the smooth movement of the religious procession while minimizing inconvenience for commuters. Citizens have been advised to plan their travel accordingly and use the designated alternative routes to avoid delays. According to the traffic police, all traffic traveling from Saddar toward Tower will be diverted through Preedy Street and I.I. Chundrigar Road. In addition, several key intersections and commercial areas, including Lighthouse, Empress Market, Regal Chowk, and Tibet Centre, will have temporary traffic diversions in place. These measures are intended to keep vehicles away from the procession route and maintain public safety during the event. Motorists approaching from Shahrah-e-Quaideen will be redirected toward Kashmir Road and Peoples Chowrangi. Vehicles arriving from Korangi, Landhi, and the National Highway will be diverted through Rashid Minhas Road before proceeding to the Super Highway. Traffic officials have urged drivers from these areas to follow diversion signs and cooperate with law enforcement personnel deployed along the routes. Commuters traveling from Nazimabad will be able to reach their destinations through Lasbela, Garden, and Nishtar Road. Similarly, traffic coming from Liaquatabad will be diverted at Lasbela Chowk toward Nazimabad No. 10. These alternate routes have been identified to reduce congestion and facilitate the movement of vehicles while the main procession route remains inaccessible. The traffic plan also outlines arrangements for vehicles coming from Hassan Square. Such traffic will be directed through Shahrah-e-Quaideen, Society Light Signal, and Teen Hatti before reaching Lasbela Chowk. Meanwhile, motorists traveling from Shahrah-e-Faisal will be guided through Society Light Signal and Sher Shah Suri Road to continue their journeys. Drivers using Jamshed Road and intending to travel toward Gurumandir have been advised to use Bahadur Yar Jang Road or Soldier Bazaar Road as alternative routes. The Karachi Traffic Police have imposed strict restrictions on heavy vehicles for the duration of the procession. Heavy traffic will not be allowed to enter the city from 10:00 a.m. until the conclusion of the Chehlum procession. The restriction is aimed at preventing congestion and ensuring the safety of participants and the general public. Transport operators have been instructed to adjust their schedules accordingly and avoid entering restricted areas during the specified hours. Authorities have also announced a complete ban on parking along the procession route. Any vehicle found parked in prohibited areas will be immediately towed away without prior notice. Traffic police have warned motorists to comply with parking regulations and follow the instructions of officers on duty to avoid penalties and unnecessary inconvenience. The central Chehlum procession is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4, from Nishtar Park. A large number of mourners are expected to participate in the religious gathering, prompting extensive security and traffic arrangements across the city. Police and traffic officials will remain deployed throughout the procession to manage vehicle movement, assist commuters, and maintain public order. Residents are encouraged to stay updated through official traffic advisories before leaving their homes and to use alternative routes wherever possible. The Karachi Traffic Police have appealed to the public for patience and cooperation, emphasizing that the temporary restrictions are necessary to ensure the safe and peaceful conduct of the central Chehlum procession while minimizing disruption to daily life.

Tensions across the Middle East intensified on Saturday as senior Iranian military and political officials issued strong warnings to the United States and its regional partners, while Kuwait reported intercepting drones it said were launched from Iran. Major General Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, accused Washington of deliberately widening the regional conflict. In a statement shared on X and reported by Iranian state media, he alleged that the United States was pursuing a strategy aimed at expanding the war and increasing its influence across the Middle East. According to Abdollahi, the recent confrontation with Iran demonstrated that Washington was prepared to target the interests and resources of Muslim nations to achieve its objectives. He further claimed that the US was relying on the wealth, infrastructure, and strategic assets of regional countries to protect its military presence while reinforcing Israel’s security. The Iranian commander argued that the balance of power in the region had shifted in Iran’s favor, asserting that the United States and Israel failed to achieve their goals during the latest conflict. He also claimed they were now attempting to continue the confrontation through the territory of neighboring Muslim countries. Abdollahi urged regional governments to reconsider their cooperation with Washington, warning that nations acting as a “defensive shield” for the United States could eventually face the consequences of war. Separately, Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of the parliament’s National Security Commission, warned that any future attack on Iran would have devastating consequences for the region. He claimed that such a conflict could reduce regional infrastructure to the “Stone Age” and cautioned against further military action. Meanwhile, Kuwait strongly condemned what it described as Iranian aggression after reporting drone attacks on key facilities. Kuwaiti authorities said their air defense systems detected and destroyed multiple hostile drones that entered the country’s airspace early Saturday. Officials stated that a government installation in northern Kuwait and civilian vehicles on Bubiyan Island sustained material damage from falling debris, although no casualties were reported. Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry described the attacks as a serious violation of the country’s sovereignty and said it reserved the right to take all necessary measures to protect its national security, interests, and critical infrastructure. Iran also warned that continued US maritime pressure could trigger broader consequences. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said ongoing American actions could ultimately lead to restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz and other strategic waterways, warning that such developments would have significant consequences for global energy markets and the wider economy. At the same time, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that Iran had emerged victorious from the recent conflict but stressed that the country must strengthen its long-term stability and national resilience. He emphasized expanding the authority of Iran’s supreme leadership as a key step toward securing the country’s future. Elsewhere, maritime security concerns remained high. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a commercial tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile off the coast of Oman, damaging its engine room and leaving it temporarily unable to maneuver. Authorities are investigating the incident. In Yemen, the Houthi movement denied reports that it planned to charge commercial vessels for passage through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, insisting that its maritime transit services remain free. However, the group claimed that its blockade had already forced several Saudi oil tankers to reroute around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope, underscoring the continuing disruption to regional shipping routes.