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Climate Minister Musadik Malik has called for a major shift in Pakistan’s water management strategy, saying the country must focus not only on storing water but also on regulating its supply throughout the year. Speaking at a briefing at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Malik said effective water management was essential for protecting food supplies, supporting agriculture and reducing the impact of climate-related disasters. His remarks came as Pakistan faces another difficult monsoon season. At least 107 people have died and 297 others have been injured since the current rainy season began on June 26, according to disaster management authorities. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast another strong spell of monsoon rains from July 29. Heavy rainfall could trigger urban flooding, flash floods and landslides in several parts of the country. Malik said Pakistan needed different climate strategies for different regions instead of relying on a single nationwide approach. Plans are being developed for cities facing extreme heat, northern areas vulnerable to floods and landslides, and agricultural regions where changing weather patterns are threatening food production. He stressed that water must be available when farmers need it during the Rabi and Kharif seasons. According to the minister, simply allowing large quantities of floodwater to escape without regulating or storing it creates serious risks for agriculture and food security. Malik described water infrastructure as a national security issue. He said the government would focus on improving water regulation, telemetry and storage systems. It would also work with provincial governments to improve zoning and construction standards in disaster-prone areas. National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said Pakistan would require greater water storage capacity in the coming years. He said the country faced two linked challenges: controlling floods and dealing with water shortages. Tanveer said climate change was already changing crop cultivation and sowing patterns. He stressed that agriculture would need to adapt to shifting weather conditions to protect food supplies. The minister said Pakistan was among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with agriculture facing some of the strongest impacts. He recalled the huge economic losses caused by the 2022 floods but said the country’s disaster response capabilities had improved since then. He said the government had started modifying crop cycles and cultivation patterns in response to changing climatic conditions. Authorities are also working on a broader strategy to strengthen agricultural resilience. Tanveer highlighted several major water projects. He said the Diamer-Bhasha Dam would provide around 6.4 million acre-feet of additional storage capacity, while the Mohmand Dam would add nearly one million acre-feet. He also mentioned progress on the Dasu project and expressed hope that the K-IV water supply project for Karachi would be completed by the end of this year or early next year. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb described climate change and population growth as major long-term challenges for Pakistan. He called for a coordinated response involving all parts of the government. Aurangzeb said the country was now better prepared financially to respond to natural disasters. He said the government had decided to use domestic resources for rescue and relief operations instead of relying primarily on international assistance. He said Pakistan had launched a $2 billion programme aimed at strengthening climate resilience and reducing environmental risks. Around $700 million annually has also been allocated for disaster management, vulnerability reduction and protection of lives and infrastructure. The finance minister said Pakistan’s disaster financing approach had changed significantly since the 2022 floods. The country had previously relied heavily on international commitments, but authorities are now increasing domestic funding for climate adaptation and emergency response. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said preparations for the current monsoon season had started before the rains arrived. He credited NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) with improving forecasting and early warning capabilities. Tarar said the system had helped authorities issue timely alerts about dangerous weather events. He urged citizens to follow official warnings and take precautions during periods of heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, flooding continues in parts of Punjab and other regions. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority said water levels in the Chenab River had shown some improvement, while low-level flooding persisted at several locations along the Indus.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Two police personnel, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), were martyred after unidentified gunmen opened fire on a police van in the Daraban area of Dera Ismail Khan on Friday, authorities said. According to officials from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), the attack occurred near Shah Alam Mor, where the police team was travelling to conduct an operation after receiving intelligence about the presence of suspected militants in the area. As the police van reached the location, armed assailants launched a sudden attack, firing multiple rounds at the vehicle. The officers immediately returned fire, triggering a brief exchange of gunfire. Despite the retaliation, two police officials, including an ASI, sustained critical injuries and were martyred in the line of duty. Officials said the attackers managed to flee the scene under the cover of the exchange of fire. Security forces quickly cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace the attackers. Investigators are collecting evidence from the scene while intelligence agencies are assisting in identifying those responsible for the assault. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but authorities are treating it as an act of terrorism. The latest incident highlights the persistent security challenges in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where law enforcement personnel have increasingly come under attack during counterterrorism operations. Police officials vowed that those behind the ambush would be brought to justice, reaffirming their commitment to continuing operations against militant groups despite the growing threats. The sacrifice of the fallen officers, they said, reflects the courage and dedication of Pakistan’s security forces in maintaining peace and protecting citizens.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started the delimitation process for holding local government elections in Islamabad. The commission said the formal process will begin on August 1, 2026, and will continue until October 13, 2026. The delimitation of constituencies is a major step before announcing the election schedule. An ECP spokesperson said that after the completion of the delimitation process and publication of the final constituencies, the commission will consult the federal government regarding the date for Islamabad’s local government elections. The spokesperson also shared updates about local government elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In Punjab, delimitation authorities have been directed to submit their decisions to the relevant committees by August 7. The final delimitation list for the province will be published on August 17. The ECP said it is fully prepared to conduct local government elections in Punjab after completing all necessary legal requirements and consultations. Regarding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the commission said delimitation has been completed in 23 districts, while work is continuing in seven more districts. The spokesperson said the ECP held discussions with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary and local government secretary on July 14 about the election schedule. Provincial authorities were given additional time after requesting support for completing arrangements. The commission said recent amendments to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act created legal issues that affected the delimitation process. The ECP informed the provincial government about these concerns and sought cooperation to resolve the matter. The spokesperson said the commission has faced delays in local government elections because federal and provincial governments often change local government laws close to election dates. He said the ECP has repeatedly completed delimitation exercises and prepared election schedules, but changes in legal frameworks affect the process. The commission recommended that major changes to local government laws and boundaries should be completed at least one year before elections. It said this would help ensure a smooth and timely electoral process.