heavy rain thunderstorms
| |

Heavy rain, thunderstorms forecast across Sindh ti…

ByJustpaste.in

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Sindh has issued a province-wide weather alert after forecasting widespread rain and thunderstorms across several districts from July 23 to July 25. Authorities have directed all district administrations and emergency response agencies to remain fully prepared for any weather-related emergencies.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), strong monsoon currents entering the region from the Arabian Sea are expected to bring rainfall of varying intensity across Sindh over the next three days.

PDMA officials said heavy rainfall is likely in Hyderabad, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Sanghar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Jamshoro and Shaheed Benazirabad. Residents in these districts have been advised to remain cautious and follow official weather advisories.

Light to moderate rain is expected in Ghotki, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Sukkur and Khairpur, while Larkana, Naushahro Feroze and Thatta are also likely to receive rain accompanied by thunderstorms.

In Karachi, the weather is expected to remain warm and humid with partly cloudy skies. Authorities have also predicted isolated drizzle in different parts of the city during the forecast period.

PDMA warned that strong winds, thunderstorms and lightning could damage weak buildings, electricity poles, solar panels, billboards and other vulnerable structures. Officials have instructed local administrations to take precautionary measures to reduce the risk of accidents and property damage.

The disaster management authority has activated its monsoon emergency preparedness plan across the province. Dewatering pumps, heavy machinery and emergency equipment have been kept on standby to deal with urban flooding and rain-related emergencies.

Authorities have also identified low-lying areas that are more vulnerable to water accumulation and flash flooding. Emergency teams will be deployed immediately if heavy rainfall causes flooding in any district.

PDMA has advised citizens to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rain, stay away from electricity poles and unstable structures, and remain alert during thunderstorms. People have also been urged to monitor official weather updates and follow safety instructions issued by local authorities.

Similar Posts

  • | | |

    Pakistan ‘not a hard state’, says DG I…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said on Friday that Pakistan cannot yet be described as a “hard state,” stressing that the country’s laws must apply equally to all citizens without discrimination or elitism. Speaking at a press conference focused on the security situation in Balochistan, the military spokesperson said the briefing aimed to address concerns about the province and explain the broader national security landscape. He clarified that the term “hard state” does not refer to military rule but to a system where the rule of law is upheld uniformly, every citizen is treated equally, and all issues are resolved through legal and constitutional mechanisms. The DG ISPR urged citizens to balance demands for rights with their constitutional responsibilities. Referring to Article 5 of the Constitution, he said loyalty to the state and obedience to the Constitution and the law are fundamental obligations of every Pakistani. He added that national identity should take precedence over provincial or ethnic affiliations, emphasizing that every citizen’s foremost identity should be Pakistani. Highlighting the country’s counterterrorism efforts, Lt Gen Chaudhry said security forces have conducted 40,348 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across Pakistan so far this year, averaging around 194 operations daily, with a significant number taking place in Balochistan. According to the military spokesperson, security forces have eliminated 2,084 terrorists during 2026, averaging nearly 10 militants killed each day. He said 3,145 terrorist incidents have been recorded this year, while 819 people have lost their lives, including 303 Pakistan Army personnel, 194 members of law enforcement agencies, and 322 civilians. He also revealed that 28 suicide bombings have occurred this year, claiming that most of the attackers were Afghan nationals. He said Afghan citizens, along with individuals linked to Afghan security forces, were among those killed or arrested during counterterrorism operations. Comparing recent years, the DG ISPR said security forces killed 2,597 terrorists throughout 2025, while the total for 2026 has already reached 2,084. He noted that the effectiveness of counterterrorism operations has improved over time, with security forces now inflicting heavier losses on militant groups. Responding to questions about the increase in terrorist incidents, Lt Gen Chaudhry said militant groups affiliated with the Taliban have intensified their activities because Pakistan has adopted a firm stance against them. He added that the rise in reported incidents also reflects the growing number of proactive intelligence-based operations, which lead to more engagements between security forces and terrorists. He reaffirmed that Pakistan’s security forces remain committed to eliminating terrorism and maintaining stability across the country, particularly in Balochistan.

  • | |

    Government will remain responsible for Imran’s h…

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said the government will continue to take responsibility for the health and medical care of PTI founder Imran Khan. Speaking to the media, the minister said the government was already providing the former prime minister with the best available healthcare facilities. He said these facilities were provided without the PTI having to make any formal appeal. Chaudhry said the government was also praying for Imran Khan’s good health. He stressed that the state would continue to fulfil its responsibility regarding his medical treatment. The minister said the government would implement the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Imran Khan in letter and spirit. The Supreme Court has ordered that Imran Khan be shifted to a private hospital for medical treatment. Chaudhry also criticised what he described as the PTI’s changing position on the judiciary. He said it was encouraging to see PTI members praising the courts. However, he questioned the party’s approach to judicial decisions. He said the judiciary was praised when verdicts went in the PTI’s favour, but faced criticism when decisions went against the party. He maintained that Pakistan’s judiciary was independent and was delivering decisions on merit. The federal minister said the courts remained the legal route for obtaining relief and securing release. He noted that people had received relief through judicial decisions in the past. According to Chaudhry, the prime minister could not use executive authority to act against a court order. He said the government was bound to respect and implement judicial decisions. The minister also spoke about ongoing political contacts with the opposition. He said the opposition leaders involved in the process were not members of the PTI. However, they had the confidence of Imran Khan, according to him. Chaudhry said the government had made its position clear. The opposition leadership taking part in talks should have the confidence of the PTI leadership. He said the government did not want a situation in which it was engaged in negotiations while PTI leaders continued issuing statements against the process. The minister welcomed the PTI parliamentary party’s expression of confidence in the opposition leadership involved in the talks. He further said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was expected to respond to the opposition leader’s letter within one or two days. After the response is sent, the venue for a joint meeting will be decided, he added.

  • | | |

    Gulf shipping slumps as Houthi claims of Saudi tan…

    ByJustpaste.in

    NEW DELHI: Commercial shipping through two of the world’s most strategic maritime routes declined sharply on Wednesday after Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed it had launched missile attacks on Saudi oil tankers, raising fresh concerns over security in the Gulf. Shipping data showed that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait fell significantly compared with the previous day. According to maritime analytics firm Kpler, only two vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday—a Panama-flagged coal carrier entering the waterway and a Marshall Islands-flagged commodity vessel departing. The previous day, eight vessels had transited the route. Before the outbreak of the US-Israel conflict with Iran and Tehran’s subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway typically handled between 130 and 140 ships daily, making it one of the busiest energy transit routes in the world. Traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait also dropped sharply. Kpler data showed that only one Bahamas-flagged dry bulk carrier crossed the chokepoint on Wednesday, compared with 20 vessels the day before. The Houthis announced that they had fired missiles at a Saudi oil tanker near the Red Sea port of Yanbu and targeted another Saudi tanker in the Gulf of Aden. Saudi authorities had not confirmed either attack at the time of reporting. The Iran-aligned group has maintained what it describes as a naval blockade against Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea since last month, saying the move is a response to an alleged Saudi siege on Yemen. Riyadh has rejected those allegations. The latest claims have heightened concerns over the safety of commercial navigation in the region, where maritime trade remains vulnerable to escalating geopolitical tensions.

  • | | |

    Pakistan, US renew Fulbright partnership for five …

    ByJustpaste.in

    Pakistan and the United States have renewed their cooperation in higher education through a new five-year agreement between the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP). The agreement will run from the 2026-27 financial year through 2031-32. It will continue several major academic exchange and scholarship programmes for Pakistani students, researchers and professionals. The renewed partnership covers the Fulbright Master’s and PhD programmes. It also includes the Visiting Scholar Programme for post-doctoral researchers, the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Programme and the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Programme. Under the new arrangement, the partners aim to support 66 Pakistani PhD scholars over the five-year period. Additional opportunities will be available through the other programmes covered by the agreement. The initiative is designed to help Pakistani students and academics access advanced education and research opportunities in the United States. Scholars are expected to bring back their expertise and contribute to the country’s academic and socio-economic development. The HEC will provide at least $4.54 million each year under the agreement. Its overall financial commitment for the five-year period has been capped at Rs6.48 billion. The funding will be released according to an agreed schedule. The arrangement includes an initial payment of $2 million by June 30, followed by another $2 million by January 31. The remaining amount will be released by April 30, subject to the availability of government funds. Any interest generated from HEC funds held by USEFP will be used again for student grants. This will provide additional support to beneficiaries of the programme. The selection of candidates will remain strictly merit-based. There will be no fixed quotas based on region, group or category. HEC representatives will also participate in selection panels. The commission will help identify areas of study that are considered important for Pakistan’s development and national priorities. The two institutions will establish a Joint Review Committee to monitor the programme. The committee will meet twice a year to assess progress, performance and the overall impact of the initiative. Financial oversight has also been included in the agreement. USEFP will provide annual audited financial statements to HEC. Relevant financial records will also remain available for review by the commission when required. The partnership will also focus on increasing awareness about international education opportunities. HEC and USEFP plan to conduct joint outreach activities across Pakistan. The initiative will use HEC’s network of universities and higher education institutions to reach a wider pool of potential applicants. The agreement also leaves room for future cooperation in areas such as faculty exchanges, administrator exchanges and other academic initiatives. The renewed arrangement builds on the earlier Fulbright-HEC PhD partnership signed in February 2016. Under that agreement, $25.786 million was committed to support 125 Pakistani scholars between 2016 and 2020.

  • | |

    Rajkummar Rao’s courtroom drama ‘Prahaar’ faces postponement

    ByJustpaste.in

    Actor Rajkummar Rao’s upcoming courtroom drama Prahaar has reportedly been postponed from its scheduled theatrical release on August 7, 2026, as the makers seek a clearer box office window amid a heavily crowded theatrical calendar. Produced by Dinesh Vijan under the Maddock Films banner and directed by Avinash Arun, the film draws inspiration from the life and high-profile legal trials of renowned special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. In addition to Rajkummar Rao in the lead role, the feature stars Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Sikandar Kher in pivotal roles. According to industry reports, the decision to push back the film’s arrival came after detailed discussions between the producers and key distribution stakeholders. The August release corridor features several major domestic and international titles competing for screen share, including Spider-Man: Brand New Day releasing in late July, followed shortly by Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2 in mid-August. An industry source close to the project revealed that the makers felt releasing Prahaar in such a competitive window would restrict its box office growth, especially for a narrative-driven courtroom drama that relies on strong word-of-mouth: “Prahaar was scheduled to arrive in cinemas on August 7. However, the makers have now decided to postpone its release. After discussions with the stakeholders, they felt that it would not be advisable to release the film during that period. Had it arrived on the scheduled date, it would have released a week after Spider-Man: Brand New Day and a week before Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2. Meanwhile, Prahaar is a special film that requires a healthy window, as it has the potential to draw audiences in large numbers.” Speculation surrounding a potential delay had already been circulating within trade circles due to the complete absence of active promotional campaigns with just two weeks remaining before the planned launch date. Producer Dinesh Vijan is widely known for executing extensive promotional tours well in advance, making the lack of marketing events a clear signal to theater owners and analysts that a date change was imminent. Prahaar marks the second Maddock Films project to undergo a schedule adjustment this season, following similar date shifts for Shraddha Kapoor’s upcoming project Eetha. While Maddock Films has yet to officially announce a revised launch date, trade analysts expect the studio to secure an uninterrupted release window in the coming months to maximize the film’s theatrical potential across domestic and international markets.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *