JI Secretary General Ameerul Azeem passes away

  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed all federal and provincial authorities to remain on maximum alert and maintain full preparedness to tackle any emergency resulting from the ongoing monsoon rains and the flood situation affecting different parts of the country. The directive was issued during a high-level review meeting held in Islamabad on Tuesday to assess the impact of the current monsoon spell and evaluate the government’s response to flooding and related emergencies. During the meeting, the Prime Minister directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to maintain close coordination with Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) and provincial governments. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that weather forecasts and monsoon-related alerts are shared promptly with all relevant federal and provincial institutions to support timely decision-making and emergency response. Shehbaz Sharif also tasked Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal with chairing daily meetings of the Flood Committee to closely monitor the evolving situation, review developments, and recommend appropriate measures to minimize the impact of heavy rainfall and flooding. Highlighting the risks in Pakistan’s mountainous regions, the Prime Minister stressed that the early warning system for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and flash floods must remain fully operational. He underscored the need for constant vigilance in vulnerable northern areas where melting glaciers continue to pose a serious threat. The Prime Minister noted that although Pakistan contributes only a small fraction to global greenhouse gas emissions, it remains one of the countries most severely affected by climate change. He said the government is actively implementing short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategies aimed at reducing the country’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters and strengthening resilience against extreme weather events. Shehbaz Sharif instructed the NDMA, in collaboration with all relevant departments, to take every possible measure to protect lives, safeguard property, and strengthen disaster response efforts throughout the ongoing monsoon season. The meeting was attended by NDMA officials and chief secretaries from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Participants received detailed briefings on recent rainfall, the extent of damages, and the progress of rescue, relief, and rehabilitation operations. Officials informed the meeting that the NDMA is providing full logistical support and resources to provincial governments to manage flood-related emergencies in northern regions, while also assisting authorities in responding to the ongoing heatwave affecting Sindh and Balochistan. The participants were also briefed that another heavy spell of monsoon rainfall is expected over the next two days in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and southern Sindh. A further nationwide spell of significant rainfall is forecast for the second week of September. The meeting was informed that the Flood Committee established on the Prime Minister’s instructions continues to hold regular meetings to monitor the situation and ensure the effective implementation of rescue, relief, and rehabilitation measures across the country. According to the latest figures presented during the briefing, the current monsoon season has claimed 110 lives, injured 360 people, damaged 796 houses, and caused the death of 376 livestock. Officials also highlighted that the ongoing El Niño phenomenon has accelerated glacier melting in Pakistan’s northern regions, increasing the likelihood of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods and flash floods over the coming month. Authorities have already identified high-risk areas and are taking preventive measures to reduce potential damage. The meeting was further informed that immediate action has helped bring urban flooding under control in central Punjab, including Lahore, while drainage operations continue in agricultural areas affected by floodwaters. Authorities also confirmed that the flood situation in Dera Ghazi Khan and nearby districts remains under control. Officials reported that timely operations have led to the reopening of roads at 106 locations, restoring connectivity in affected areas. The meeting was also told that the National Emergency and Telecommunication Centre, established by the Ministry of Information Technology, is fully operational, enabling Rescue 1122 teams to respond quickly to emergency calls from any mobile phone across the country. In addition, authorities have identified 700 locations nationwide for rainwater storage during the monsoon season. The initiative aims to conserve water for agricultural use during dry periods while improving long-term water management and climate resilience.

  ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly rejected India’s remarks at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) concerning the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and allegations of terrorism, describing them as an attempt to misrepresent facts and divert attention from issues raised by Pakistan. The response came after India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism and suggested that the issue had affected bilateral cooperation under the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan dismissed these allegations during the UNSC’s High-Level Open Debate on “Natural Resource Governance: The Foundation of Peace, Security and Prosperity.” Speaking in a right of reply, Pakistan’s First Secretary to the UN, Ansar Shah, said India’s statement was misleading and represented a futile effort to distort the facts surrounding the treaty and regional security issues. He maintained that the Indus Waters Treaty remains legally valid and binding, rejecting India’s claim that the agreement could be placed in abeyance through unilateral action. Shah stated that the treaty contains no provision allowing either party to suspend or set it aside on its own. He referred to the Court of Arbitration’s August 2025 award, which, according to Pakistan, reaffirmed that the treaty continues to remain fully in force along with its dispute resolution mechanisms. He argued that India’s unilateral approach violated the terms of the agreement as well as established principles of international law. Pakistan also accused India of using shared water resources as a political tool. Shah said any attempt to weaponise water for political pressure or to restrict water access would amount to a serious breach of international legal obligations and norms. He added that such actions could undermine regional stability and pose risks to international peace and security, making the issue relevant to discussions at the Security Council. Responding to India’s allegations regarding terrorism, Shah rejected the accusations and instead claimed that India was attempting to conceal its own involvement in activities that Pakistan says have contributed to terrorism within its borders. He alleged that militant groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and the Majeed Brigade had been responsible for attacks that claimed the lives of thousands of Pakistani civilians and security personnel, including women and children. Pakistan reiterated its long-standing allegation that India supports and finances these groups, a claim India has consistently denied. Shah also referred to reports of alleged extraterritorial operations involving India, saying such incidents had raised international concerns. He further argued that India could not portray itself solely as a victim of terrorism while ignoring accusations directed against it. Addressing the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said the people of the region continue to be denied their right to self-determination. He maintained that the territory remains internationally recognised as disputed and asserted that no unilateral measures could alter its legal or historical status. He also urged India to fulfil its obligations under the UN Charter and implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Earlier in the debate, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, reaffirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty remains effective and legally binding. He called on the UN Security Council to remain vigilant against the misuse or weaponisation of natural resources and encouraged greater use of preventive diplomacy, peaceful dispute resolution, monitoring mechanisms, and other international measures to prevent disputes over shared resources from escalating into broader conflicts.