karachi receives second
|

Karachi receives second day of monsoon rain with l…

Karachi experienced light to moderate rainfall accompanied by high winds on Saturday evening, marking the second consecutive day of rain in the current monsoon spell. Rain was reported in multiple areas across the metropolis, including Scheme 33, Gulshan-i-Maymar, and adjoining areas, while a light drizzle fell in Hassan Square. Heavy rain was reported in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, and video footage showed commuters travelling through 4K Chowrangi in Surjani Town amid heavy rainfall. Light rainfall was also reported in Saddar, multiple blocks of Clifton, and the Defence Housing Authority.

Earlier today, the provincial chief secretary directed provincial and district authorities to activate the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and district control rooms immediately, while ordering the submission of 24-hour situation reports every morning throughout the monsoon season for continuous monitoring. Chairing a meeting on monsoon preparedness, the chief secretary stressed that contingency plans must include the identification of relief camp sites, availability of rescue boats, dewatering pumps, water bowsers, and emergency mechanisms for food and drinking water, as well as adequate stocks of medicines for health and livestock departments. He instructed municipal authorities to remove bottlenecks, complete the cleaning of storm-water drains, and ensure uninterrupted drainage arrangements ahead of heavy rains.

The meeting was informed that, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, moderate to isolated heavy rainfall was expected until July 27 in several districts, including Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Sanghar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Jamshoro, and Shaheed Benazirabad. Light to moderate rainfall was also forecast for districts including Ghotki, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Kambar Shahdadkot, Larkana, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze, and Thatta, while Karachi was likely to experience mostly cloudy weather with chances of light rain and drizzle.

Yesterday, the metropolis received this season’s first spell of rain after multiple localities reported light to moderate showers. Earlier this week, on the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the PDMA placed district administrations across Sindh on high alert and directed all relevant departments to take precautionary and emergency response measures as strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea continue to affect the province. The CM directed all deputy commissioners, district administrations, municipal authorities, irrigation officials, health services, rescue agencies, and local government institutions to remain fully vigilant, ensure the preparedness of emergency response teams, maintain drainage systems, and take all necessary steps to protect lives and property. The rain has brought relief to residents after a prolonged dry spell, but authorities remain on high alert to address any potential flooding or rain-related emergencies. The public has been advised to stay updated with weather forecasts and follow official directives to ensure their safety during the monsoon season.

Similar Posts

  • |

    PEMRA fines news channel Rs10 million, bans Fiza Ali show

    Islamabad: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting convened a high profile session at the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) headquarters, revealing pressing issues affecting Pakistan’s media sector, including heavy fines, project funding discrepancies, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The session, chaired by Mr. Pullain Baloch, highlighted a landmark enforcement action where Local News Channel was fined 10 million PKR for serious content violations, a penalty exceeding the typical 1 million PKR limit due to the case’s gravity. Officials confirmed the amount had been deposited into the Federal Consolidated Fund to maintain regulatory compliance. The committee also examined entertainment content, focusing on morning shows. A notable case involved performer Fiza Ali, whose program was removed from broadcast for airing content deemed inappropriate for family audiences. Despite this, her social media activity remained outside PEMRA’s jurisdiction, highlighting regulatory gaps in digital media oversight. Another key revelation was a coordinated cyber attack in March 2024, targeting Geo News, Abb Takk, Hum TV, and ARY. Satellite transmissions were compromised, and social media accounts were hacked. PEMRA has mandated all licensees to undergo cybersecurity audits and upgrade their systems by August 2026 to prevent future breaches. Worker welfare and salary recovery were also discussed. The PEMRA Council of Complaints reported 437 complaints regarding unpaid wages, with successful recoveries, notably at Bol TV. The committee directed that government advertisement clearances be linked to the timely payment of staff salaries. Discrepancies in staffing at regional stations were flagged, with Khairpur station employing 49 staff compared to 75–89 staff in other regional hubs like Quetta and Peshawar, raising concerns about resource allocation and operational efficiency. MNA Sehar Kamran raised serious objections regarding the 2026-27 Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). She questioned the increase from 14 projects costing 12.3 billion PKR to 17 projects totaling 14.5 billion PKR, including 10 unapproved projects, demanding transparency on decision-making and additional expenditures. The committee also reviewed violations by an entertainment channel airing content described as “excessively liberal,” which prompted discussions about the absence of a pre censorship system to prevent public offense. The session underscored ongoing challenges in media regulation, project oversight, cybersecurity, and worker protections, highlighting the need for stronger accountability and transparent implementation of government directives.

  • |

    Punjab CNF command changes hands

      LAHORE: The Punjab Counter Narcotics Force (CNF) held a Command Changeover Ceremony in Lahore as Brigadier Muhammad Rizwan Khan assumed charge as the new Director General, succeeding Brigadier Mazhar Iqbal. Brigadier Mazhar Iqbal completed his two-year tenure as the force’s first Director General and formally handed over command to Brigadier Muhammad Rizwan Khan during the ceremony. Secretary Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department Muhammad Masood Mukhtar attended the event along with senior officers, officials and personnel of Punjab CNF. Officials praised Brigadier Mazhar Iqbal for his leadership and contributions to building and strengthening Punjab CNF. During his tenure, he helped develop the force’s operational structure, improve its professional capabilities and expand its efforts against drug trafficking and narcotics across the province. Speaking at the ceremony, Muhammad Masood Mukhtar appreciated the outgoing DG’s services and expressed confidence in the new leadership. Brigadier Muhammad Rizwan Khan pledged to continue the force’s mission and further improve its operational effectiveness. He stressed the importance of professionalism, discipline, teamwork and coordinated efforts to tackle the growing threat of narcotics. He also reaffirmed his commitment to working towards a safer, healthier and drug-free Punjab. The ceremony marked the leadership transition while reaffirming Punjab CNF’s commitment to professional enforcement and strengthening the province-wide fight against drugs.

  • | |

    US waives $20,000 visa bond for Pakistanis

    Pakistan has been excluded from the United States’ newly permanent visa bond programme, meaning Pakistani applicants will not be required to deposit a refundable financial guarantee of up to $20,000 when applying for certain US visitor visas. The United States has officially made its 2025 Visa Bond Pilot Program a permanent policy. Under the programme, nationals of selected countries applying for business or tourist visas must provide a refundable financial bond ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 as part of the visa application process. According to international reports, the revised policy increases the maximum refundable bond amount from $15,000 to $20,000 for eligible applicants from countries included in the programme. The list reportedly includes around 50 countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and several African nations. Pakistan is not included in the list of countries subject to the visa bond requirement. Afghanistan, India, and Iran are also excluded from the programme. As a result, Pakistani citizens applying for US visitor visas will continue to follow the standard visa application process without the additional refundable financial guarantee required under the permanent visa bond policy.

  • | |

    Karachi to remain hot, humid as rain chances emerg…

    Karachi is expected to remain hot and humid over the next three days. The weather is likely to stay partly cloudy. Light drizzle is also possible in some parts of the city. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, Karachi’s maximum temperature is expected to remain between 34°C and 36°C during the next three days. The weather department said most parts of Sindh will experience hot and humid conditions today. However, some areas could receive rainfall. Tharparkar district may receive light rain accompanied by thunderstorms. Residents have been advised to remain cautious during periods of strong winds and thunderstorms. August could bring more rain A private weather forecasting organisation has also issued a longer-range outlook for August. It said low-pressure systems could develop over the Bay of Bengal during the first 10 days of August. These weather systems could increase the chances of rain across several parts of Pakistan. Northern areas of the country may experience a strong spell of rainfall. Sindh and Balochistan could also receive one or two rain spells during the period. Karachi may see rainfall during the first week of August if favourable weather systems develop. The forecast comes as Pakistan continues to experience monsoon weather. Rainfall in different regions has already affected temperatures and local weather conditions. However, meteorologists have stressed that the August forecast is based on long-range weather models. Such forecasts can change as new weather data becomes available.

  • | |

    IHC declares Mazari, Chatha sentence suspension pl…

    The Islamabad High Court has declared admissible the petitions seeking suspension of sentences of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chatha, who were convicted by a trial court in the controversial tweets case. Justice Muhammad Azam Khan of the Islamabad High Court issued a reserved verdict, rejecting a miscellaneous application filed by the prosecution challenging the admissibility of the petitions. The court had reserved its decision yesterday after hearing arguments from both sides. The prosecution had argued that the petitions for suspension of sentence filed by Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chatha were premature. It is pertinent to mention that Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka had sentenced both Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chatha to a total of 17 years in prison each under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Both convicts have approached the Islamabad High Court seeking suspension of their sentences. Earlier, The Islamabad High Court on Friday reserved its decision on whether petitions seeking the suspension of prison sentences awarded to lawyers and human rights activists Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha can proceed. The petitions relate to the couple’s convictions in a case involving alleged controversial social media posts under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The hearing was conducted by Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, who considered preliminary arguments from both the prosecution and the defence before reserving his ruling on the maintainability of the petitions. During the proceedings, lawyers representing the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) argued that the requests for suspension of sentence had been filed too early. They maintained that the court should first decide the prosecution’s objection challenging the admissibility of the petitions before considering any request for relief

  • | | | | | | | |

    Phuket Youth ‘Ne Ne’ Receives Prime Minister’s Backing to Shine on America’s Got Talent Stage

    Bangkok — Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Surasak Phancharoenworakul, introduced rising star Rattikan Amlai, better known as Nene Royal, to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at Government House this morning. The meeting shows the government’s support for young Thai talent making waves internationally, while also tying her success to the promotion of the country’s tourism […]

Leave a Reply

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