Thai Marine Injured by Landmine During Border Clearance in Trat

LAHORE: The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a fresh warning about possible flooding in several parts of the province as the fourth spell of monsoon rains is expected to continue until August 5. The authority said that water levels in most of Punjab’s major rivers remain within the normal range. However, low and moderate flooding has been reported at a few locations, prompting authorities to remain on high alert. According to the latest monitoring report, the Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi and Sutlej rivers are flowing normally. In contrast, the Indus River is experiencing low-level flooding at the Kalabagh and Chashma stations due to an increase in water discharge. Officials also reported moderate flooding at Nala Palkhu near Wazirabad, while low-level flooding has been observed in Nala Basantar and Nala Bein in Narowal district. Water flow in the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan, however, remains within safe limits. The PDMA warned that continued rainfall in the upper catchment areas could raise water levels in eastern rivers and seasonal streams over the next few days. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have directed district administrations to stay prepared for any emergency. PDMA Director General Saif Anwar said there is a possibility of urban flooding in major cities, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Multan, if heavy rainfall continues. He also cautioned that hilly areas such as Murree and the Galiyat region could face landslides because of persistent rain. Residents living near riverbanks, seasonal streams and other flood-prone areas have been advised to relocate to safer places without delay. Rescue and emergency teams have been instructed to remain on standby to respond to any developing situation. The Punjab government has established flood relief camps in vulnerable areas to provide shelter and assistance to affected families if required. Authorities have also urged the public to follow official advisories and avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rainfall.

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has expressed profound grief over the deaths of 10 mountaineers who lost their lives in the devastating avalanche on Broad Peak in Gilgit-Baltistan. He assured that Pakistan will continue search, rescue and recovery operations until all possible efforts have been exhausted. In his statement, Dar extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and expressed solidarity with the governments and people of Nepal, China, Oman, the United Kingdom and the United States, whose citizens were among those killed in the tragedy. The deputy prime minister paid special tribute to legendary Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, describing him as one of the world’s most accomplished mountaineers. He also honored Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi of Hunza, saying his bravery, determination and passion for the mountains would always be remembered. Dar said the courage and dedication shown by all the climbers reflected the true spirit of mountaineering. He added that their achievements would continue to inspire climbers across the world despite the tragic loss. He also praised the rescue personnel, Pakistan Army Aviation teams, high-altitude porters and emergency responders who have been working in extremely difficult conditions at high altitude. He said their commitment and professionalism deserve the nation’s appreciation. The foreign minister reaffirmed that Pakistan remains fully committed to the ongoing rescue and recovery mission. He said the government is maintaining close coordination with the embassies of the affected countries to facilitate the operation and provide all possible assistance. The deadly avalanche struck an international climbing expedition on Broad Peak while the team was moving from Camp 2 to Camp 3. The incident claimed the lives of climbers from Pakistan, Nepal, China, Oman, the United Kingdom and the United States. Among those killed was Nirmal Purja, who gained worldwide recognition after climbing all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in a record six months and six days in 2019. He had returned to Pakistan in an attempt to become the first mountaineer to summit all 14 eight-thousanders twice without using supplemental oxygen. Rescue teams later recovered Purja’s body from an altitude of approximately 5,700 metres, several days after he and other members of the expedition went missing following the avalanche. The victims also included climbers from Nepal, China, Oman, the United States and Pakistan, making it one of the deadliest mountaineering disasters in the region in recent years.

A devastating fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad has claimed the lives of 15 children, turning a routine morning at the capital’s major public hospital into a scene of panic, grief and anguish. The fire broke out early Wednesday in the Mother and Child Health Ward, where critically ill newborns were receiving treatment. Thick smoke rapidly filled parts of the ward, leaving families and hospital staff struggling to reach the affected area. The tragedy has raised serious questions about fire safety, emergency response, hospital security and the availability of adequate facilities for vulnerable newborns. Among the grieving parents was a mother who could not hold back her anguish after losing her infant. “Give me my child back,” she cried, as families gathered outside the hospital waiting for information about their children. Witnesses described a chaotic situation inside the hospital, with heavy smoke making it difficult to move through the affected area. Some patients and attendants reportedly attempted to escape through windows after finding access points blocked. A witness said the fire spread rapidly and that babies as young as a day old were present in the ward. Another witness claimed rescue personnel took considerable time to reach the affected section, while hospital security allegedly restricted the movement of people trying to leave. However, Islamabad’s senior administration gave a different account of the emergency response. Officials said the emergency call was received shortly before 7am and that rescue and police teams reached the hospital promptly. The fire was subsequently brought under control. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. PIMS officials said the preliminary cause of the fire appeared to be an electrical fault involving an air conditioner. Authorities are expected to examine the equipment, wiring, hospital safety systems and emergency procedures to determine how the fire started and why it spread so quickly. The deaths have caused widespread grief across the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed sorrow over the loss of the infants and called for a detailed examination of the circumstances that led to the tragedy. The prime minister directed that those responsible for any negligence be identified and that strict action be taken on the basis of the investigation. The incident has also brought renewed attention to safety standards at public hospitals. PIMS is one of Islamabad’s largest healthcare institutions and caters to a large number of patients from the capital and surrounding areas. Families and witnesses have raised questions about the availability of emergency exits, fire-fighting equipment, evacuation procedures and the preparedness of hospital staff to deal with fires in specialised wards. The presence of newborns in critical care areas makes emergency preparedness particularly important. Infants requiring intensive medical support cannot be evacuated in the same manner as ordinary patients, increasing the need for specialised fire-safety plans and trained personnel. The tragedy has also sparked anger over whether existing safety warnings and shortcomings at public hospitals were adequately addressed before the incident. For the bereaved families, however, the immediate concern is the loss of their children. Parents gathered outside PIMS in distress as they waited for confirmation and the return of their babies. The fire is among the most serious recent incidents involving a public healthcare facility in Pakistan and has intensified calls for stronger enforcement of fire-safety regulations in hospitals and other major public buildings.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said the country’s current political system has lost the confidence of the public and requires a complete reset to restore democratic credibility. Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Barrister Gohar said that instead of forming more governments under the existing circumstances, the leadership should return to the people and seek a fresh public mandate. He claimed that a key coalition partner had publicly described the prime minister as the beneficiary of a rigged election. According to Gohar, such a statement should have prompted the prime minister to immediately seek a vote of confidence in the National Assembly. The PTI chairman argued that the prime minister failed to obtain a vote of confidence and had therefore lost the moral legitimacy to continue in office. He added that the prime minister’s silence on the issue reflected a loss of political support and public confidence. Barrister Gohar further alleged that the government’s administrative structure had effectively collapsed. He claimed the government had lost its constitutional, legal and democratic standing, making the continuation of the current system increasingly difficult. He said the time had come for the existing political system to come to an end, adding that the Constitution provides a legal mechanism for moving a vote of no confidence. He said PTI would consult its allies before deciding its future course of action. The PTI chairman also said he believed the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had emerged from a disputed electoral process. Calling for a political solution, Barrister Gohar urged all stakeholders to develop a national consensus to resolve the country’s ongoing political crisis. He stressed that Parliament should seriously address the public demands coming from all provinces.