Thailand Raises Airport Departure Fee 53% From June 20 at Six Major Airports

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned that water levels in several major rivers across Pakistan could rise sharply from August 2 to 4 as monsoon rains intensify, raising the risk of flooding in various parts of the country. The NDMA urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to flood-prone areas and remain alert to changing weather and road conditions. According to the authority’s National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC), the Lehri River at Head Gogi has reached high flood levels, while Nullah Palkhu at Wazirabad is experiencing medium-level flooding. The Indus River continues to face low-level flooding at Kalabagh, Chashma, Guddu and Sukkur, while the Nari River is also reporting low-level flooding at Head Nari. The NDMA expects high flows in the Chenab River at Marala, with low to medium flows likely at Khanki and Qadirabad. The Jhelum, Ravi and Kabul rivers, along with their tributaries, may also see rising water levels. The NDMA warned that streams connected to the Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi could experience medium to high flows. Water levels in the Ravi and Sutlej rivers will also depend on water releases from reservoirs in India. The authority has also highlighted the threat of flash floods in hill torrents across Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur, as well as seasonal streams in central and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Balochistan. Urban flooding and water accumulation could affect low-lying areas in Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Hyderabad, Badin, Thatta and other parts of Sindh. The NDMA advised people not to cross flooded areas on foot or in vehicles and to check weather forecasts and road conditions before travelling. It also asked residents to follow directions from local authorities and stay informed through the official Pak NDMA Disaster Alert mobile application. Meanwhile, the Emergency Response Committee (ERC), formed by the prime minister, held its 10th consecutive daily meeting on Sunday to review the country’s monsoon preparedness and response. The committee directed relevant authorities to maintain maximum preparedness and speed up relief and rehabilitation operations. The meeting also reviewed the forecast of further rainfall in northern and central Pakistan, with isolated showers expected in southeastern Sindh.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returned to Pakistan on Saturday after completing a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, where he held important engagements and participated in discussions focused on regional security and bilateral cooperation. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz departed Madinah after concluding his visit to the Kingdom. Madinah Governor Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was present at the airport to bid farewell to the prime minister and the Pakistani delegation. During his stay in Madinah, Prime Minister Shehbaz visited Al-Masjid an-Nabawi and offered prayers alongside members of his delegation. He also performed prayers at Riyaz-ul-Jannah and prayed for the progress, prosperity and well-being of Pakistan and its people. The prime minister was also given the opportunity to visit the Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH) at the Prophet’s Mosque. Shehbaz was accompanied during the visit by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi. Earlier, the prime minister travelled to Makkah, where he performed Umrah along with Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir. The visit was undertaken at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. A major outcome of the trip was the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. The agreement aims to strengthen defence coordination, collective security and regional stability among the three countries. Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the signatories will be considered an attack against all three, establishing a framework for collective deterrence. The agreement marks a significant step in strengthening strategic and defence cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye amid growing security challenges in the region.

  Mainstream political parties have rejected the idea of creating new provinces and instead called for stronger local governments to improve governance and public service delivery. The position emerged during a day-long seminar organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), where politicians and independent experts discussed whether Pakistan needs new provinces or additional administrative units. Representatives of the PML-N, PPP, PTI and JUI opposed the creation of new provinces, while lawmakers from the MQM-P supported the proposal. Most independent experts also favoured transferring greater administrative, political and financial powers to local governments. Participants argued that Pakistan does not primarily face a shortage of resources. Instead, they said, excessive concentration of authority in provincial capitals prevents public spending from delivering its intended benefits. Several speakers also criticised the bureaucracy for weak governance and poor service delivery. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the existing administrative structure could deliver better results if local governments received adequate powers. He argued that dividing Punjab into three provinces would still leave each province with around 40 million people and would not adequately address governance problems. Raja called for stronger constitutional safeguards for local governments and said Article 140-A, which provides for local governments, needed clearer and stronger provisions. Raja also rejected the idea of holding a national referendum on the creation of new provinces, arguing that the Constitution already provides a mechanism for altering provincial boundaries. He further opposed changes to Article 239, which governs constitutional amendments related to provincial boundaries. Minister of State for Law Barrister Aqeel Malik said political parties should first hold internal discussions on the issue before pursuing constitutional or legal changes. He also praised the 2001 local government system, saying it offered a stronger framework that should have been developed further. The seminar came weeks after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described Pakistan’s governance system as having collapsed and called for the creation of new provinces. PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira warned that the debate could deepen existing political and administrative divisions. He said provincial chief ministers had accumulated significant power and often resisted efforts to establish genuinely strong local governments. Some participants even suggested removing the provincial tier altogether and maintaining only the federal government and fully empowered local administrative units.