Author: News Desk

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued an urgent notification, warning of a significant rise in major river water levels, flash flooding in hill torrents, and urban flooding in parts of Punjab from July 7, 2025 onwards.

Strong monsoon currents combined with a westerly wave are expected to hit upper catchments of Punjab’s major rivers from July 6, PDMA has predicted, increasing the risk of floods across the region. Flows in rivers and their associated nullahs and tributaries are likely to rise sharply, while metropolitan areas in North and Central Punjab could see urban flooding.

Flash flooding is also expected in the hill torrents of DG Khan Division, while landslides could cause road closures in vulnerable hilly areas like Murree and Galiyat.

Meanwhile, in Haripur, heavy rainfall has already caused streams to overflow and raised the water level at Tarbela Dam since Tuesday night, forcing the district administration to open the dam’s spillways on Wednesday to manage the excess water. Dam authorities have issued alerts to the Deputy Commissioners of Haripur, Nowshera, and Swabi districts to stay on standby.

Official PDMA Weather & Flood Situation:

1. Weather Situation:

Met office (vide Bulletin No C-018/25) has informed that strong monsoon currents coupled with Westerly wave are likely to affect upper catchments of all the major rivers in Punjab significantly from 6th July.

2. Flood Situation:

Flows are likely to increase significantly from July 7 in all major rivers along with their associated Nullahs/tributaries.

Flash flooding is also expected over the hill torrents of DG Khan division.

Urban flooding is likely in metropolitan cities of North and Central Punjab.

POSSIBLE IMPACTS AND ADVICE:

Landslides may cause roads closure in the vulnerable hilly areas of Murree and Galliyat during the wet spell.

Heavy downpour/windstorm and lightning may affect daily routines, and may damage weak structures like roof/wall of Kacha houses, electric poles, bill boards, vehicles and solar panels etc during the forecast period.

Farmers are advised to manage their activities keeping in view the weather forecast.

Travelers and tourists are advised to remain extra cautious and manage their itineraries according to weather conditions and avoid any untoward situation during the wet spell.

At least four people, including an Assistant Commissioner were killed and 11 injured after a powerful bomb blast struck the Nawagai area of Bajaur district on Wednesday, local officials have said. 

The explosion targeted a government vehicle in Nawagai Road near Sadiqabad Phatak in Khar Tehsil. 

Waqil, theTehsildar of Nawagai, a police subedar, and a police constable, were  martyred in the explosion, media reports claim, citing police sources.

The wounded have been shifted to Khar Hospital, where emergency treatment is underway. Rescue operations are going on at the blast site.

While officials have yet to release details on the type of explosive used, initial reports suggest it was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks so far.

Another rift has emerged within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), this time in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chapter of the party after a war of words between provincial president Junaid Akbar Khan and government spokesperson Barrister Saif.

The rift began when Junaid Akbar Khan strongly criticised Chief Minister KP Ali Amin Gandapur, alleging that the provincial government was not cooperating with him.

“Chief Minister Ali Amin is taking action against my supporters, and development schemes of MPAs organising rallies for me have been cancelled,” he claimed. 

Akbar also alleged that Barrister Saif is not just representing the narrative of the establishment but also spreading it. 

Speaking to journalists in Mardan, Saif pounced back at the party’s president, saying, “Junaid Akbar should stop whining and stay at home,” adding that Akbar should resign from the party presidency and a competent person should be made president of PTI Pakhtunkhwa.

Barrister Saif said that Akbar was not fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to him by PTI founder Imran Khan, which was why he was under stress, noting that “those who work do not need to resort to making accusations”. 

He emphasised the party was going through a difficult time and, in such circumstances, Akbar should step aside instead of crying and complaining. “Everything has a limit and these people have crossed all limits,” he stated.

Saif advised Akbar to sit down and resolve his issues with Ali Amin Gandapur within the party, adding, there was no justification for criticising the Chief Minister. 

The government spokesperson also lashed out at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Amir Muqam, saying that if he thought his brother could become the chief minister, it was wishful thinking.

He ruled out claims that the KP government was under threat, underscoring that all Member Provincial Assembly (MPAs) were united, and the government would complete its constitutional term.

Commenting on last week’s Swat tragedy, which claimed at least 10 lives, Saif said that a probe into the incident is underway, stressing that whoever was found responsible would be punished.

People in Lahore can now help the environment and earn monetary rewards by recycling plastic bottles under a new eco-friendly project.

Launched under the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Credit Program, the initiative allows citizens to deposit empty plastic bottles into Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) and earn up to Rs1,000 in “Green Credit” for each kilogram of plastic. That is roughly equal to about 20 one-and-a-half-litre bottles.

The project is led by ISP Environmental Solutions with support from the Intratech Group and the World Bank and aims to tackle Lahore’s plastic pollution problem by encouraging people to recycle through financial rewards.

Lahore reportedly generates around 500 tons of plastic waste every day, much of which ends up polluting drains, rivers and landfills. According to Intratech Group Chairperson Gulfam Abid, “These new Reverse Vending Machines will collect single-use plastic items, including bottles, cups and plates. The collected material will be repurposed into raw materials for footpaths, road repairs and environmentally sustainable bricks.”

Each RVM can hold up to 25 kilograms of plastic and uses weight-sensitive sensors that reject non-plastic materials. The process is simple: users insert their bottles, press button “A,” enter their mobile number, and then press button “B” to see their Green Credit on the screen. They can also check their balance on a mobile app that connects them directly with waste dealers.

The app allows citizens to sell their plastic waste from home, with company staff managing the collection. So far, more than 18,000 local scrap dealers have joined the system and can earn Green Credit alongside their regular income.

In the first stage, these smart recycling machines are being installed at four private universities in Lahore. The plan is to expand to more public and private locations in the coming months.

The machines are locally made in Pakistan using advanced Chinese technology and each unit costs about Rs800,000. An “Eco Bricks Plant” has also been set up at Sundar Industrial Estate to turn the collected plastic into construction-grade bricks. The plant is expected to open in July.

Officials say this project is not just about the machines but about changing how people think about plastic waste. “We want people to view plastic not as waste, but as a valuable resource that can be reused for environmental and economic gain,” one official said.

For many citizens, this initiative could mean earning a little extra while helping keep the city clean and turning plastic bottles into cash instead of trash.

A video of a security guard manhandling an elderly woman at the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) complex in Sheikhupura has gone viral on social media.

The woman had visited the office to get her electricity bill corrected when the guard dragged her out of the gate. The video shows her pleading as he forcefully pushes her away, sparking widespread outrage online.

Social media users strongly condemned the incident and demanded strict action against the guard.

After the video surfaced, the Senior Circle Officer (SCO) of WAPDA took notice and ordered an inquiry, stating that no one should be treated in such a manner.

Following the orders from the District Police Officer (DPO), the security guard has been arrested and a case has been registered against him.