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Tag: Balochistan

  • Met department predicts torrential rains starting next week

    Met department predicts torrential rains starting next week

    The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted torrential rainfall starting next week, putting an end to the brutal heatwave in most parts of Pakistan.

    As per the latest PMD forecast, a new weather system will develop in the country from Sunday, attracting downpours from the May 16 to May18.

    Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in Islamabad, upper and central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan, and Azad Jammu Kashmir. Following the rain, the PMD predicts that temperatures in these areas will decrease radically.

    In addition, the PMD has directed that the relevant Disaster Management Authorities be on high alert in order to avert loss of life and property throughout the rainfall.

    In other news, the PMD has warned that a severe heatwave will approach Sindh. The extreme heat will extend through May 17th, with daytime temperatures in most regions exceeding usual.

    Read more: Heatwave Alert: All physical activities in Punjab schools suspended

    Daytime highs in upper Sindh will linger between 46°C and 48°C, in central Sindh districts between 43°C and 45°C, and in lower Sindh districts between 38°C and 40°C.

  • Severe heatwave conditions predicted by Met office from Sunday

    Severe heatwave conditions predicted by Met office from Sunday

    The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasted extreme heatwave conditions across Pakistan for the coming week, warning that high pressure will hold the upper atmosphere starting Sunday, May 8.

    Day temperatures are expected to steadily increase in most parts of the country from Sunday due to this high pressure, as per a notification from PMD.

    The temperature in upper Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir was expected to hover between 7-9 degrees Celsius beyond average during the day.

    Meanwhile, the daytime temperature of Upper and central Sindh, central and south Punjab and areas of Balochistan will likely experience temperatures between 6-8 degrees Celsius above usual.

    Read more: Pakistan starts oil and gas production from Dhok Sultan DS X-1

    The department also tweeted a warning about the heatwave’s potential effects, stating that extremely hot and dry weather might affect dams, crops, vegetables, and forests.

  • Customs seizes smuggled liquor worth Rs6.48 million in Karachi

    Customs seizes smuggled liquor worth Rs6.48 million in Karachi

    During a raid on the outskirts of Karachi on Thursday, Pakistan Customs personnel recovered a massive quantity of imported liquor worth millions of rupees.

    According to a Customs spokesman, monitoring was increased at the Moachko checkpoint after the Customs Enforcement Collectorate got information that alcohol was being smuggled to Karachi from Quetta under the cover of official vehicles.

    When a car with a government license plate and an armed guard was sighted at the checkpoint, customs anti-smuggling personnel signaled the driver to pull up, but the driver instead sped away.

    When the officials gave chase, the driver of the car purposefully began hitting customs vehicles, and the guard resorted to firing. Because the road was packed and there was a threat to public safety, customs officers refrained from firing fire.

    According to a spokesman, when they were around Shershah Chowk, the driver and guard hopped out of the vehicle and fled, taking advantage of a traffic jam on the other side of the road. During a check of the vehicle, 348 liquor bottles worth Rs6,480,000 were seized, along with other items discovered.

    Read more: PTA to take action against advertising of illegal housing societies on social media

    The entire estimated value of the products and car was Rs10,480,000. An FIR has been filed, and a manhunt has been initiated to find the suspects.

  • 15-month-old in NWA: Pakistan reports first polio case in 15 months

    The first wild poliovirus case was detected in a 15-month-old baby boy from North Waziristan, Pakistan. It is the third case to have been reported worldwide during the ongoing year 2022.

    The National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad has confirmed the type-1 wild poliovirus (WPV1) in a toddler from North Waziristan. The NIH polio eradication laboratory also confirmed another case from the Bannu district in KP, which was detected in the environmental samples collected on April 5. Both viruses detected in the samples are closely related to each other.

    Pakistan reported the polio case in the country 15 months after the previous poliovirus case was reported on January 28, last year from the Killa Abdullah area of Balochistan.

    Secretary Health Aamir Ashraf said, “This is, of course, a tragedy for the child and his family and it is also very unfortunate both for Pakistan and polio eradication efforts all over the world. We are disappointed but not deterred.” He further added, “The case has appeared in Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) where the poliovirus was detected in the environment late last year and where an emergency action plan is already being implemented.”

    According to Anti-Polio Programme, Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has badly been affected by the poliovirus after detection from the environmental samples in the last quarter of 2021. The samples of the virus were found in Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu divisions last year.

    The Health Secretary also revealed that teams have deployed to conduct detailed interrogation into the case detected in North Waziristan. The emergency immunization campaigns are continued to prevent further outbreaks of poliovirus in the country.

    Talking about the issue, National Emergency and Operations Centre (NEOC) Coordinator Dr Shahzad Baig said, “To address the challenges in Southern KP, the Pakistani government and its global partners have already initiated an emergency action plan to address the challenges in this part of the province.”

    The province had reported as many as 22 cases of poliovirus in 2020. However, there was no wild-type virus among the detected case in KP province.

  • LG polls as per schedule in Balochistan: CM Bizenjo

    LG polls as per schedule in Balochistan: CM Bizenjo

    Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo on Friday said that his government is fully prepared to hold local government (LG) elections in the province as scheduled by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), reports Dawn News.

    The chief minister pointed out that due to the preparations for the next year’s budget and some other reasons, the provincial government had sought to the postponement of the LG elections for some time.

    The ECP, however, rejected the Balochistan government’s request for a six months delay in the LG elections in the province. The commission reiterated that elections will be held as per schedule on May 29 in the 32 districts of the province with the exception of Quetta and Lasbella districts.

    In a statement, CM Bizenjo said that all institutions concerned have been tasked with foolproof preparations for the timely conduct of the LG elections in a transparent and peaceful manner.

    He further added that his government would provide all resources for the elections and expressed hope that all political parties would fully participate in the local bodies’ elections.

    It is to be noted that the development has come on the heel of a change in the federal government where PTI Chairman Imran Khan was ousted from power through a successful no-confidence motion.

  • Gold loses shine, price drops by Rs2,000 to Rs132,300 per tola

    Gold loses shine, price drops by Rs2,000 to Rs132,300 per tola

    Gold prices fell sharply in the local market on April 8, following the US dollar’s loss of value versus the rupee.

    The price of precious yellow metal dropped by Rs2,000 to Rs132,300 a tola (11.66 grams). Similarly, the cost of 10 grammes of gold decreased by Rs1,715 to Rs113,426. On the flip side, it jumped from $6 to $1,933 per ounce (28.3 gram) on the global market.

    The yellow metal in Karachi is reportedly selling for as low as Rs129,400, while 10 grams is being sold at Rs110,940. This rate for 24K gold announced by the Sarafa Bazar Association is also followed by the majority of gold markets in cities including Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and Karachi.

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR) gained Rs3.50 yesterday against the US dollar, making it the greatest single-day gain since April 2020. The local currency is currently trading at Rs184.68.

    During inter-day trading on April 7, the domestic unit crossed the Rs189 threshold, notwithstanding the political uncertainty. However, following a Rs2.5 depreciation, it concluded at Rs188.18.

    The gold correction had been overdue for a long time, since the political turmoil had created widespread panic, and individuals were transferring their capital to gold, as various rules had made it difficult for everyone to buy dollars.

  • ‘Can anyone disappear without the govt’s will?’ IHC questions state of enforced disappearances

    ‘Can anyone disappear without the govt’s will?’ IHC questions state of enforced disappearances

    During a case hearing of missing Lahore journalist, Mudassar Naro at Islamabad High Court (IHC), Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah said that enforced disappearances are ‘treason’.

    He said that such disappearances are not acceptable in a country that follows the Constitution. In the hearing, the additional attorney-general and judicial assistant appeared before the court.

    “Can anyone be disappeared without federal and provincial governments will? No,” the judge said. The judge then said that sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act are applied in such cases.

    The CJ asked if the inability to recover Naro is the failure of state agencies. He added that both governments should have looked into this matter.

    According to Geo News, Mudassar Naro has been missing since August 20, 2018. The disappearance occurred when he went to the northern areas with his wife and child. His wife and child returned but Naro has been missing ever since.

    His activist wife Saddaf Chughtai passed away last year due to a sudden cardiac arrest, leaving behind their four-year-old son.

    The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has shown serious concern over the situation. They have also called upon Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari to look into the case. However, after almost four years since his disappearance, his recovery hasn’t been made yet.


  • Teenager boy abducted, raped, and tortured in Balochistan

    Teenager boy abducted, raped, and tortured in Balochistan

    A 12-year-old boy was raped and tortured after he was abducted from a wedding function in Mastung, Balochistan. He was rescued by the Levies, a law enforcement agency.

    As per details, unidentified men kidnapped the boy from a wedding function. Subsequently, his family filed a case in a nearby police station.

    According to Assistant Commissioner, Farida Tarin, the boy was found unconscious at the crime scene. Levies also arrested a suspect from the scene.

    During the initial investigation, the suspect confessed that he was involved in raping and torturing the teenage boy.

    Farida Tarin also confirmed that raids are being conducted to arrest all perpetrators involved.

  • Three killed in bomb blast near police mobile in Quetta

    Three killed in bomb blast near police mobile in Quetta

    Three people were killed and more than 20 injured in a bomb blast near a police mobile in Quetta. The explosion took place at Jinnah Road on Wednesday night.

    A deputy superintendent of police (DSP) also lost his life in the blast. Nearby shops caught fire after the bomb exploded.

    The Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) Quetta Fida Hussain revealed that people injured in the blast have been shifted to Civil Hospital. He also confirmed the death of DSP.

    “Two-and-a-half to three kilograms of explosives were used in the blast,” DIG Fida Hussain said.

    According to the medical superintendent of the hospital, the wounded brought in for medical treatment were 25 in number and six of them were critical.

    Balochistan Chief Minister, Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo strongly condemned the deadly incident.

    “Cowardly terrorists targeted innocent citizens in a terrorist attack,” he said, “efforts are being made to disrupt peace in Quetta and the province under a planned and well-thought-out conspiracy.”

    He also added that terrorists are being funded by external forces.

    He directed the Inspector General of Police (IG) to submit a detailed report.

    Governor of Sindh, Imran Ismail also strongly condemned the bomb blast in ‘which innocents were targeted by cowardly terrorists.

    https://twitter.com/GovernorSindh33/status/1499043386870927363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1499043386870927363%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geo.tv%2Flatest%2F402533-quetta-three-killed-more-than-20-injured-in-blast-near-police-mobile

    CM Buzdar, while condemning the incident, said, “a handful of terrorists cannot shake the resolve of the nation.” 

    The spokesperson of the Sindh Government, Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui also condemned the incident.

  • More than 63 million children to be vaccinated in massive five day polio drive

    More than 63 million children to be vaccinated in massive five day polio drive

    A five-day anti-polio drive began in different parts of the country on Monday. More than, 63 million children will be will be vaccinated during the polio drive. The government has set a target of twenty-two million children in Punjab and more than one hundred and fifty thousand polio workers have been deployed for the purpose.

    In Sindh, anti-polio drops will be given to approximately ten million children under the age of five in thirty districts. The initiative will involve seventy thousand health professionals and ten thousand supervisors.

    During the drive, anti-polio drops would be given to nearly 2.5 million children under the age of five in Balochistan. Approximately 10,000 teams have been formed for this purpose.

    In the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, anti-polio vaccination will be provided to around 6.2 million children under the age of five in twenty-nine districts.

    During the door-to-door campaign, over 30,000 teams will administer anti-polio drops to children. To esnure the administering anti-polio drops to maximum children polio teams will also be available at railway stations.