WATCH: Imran holds int'l telethon to raise funds for flood victims

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan is holding an international telethon to raise funds for the flood victims. In his message at the onset of the telethon, Imran said the objective of holding telethon was to raise funds for flood victims as no government alone can deal with such catastrophe. “Entire country has been affected by this [floods]… as per initial assessment losses of over Rs1,000 billion incurred due to floods and over 1,000 people have died so far,” he remarked. https://ift.tt/lUmhIJn He said he received a lot of calls from Pakistanis including expats who wanted to help the flood victims. The former premier said people can donate to two bank accounts opened by Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governments. The funds will be spent to help the flood-hit people across the country, he assured. The event was moderated by PTI leader Faisal Javed while chief ministers of Punjab and Kyhber-Pakhtunkhwa — Perviaz Elahi and Mehmood Khan —and the former premier’s ex-assistant on social protection Sania Nishtar were also present on the occasion. The initial economic losses from floods in Pakistan could reach at least $10 billion, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal told Reuters in an interview earlier today. Also read: PTI to move IHC seeking live-telecast of Imran’s telethon for flood donations Unprecedented and historical flash floods caused by abnormal monsoon rains have washed away roads, crops, infrastructure and bridges, killing at least 1,000 people in recent weeks and affecting more than 33 million. "I think it is going to be huge. So far, (a) very early, preliminary estimate is that it is big, it is higher than $10 billion," Iqbal said. The minister said it might take five years to rebuild and rehabilitate the South Asian nation of 200 million people, which will be facing an acute challenge of food shortage.

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/2iMOekh

Waterborne diseases break out in rain-hit Sindh

Sindh's displaced communities, who are already stuck in stagnant rainwater, face another challenge of the breakout of  diseases and skin infections. This is because of unhygienic conditions and contaminated water. Health experts warn of outbreaks of  diseases including malaria, dengue, typhoid, diarrhoea and skin infections among children, women and elderly persons. The helpless, displaced and depressed people complain of lack of immediate health relief and medical camps near  them. “Every second person is sick,” said Khan Muhammad Khaskheli, a resident of Nehal Khan Khorkhani of Khairpur district. “I see people helpless and mentally disturbed,” he added. “There is no medical facility for the poor and some of them, who can afford it, are shifting their loved ones to the cities,” he narrated. Khaskheli said that one of his relatives was in dire need of medical support but had to tolerate excruciating pain the whole night. “He was shifted to the hospital the next day,” he added. There are 2,257 health facilities in Sindh and the health authorities claim that only 200 of them are functional because of stagnant water in the buildings. “All are actually functional as the staff have been ordered to set up camps in the damaged hospitals,” maintained Sindh Health Services Director General Dr Juman Bahooto. However, the victims negate this claim. “I do not see people receiving medial relief,” Rabail Siyal, a resident of village Pathan of Larkano district, complained. “It is just a farce by the government. They cannot provide relief to the people and unfortunately can’t accept it either,” he said. The health experts say that the government was practically unable to handle the prevailing situation. “No one was ready to face this challenge and our system doesn’t have capacity to respond to it,” Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Karachi Chapter’s General Secretary Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro commented. He added that dozens of volunteers as well as independent organisations had set up their medical camps across Sindh. “It confirms the absence of government machinery,” he said. “Over 80% of patients were confirmed with malaria because of the presence of mosquitoes,” he added. Dr Shoro pointed out that the present  emergency had exposed the government's primary healthcare system that was already weak. “The government should call international health organisations to help it as the situation will be out of control in the coming days,” he cautioned. The displaced persons have been using contaminated water as well as unhygienic and not properly cooked food. The health authorities claim that they have set up over 4,500 mobile and fixed medical camps in the last two weeks. “We regularly manage at least 500 medical camps and sometimes the number goes to 800,” provincial health dervices DG Dr Bahooto claimed. The government official further told The Express Tribune that most of the people coming to hospitals and medical camps had fever [malaria and dengue], diarrhea and skin diseases. “It is because of the use of contaminated water. We have already advised people to use boiled water,” he added. Dr Bahooto did not agree that there was a shortage of medicines in any area but sources in the health department told The Express Tribune that the burden on regular OPDs had increased by about 40 times. “We are going to face medicine scarcity within days,” a senior official claimed. Despite tall claims by the health department, the displaced families and people living in far-flung places said its teams had not reached their areas. The most affected areas include Dadu, Qamber-Shahdadkot, Jamshoro, Badin and parts of Mirpurkhas division. “Yes, it is still difficult to reach areas with no road access,” said Riaz Hussain Rahojo, the chief operating officer of the People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI). “It has stopped raining for the last two days but it will take us time to reach everyone in the next few days,” he told The Express Tribune. Rahojo claimed that the burden on 1,300 health facilities, which were being looked after by his organisation, were functional and open to everyone round the clock. “The burden on OPDs is huge these days and we all take it as a challenge,” he said.

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/AjywskC

Punjab govt saved Taunsa: adviser

Punjab Chief Minister’s Adviser on Information Omar Sarfaraz Cheema has  said  the  Taunsa Town has  been  protected  due  to timely  measures  taken  by the Punjab government. Talking to the media here after  visiting  the  PDMA Control Room, he said that excellent rescue and relief measures  had  been  taken to  cope  with  the  dangers of flood. The people were protesting ver the inflated electricity and  fuel  prices  in  Punjab, but  no  protest  was  made by the people over floods in Punjab, he said. He  alleged  that “the  incompetent  and  an  ineffcient federal government” came  to  realise  about  the flood  situation  after  one month. The country had been facing flood calamity since August 1, but where was the federal government all that time, he asked and alleged that they had been enjoying “luxuries on foreign trips” at that time. The Speaker of the National  Assembly,  Raja Pervez  Ashraf,  had  been on a foreign tour even now, he  said.  Cheema  claimed that when “we made them feel ashamed through the media”  then  they  began  to  worry  about  the  flood victims. The  federal  government was indulging in some propaganda so as to create a sensation regarding the floods. He  said  that  the  media should rely on factual information about the flood situation before they aired their news items. The  adviser  vowed  that the provincial government would not leave the people alone.  “We  are  standing with the flood victims until their  complete  rehabilitation,” said the minister. He said that Imran Khan, along with the chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, was going to hold a telethon for fundraising. He  said  that  all  the  resources  would  be  utilised for  the  rehabilitation  of flood victims. The  federal  government scrambled to deal with the flood situation  in  the  last two days only whereas the Punjab  government  had been  continuously  working to provide relief to the flood  victims  for  the  last one month. The Punjab chief minister had  constituted  a  cabinet  committee which was lending help to the government after ascertaining the losses. He  said  that “our  brothers  and  sisters  are  in  dire straits, but sensationalising he matter could aggravate the people’s problems as well that of the government’s”, adding that conditions were now moving towards normality. The minister said that the PDMA was monitoring the flood  situation  round  the  clock.  He  said  that  Imran  Khan  had laid  the  foundation  of  building  10 new dams in the country.

from Punjab News Updates and Insights - The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/RNPj6OV

Cop ‘running private torture cell’ booked

Police and a court bailiff rescued three men detained illegally in a private torture cell allegedly run by a Naseerabad investigation official in the Kot Lakhpat area. A case was registered against Naseerabad investigation in-charge Tariq Bashir Cheema in the Kot Lakhpat police station and a departmental inquiry started on the order of DIG Investigation Athar Ismail. According to police sources, Cheema had arrested the three people from Jaranwala 10 days ago on the charge of robbery. However, there was no record of the case in which they were detained. Instead of the police station, they were kept in a flat near a graveyard in a private housing society. The sources said relatives of the detained men found out their location on their own after visiting the police station for several days. A bailiff raided the flat on the orders of Additional Sessions Judge Iqbal Sipra, but the policemen present there fled allegedly after being tipped about the raid

from Punjab News Updates and Insights - The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/xr814Vw

Pakistan rejects allegations of US using its soil

Pakistan on Sunday rejected Afghan Taliban government’s allegations that the country was allowing the United States to use its air space for drones, terming the charge as defying the diplomatic norms. The late-night reaction from the Foreign Office came after Afghan Interim Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob alleged that Pakistan was allowing the US to operate drones from its soil. “According to our information the drones are entering through Pakistan to Afghanistan, they use Pakistan’s airspace, we ask Pakistan, don’t use your airspace against us,” said Mullah Yaqoob, who is the son of former Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Omar. Responding to allegations, Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said that Pakistan had noted, with deep concern, the allegation by acting defence minister of Afghanistan regarding the use of Pakistan’s airspace in the US counter-terrorism drone operation in Afghanistan. “In the absence of any evidence, as acknowledged by the Afghan minister himself, such conjectural allegations are highly regrettable and defy the norms of responsible diplomatic conduct,” Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said. Pakistan, he added, reaffirmed its belief in the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states and condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. “We urge the Afghan interim authorities to ensure the fulfilment of international commitments made by Afghanistan not to allow the use of its territory for terrorism against any country.” The allegation of the US operating drones from Pakistan surfaced after the recent killing of al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul. The al-Qaeda chief, who had $25 million bounty on his head, was killed in a CIA drone strike when he was standing in the balcony of a house in the upscale Kabul neighbourhood. The presence and killing of Zawahiri in Kabul was embarrassing for the Afghan Taliban, who repeatedly pledged not to allow Afghan soil to be used again by terrorist groups. The Taliban particularly made a commitment in the Doha accord to cut ties with the al-Qaeda. Following the killing of Zawahiri, questions were raised as to which base the US had used for the drone strike. Pakistan was named one suspect though Islamabad vehemently denied its involvement. The Foreign Office had already clarified that neither the drone from Pakistan nor its airspace was used. But the latest allegations from the top Taliban leader may undermine relationship between the two countries at a time when Pakistan is not happy with the continuing problem posed by outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and its affiliates.

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/kGN8LD3

First int’l aid cargo flies in

International aid for the people affected by the ongoing floods in Pakistan has started arriving in the country, with the first consignment of relief goods from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) landing at the Nur Khan Airbase on Sunday, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said. In a series of tweets, the minister said that more assistance would reach the country in the coming days, including two aircraft carrying relief goods from Turkey landing in Karachi on Monday (today), while the UAE would send 15 more planeloads of relief supplies. “The Consul General of Turkiye in Karachi will hand over the relief goods to the Pakistani authorities at the airport on Monday morning. The relief goods included tents, medicines and other items,” the minister said, adding that more relief goods were also expected from Turkiye. In another tweet, Aurangzeb said the first consignment from UAE for flood victims was sent in response to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s appeal to the UAE authorities in the wake of severe floods in the country. The relief goods included tents, food, medicine and other items, she added. Meanwhile, France and Azerbaijan expressed their willingness to support Pakistan in this difficult time. Azerbaijan Permanent Representative to Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and Ambassador to Iran Ali Alizada said on Sunday that Baku would provide $2 million in relief assistance to Pakistan to cope with the situation in the aftermath of recent massive floods. “By the instructions of the President, Azerbaijan will provide to Pakistan 2 million USD aid to assist in elimination of the consequences of large scale floods,” Ali Alizada, who had previously served as Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Pakistan, posted on his Twitter handle. Also on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron, while expressing solidarity with the flood victims of Pakistan, said that his country was ready to provide help. “Our thoughts go out to the Pakistani people facing terrible floods, to the families of the countless people missing and to the populations affected. France stands ready to provide help,” Macron tweeted. In Italy, Pope Francis called on the international community to help Pakistan. The pontiff appealed for "prompt and generous international solidarity", and said he was praying for the victims. His comments came as he visited the city of L'Aquila in central Italy, which was hit by an earthquake in 2009. “Pray Together for the people of Pakistan, hit by floods of disastrous proportions. Let us pray for the numerous victims, for the wounded and those forced from their homes, and that international solidarity might be prompt and generous,” the Pope later tweeted. In New York, the United Nations announced it was boosting support to Pakistani authorities, dealing with the devastating floods in the most affected provinces of Balochistan and Sindh. The UN team, led by Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Julien Harneis, has mobilised $7 million to respond to the floods, UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Also, The New York Police Department’s Muslim Officers Society joined the effort of the Pakistani community for collection of donations for the flood victims in response to an appeal from Pakistan’s Ambassador to US Masood Khan. “We are requesting everyone to keep everyone affected by the devastating floods in Pakistan in your prayers and request you to take a moment and donate and help over 33 Million people that are impacted by Pakistan Floods. The Muslim Officers Society tweeted. “Every penny counts!!! Help Now!!!” American-Pakistani Political Action Committee (APPAC) office-bearer Assad Chaudhry said that the committee had already collected over $20,000 and more pledges were pouring in. He added the donated money would be deposited in Pakistan government’s accounts devoted to flood relief.APP

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/EDxoU9v

COAS spends entire day with flood victims in far-flung areas

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited army troops busy in relief activities in far-flung flood-affected areas of Khairpur and Kambar Shahdad Kot, the military said in a statement. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), COAS spent whole day with flood victims in relief and medical camps established for local population at village Jilani, Khairpur and Kambar Shahdad Kot . The flood victims thanked COAS for reaching out to them and sharing their problems and discomfort due to floods. Read more: COAS vows to spare no efforts in helping flood-hit people The army chief met troops on ground and appreciated their efforts for bringing comfort to the people awaiting their support. "Helping the people of Pakistan in need is a noble cause and we must take pride to serve them to best of our abilities," COAS emphasised. #BREAKING Pakistan Army Chief General Bajwa’s video message after spending the day on the ground running the #Pakistan Army’s flood relief strategy. The COAS also appealed for citizens, friendly countries and overseas Pakistanis to come forward to help their brothers in need. pic.twitter.com/36vvI49Ri2 — The Intel Consortium (@INTELPSF) August 28, 2022 According to ISPR, there are currently 81 collection centres in Sindh, 73 in Punjab, 41 in Balochistan and 17 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). Balochistan According to the military's media wing, the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps have established relief camps in Quetta, Muslim Bagh, Chaman, Sui, Dera Bugti, Sibi, Lehri, Nasirabad, Bela, Uthal and Jafarabad, where food and other amenities are being provided to flood victims. Free medical camps for victims are also being set up in Quetta, Muslim Bagh, Sui, Dera Bugti, Sibi, Dobandi, Lehri, Sadori, Lakra District and Lasbela. Punjab Rescue and relief operations are being carried out in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rojhan and Layyah where troops are providing stranded families with food and other amenities. Read more: Pakistan Army escalates efforts for flood victims nationwide In Rajanpur District, relief and rescue efforts have been made using a number of helicopter sorties to reach areas, including Harrand Tehsil Jampur, Nurpur Majhuwala Tehsil Jampur, Mouza Kaanwala Tehsil Jampur, Marri Jampur, Darbar Sakhi Bor Jampur, Bambli Jampur, Basti Nokhami Jampur, Dera Dildar Tehsil Rojhan, Dera Jeewan Tehsil Rojhan, Chak Mat No 2 Tehsil Rojhan.   SINDH: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the flood affected areas of Kambar Shahdad Kot and Khairpur, Sindh. (1/2)#PakistanFloods #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/El7ZOYk53B — Intelligence Dept. (@IntelDept) August 28, 2022 Sindh The Pakistan Army carried out rescue and relief operations at Khairpur District, Larkana District, Naushero Feroze District, Shikarpur District, Kamber Shadad Kot District, Jacobabad District, Kashmor District, Badin District, Mir Pur Khas District, Sanghga District, Mitiari District, Umerkot District, Hyderabad District, Tando Muhammad Khan District, Thatta District, Jamshoro District, Sujawal District and Dadu District. Four medical camps have been established at Badin, Sujawal, Thatta and Umerkot, where more than 1,700 flood victims have received treatment. K-P Relief camps accommodating 150 individuals have been established in the flood-affected areas of K-P, while the forward placement of troops has been carried out at Attock and Abbottabad. There are four field medical camps in flood-affected areas where 715 patients have been treated. Seven relief camps have been established for flood victims in Charsadda while three have been set up in each Tehsil of Nowshera Districts. The necessary assistance is being provided to the civil administration, said ISPR.  

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/8SORrjM