Dry, cold weather forecasted in country

ISLAMABAD: Cold and dry spell of weather will prevail across the country during the next 24 hours, predicted the Met Office here on Monday.

According to Met Department, the snap cold could lose its intensity in most areas of the country in next some days. Fog was also likely to prevail over plains of Punjab; however, after two days, it will start to wear off.

The night time temperature will rise by 3 to 5 degree centigrade in most areas.

Moreover, light rain at isolated places was expected in coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan on Tuesday. Some areas in Upper Punjab and Kashmir may receive light rains on Wednesday and Thursday.

Met Department also forecasted the first snowfall of this winter in Kashmir and Northern Areas on Thursday and Friday.

Minimum temperature today in Skardu was recorded at -10 degree

Earthquake rattles northern areas

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake rocked northern areas of the country while five girl students got injured in a roof collapse in Shabqadar, Dunya News reported on Thursday.
The epicentre was 280kms from Peshawar towards the north east in the Hindukush range at the Afghan-Tjik border.
The earthquake has been felt in Lower Dir, Swat, Shangla, Peshawar, Mardan, Abbotabad, Murree, Muzaffarabad, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
In Shabqadar, a stampeded ensued the earthquake at Government Girls High School Subhan Khor while 5 girls also wounded after roof of the school caved in.

Earthquake rattles northern areas

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake rocked northern areas of the country while five girl students got injured in a roof collapse in Shabqadar, Dunya News reported on Thursday.
The epicentre was 280kms from Peshawar towards the north east in the Hindukush range at the Afghan-Tjik border.
The earthquake has been felt in Lower Dir, Swat, Shangla, Peshawar, Mardan, Abbotabad, Murree, Muzaffarabad, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
In Shabqadar, a stampeded ensued the earthquake at Government Girls High School Subhan Khor while 5 girls also wounded after roof of the school caved in.

NAB sentences Sohail Zia three years prison term

Staff Report

LAHORE: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has sentenced PML-N leader and a close relative of PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif, Sohail Zia Butt, three years in prison, said sources on Friday.

According to sources, he got three year term when he didn’t appear in the court as he was declared a proclaimed offender by the court in 2001.

NAB court has sentenced him three year prison term today (Friday).

During case hearing, Sohail Zia Butt said that how he would appear in court when he didn’t get any notice.

NAB rejected Butt arguments and said he can file petition in Lahore High Court (LHC) against his prison term.

According to NAB officials, Sohail Zia Butt had taken loan from National Industrial and Credit Finance Corportation and didn’t return the same.

A reference was also sent to the NAB in 2001 after Sohail Zia

US sorry over ‘mistreatment’ of Pakistan military delegation

ISLAMABAD: The United States has apologised to Pakistan over ‘mistreatment’ of a Pakistani military delegation at a US airport this week, the Pakistani defence ministry said Friday.

US undersecretary of state for defence Michelle Flournoy apologised during a telephone call to Pakistan’s top defence ministry official, Syed Athar Ali, the ministry said in a statement.

Flournoy “apologised for the mistreatment meted out to Pakistan’s military delegation at the Dulles airport, Washington”, the statement said.

Pakistan had ordered the delegation to return from Washington to protest “unwarranted” airport security checks imposed after the delegation was invited to a meeting at the US military Central Command.

“Syed Athar Ali expressed serious concern over the incident and emphasised the need for an institutionalised mechanism where such like incidents are

Twin cities take out rallies on Al-Quds Day, security beefed up

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are taking out procession rallies on Al-Quds Day. The authorities have beefed up security in both cities, SAMAA reported Friday.

According to details, one rally will be taken out in Islamabad from Shiite Imambargah of G-62, to D Chowk. The Central Secretary General of Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslameen Pakistan (MWMP), Allama Nasir Abbas Jafferi, will lead the rally.

The second rally will be taken out from Aabpara Chowk Islamabad; Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Fika-e-Jaffaria (TNFJ) will lead it.

Another rally of Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Fika-e-Jaffaria will be taken out from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain of Teli Mohala, Rawalpindi; The District Committee of TNFJ will arrange this rally.

Many other small and large rallies are scheduled to be taken out from various areas of the twin

Power crisis continues despite monsoon rains

ISLAMABAD: Despite the rain spell in northern areas, a power crisis prevails throughout the country, said sources Friday.

According to Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) officials, the electricity demand has reached 16,339 megawatts, while power generation was recorded at 14,277 megawatts.

PEPCO sources disclosed that load shedding hours are increasing in rural and urban areas.

Urban areas are facing load shedding of 5 to 6 hours, and rural areas 9 to 10 hours to overcome the shortfall of 2,062 megawatts.

Production of hydroelectricity was recorded at 6,533 megawatts after water levels in both major dams normalized.

Electricity of 21,119 megawatts was produced from PEPCO thermal power plant; 5,559 megawatts from IPPs: and, 62 megawatts generated from rental power house.

Karachi receives a power supply of 800 megawatts. SAMAA

Dry, hot weather forecast for Pakistan

Staff Report

KARACHI: The meteorological department has predicted dry and hot weather for most of the parts of the country, while more rains are expected in northern areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Islamabad.

According to the Met office, the weather will remain hot and dry in most of the parts of the country during next 24 hours, while rain with lightning is expected in some parts of upper Punjab, lower Sindh, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir.

The heaviest rain measuring 20 millimeter was recorded in Chaklala on Tuesday. SAMAA

Widespread heavy rainfall likely in Sindh

KARACHI: The Met Office on Sunday said the monsoon weather system now lies over Indian Gujarat areas adjoining Sindh.

It forecast that widespread, at times heavy rainfall is expected in Sindh during the next 24 to 36 hours and flooding in Karachi, Hyderabad and other urban areas is possible.

It further said that heavy rain may aggravate Indus River flooding in Sindh.

Army relief operation continues in flood-hit areas

RAWALPINDI: Army continued its relief operation in the flood hit areas of Sindh, Punjab, FATA, KPK and Northern Areas despite heavy rain.

According to ISPR, today Pakistan Army dispatched another 140 Boats from Gujranwala to flood hit areas of Southern Punjab and Sindh. A total of 930 boots including 782 of Pakistan Army are being used in rescue and relief operation in flood hit areas.

Troops have evacuated more than 1, 25,000 marooned people from flooded areas. Pakistan Army troops have provided 850 tons of rations in all flood affected areas.

Besides cooked food packets, 23,000 Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) were also distributed amongst the flood affectees of KPK on Sunday Saturday. More than 70 ton of rations have been transported to Upper Swat and12 Trucks of ration was sent for distribution among flood affectees in Dir today. Animal transport is being used for transportation of ration in the far flung areas of Shangla and Kohistan.

Today 5000 bottles of mineral water and 20000 kg of dry ration was distributed by Army helicopters in flood affected areas of Sindh province. 35 large size tents were also provided to flood affectees at Loop Bund today.

Army Flood Control Center has been established at Abbotabad to provide rescue and relief to affected peoples in AJK, KKH and Northern Areas. 3 Helicopters are employed for relief and rescue in Northern Areas. On Saturday 150 people from Village Kamra were rescued to Sakurdu. 7 Trucks carrying 21 tons of relief goods including rations, medicines were dispatched by Army from Abbottabad for Basham today.

Army Engineers are working round the clock to repair damaged bridges in KPK and FATA. Repair of Bridge at Bagh Dheri, Swat has been completed and opened for light traffic. Sakhra and Kalakot Bridges in Upper Swat are being repaired with the help of locals. 4 Foot Bridges were made functional at, Madyan, Kalam and Behrain. Takhta Band by Pass and Hazara Bridge in Mingora have been repaired by Army Engineers and opened for traffic. Ali Masjid Bridge in Khyber Agency on Pak-Torkham road has also been repaired and traffic restored.

15 Army Field Hospitals and number of free Medical Camps are working at KPK,Sindh and Punjab to provide best health care facilities to patients of flood affected areas. 100 mobile clinics in collaboration with civil administration have been made functional. 2 x Water purification plants are being installed at Nowshera and Charsada.

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