Mirpur warned about heavy flood current

MIRPUR: The district administration was Thursday warned about the arrival of a heavy flood current in Mangla dam reservoir from the rivers coming from Muzaffarabad.

The administration was also advised to adopt all preventive measures to deal with any eventuality in the areas located on the periphery of the dam, officials said.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Tayyeb Chaudhry said that precautionary measures were being taken by the administration to encounter the impending flood ravages in the reservoir.

After visiting various rain hit areas of Bandral, Bohar Colony and Kharak in outskirt of the city, along the periphery of Mangla lake Tayyeb said the population living in the areas along the bank of Mangla lake had been directed to shift to safer places to avert the increased threat of flood ravages.

He said, “In case of flood in the abodes close to Mangla lake the affected people will be shifted to the nearest government schools and college buildings,” adding, “tents will also be installed to provide shelter to the affectees if required in case of any untoward situation.”

A district level control room was established at his office, he said.

The DC further said the district emergency cell could be contacted through the official telephone numbers of his office as and when required for any assistance. Similarly, the tehsil level emergency cell, at Mirpur and Dadayal, could be approached through telephone numbers of the respective Assistant Commissioners offices.

Similar control rooms were also being set up in concerned Deputy Commissioners offices in all ten districts of the State, he said, adding, these centers would function round the clock to adopt safety steps in case of emergency in any part of the district.

Meanwhile, district and tehsil level emergency centers had started functioning in various parts of AJK in order to deal with any eventuality following impending flood ravages in normal and seasonal nullahs as well as in low-lying areas during the monsoon rains, official sources said.

Solar plane sets out on historic flight

PAYERNE, Switzerland: An experimental solar-powered aircraft took off from a Swiss airbase here in the early hours of Wednesday in a bid to make history by flying round the clock and through the night.

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Solar plane sets out on historic flight

Agenda for Pak-India talks to be finalized with Nirupama: FO

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary level talks between Pakistan and India, scheduled for June 24 here can pave the way for revival of stalled dialogue process between the two countries if both the countries will show seriousness and commitment for revival of talks.

Although terrorism will certainly be high on top of the agenda, but both the countries want to include all the subjects of their concern so that their leadership could not lose political support at their home country. Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will arrive here tomorrow to lead Indian side to meet her counterpart Salman Bashir on June 24 to prepare the agenda for the Foreign Ministers talks being held here on July 15.

The secretary level talks between the two countries are the follow up of the important meeting held between the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani in Thimphu, Bhutan in April this year on the side lines of SAARC summit.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi while talking to newsmen in Thimphu, said the meeting between two prime ministers has changed the climate in the region, therefore, the India government showed its readiness to send its Foreign Secretary to Pakistan to prepare the agenda for the Foreign Ministers meeting being held here next month.
Trust deficit between India and Pakistan will also be an important subject that will be included in the agenda for the talks between the Foreign Ministers.

Although India is not calling this foreign secretary meeting a “composite dialogue” but Pakistan has not problem to change the name and satisfied that India has accepted Pakistan’s offer to start “dialogue” process.

The foreign secretary level talks will be prep work for the July 15 visit of foreign minister S. M. Krishna to Pakistan.

The Indian side has many things in mind to bridge “trust deficit” and these proposals will be put forward to the Pakistan side to include in final agenda for FM meetings.

Trial for the seven Mumbai accused which is pending in the Pakistani courts will be an important issue, which will be highlight by Indian side along with the terrorism issue.
Although both the countries have joint anti-terror mechanism but both the countries are not satisfied on the working of this mechanism.

As Indian side will like to include terrorism, while Pakistan will include the Indian interference in Baluchistan and the long standing Kashmir issue along with water dispute for the agenda for the foreign minister talks.

Although, India and Pakistan’s first secretary level talks since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks ended in acrimony in New Delhi in February this without finalising any thing for future.

Tight security arrangements for SAARC meeting

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Capital Territory Police have made comprehensive security arrangements in the city on the eve of 3rd meeting of SAARC Ministers for Interior/Secretaries commencing here on Wednesday.

Around 1700 police personnel will perform their security duty round the clock only in connection with this meeting.

Overall security has also been tightened in the city and extra deployment is also made in the various areas. Contingents of Rangers and Frontier Constabulary are also assisting Islamabad police in these security arrangements.

Around 12 police pickets have been also erected in various areas leading to the venue of meeting with a purpose of elaborate security.

Police Commandoes has been deputed around sensitive locations and important buildings while policemen equipped with sophisticated weapons will also perform their duties at the roof tops. Special police teams have been constituted by each police station for effective patrolling in its respective jurisdiction.

Special police deployment has been ensured at sensitive and important buildings while police officials in civil uniforms have been assigned the task to keep vigilance against suspicious elements.

The IGP has issued special directives to all senior police officials to conduct checking themselves at all police pickets in their areas and make the security system more effective.

Inspector General of Police Islamabad, Syed Kaleem Imam has also directed for effective coordination among all wings of Islamabad police including Operational police, CID Department, Security Division and Special Branch on this occasion.

Sniffer dogs have been sent at police pickets erected at entry and exit points of the Capital for effective checking of vehicles. Special search of the forest and green belts of the city has been also ordered.

Lady Commandoes will also perform security duties on this occasion while Police Reserves will also remain stand by for any help on this occasion.

12,000 Cops to Ensure Karachi Security on Eid

KARACHI, Pakistan News: On the directives of Home Minister Dr Zulfikar Ali Mirza, the police have finalised security plan for maintenance of law and order on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha throughout the Province.

According to the plan over 12000 strong police force would be on deployment, especially in Karachi while installation of security cameras have been ensured for monitoring of major Eid congregations.

Under the plan all SHOs are in continuous contact with the management and office-bearers of Masajid, Imambargahs, organisers of Eidgahs and shopping centres, bachat bazaars and cattle markets.

The police are carrying out picketing, patrolling and snap checking at all entry and exit points while arrangements were complete for the force deployment in the city.

Besides, deployment of police in plain cloth for gathering intelligence at police station level, the mobile and special squads patrolling are also part of the plan to give a sense of security to people.

During Eidul Azha, the parking would be kept at a distance from Msajid, Imambargahs, Eidgahs, shopping centres, bachat bazars and congested public places, hotels, fast food outlets etc for fool proof security while bomb disposal squads are also on duty.

Deployment of traffic cops at all busy roads, light signals, inter-sections and round-abouts has been made and arrangements made to keep people informed about alternate traffic routes.

Implementation of Code of Conduct issued by the Home Department is also being ensured. Under the security plan, Control Room in West Zone with telephone number 37712926, East Zone with telephone No 99231246 and South Zone with No 99201197 and 99201196 are functioning round the clock for taking an immediate action.

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12,000 Cops to Ensure Karachi Security on Eid was first posted on November 28, 2009 at 9:16 am.