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Express Tribune
22-07-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
Rain delays arrival of Lodhran family's bodies from Chilas
Vehicles are seen stranded on Karakoram Highway in Chilas due to landslides which had been triggered by heavy rains in Gilgit-Baltistan. PHOTO: ONLINE Ongoing rains and poor weather conditions have delayed the return of the bodies and surviving members of a Lodhran-based family involved in a tragic flash flood incident near Chilas. Seventeen members of a Lodhran-based medical family were caught in a flash flood near Chilas, resulting in the deaths of two family members and the disappearance of a five-year-old child. The remaining members were rescued and shifted to a safe location after receiving medical assistance. The tragedy struck during the return journey from a recreational tour to Gilgit-Baltistan. According to family sources, the family's coaster van was swept away by a sudden flood near Chilas. The deceased have been identified as Fahad Islam, elder son of Shahida Islam Medical and Teaching Hospital's owner and Dr Mishal Fatima, wife of Fahad's younger brother Saad Islam. The couple's nephew, five-year-old Abdul Hadi, remains missing. Rescue operations are ongoing to locate the child. The family group included Mian Islam, his wife Shahida Islam, sons Fahad Islam and Saad Islam with their wives and children, daughters Zainab and Faiza Islam (with her husband Muhammad Waheed and their three children), as well as two household staff members. They had left for Gilgit-Baltistan a week ago. Shahida Islam Hospital's Director Admin Ataullah Wahla confirmed that surviving family members are currently housed at the Deputy Commissioner's Office in Chilas. Following the news of the tragedy, educational activities at Shahida Islam Medical College were suspended. Quran recitations were held throughout the day in the college's conference hall. A large number of people, including students and local residents, visited to offer condolences. Family member Muhammad Aamir said the funeral prayers and burial in Lodhran will take place once the bodies arrive, depending on weather conditions. Meanwhile, relatives have begun arriving at the family's residence in Lodhran to offer their sympathies.
Express Tribune
19-07-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
100 boats deployed for monsoon emergencies
Rescue officials ferry stranded villagers to safety as floodwaters engulf low-lying areas near Narowal amid relentless monsoon rains sweeping across Punjab. PHOTO: ONLINE Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) is on high alert to respond to any untoward situation during the ongoing monsoon and flood emergencies, Emergency Services Secretary Dr Rizwan Naseer said while addressing a press briefing. He said Rescue 1122's flood response units, including over 100 boats, 312 trained rescuers, OBM engines and emergency equipment, have been deployed in vulnerable and low-lying areas across the province. Dr Naseer urged citizens to monitor rooftops and surroundings during rainfall to avoid loss of life or property due to water accumulation. He said 1,594 people have been rescued during the current rain spell.
Express Tribune
12-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pink salt's export potential remains untapped
Beneath Karachi's blistering sun, a salt farmer harvests shimmering sea crystals in a coastal area — a backbreaking labour that yields just Rs1,000 a day. Each grain tells a story of toil, endurance, and the quiet dignity of labour. PHOTO: ONLINE Even though India's ban on Pakistani pink salt has opened up new opportunities for local traders in other international markets, the true potential of the profitable sector remains untapped since Pakistan, till date, has not been able to develop a value-adding system for processing and rebranding what many consider to be the world's healthiest salt. A local salt exporter, Muhammad Riaz, revealed that even in the past, governments were advised to export Pakistan's unique salt with value addition, but none took serious steps while India continued to market Pakistani salt as its own across global markets. "Indian traders are currently obtaining salt through Dubai. During the tenure of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, a proposal had been made for Pakistan to export salt directly to other countries rather than allowing India to benefit from it. Presently, Pakistani salt exporters are again emphasizing that salt should not be exported as a raw material but instead should be processed and branded, enabling Pakistan to boost exports and earn valuable foreign exchange," noted Riaz. Sources indicate that the ongoing political tensions between Pakistan and India have severely affected trade, pushing traders on both sides to adopt new strategies. From November 2023 to October 2024, Pakistan remained a major exporter of pink salt. During this period, 3,789 shipments of Himalayan salt were exported, marking a 10 percent increase compared to the previous year. In 2023, India had imported 462 metric tons of Himalayan pink salt from Pakistan, which increased to 642 metric tons in 2024. However, these numbers are still significantly lower compared to 2018 (74,457 metric tons) and 2019 (72,631 metric tons). After India imposed a direct ban on the import of Pakistani salt in 2019, trade was completely halted. As a result, India lost access to the inexpensive pink salt it used to source from Pakistan. However, Indian traders continue to import this salt through other countries, rebrand it, and sell it under their own labels. Although the volume of trade has decreased, indirect exports of Pakistani salt to India are still ongoing. For years, India earned substantial profits by purchasing this salt at low prices and selling it for much more. Previously, India used to receive cheap salt via the Wagah land route, but now it has to pay significantly more to acquire it. Since the complete suspension of trade through Wagah following the Pahalgam incident, relations between the two countries have become increasingly strained. In the meantime, Indian traders have started importing Pakistani pink salt via third countries. In this way, Indian companies are continuing to trade Pakistani salt through indirect means and earning profits through value addition. After the Pulwama attack in 2019, India imposed a 200 per cent tariff on Pakistani goods, which drastically reduced trade. As a result, exports of Pakistani pink salt to India became negligible. In 2025, a complete ban was enforced on salt trade, and now it is expected that even indirect trade through third countries may come to a halt. Due to the halt in the import of Pakistani Himalayan pink salt, local prices in India have surged. Salt that was previously sold for 45 to 50 Indian rupees per kilogram is now priced at up to 150 Indian rupees per kilogram. Hence, India is now looking towards countries like the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Iran, Australia, and Afghanistan to meet its salt requirements. In the meanwhile, during the first five months of 2025, Pakistan's salt exports to China increased by 38 per cent. Exporters say that in Punjab, the Mines and Minerals Department is actively extracting salt from mines, and salt reserves have been leased to the private sector. This has enabled private companies to play a more active role in increasing exports. "The government needs to stop the export of raw salt entirely and focus on value-added products," implored Riaz.
Express Tribune
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Bodies of nine slain passengers sent home
Mourners in Multan carry the coffin of a victim of the latest terrorist carnage in Balochistan to graveyard. PHOTO: ONLINE Listen to article The bodies of nine passengers martyred in a terrorist attack in the Sardhaka area overnight were sent to their hometowns in Punjab for burial on Friday, as the provincial government expanded the scope of law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) to launch decisive actions against the perpetrators. Those slaughtered in the late-night terrorist attack belonged to the Lahore, Gujrat, Khanewal, Gujranwala, Lodhran, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, and Attock districts. They included two brothers Jabbar and Usman from Dunyapur. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said that Fitna al Hindustan, a term used for Indian-backed terrorist organisations in Balochistan, had carried out attacks at three different places. The terrorist attack occurred near the boundary between the Zhob and Loralai districts. The bodies were brought to Zhob, where they were received by Deputy Commissioner Usman Khalid and Border Military Police Commandant Asad Khan Chandia. The victims, who were travelling from Quetta to Lahore, were identified as Muhammad Irfan, Dera Ghazi Khan; Sabir Hussain, Gujranwala; Muhammad Asif, Chowk Qureshi; Ghulam Saeed, Khanewal; Muhammad Junaid, Lahore; Muhammad Bilal, Attock; Bilawal, Gujrat and Jabbar and Usman, Dunyapur. The funeral prayers for brothers Jabbar Toor and Usman Toor were held at Government Boys High School, Dunyapur in the Lodhran district. Relatives said that the victims were traveling to attend the funeral of their father. Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti ordered the law-enforcement agencies to launch an immediate and decisive action against those involved in the Sardhaka massacre, authorising them to act beyond the "usual limits of the levies and police jurisdictions, if required". The chief minister chaired a security meeting in the provincial capital to review the law and order situation in the province, and received a briefing from the Balochistan inspector general of police on the Sardhaka incident and the updates on the ongoing investigation and security operations in the area. "The pursuit of these terrorists will continue until they are brought to justice. There will be no compromise on enforcing the law in Balochistan," the chief minister said, adding that security forces have been authorised to act beyond the usual limits of levies and police jurisdictions. 'Barbaric act' President Asif Ali Zardari described the killing of passengers as a "barbaric act" and said that it was part of Fitna al-Hindustan's broader conspiracy to destabilise Pakistan. He reaffirmed the state's commitment to purge the country of Fitna al-Hindustan and their facilitators at all costs. Similarly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Sardhaka massacre, terming it "blatant terrorism". He asserted that the perpetrators would be dealt with through full state force. "The blood of innocent people will be avenged," he said, blaming India for supporting such acts against unarmed civilians. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi denounced the killings as "cowardly barbarism" by "Indian?sponsored terrorists and their local facilitators", vowing nationwide pursuit and punishment of the perpetrators. He reaffirmed the state's commitment to thwart all plots against national peace and integrity. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)
Express Tribune
11-07-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
New grading policy for matric, inter deferred
No complaints were received on the first day of the Board Secondary Education Karachi annual examinations 2016, where 100 per cent of the students scheduled to sit for the exams attended. PHOTO: ONLINE The implementation of the new grading policy at the matriculation and intermediate levels across Sindh and the rest of Pakistan has been postponed for one year. As a result, the recently concluded 2025 annual examinations for Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and High School Certificate (HSC) will follow the old grading system. The Sindh Universities and Boards Dept has issued a notification referencing its earlier notification dated October 15, 2024, and the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen notification dated June 18, 2025. The new policy will now be enforced from 2026. Per the earlier policy, passing marks in all subjects were to be increased from 33% to 40% starting 2025. Results were to be issued through Grade Point (GP) and later via Grade Point Average (GPA). Under the new grading scale, an A++ grade will represent 95-100% marks and be termed Exceptional with a GPA of 5.0. An A+ (90-94%) will be Outstanding, A (85-89%) Excellent, B++ (80-84%) Very Good, and B+ (75-79%) Good. Grades B, C, D, and E will be labeled Fairly Good, Above Average, Average, and Below Average respectively. Students scoring below 40% will be considered as having failed, but the term used will be Unsatisfactory instead of Fail.
