Pakistani minister indicates growing consensus in appointing politician to lead caretaker government

Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah during a press conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, on May 24, 2022. (AFP/File)
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Updated 27 July 2023
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Pakistani minister indicates growing consensus in appointing politician to lead caretaker government

  • Interior minister says no one wants a technocrat, retired judge or bureaucrat to head the caretaker setup
  • He challenges the perception that technocrats appointed by political parties remained neutral as caretakers

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s interior minister Rana Sanaullah said on Wednesday there was growing consensus that the next caretaker prime minister should be a politician instead of a retired judge or bureaucrat.

The country’s coalition administration will cease to exist next month since the national and provincial assemblies are scheduled to complete their five-year constitutional tenure in August.

Leading political factions in the outgoing government have started deliberating on the issue, with local media reporting recently that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party proposed the name of finance minister Ishaq Dar to head the coalition setup.

However, the PML-N allies expressed reservations over the name and even some of its own members objected to it publicly.

“It is not just my [political] party but everyone is saying this that only a politician should be appointed as caretaker prime minister,” Sanaullah said during an interview with Samaa TV. “It should not be a technocrat or a retired judge or bureaucrat.”

He said it was a false impression that technocrats appointed by political parties acted as neutral players while running caretaker setups.

The interior minister said the government had already empowered the upcoming caretaker administration to take important decisions for the smooth functioning of the economy and to attend to other significant governance issues.


Pakistan issues high alert as seventh spell of monsoon rains set to intensify

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Pakistan issues high alert as seventh spell of monsoon rains set to intensify

  • PDMA warns of “widespread rain-wind/thundershower” with possible urban and flash flooding from Aug. 13–21
  • Monsoon incidents in Punjab have killed 164 people and injured 582 since mid-June, over 300 people have died nationwide

ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Wednesday issued a high alert for heavy rains and possible flooding, warning that the seventh spell of the summer monsoons is forecast to be stronger than earlier phases and will persist through much of next week.

Pakistan’s government has reported over 300 deaths and 1,600 damaged houses due to the floods, heavy rain and other weather since June 26.

On Wednesday, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said “widespread rain-wind/thundershower (with scattered heavy falls at times very heavy) is expected” in upper Punjab from Aug. 13 to 17, with showers spreading to most plains districts from Aug. 18 to 21.

Areas at risk include Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Kasur, Faisalabad, and Sahiwal, among others.

“More rain-wind/thundershower is predicted in the country in coming days; monsoon activity is likely to intensify during the upcoming week,” the PDMA advisory said, citing the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

Moist currents from the Bay of Bengal are forecast to strengthen from Aug. 17, with a westerly wave influencing upper parts of the country.

DG PDMA Punjab Irfan Ali Kathia instructed all commissioners and deputy commissioners to remain “alert” and keep emergency control rooms staffed round the clock.

The agency warned of “urban flooding in low-lying areas of Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore and Sialkot” and possible flash floods in rivers and hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan from Aug. 18 to 21.

Landslides are also possible in Murree and Galiyat, while heavy winds could damage weak structures, rooftops and power infrastructure.

Hydrological data from Aug. 13 showed low flood levels in the Indus River at Kalabagh, Tarbela and Chashma, and in the Chenab at Khanki, with normal flows in the Jhelum, Ravi and Sutlej. Mangla Dam was at 65 percent capacity and Tarbela at 96 percent, while Indian reservoirs were around 70 percent full.

Since late June, monsoon-related incidents in Punjab have killed 164 people, injured 582, damaged 216 homes and killed 121 livestock, according to PDMA records.

The agency urged the public to follow safety instructions, keep children away from rivers and canals, and avoid crossing flowing water during floods.

Pakistan’s June–September monsoon brings around 70 percent of annual rainfall, but climate change is making seasonal patterns more erratic and intense. Scientists say warmer air holds more moisture, increasing the risk of extreme downpours, while glacial melt and poor drainage heighten flood vulnerability.

In 2022, record monsoon rains and glacial floods inundated a third of the country, killing at least 1,700 people and causing damage estimated at more than $30 billion.

Last week, a study by World Weather Attribution, a group of international scientists who study global warming’s role in extreme weather, found that rainfall from June 24 to July 23 in Pakistan was 10 percent to 15 percent heavier because of climate change, leading to many building collapses in urban and rural Pakistan.


Islamabad hosts Pak-US counterterrorism talks as both sides vow to tackle new militant tactics

Updated 15 min 4 sec ago
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Islamabad hosts Pak-US counterterrorism talks as both sides vow to tackle new militant tactics

  • Relations have warmed under Trump administration with both sides signaling greater willingness to expand security and economic cooperation
  • US designates Balochistan Liberation Army and its Majeed Brigade unit a “foreign terrorist organization” ahead of dialogue in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to combating militancy and addressing new security threats during a joint counterterrorism dialogue in Islamabad on Tuesday, the Pakistani foreign office said.

The talks, co-chaired by Pakistan’s Special Secretary for the United Nations Nabeel Munir and the US Department of State’s Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Gregory D. LoGerfo, covered strategies to counter militant groups and adapt to emerging security challenges such as the use of new technologies by non-state actors.

The latest meeting was the third counterterrorism dialogue in less than two years, following sessions in May 2024 and March 2023, signaling a renewed phase in joint efforts to counter both traditional militant threats and emerging, technology-driven dangers posed by non-state actors.

“Both delegations emphasized the importance of building stronger institutional frameworks and developing capabilities to respond to security challenges and to counter the use of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes,” the foreign office said in a joint statement after the talks. 

“The United States applauded Pakistan’s continued successes to contain terrorist entities that pose a threat to the peace and security of the region and the world.”

The discussions focused on groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Daesh’s Khorasan chapter, and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The BLA separatist group, which claimed last year’s hijacking of a train in Pakistan’s southwestern mountains in which 31 soldiers, staff and civilians were killed, was designated a “foreign terrorist organization” by Washington on Monday, alongside its Majeed Brigade special operations unit, a move aimed at restricting their funding and support networks.

In recent months, Pakistan has reported the use of commercial drones by TTP militants in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to attack security forces and civilian targets, marking a dangerous shift in militant tactics.

At the Islamabad talks, both countries also agreed to deepen cooperation in multilateral forums, including the United Nations, to promote “effective and enduring approaches to counterterrorism.”

Following the dialogue, LoGerfo met Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who “encouraged sustained and structured bilateral engagement on counterterrorism between both countries, as a vital contributor to peace and stability in the region and beyond,” the statement added.

Pakistan and the US have a long, complex history of security cooperation, particularly during the US-led “War on Terror” after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, when Islamabad was a key partner in military operations in Afghanistan.

In the years since, relations have repeatedly been strained over terrorism and security issues, and were particularly bad during the last government of Prime Minister Imran Khan, who publicly accused Washington of working with his political opponents and the military to remove him from office — a charge all three deny.

Under the current US President Donald Trump administration, ties have warmed again, with both sides signaling a renewed willingness to deepen military, counterterrorism and economic cooperation.


‘You can’t snatch even a drop,’ Pakistan warns India against restricting Indus waters

Updated 12 August 2025
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‘You can’t snatch even a drop,’ Pakistan warns India against restricting Indus waters

  • India announced in April it was putting Indus Waters Treaty, which ensures water for 80 percent of Pakistani farms, in abeyance over an attack in Kashmir
  • Pakistan has previously said the treaty has no provision for one side to unilaterally pull back and any blocking of its water will be ‘an act of war’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday warned India against restricting the flow of its share of the Indus waters, saying New Delhi could not “snatch even a drop” of water from Pakistan.

India announced in April it was putting the 1960 World Bank-mediated Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which ensures water for 80 percent of Pakistani farms, in abeyance a day after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan, an allegation Islamabad denies.

The IWT grants Pakistan rights to the Indus basin’s western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — for irrigation, drinking, and non-consumptive uses like hydropower, while India controls the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — for unrestricted use but must not significantly alter their flow. India can use the western rivers for limited purposes such as power generation and irrigation, without storing or diverting large volumes, according to the agreement.

Pakistan has previously said the treaty has no provision for one side to unilaterally pull back and that any blocking of river water flowing to Pakistan will be considered “an act of war,” while Islamabad said on Monday that the Court of Arbitration in the Hague last week issued a ruling with regard to the design of new Indian hydro-electric power stations on the western rivers that was in line with Pakistan’s interpretation of the relevant provisions of the treaty.

“I want to tell this to the enemy today that you threaten to cut off our water, remember this you cannot snatch even a drop of Pakistan’s share [of Indus water],” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said at a ceremony in Islamabad. “If you attempt such an act, we will again teach you such a lesson that you will regret it.”

Pakistan had brought a case to the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2023 over the design of Indian hydro-power projects on rivers that were awarded to Pakistan under the IWT.

In a ruling on Friday that was posted on its website on Monday, the court said it had jurisdiction over the dispute and ruled the treaty “does not permit India to generate hydro-electric power on the Western Rivers based on what might be the ideal or best practices approach for engineering” of these projects.

Instead, the design of these projects must adhere “strictly” to the specifications laid down in the treaty, the court said.

Pakistan’s Attorney General, Mansoor Usman, said in an interview on Tuesday that, by and large, the court had accepted Pakistan’s position, especially on the design issue of the new hydropower projects.

“I am sure it is clear now that India cannot construct any of these projects in violation of the court’s decision,” he told Reuters.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said late Monday that the court ruling said that India had to “let flow” the waters of the three rivers for Pakistan’s unrestricted use.

The court said its findings are final and binding on both countries, according to the foreign office statement.

But an Indian official pointed to a June statement by India’s foreign ministry, which said that New Delhi has never recognized the existence in law of the Court of Arbitration.

Pakistan and India engaged in a four-day military conflict in May this year, attacking each other with fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery. The standoff killed around 70 people on both sides before the United States announced a ceasefire on Monday, although India denies agreeing to the truce on the request of Washington.


Deputy PM calls for modernizing port infrastructure to boost Pakistan trade competitiveness

Updated 12 August 2025
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Deputy PM calls for modernizing port infrastructure to boost Pakistan trade competitiveness

  • Pakistan is currently making efforts to capitalize on its geostrategic location to boost trade and investment alongside tourism
  • The country plans to cut container dwell time at its seaports by up to 70 percent to improve trade competitiveness, ease congestion

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has called for modernizing the country’s port infrastructure and streamlining the processes to bolster Pakistan’s competitiveness in regional and global trade, state media reported on Tuesday.

Dar said this at a meeting he presided over in Islamabad to review operations at Pakistani ports and proposals to enhance efficiency, reduce turnaround times and ensure smooth cargo handling.

Pakistan is currently making efforts to capitalize on its geostrategic location to boost trade and investment alongside tourism as it slowly recovers from a macroeconomic crisis under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.

“The meeting covered measures to address port congestion, strengthen trade facilitation, and improve logistics systems to support imports, exports and overall economic activity,” the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.

Officials say the South Asian country plans to cut container dwell time at its seaports by up to 70 percent to improve trade competitiveness and ease congestion. Islamabad last month reduced port charges for exporters by 50 percent at the second largest Port Qasim.

Earlier this month, Pakistan granted its first-ever ferry service license to an international operator, Sea Keepers, for routes connecting Pakistan with Iran and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Pakistani maritime affairs ministry said on Monday.

Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry hailed the move as a “historic step,” aligned with Pakistan’s National Maritime Policy, and emphasized the opportunity this license creates for boosting regional connectivity, religious tourism and economic activity via sea routes.

“Initial operations will commence from the ports of Karachi and Gwadar using modern ferry vessels equipped with essential amenities to ensure safe, affordable travel,” Chaudhry was quoted as saying by his ministry.
It did not specify a date for the start of operations.


Pakistan weather office warns of heavy rains as Punjab issues urban flooding alert

Updated 12 August 2025
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Pakistan weather office warns of heavy rains as Punjab issues urban flooding alert

  • Punjab issues alert for the seventh monsoon spell from August 13-15, predicting heavy rains in most districts
  • PM Sharif orders advance monsoon alerts after deadly mudslides in Gilgit-Baltistan claimed at least seven lives

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday forecast heavy monsoon rains in the upper catchments of major rivers over the next 48 hours, while Punjab’s disaster management authority warned of possible urban flooding in several cities.

The PMD said the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala is expected to rise to low flood levels during the period, while the Chenab at Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad, along with the nullahs of the Ravi, could reach medium to high flows in the next 24 hours.

Scattered thunderstorms and rain of moderate intensity with isolated heavy downpours are likely over the upper catchments of the Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum rivers, as well as Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Zhob and DG Khan divisions.

Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) separately issued an alert for the seventh spell of the monsoon from Aug. 13-15, predicting heavy rains in most districts, particularly Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, and DG Khan.

“There is a risk of urban flooding in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Sialkot, as well as flash flooding in riverside nullahs due to heavy rains,” PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said in an alert, adding that possible landslides in Murree and Galiyat and damage to vulnerable buildings could not be ruled out.

The PDMA also directed commissioners and deputy commissioners to remain alert and ensure civil defense, rescue and other relevant agencies complete advance preparations.

It urged the public to follow safety guidelines, avoid unnecessary travel and, in case of urban or flash flooding, remain in safe areas and never attempt to cross flowing water.

ADVANCE MONSOON ALERTS

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for advance alerts for residents in areas vulnerable during the monsoon season, following deadly mudslides in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).
One of Pakistan’s most popular tourist destinations, GB is home to some of the world’s tallest peaks, glaciers and fast-running streams.

Despite its strategic location as Pakistan’s only land route to China, however, the region’s limited infrastructure leaves it vulnerable to glacial lake outburst floods, flash floods and landslides, underscoring the need for stronger disaster management measures.

In a meeting with the prime minister, the top National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) official, Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, briefed on progress “toward making the early warning system in Gilgit-Baltistan fully operational and enhancing cooperation with the Ministry of Climate Change in this regard,” according to a PM Office statement.

“The NDMA should further strengthen its coordination with the provinces for assistance and rehabilitation of victims of the recent rains and flooding,” Sharif was quoted as saying during the meeting.

“People in vulnerable areas must be given advance alerts in view of weather conditions and possible emergencies,” he added.

According to the NDMA, seven people were killed and six injured in a mudslide in Gilgit’s Danyore Nullah area over the weekend.

The monsoon season, which began on June 26, has so far claimed 312 lives and injured 740 people nationwide.