Category: Latest News

KARACHI: The rapid degradation of the Indus Delta is threatening coastal livelihoods and could increasingly expose Karachi to flooding, seawater intrusion and other climate-related risks, experts warned at a book launch ceremony held at the Arts Council of Pakistan. Once a thriving ecosystem supporting fisheries, agriculture and thousands of coastal communities, the delta is steadily drying, eroding and sinking due to inadequate freshwater and sediment reaching its lower reaches. The worsening conditions are making parts of Thatta, Sujawal and Keti Bandar increasingly difficult to inhabit and forcing communities to abandon…

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Masood Malik has called for a major expansion of groundwater recharge initiatives in Islamabad to tackle the continued depletion of the capital’s underground water reserves. Speaking at an event titled “Protecting Islamabad’s Aquifers” at the USEFP Auditorium, the minister said around 200 recharge wells had been constructed across the capital as a pilot initiative, but stressed that the programme needed to be scaled up significantly. Dr Malik said the recharge interventions had resulted in an estimated 0.4-millimetre rise in…

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BISHKEK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has warned that water must never be used as a weapon or instrument of political coercion, stressing that agreements governing shared water resources are binding international commitments that must be respected in letter and spirit. Addressing the 26th Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State in Bishkek, the prime minister described water as the “lifeblood” of the region and said its availability was essential for sustaining millions of people, agriculture and the future of generations to come. “The treaties governing…

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NEW YORK: Global oil prices jumped nearly 4% on Tuesday, reaching their highest levels in about a week, as renewed fighting between the United States and Iran intensified concerns over potential disruptions to Middle Eastern oil supplies. Brent crude futures rose $3.44, or 3.8%, to $93.93 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained $3.72, or 4.3%, to $89.48. The gains put Brent on track for its highest close since August 20 and WTI for its strongest close since July 23. Oil prices had already begun rising following…

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KARACHI: Karachi’s industrial sector has voiced growing concern over high electricity tariffs and additional charges, warning that rising energy costs are undermining production, exports and the competitiveness of Pakistani products in regional and international markets. At a meeting with members of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), K-Electric Board Chairman Shaheryar Chishti said the utility was investing Rs15 billion to upgrade its power infrastructure and improve the reliability of electricity supplies to industrial consumers. He said the investment would cover the installation of new cables and wires, grid…

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