Inter-provincial traffic halted

Heavy rains inundate highway between Balochistan, Sindh

QUETTA:

Traffic between Balochistan and Sindh remained suspended on Monday after heavy rainfall in Naseerabad and Jaffarabad districts inundated the connecting highway in Dera Murad Jamali and Dera Allah Yar.

Meanwhile, the army and the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) are extending full support to the Balochistan government in the rescue and relief operations across the province, evacuating thousands of stranded people to safer places.

Long queues of vehicles were witnessed on both sides of the road in the affected areas. “We have been waiting for the reopening of the highway since last night”, Muhammad Akram, a truck driver told The Express Tribune via telephone.

Officials of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and the civil administration reached the affected districts to restore traffic. However, most parts of the Naseerabad district were inundated after breach in the Pat Feeder Canal.

The authorities succeeded in partially restoring traffic between Quetta and Karachi. "Day and night struggle of the administration ensured reopening of the traffic", Muhammad Dawood Khilji, the commissioner of Kalat Division stated. Khilji, however, cautioned the drivers of heavy vehicles to avoid travelling on the highway amid threats of flash floods.

Balochistan had been battered by abnormally heavy downpour in the province this monsoon. Flash floods unleashed by heavy rainfall caused massive destruction in Quetta, Lasbela, Jhal Magsi, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Pishin, Qilla Saifullah, Qilla Abdullah, Barkhan, and other districts of the province.

"Food, tents, and blankets have been provided to flood-stricken people in all affected districts", Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove said, after visiting Kalat to review the pace of rescue and relief operations in the area.

The Balochistan government has also announced holidays till August 27 in all private and public educational institutions across the province in view of the looming threat of flash floods and heavy rainfall in the province.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, while taking strict notice of public complaints about inflated electricity bills, directed the authorities concerned to submit an urgent report and recommendations on the matter.

The premier, chairing an urgent meeting to discuss the complaints on the inflated bills, resolved not to sit idle until the public complaints are addressed.

“Khadim-e-Pakistan is answerable to his people for resolution of their grievances. I am committed to speaking truth to my people,” he added.

Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir, Special Assistant to PM Ahad Cheema and relevant senior officers attended the meeting.

On Saturday, PM Shehbaz also suspended fixed sales tax collection through electricity bills and ordered the formulation of a new mechanism.

He also directed an inquiry over the levy of increased sales tax ratio on shopkeepers and retailers in the electricity bills other than the agreed one.

He issued these directives while chairing a meeting to review electricity rates and fixed sales tax collection through electricity bills.

During the meeting, PM Shehbaz specially asked for the inclusion of representatives of traders in the consultation process, prior to taking any decision with regards to the collection of taxes from shopkeepers through the utility bills.

(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP)