SWAT / ISLAMABAD (AwesomePakistan.Net): The top agency for disaster management issued a weather advisory and alerts on Tuesday after weather officials forecast high intensity rain and snowfall in major parts of the country within the next 24 hours.

“It is expected that from Tuesday onwards there will be an increase in the intensity of rainfall and snowfall in major parts of the country which will continue till Thursday,” said the PMD Director General Dr Ghulam Rasul, while talking to The Express Tribune. “There are chances of floods in low-lying areas due to heavy rainfall and landslides due to snowfall over hilly areas. In the coming two days temperature is expected to drop further in northern areas,” he said.

More showers are expected next month and after mid-February spring season will start in Pakistan. He said it was unfortunate Pakistan had a capacity to store only 30 days water in its two major reservoirs no matter how much amount of rain it receives every year.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has advised people to take extra precautionary measures while travelling towards hilly areas. Those living in low-lying areas should move to safer places in order to avoid any untoward situation which may occur due to heavy rain/snowfall, it said.

Extreme weather: Heavy rains kill two in Balochistan 

The NDMA has requested the Provincial National Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) to coordinate with vulnerable districts – particularly of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan – for timely preparedness and immediate response.

“All roads leading to snow bound areas should be covered by police check posts to control flow of traffic and ensure commuters travel safety. Traffic to and from Murree, Galiyat, Naran and Kaghan valley must be regulated,” it said.

The NDMA has also asked that all crossing points at seasonal nullahs and hill torrents to be manned by police to stop crossing of vehicles during flash flood.

“People living in slums [kachi abadi] must be sensitised to shift to safe locations to avoid any loss of life due to a roof or wall collapse. Food, medicines and fuel stock to be ensured for far-flung and snow bound areas,” the NDMA advisory said.

The authority also requested Information Ministry to ensure airing of advisories and public service messages through electronic media and the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to ensure that telecommunication services remain intact, especially in snowbound areas.

“Ensure functioning of urban rainwater disposal, sanitation systems along with backup supply and availability of requisite staff,” it advised.

Snowfall on Swat mountains

Heavy rain and snowfall on mountains of Swat further dropped the temperature in the valley. According to an official of the Swat meteorological department, rain coupled with chilly wind which started on late Monday night continued lashing parts of Swat till Tuesday evening.

Weather Report: Twin cities expect rains from Sunday 

“The recent downpour has lashed parts of lower Swat including the main city of Mingora, Saidu Sharif, Matta, Khawaza Khela and Kabal,” the official said, adding that besides downpour, snowfall was also recorded on the mountains of Bahrain and Kalam valley.

The official also said the recent spell of rain and snowfall would continue till Thursday.

Meanwhile, one person was killed and two others were injured due to heavy rains in Quetta on Tuesday.

Several houses were also damaged and power supply remained suspended in various areas of the city. Many areas of Qila Abdullah, Chaman, Zhob and Toba Kakari were cut off from the district headquarters as flash floods washed away the link roads.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued emergency alert in the province, while Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri directed all concerned departments to immediately send relief goods and food items to the affected areas and shift the people to safer places, if needed.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2017.

KARACHI/BERLIN (News92World):  Corruption in Pakistan declined over the past year, a Transparency International report revealed on Wednesday.

According to the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2016, Pakistan’s CPI score improved by two points from 30 to 32 out of 100. The country’s rank in the CPI 2016 improved by nine spots, to 61 in the list of most corrupt countries among 176 countries in 2016, from 52 among 168 countries in 2015.

For the first time since 1996 (when the first CPI was published), Pakistan climbed up from the lowest one-third corrupt countries to the middle one-third countries in 2016.

Pakistan fared better than most of its South Asian counterparts, coming in second after China in reducing corruption.

Each year Transparency International scores countries on how corrupt their public sectors are seen to be, after capturing the informed views of analysts, businesspeople and experts in countries around the world.

My belly fluttering as I thought of Darryl. In my mind, I remembered his breathtaking face and chiseled body beneath his custom made three piece suit and how much I wanted to run my fingers through his hair.

The phone rang jerking me back to the here and now.

"Eric Waterman's office, Adela Cornway speaking."

"Did you see him?" asked Jamie in a rush.

"See who?" lost, bewildered.

"Darryl. He called while you were asleep. I felt bad for calling him an arrogant jerk, so I told him where you are working. Do you know that they have an office on the nineteenth floor? What a coincidence. It opened today.....""

http://ia600503.us.archive.org/9/items/SecretServiceMission/Secret_Service_Mission_Paksociety_com.pdf

WASHINGTON (Web Desk) - United States president Donald Trump on Saturday attended an inter-faith religious service at Washington National Cathedral and listen the recitation of the Holy Quran.

Religious leaders from various faiths were invited to recite prayers at the ceremony.

Religious leaders from various faiths were invited to recite prayers at the ceremony which was part of Trump’s three-day inauguration event.

All Dulles Area Muslim Society executive director Imam Mohamed Magid who was likely to give the call to prayer, recited two verses from the Holy Quran instead.

“O humankind, We have created you from a single male and female (Adam and Eve) and made you into nations and tribes and communities, that you may know each other. Really, the most honored of you in the sight of God is the one most righteous of you, and God has full knowledge and is the one acquainted with all thanks.” 

“And among the signs of God is the creation of heaven and earth, and the variation in your languages and your colors. Verily, in that are signs for those who know,” read the imam.

Trump was sitting alongside his wife Melania and the family of Vice President Mike Pence in the ceremony.

Donald Trump became the 45th president of United States on Friday, ushering in a new political era that is cheered and feared in equal measure.

The 70-year-old Republican billionaire placed his left hand on a bible used by Abraham Lincoln and recited the 35-word oath spoken since George Washington, and then launched into a much-anticipated inaugural address.

RAQQA: (News2World) – Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has set a reward of one million US dollars for killing Kurdish lady fighter Joanna Palani, reported Express News World.

22-year-old Joanna Palani kept fighting ISIS for several months along with the Kurdish officials in Iraq and Syria. ISIS has directed its fighters and supporters to kill Palani.

Denmark national Joanna Palani has recently returned to her home country after fighting ISIS for several months. Denmark officials seized her passport upon return and started a secret trial against her in the court.

Published by: Dunya News

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Thousands of Iraqi children are heading back to school in east Mosul after weeks of fighting and more than two years of militant rule, the UN children’s fund UNICEF said Tuesday.

Iraqi forces launched a massive operation to recapture Mosul from the Daesh group 100 days ago and have ousted the militants from all the central neighbourhoods of east Mosul.

But while returning to school is a good start, recovery will likely be a long process for Iraqi children exposed to bloody urban warfare that followed Daesh efforts to indoctrinate the next generation.

"As fighting subsides in east Mosul, 30 schools reopened on Sunday with help from UNICEF, allowing over 16,000 children to resume their education," it said in a statement.

"Some schools in the area were closed for up to two years, and girls were banned from getting an education," it said.

"After the nightmare of the past two years, this is a pivotal moment for the children of Mosul to reclaim their education and their hope for a better future," UNICEF’s Iraq representative Peter Hawkins said.

Daesh overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces have since recaptured much of the territory they lost.

During more than two and a half years of rule in Iraq, the militant group sought to indoctrinate children into its extremist ideology, using schools as part of its efforts to do so.

It has also featured children in propaganda videos that showed them in Daesh "training" and classroomindoctrination, as well as being used as executioners.

Iraqi forces launched the Mosul operation on October 17 and have made rapid gains on the city’s eastern side this month, but the west still remains under Daesh control.

LAHORE: Former Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has been allotted 868 kanals and 10 marlas of land (about 90 acres) on Bedian Road Lahore, and not just 482 kanals, through the Border Area Committee, reliable sources have disclosed. 

The total value of the allotted land is estimated at around Rs1.35 billion. Sources said that Raheel Sharif has been allotted 50 acres of land under his prerogative as a four-star general, and another 40 acres as the chief of army staff. The land is situated in Mauza Rukh Bathant, located along western side of BRB Canal, adjacent to  Mauza Heear. 

According to the Fard Malkiat (Record of Rights), the Cantt Revenue authorities received the Mutation (Intiqal) orders from the Border Area Committee vide letter No 17408 on Dec 24, 2014 for allotment of the said lands. After entry of the mutation order, the Cantt establishment officer allowed allotment of the lands on Dec 29, 2014. Under Part (copy of government record) No 140805, Serial No 4, Khata (Holding of a Tenant) No 5/15, 43/15, and 108/15, three hundred and eighty-six (386) kanals of land was allotted. Also, under Part No 140811, Serial No 5, Khata No 15/15, 3/151 and 369/15, four hundred and eighty-two kanals and ten marlas of land was allotted. Collectively, this land measures about 90 acres of land, which has been allotted to ex-COAS General Raheel Sharif. 

The process of allotment of agricultural lands, commercial plots, DHA lands and distribution of other facilities among the army officers and officials is carried out directly by the General Headquarters (GHQ) through an adjutant general, whose rank is equal to a lieutenant general. Also, a major-general ranked officer heads the Welfare Directorate at the GHQ, who acts as the director-general (DG) of the Welfare Directorate. He conveys the GHQ orders to the respective chairmen of the Border Area Committees in this regard, and ensures implementation of the orders. 

All the Border Area Committees across the country have the record of all lands situated along the borders in different villages (Mauza Jaat). All decisions that how much lands would be allotted to an army officer or official are made at the GHQ, which are directly conveyed to the respective chairmen of the Border Area Committees, after approval from the Welfare Directorate. 

There are different border area committees comprising various zones in the border areas. Headed by a brigadier or colonel, the committee has an assistant commissioner as its civil member. A revenue officer (tehsildar) and his staff assist the committee.

The land allotment to Gen Raheel has been executed by the Border Area Committee Lahore. Its chairman, Colonel Tabish Sajid, refused to comment when contacted for information about the land allotment policy. Civil member of the committee, Sardar Farrukh Tufail, also did not say anything.

Commenting on the land allotment policy, a senior official of the Board of Revenue said, requesting anonymity, that the provincial board of revenue does not have any authority in this regard. The revenue board allots land on the records of the provincial government to the military officials on a directive received from the GHQ in the light of a letter issued by the chairman of the border area committee concerned.

It is worth mentioning here that the lands situated along borders are part of the provincial land records, but the establishment officers have no authority over the lands situated up to five kilometers along the border. The revenue officer said that the district collector is conveyed the land allotment orders through the Board of Revenue. Then the establishment officer concerned, acting as the collector, approves the allotment of lands. The establishment officer is legally bound to implement the orders of Border Area Committee chairman, and thus he confirms the completion of the allotment process. 

An estate agent working in the area said that the price of one acre land along Bedian Road in the said village was estimated at Rs10 million to Rs10.5 million. 

Another agent, Haji Zahid bin Sadiq, said that the price of lands in border areas depended on location of the lands. He said people demand Rs6-7 million for one acre of land near BRB Canal. However, Imran Ahmad, another estate agent, said the price of one acre land ranges between Rs9 to 10 million.

A property dealer told The News that after development the worth of this land would be about Rs2.5 billion. Another property dealer, however, said the worth of the land after development would be over Rs4 billion.

Originally published in The News