The News tnternstional, Karachl, Monday, Suly 27, 2026

NATIONAL 5

‘Mangroves key to
climate resilience and
blue economy, says
minister

food security and the liveli-
hoods of fishing communities,
a ISLAMABAD: Federal Minis- as Mangrowes serve as breeding
ev W | ter for Maritime Affairs Junaid and nursery grounds for fish,
Anwar Chaudhry has high- shrimp, crabs and other spo-
lighted the vital role of Paki- cies that support fisheries and
Stan's margrowes in protecting emerging squaculure. He este
the Arabian Sea coastline, sus mated that Pakistan's mangrove
taining fisheries and strengthen- carbon market could generate
ing dimate resilience.    $20.50 milion annunlly, depend.
Tn a statement issued here ing on carbon<redit prices and
onthe eve of Word Mangrove volumes. The minister said
Day, Mr Chaudhry called for Balochistan's roughly 4,058
concerted efforts to protect and hectares of mangroves could
} | restore the country’s mangrove also contribute to national car
ecosystems and unlock ther bon-market initiatives,
Potential forthe bluecconomy. . Ile added that mangroves.
‘The minister said that Palé- can sequester roughly four
stan ishome lo the world’s larg. times more carbon than ter-
est arid-climate mangrove for- restrial forests. Acknowledging
| est, concentrated in the Indus past degradation caused by
Delta tn Sindh, with smaller encroachments, pollution and
patches in Balochistan. — -_-.- reduced Indus flows, he oat
He sald Pakistan currently Lined rehabilitation efforts by
ranks around seventh globally the Karachi Port Trust (KPT)
in mangrove forest arca and and provindal authorities.    .
could move to fourth or fifth He said KPT recovered
place through sustained res. mangrove arcss from squatters,
toration efforts, He sald man- launched afforestation drives
groves act 2s a natural shield along Mai Kolachi Road and


By Rasheed mnalid


traffic fam slows vebicies 0 on Shahdara Valley Road on the outskirts of ‘the capital   — Orine

Tves|  AUdIt of flood mitigation


‘                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Against shoreline erosion, flood. nearby coastal areas and o:
.  price revisions                                                                                                                                                                                     ing and storm surges while pro-_ ised weekly cleanups. ©   rer
fuel fears of                                                                                                                                                                      tecting coastal communities, KPT had also sppointed
;            ;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ports and marine biodiversity. | environmental activist Almas
‘inflation                                  ro   jec   S  or    ere                                ~ He warned that degradation Kasmani 2s ts ambassador for
.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             of these ecosystems threstens coastal mangrove restoration.
By Khalid (qhal           By Jamila Achaizal — - and coordinated action dur. sentatives of relevant federal meeting on the prevailing disaster preparedness and
.                               .    ing the 2026 monsoon rains. and provincial departments, hydrological situation across response, He stressed that

RAWALPINDI: The daily| ISLAMABAD: Planning .
revision of petrol prices has| and development minister issued during a meeting of were present in person. .

The directives were

and other key stakeholders the country and said that the early wamings must be dis-
overall riverine flood situa- seminated promptly through

Wiggered a fresh concem over | Prof Ahsan Iqbal on Sun the Emergency Response © The committee reviewed tion remained nonnal, with all available resources.

inflation, with consumers | day directed authorities to Committee that he chaired the implementation status water Nows in the major

and business representatives | remain fully prepared and at the National Emergen-
waming that the poly is driv-| ensure seamless coordina: cies Operation Centre of the

ing up the cost of living and/ tion throughout the ongoing National Disaster Manage-
unbearable                                                                            headquarte

Placing an
onhouschoks,
.- According to the residents,
frequent increases in fuel
peices — sometimes by Ret,
Rs6, Rs8, or even Rsi0 per
litre —have hada ripple effect
actoss the economy, pushing
up the prices of essential
goods and services, Traders
often cite higher transporta-
tion costs to Justify price hike,
leaving consumers with hide
choice but to pay more,

The residents of the twin
cities urged the Prime Minis-

ter Shehbaz Sharif to abandon | f
the daily fuel pricing mecha- | §

tainty, accclerates inflation,
and makes it increasingly dif-
ficult for ordinary citizens to
manage houschold expenses.
They have recommended
returning to fortnightly or
monthly fuel price adjust
ments to bring greater market
stability.                 .

_ The city dweller say the
rising cost of food has become
one of their biggest
Vegetables are now priced
between Rs200 and Rs250,
while some varieties have

reached Rs{00 per kilogram. | ?
Visitors gather att Daman-e-Koh to admire re and photograph the Goldman Statue. —APP

Rawalpindi holds a__
special place in the hearts

f its residen
°      ts: res ide wi rain against roof-    Admin VOWS strict action

Tomato prices range from
Rs300 to Rsi50 per kilogram
depending on the market,
onions are selling for Rs100
to Rs120 and cucumbers have

to Rs2i0 per kg, Cap-
sicum is selling for around
R200 per kilogram, eggplant
Rs180, taro root R200, while
chicken prices have cimbed
from about Rs505 to Rs560

por kilogram.

Per cary familie say they are
struggling to afford even basic
food items while also coping
with higher electricity, gas,
dnd woiee bids. Tho ressicats
of Rawalpindi and Islamabad
have appealed to the prime
minister and the petroleum
minister to restore fortnightly
or monthly fuel price reviews,
arguing that a more predicta-

vicing mechanism would

Askari Bank secures ‘AAA
rating from PACRA.

ISLAMABAD: Askari Bank
has secured the Long-Term
Entity Rating of Triple-A
(AAA) by Pakistan Credit
Rating Agency Linited
{PACRA),        .

During 2025, the Bank
delivered strong financial
performance, with contin:
ued growth in profitability,
total assets, deposits, and
shareholders’ equity while

maintaining a Capital Ade-.

quacy Ratio significantly
above regulatory require-
ments,

The Bank's digital trans-
formation Joumncy also con--
tinues to strengthen its mar

ket position

burden | monsoon season to reduce ment

Authority              13.
the risk of casualties and here...
property:                         + Climate
He also ordered an audit Dr Musadik Masood Malik,
of the mitigation projects National Food Security
initiated and completed after Minister Rana Tanveer Hus-
last year’s.            foods sain and IT and Telecom.
and said the findings should munication Minister Shaza
be presented in the next Fatima Khawaja altended
meeting of the Emergency the meeting via video link.
Response Commiltee sect NDA Chairman Licutenant
up by the prime minister to Genera] Inam Halder Malik,
supervise National readiness senior NDAA officials, repre-

e Minister

The meeting reaffirmed
of preparedness measures_rivers currently within safe the Emergency Response
undertaken by the provine limits.                           Committee's commitment to
clal disaster management They, however, said given strengthening national coor
authorities and other rele- the ongoing monsoon spell, dination, enhancing prepar-
vant departments,             continuous monitoring of edness and ensuring a unt
representatives provided weather systems, river flows fied and effective response
updates on the availability and vulnerable areas was mechanism to safeguard
of relief supplies, emergency being maintained to ensure lives, livelihoods and critical
communication mecha. the timely dissemination of infrastructure during the cur-
nisms, evacuation planning, early wamings and a prompt rent morsoon season.
response readiness and responsetoanyemergingsit- The NDMA-   mem-
interagency coordination to uation.                     ber (operations) said the
ensure a timely and effective . Minister Dr Musadik National Situation Report
response during the ongoing emphasised the pivotal role was compiled daily after
monsoon season.                of district and local admin- receiving updates from the
Officials informed the Sstrations in strengthening provinces and regions,


Tare
tg


By lone Ahmad     .
erleket in the rain, sharing

Rawalpindi boys are infamous’ fries at corner stalls, and
for tuming every available swapping secrets over cups
nook into a cricket ground. ofsteaming chal. Years later,
Whether it's 2 deserted even when life takes them in
side street or the tiny space different directions, the bond

‘21,000 character:
certificates issued by
service centres in one year

“Byour correspondent vice centres issued 21,160
g                                               character certificales during
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad the year. They also conducted
Police has released perfor- 977 vehicle verification
mance dala for its Police Ser- inspections, registered 13,21
vice Centres, highlighting the tenants, and completed 20,355
}} | range of public services deliv general police verifi