Global Electricity Review 2025
<p>In a world of higher electricity demand growth, clean electricity is stepping up to the challenge. Spearheaded by exponential solar expansion, clean power is set to grow faster than demand, marking
Pakistan
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Water Council demands dismissal of Punjab minister
The Punjab Water Council (PWC) has demanded dismissal of Irrigation Minister Raja Riaz allegedly for working against interests of the province. Raja Riaz who is the senior PPP minister in the Punjab government categorically stated here on Wednesday that Punjab should forget construction of the controversial mega Kalabagh dam on river Indus. The Executive Committee of Punjab Water Council held an emergency meeting here on Thursday and said that the Punjab Assembly has already passed a resolution favouring the immediate construction of Kalabagh Dam.
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Germany to give Rs 11m aid for flood victims
Germany announced on Wednesday to provide Rs 11 million assistance for flood victims in North West Frontier Province (NWFP). "The German Federal Foreign Office (FFO) is making available Rs 11 million to help flood victims in northwest Pakistan,' said a statement by the German embassy. The embassy said following heavy rainfall, more than 200,000 people in the region bordering Afghanistan had been affected during the last weeks. It said at least 50 people were still missing.
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Dengue toll rises to 289 this year
The number of patients infected with the dengue virus in Karachi is on the rise and the total is now at 289 cases, since two new dengue cases were reported in the last 24 hours. Sindh Spokesman on Dengue and Deputy Secretary Health Dr Shakil Malik told Daily Times Wednesday that there are 25 dengue patients admitted at various public health facilities in Karachi, including 11 at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, two at Civil Hospital Karachi and two at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.
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Gastroenteritis patient dies; many hospitalized
A man died while many people were hospitalized due to gastroenteritis in Luddan on Wednesday. A gastro patient, Noor Ahmed, 50, was being taken to Luddan rural health centre (RHC) but he died just before reaching the RHC. A dispenser told Dawn that scores of gastro patients were brought to the RHC. The health department has established a camp in this area and started vaccinating the people.
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Flood affected areas declared calamity-hit
: NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Wednesday declared those localities as calamity-hit areas, which had been badly affected due to torrential rains and floods on Aug 4. The areas include the Dirdawar circle of Mathra and 22 Patwar circles of Khalisa. These areas will be exempted from paying water tax, land revenue, agriculture income tax etc for one year from June 30, says a handout. According to details, 12,934 acres of land and standing crops over 9,939 acres had been destroyed.
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Noise pollution (editorial)
IT is the second one in over a decade and a half. The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) has announced that it is launching yet another study to measure noise levels at various localities in Karachi. This study will be carried out in different places at different times to record the general level of noise
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Another five dengue cases reported
Five more patients with suspected dengue virus reported at different government hospitals in the city during Monday night and Tuesday, raising the number of such cases reported this year to 287. Focal person of the Dengue Surveillance Cell Dr Shakeel Malik said that one of the patients was discharged from a hospital after his complete recovery. He said 34 patients with suspected dengue virus were still under treatment in different hospitals, along with two confirmed dengue cases.
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Chitral forest a windfall' for timber mafia
The timber mafia in NWFP has wreaked havoc on the forest of Chitral by illegally felling green trees and smuggling them to other parts of the country. However, the government has failed to take action against the network despite initiating investigations through the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
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Illegal tree felling costs govt Rs87 million
Trees covering almost 95 per cent of the around 28,000 acres of forests in Hyderabad have been illegally felled during the last seven years, says a report. The report, prepared by Hyderabad Forests Conservator Habibullah Nizamani, puts the losses, besides the degradation of the environment owing to deforestation, at over Rs87 million. Sources said that it was just the tip of the iceberg as the report was based on the position of forest cover in just one district of the province. The situation was also expected to be similar in other districts of the province, they said.
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Sepa launching study to find noise levels
The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency is launching a study on Thursday to measure noise levels at various city spots, it has been learnt. According to sources, the study, second in more than a decade and a half, will be carried out at different places at different times so that the level of noise pollution could be recorded. The sources said longer exposure to a high level of noise affected human health, causing a loss of hearing, stress, etc, which in turn lowered the level of tolerance in people owing to which they tended to lose temper at the slightest of provocation.