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ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday announced Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would launch three to four weekly flights to Manchester in the United Kingdom, saying the revival of the national carrier had been among the government’s top priorities.

Britain removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List earlier this year, clearing the way for Pakistani carriers to seek permits to operate in the UK.

Pakistani airlines were barred from flying to Europe and Britain after a 2020 PIA Airbus A320 crash in Karachi killed nearly 100 people and led to controversial claims about widespread irregularities in pilot licensing.

European regulators lifted their suspension last November after due diligence, enabling PIA to resume operations to Paris in January.

“As you know, just a few months ago, by the grace of God, the UK ... lifted its ban [on PIA flights],” Dar told reporters at a news conference.

“So, the final expected flights [to the UK] are due in the month of September,” he added. “They will start from Pakistan to Manchester, with three to four weekly flights. PIA is preparing for this.”

The deputy PM added flights to Britain would have resumed sooner had the UK still been bound by European Union aviation rules.

He said the government was encouraged by good feedback from the public, noting that at present only British Airways offers direct services, which were limited to Islamabad twice a week.

With more than 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK and thousands of British nationals residing in Pakistan, the Manchester route is expected to ease travel and stimulate bilateral trade.

Britain is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, with bilateral commerce worth £4.7 billion.

The new flights are likely to strengthen PIA’s balance sheet, potentially raising its value as the government pushes ahead with plans to privatize the loss-making airline.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan braced for triple river flooding on Friday as the Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej all swelled to dangerous levels, prompting mass evacuations, emergency breaches and warnings that the combined flows could push the Indus into an unprecedented flood stage downstream.

The deluge, fueled by record monsoon rains and excess water released from upstream India, has created crisis conditions in the country’s most populous Punjab province, which is home to half the population of 240 million. Authorities have issued evacuation orders around the rivers, where extremely high flows have been recorded at barrage points.

The Punjab government called in the army this week to support rescue and relief operations. Since June 26, torrential monsoon rains linked to climate change have killed over 820 people and injured thousands across Pakistan, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

“A major flood wave in the River Chenab is rapidly moving toward Chiniot, Jhang and Trimmu Headworks,” Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed said in a statement.

“By evening, the flood wave will pass through Jhang and Chiniot and reach Trimmu Headworks,” he added. “To reduce pressure, breaching has been carried out at three locations in Jhang.”

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab confirmed water discharges of 184,000 cusecs at Khanki, 185,000 cusecs at Qadirabad and 129,000 cusecs at Trimmu, highlighting the rising threat to settlements along the river and asking people to leave.

The Ravi River, meanwhile, swelled at several locations, recording 164,000 cusecs at Balloki Headworks and 184,000 cusecs at Shahdara, amid rising flows expected at Sidhnai.

“Due to the flood situation in the Ravi River, potentially affected areas of Lahore include Lahore city and Raiwind,” the NDMA announced. “Other areas that may be affected include Kasur, Pattoki, Okara, Renala Khurd, Depalpur, Gogera, Tandlianwala, Kamalia, Pir Mahal, Adda Hakim and Sidhnai.”

It added the Ravi was expected to carry between 125,000 and 150,000 cusecs between Sept. 2 and 3 at Sidhnai, which could create a severe flood situation.

Separately, the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala surged above 350,000 cusecs, triggering an emergency alert in Kasur and adjoining districts.

Officials maintained heavy rains and possible water releases from India could further worsen the situation.

The Punjab Relief Commissioner also noted in his statement the ninth spell of monsoon rains had started in the province, warning of flash floods in urban areas.

“All deputy commissioners and line departments have been directed to remain in the field,” he said, adding they were instructed to set up tent villages in affected areas and ensure the provision of all basic and medical facilities to people.

SINDH BRACES FOR FLOOD WAVE

The NDMA cautioned on Friday evening the rising waters of the Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej were now feeding into the Indus, creating the possibility of extreme flooding further south. It said flood waves of 900,000 to 1.2 million cusecs could pass through barrages in Punjab and Sindh in the coming days.

At Guddu Barrage, flows of up to 1.1 million cusecs are expected by Sept. 5-6, Sukkur could face similar volumes on Sept. 6-7 and Kotri between Sept. 8-9.

Reacting to the situation, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah convened an emergency meeting in Karachi after forecasts showed a massive flood wave heading toward Guddu Barrage.

“In case of a major flood wave, not a single life, human or animal, should be lost,” Shah told officials, directing the Sindh PDMA to deploy rescue boats, establish over 500 relief camps, and coordinate with the Pakistan Navy, which has 26 boats on standby.

Authorities estimate more than 50,000 families could be displaced if the Indus breaches embankments in the province.

Rescue 1122 has mobilized 30,000 personnel across vulnerable districts in Sindh, with boats pre-positioned in Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur and Shikarpur.

Pakistan’s National Emergencies Operation Center is also fully functional, according to the authorities, and coordinating with civil and military institutions round the clock.