The Monsoon season is finally here. Multiple cities in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported rain for the first time this season. Temperatures were brought down across the country and the Pakistan Meteorological Department said the system will continue for another few days.

In Kohat, people flocked to public spaces to enjoy the pleasant weather. In Swat, heavy rain coupled with strong winds left some neighbourhoods inundated.

Abbottabad, Havelian, Sialkot, Chiniot, Mandi Bahauddin and Shakargarh all also reported showers.

In Lahore, dark clouds engulfed the city, turning the sky black in the middle of the day. People were ecstatic about the pleasant weather, saying it broke two to three days of extreme heat in the city.

A dust storm of 111 km/h hit the city before the showers. Multiple electricity feeders tripped and transformers exploded because of this. Fallen trees were reported as well.

The Met Office has said Lahore will experience another 24 hours of rain.

In Rawalpindi and Islamabad rain and pleasant weather had happy people rushing to parks.

In Faisalabad, temperatures dropped with the rain but power went out as well. Several fallen trees were reported and 47 FESCO feeders tripped. Power outages were reported in multiple areas.

In Karachi, it hasn’t rained yet but the Met Office has forecast showers from Monday to Wednesday. However, the city administration is unprepared as ever and only began cleaning some of the city’s drains two days earlier.

In Pindi Bhattian, eight people were injured due to rain-related accidents. Roofs and walls collapsed because of the rain.

Four hundred villages reported no power because of trees falling on electricity poles.

The power supplier is working to restore power but nothing has been done yet.

This step would develop these areas for tourism, and massive good employment opportunities could be created in Northern Areas by creating good hotels there.  If those hotels / motels are given to the private sector, then good facilities can be provided to the tourists as investors are always capable to upgrade and convert standard hotels, if given chances 

ISLAMABAD (DNA) The hotel association of Pakistan has backed the closure of PTDC motels saying private sector should come forward to help govt revive this sector in that area.

‘On behalf of Pakistan Hotels Association, we believe that due to continuous financial losses in PTDC Motels located in Northern areas of Pakistan and amid COVID-19 pandemic, though it’s unfortunate to close the hotels, but it was necessary for the survival and future viability of these motels and create employment in the area’.

Consequent upon closure of operations of the company, there is a need for private sector to come forward and support the government in rehabilitation and expansion of these motels to make their operations commercially viable.

As you know, Investors are always keen to establish lodging facilities in Northern areas of Pakistan due to its special attraction for the tourists and a lot of land available there and now the government should lease out these Motels and  land to private sector, who could easily convert these properties to good quality hotels with international standards and brand to boost tourism. PTDC motels were ideally situated for tourists to rest and then wake up the next morning and continue their journey farther into the north.

This step would develop these areas for tourism, and massive good employment opportunities could be created in Northern Areas by creating good hotels there.  If those hotels / motels are given to the private sector, then good facilities can be provided to the tourists as investors are always capable to upgrade and convert standard hotels, if given chances.

About 24 or 25 properties now shut down in the entire north other than the six ‘sick’ motels and restaurants, the corporation had closed down in March last year. Last yearalso, the PTDC had shut down its motels at Taxila in Punjab, Chattar Plain in KP, Astak in Gilgit-Baltistan and at Khuzdar in Balochistan, as well as Chakdara restaurant in KP and Daman-i-Koh restaurant in Islamabad.

The government intensions of becoming facilitator and regulator is much appreciated, leaving field open to private sector to bring in quality, organizational  efficiencies, competition of services and enhancement of direct and indirect employment opportunities.  Therefore, on behalf of members of Pakistan Hotels Association, we extend our cooperation to work with government bodies to bring in improvement in hospitality Sector. We will also extend cooperation to privatize these properties and investors be facilitated to develop and convert above properties to make them viable business ventures as it creates employment opportunities for the local community and earn foreign exchange for the exchequer.

One must be clear that the coronavirus does not spread from animals. He said that if social gatherings are held during Eid-ul-Azha, then the risk of the spread of the infection will be high 

DNA

ISLAMABAD: President Arif Alvi has said the 18th amendment which gives power to the provinces, a law and just like any other law, can be reviewed and changed.

The president was speaking in an interview to a private news channel where he that said that talks between the federal government and provinces have taken place on the issue between the federation and provinces.

“Gradually as our economy improves, which is under pressure from the coronavirus as well, an agreement will be reached [between Centre and provinces] on which province should get what slice of the cake,” he added. “When the situation is ‘tight’, then disagreements on distribution of income take place even in a household or a family.”

“There are always disagreements and differences between the government and the provinces. These have been there since independence. The 18th amendment is a law and just like any other law, it can be reviewed and changed,” he said, adding that the move should be done with harmony.

In response to the Sindh government’s decision to not collect withholding tax for the Centre, President Alvi said that the strained economy was to blame for the issues between the federal government and provinces.

“There has never been a discussion to shelve the issues of Sindh government,” the president said.

When asked about the recent sugar and wheat scandals that had come to light, the president said that corruption had always been present in the country. He said that if the incumbent government had let corruption continue as it been allowed to fester previously, then all the institutions would end up with the same fate as the Pakistan Steel Mills.

“Reports of investigations [sugar, wheat] along with reports of the last four plane crashes had never been presented [before]. The government opened the investigation [into PIA] knowing its cost. I believe those responsible should be removed. Heads should be removed,” he added.

Responding to a question about reports of pressure on the bureaucracy amid investigations by NAB, President Alvi said there were only five cases against bureaucrats out of the 1,300 cases in total being probe by the anti-graft body.

“NAB’s laws are satisfactory and those who have an issue with them can file a petition against the Bureau,” he said, adding that investigations should be done into the Malam Jabba, Billion Tree, BRT and other plans as well.

When asked why Jahangir Tareen Khan, a senior PTI leader and one of the accused in the sugar scandal had left the country, President Alvi said the government had not sent him abroad. “I think he will come back and defend himself,” he said.

Talking about the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and precautions needed to stem it spreads as the country gears up to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha, the president said there should be an ijtemai sacrifice.

The president said that one must be clear that the coronavirus does not spread from animals. He said that if social gatherings are held during Eid-ul-Azha, then the risk of the spread of the infection will be high.

ISLAMABAD: Two people suffered wounds when a leopard assaulted them in a suburb of Murree.

The incident took place on Saturday when the big cat attacked two people, travelling on a motorcycle, in the Kaldina suburban area of the capital, inflicting injuries on both of them.

The injured identified as Murad Ali, a resident of the Sindhian village, and Muddasir Abbasi, a resident of Satra Meel, put up resistance, forcing the leopard to flee, according to reports.

On getting information, local people reached the scene of the incident and shifted both injured to Tehsil Headquarters, Hospital for medical attention. They were discharged after being administered medical aid.

Earlier, on Jan 15, villagers had shot dead a snow leopard after it attacked a residential area and injured a man.

The wild cat was killed after it injured a man in Sar Banda, Swat. Locals said the leopard ate many animals and had also injured several villagers.

By Faisal MunirATTOCK:

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bokhari on Saturday announced that the bereaved families of six persons who died while cleaning a well at Dhok Malyar of Fatehjang Tehsil, would be given financial compensation with jobs to their two children.The SAPM visited Dhok Malyar to condole with the families of victims, including three real brothers. He was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Attock Ali Anan Qamar.Sympathising with the families, Zulfiqar Bokhari said the death of six male members was a great loss for the families.He offered Fateha for the departed souls.The SAPM directed the DC to complete the formalities at the earliest so that the families could be provided financial assistance.He also directed the DC to prepare standard operating procedures (SOPs) for cleaning wells with an awareness campaign in the district so that such incidents might not occur in future.Zulfiqar Bokhari also lauded the efforts of rescue personnel for retrieving the bodies from the well.DNA