Author: i2wtc

LAHORE: Large swathes of Lahore have been covered in concrete, preventing rainwater from naturally recharging underground aquifers, which are fast depleting. According to the Irrigation Research Institute, instead of recharging 10-15 acre-feet of water, only 1.5 million liters were artificially recharged through recharge wells during the ongoing monsoon, while the rest drained into sewers and drains. Dr Zakir Hussain Siyal, director general of the institute, told The Express Tribune that due to insufficient recharge, Lahore’s groundwater level is falling rapidly1 to 4 feet annually in different areas. In Gulberg, the water table dropped from 125 to 300 feet, while in…

River levels across Sindh remained high on Saturday as authorities maintained flood-preparedness measures, and the Pakistan Army completed arrangements to support the civil administration in case of further rises. The provincial rain and flood emergency monitoring cell reported elevated flows at key barrages. Guddu Barrage recorded a high flood, with inflow at 544,658 cusecs and outflow at 514,051 cusecs. Sukkur Barrage registered a medium flood with 470,580 cusecs inflow, while Kotri Barrage saw a low flood with 262,509 cusecs inflow. Panjnad recorded inflow and outflow at 575,195 cusecs. Army and civil administration officers have inspected vulnerable areas in Dadu, Jamshoro,…

Sri Lanka won against Bangladesh with ease in their first Twenty20 International (T20I) encounter of the men’s Asia Cup 2025 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The Sri Lankan men’s side chased down the target in just 15 overs after restricting the Tigers to 139 in the first innings. Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka had won the toss in Abu Dhabi and elected to bowl in their first match of the Asia Cup. Bangladesh made one change to their playing eleven from their victory over Hong Kong, as left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam came in for the right-arm Taskin Ahmed. Bangladesh skipper…

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks to reporters as Senate Democratic leaders hold a press conference following their weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., Sept. 9, 2025. Elizabeth Frantz | ReutersCongressional Democrats are zeroing in on health care as a key sticking point in negotiations with the threat of a government shutdown looming.Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both of New York, have said that they will not support GOP-backed legislation to keep the government funded unless it includes certain health-care provisions, setting up a bitter policy fight with GOP…

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir has stressed the importance of good governance and closer civil-military coordination to combat flood challenges and support affected communities, the military’s media wing said on Saturday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief visited flood-hit areas in the Kasur Sector and the Flood Relief Camp in Jalalpur Pirwala, Multan, to review the situation and assess ongoing rescue operations. Read: 19 ‘militants’ killed in separate operations in K-P The visit focused on “enhancing synergy between the civil administration and the military to ensure effective assistance for the affected…

TOKYO: Sporting excellence returned to Tokyo on Saturday as the opening day of the long-awaited World Athletics Championships delivered on every front. Records were smashed and world titles defended, with some surprise wins keeping the night exciting for a sold-out stadium that stood empty during the Covid-hit Olympics four years ago. The most predictable win of the night went to American Ryan Crouser, who won his third consecutive world title (22.34m) and became the only man to do so in the shot put, where he holds the world and championship record. Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet claimed her first world title in…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will leave for Qatar on September 15 to attend the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha. A Foreign Office (FO) statement said on Saturday. The summit, co-sponsored by Pakistan, has been called in response to recent Israeli airstrikes on Doha and alarmingly deteriorating situation in Palestine and escalating Israeli aggression in Gaza and the West Bank. According to the FO statement, the summit will bring together leaders and senior officials from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states who will deliberate on the regional crisis and formulate a joint strategy. Also Read: Afghanistan must choose between…

RAWALPINDI: A total of 19 soldiers were martyred and 45 terrorists linked to the Indian-sponsored Fitna al Khwarij network were killed in three separate intelligence-based operations conducted in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa between September 10 and 13, the military’s media wing reported on Saturday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the first operation took place in Bajaur district following reports of terrorist presence. “Own troops effectively engaged the location, and after an intense exchange of fire, 22 militants were killed,” the statement said. In a separate encounter in South Waziristan district, 13 more terrorists were “neutralised” by security forces. The army confirmed…

A Pakistan-India cricket match is always a blockbuster, but emotions will run even higher in Sunday’s Asia Cup clash between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who engaged in a four-day military conflict earlier this year. Even before the clashes in May, which nearly escalated into a full-blown war, bilateral cricket ties were suspended. The arch-rivals now play each other only in multi-team tournaments. Political relations have deteriorated further since the clashes, with several former Indian players urging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to boycott what will be the first meeting between the teams since the recent hostilities. While…

Sri Lanka will be bowling first against Bangladesh after winning the toss in their first Twenty20 International (T20I) encounter of the men’s Asia Cup 2025 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Bangladesh skipper Litton Das top-scored with 59 as Bangladesh beat a spirited Hong Kong by seven wickets in their first match of the Asia Cup on Thursday. Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka won the toss in Abu Dhabi and elected to bowl in their first match of the Asia Cup. Bangladesh made one change to their playing eleven from their victory over Hong Kong, as left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam comes…