Black Shadow

Author: Emp-1

  • Deadly Floods Kill Over 100 Across Southern Africa as More Heavy Rains Forecast

    Deadly Floods Kill Over 100 Across Southern Africa as More Heavy Rains Forecast

    PAKISTAN

    Torrential rains and widespread flooding across southern Africa have killed more than 100 people in South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, with authorities warning that further severe weather is expected in the coming days.

    In South Africa, at least 19 people have died in the northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga after weeks of heavy rainfall triggered flash floods, washed away roads and bridges, and damaged homes. Parts of the Kruger National Park were badly affected, forcing the evacuation of around 600 tourists and staff by helicopter from flooded camps. The park has been closed to visitors, though no deaths or injuries were reported there.

    Mozambique has borne the brunt of the disaster. The country’s disaster management agency said 103 people have died since late last year in an unusually intense rainy season. Causes of death include drowning, lightning strikes, collapsing infrastructure, and cholera outbreaks. Flooding in central and southern regions has affected more than 200,000 people, damaged thousands of homes, and forced tens of thousands to consider evacuation.

    In Zimbabwe, authorities reported 70 deaths and the destruction of more than 1,000 homes since the start of the year. Schools, roads, and bridges have also collapsed, worsening the humanitarian impact.

    Flooding has also hit Madagascar, Malawi, and Zambia. Madagascar reported at least 11 deaths since late November. The US Famine Early Warning System said flooding has been reported or is expected in at least seven southern African countries, possibly linked to the La Niña weather phenomenon.

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited flood-hit areas in Limpopo, where some districts received about 400 millimetres of rain in less than a week, leaving entire communities devastated.

    The World Food Programme warned that flooding has submerged more than 70,000 hectares of crops in Mozambique, worsening food insecurity in a region already vulnerable to climate-driven shocks. – ER Monitoring Desk

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  • Sky47 Launches Pakistan’s First Cloud and AI Infrastructure Platform Near Islamabad

    Sky47 Launches Pakistan’s First Cloud and AI Infrastructure Platform Near Islamabad

    PAKISTAN

    Sky47 Limited, a majority-owned subsidiary of Mari Energies Limited, has launched its first Cloud and AI infrastructure platform at the Silicon Valley of Capital Smart City near Islamabad, marking a significant milestone in Pakistan’s digital and technological evolution.

    The platform has been developed through Sky47’s wholly owned subsidiary, Mari Technologies Limited, and is designed to provide secure, scalable, and sovereign digital infrastructure within the country. It aims to enable enterprises, government institutions, and technology innovators to run mission-critical workloads locally, while adhering to global standards of performance, reliability, and regulatory compliance.

    According to the company, the Cloud and AI platform will support advanced computing needs, data security, and digital transformation initiatives across multiple sectors, reducing reliance on overseas data centers and strengthening national data sovereignty.

    The launch reflects a growing focus on building indigenous technology infrastructure to support Pakistan’s expanding digital economy. By offering world-class cloud and AI capabilities within Pakistan, Sky47’s initiative is expected to accelerate innovation, enhance public and private sector efficiency, and contribute to the country’s long-term technological resilience. – ER News Desk

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  • CDWP Clears Major Health Projects Under URAAN Pakistan, Recommends Rs 56.8bn Schemes to ECNEC

    CDWP Clears Major Health Projects Under URAAN Pakistan, Recommends Rs 56.8bn Schemes to ECNEC

    The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal, on Thursday approved and reviewed five major health sector projects aimed at strengthening public healthcare delivery under the URAAN Pakistan Social Sector Initiative.

    Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal attended the meeting to present and support the projects of his ministry.

    CDWP MEETING

    During the session, the CDWP approved three projects with a total cost of Rs 12.524 billion, while two large-scale projects amounting to Rs 56.823 billion were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.

    Highlighting the government’s people-centric approach, Ahsan Iqbal said health remained a cornerstone of URAAN Pakistan, which prioritizes affordable healthcare, reduced out-of-pocket expenses and protection of vulnerable families from catastrophic medical costs.

    Among the key initiatives, the CDWP reviewed and recommended the revised Sehat Sahulat Program costing Rs 40.19 billion to ECNEC. The programme will be implemented on a universal basis in Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan to expand coverage of secondary and priority inpatient healthcare. The initiative aims to reduce catastrophic hospitalization expenses by up to 60 percent for low-income households.

    The forum also recommended the revised Establishment of Jinnah Hospital (Polyclinic-II) at G-11/3, Islamabad, costing Rs 15.95 billion, which includes expansion of bed capacity to 400, induction of modern IT systems, biomedical equipment, solar power solutions and other sustainability measures.

    In addition, the CDWP approved projects for strengthening disease surveillance, border health services and cardiology facilities at the Federal Government Polyclinic. The approvals reaffirm the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and ensuring equitable access to quality medical services nationwide. –ER News Desk

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  • 5 Million Social Media Accounts of Australian Teenagers Deactivated as World-First Under-16 Ban Takes Effect

    5 Million Social Media Accounts of Australian Teenagers Deactivated as World-First Under-16 Ban Takes Effect

    PAKISTAN

    Social media companies have collectively deactivated nearly five million accounts belonging to Australian teenagers just a month after a world-first ban on under-16s took effect, the country’s internet regulator said, a sign the measure has had a swift and sweeping impact.

    The eSafety Commissioner said platforms had so far removed about 4.7 million accounts held by under-16s to comply with a law that went live on December 10. Some platforms had said they would start closing affected accounts in the weeks before the deadline.

    The figures represent the first government data on compliance and suggest platforms are taking significant steps to adhere to a law that could see them fined up to A$49.5 million ($33 million) for non-compliance, but does not hold children or their parents liable.

    The tally is far higher than estimates circulated before the law and equates to more than two accounts for every Australian aged 10 to 16, based on population data. Meta previously said it took down some 550,000 underage accounts from its Instagram, Facebook and Threads.

    The minimum age rule also applies to Google’s YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter. Reddit has said it is complying but is suing the government seeking to overturn the ban. The government says it will defend itself.

    “It is clear that eSafety’s regulatory guidance and engagement with platforms is already delivering significant outcomes,” Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said in a statement.

    Some underage accounts remain active and it was too early to declare full compliance, she added. All companies that were initially covered by the ban said they would comply.

    Inman Grant said effective age checks would take time to bed down but feedback from age-assurance providers – typically third-party software vendors hired by the platforms – indicated Australia’s rollout had been smooth, aided by public education ahead of the ban.

    Some smaller social media applications reported a surge of downloads in Australia in the run-up to the December rollout, and eSafety said it would monitor what it called migration trends. But it said the initial download spikes had not translated into sustained usage.

    A study with mental health experts will track the ban’s long-term impact for several years. – Courtesy Reuters

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  • PEC & KIU Join Hands to Design Capacity-Building Programs for Engineers in GB

    PEC & KIU Join Hands to Design Capacity-Building Programs for Engineers in GB

    PAKISTAN

    Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) signed a MoU with Karakoram International University (KIU), Gilgit, at PEC HQ, Islamabad, to strengthen engineering professionalism, technical competence, and capacity-building in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

    According to the council, PEC & KIU will jointly design and deliver capacity-building programs for engineers serving public sector organizations, professional development initiatives for students & young engineers, and training on ethics, regulatory compliance, engineering standards, Pathway to Practice, and emerging technologies.

    GET Placement Program to Be Remembered in the Years to Come: Engr. Waseem Nazir

    The MoU also aims to enhance industry–academia linkages, improve engineering input in government development projects, and support socio-economic development of GB. KIU will serve as a focal hub for PEC-led training, workshops, and outreach activities in the region, with implementation oversight. – ERMD

    PEC Expands Graduate Engineer Trainee Program with 15 New MoUs in Karachi

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  • US Suspends Immigrant Visa Processing for Pakistan, 74 Other Countries

    US Suspends Immigrant Visa Processing for Pakistan, 74 Other Countries

    WORLD

    The US State Department has announced the suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Pakistan.

    A State Department spokesperson confirmed the decision on Wednesday, stating that immigrants were benefiting from US taxpayers’ money.

    Immigrant visa processing has been suspended for Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, and Iran.

    According to US media reports, other affected countries include Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, Thailand, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Nepal, Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, and Uzbekistan.

    A State Department memo has instructed US embassies to reject visa applications until a review of procedures is completed.

    The move is reportedly part of a broader immigration crackdown being pursued by President Donald Trump since reassuming office.

    Earlier, in November, Trump had announced plans to permanently halt immigration from third-world countries, following a shooting incident involving an Afghan national in which a member of the National Guard was killed. – ERMD

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  • Federal Health Minister Inaugurates Third Telemedicine Center Near Islamabad

    Federal Health Minister Inaugurates Third Telemedicine Center Near Islamabad

    Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday inaugurated the third Digitalized Healthcare/Telemedicine Center at Bhambar Tarar, on the outskirts of Islamabad, underscoring the government’s push to modernize healthcare delivery and expand access in underserved areas.

    Mustafa Kamal

    Speaking at the ceremony, the minister said the government was taking concrete steps to fulfill its commitments by strengthening primary healthcare through technology-driven solutions. He highlighted a recent agreement with Sehat Kahani under which 5,000 doctors will provide online consultations nationwide. Doctors based abroad, including in Qatar, are already offering remote consultations, while qualified female doctors are delivering services from home through telemedicine platforms.

    Syed Mustafa Kamal said telemedicine has been made a permanent part of the national healthcare system, calling it an effective solution for remote and hard-to-reach communities. He recalled his pledge to establish 10 telemedicine centers across the country, noting that the first center was inaugurated in Gokina on January 6, followed by one in Karachi, and now Bhambar Tarar.

    He said nearly 70 percent of patients could be treated at the primary level, but due to limited facilities, they often overcrowd tertiary hospitals. The new center will provide local residents with timely medical care, while serious cases will continue to be referred to major hospitals.

    The minister said telemedicine would help ease pressure on tertiary hospitals and bring quality healthcare closer to people’s homes. – ER News Desk

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  • Houbara Bustard: When Diplomacy Costs Wildlife

    Houbara Bustard: When Diplomacy Costs Wildlife

    PAKISTAN

    By Ramesh Raja

    Every winter, a shy migratory bird arrives quietly in Pakistan’s deserts, and we see land cruisers and our feudal lords in the deserts as servants. This bird is the Houbara Bustard. It comes from the cold lands of Central Asia, from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and beyond, seeking warmth and survival. In many countries, it is protected. In Pakistan, it is hunted. This simple fact raises serious questions about our laws, our priorities, and the price we are willing to pay for diplomacy.

    The Houbara Bustard is listed as a vulnerable species by international conservation bodies. It breeds slowly and depends on fragile desert land. Even limited hunting can reduce its population sharply. Pakistan’s deserts—Cholistan, Thar, Thal, and parts of Balochistan—are among the most important winter habitats for this bird. That makes Pakistan not just a host, but a custodian.

    For centuries, hunting the Houbara with falcons has been part of royal tradition in parts of the Arab world. It is seen as a symbol of heritage, status, and power. Alongside tradition, there is a long-held belief, without any scientific proof, that eating Houbara meat increases sexual strength and fertility. Doctors reject this claim, but the belief still persists, especially among older elites. The important point is that the bird is not hunted for food or survival. It is hunted for prestige and personal belief.

    The irony is that the Houbara has almost disappeared from much of the Arabian Peninsula. Overhunting, modern vehicles, and desert development wiped it out there. So, the hunt moved abroad. But not every host country agreed to allow it. Morocco has completely banned hunting the Houbara, even for foreign royals, and instead runs strong breeding and conservation programmes. Kazakhstan allows very limited hunting based on scientific advice, applying the same rules to citizens and foreigners alike. Uzbekistan has imposed near-total bans, enforced strictly. These countries welcome conservation cooperation, but not hunting privileges.

    Pakistan, however, is different. Our economy depends heavily on Gulf countries for oil supplies, financial assistance, jobs for millions of Pakistani workers, and diplomatic support. Over time, hunting permits for Arab royals became a gesture of goodwill. The bird quietly became a bargaining chip in international relations.

    Pakistan’s own laws, meanwhile, restrict the hunting of endangered species. The Constitution guarantees the right to life, which courts have interpreted to include a healthy environment. In 2015, the Supreme Court banned Houbara hunting and clearly stated that giving special treatment to foreigners was unconstitutional. Yet the ban was later relaxed, citing foreign relations. This revealed a painful truth: our laws protect wildlife only until diplomacy intervenes.

    The cost on the ground is clear. Local people are barred from entering their own lands during hunting seasons. Ordinary Pakistanis face punishment for acts that foreign guests are legally allowed to commit. Environmental damage caused by hunting camps and convoys is rarely accounted for. This creates a sense of injustice and damages Pakistan’s international image.

    Pakistan does not need to choose between diplomacy and dignity. It can impose a clear ban on hunting without exceptions, replace hunting diplomacy with conservation diplomacy, make population data and permits public, involve local communities in protection efforts, and stand by court decisions even when it is uncomfortable. Other countries have done it; Pakistan can too.

    The Houbara Bustard does not belong to any royal family or any government. It belongs to nature and to future generations. The real question is not about a bird. It is about who we are as a state. Will we protect our natural heritage with self-respect, or continue to trade it quietly for short-term favors? History will remember the answer.

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  • PMYP, VSO and BARGAD Partner to Train 20,000 Youth Volunteers

    PMYP, VSO and BARGAD Partner to Train 20,000 Youth Volunteers

    PAKISTAN

    The Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) Pakistan, and BARGAD – Organization for Youth Development have entered into a strategic partnership to train and mobilise 20,000 youth volunteers across the country, aimed at strengthening leadership skills and civic engagement among young people.

    The collaboration was formalised through the signing of a landmark Letter of Intent (LoI) at the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad. The ceremony was witnessed by Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, underscoring the government’s commitment to placing youth at the centre of national development.

    The signing was attended by Dr Muhammad Ali Malik, Joint Secretary PMYP; Ms Seher Afsheen, Country Representative of VSO Pakistan; and Ms Sabiha Shaheen, Executive Director of BARGAD, along with senior representatives from the three organisations.

    Rooted in PMYP’s 4E framework—Education, Employment, Engagement and Environment—the partnership aims to cultivate an empowered and socially responsible generation of youth. Under the agreement, the partners will jointly design and implement structured capacity-building and volunteerism programmes nationwide.

    A flagship initiative of the partnership involves training 20,000 youth volunteers to lead community-level initiatives, promote active citizenship and contribute to sustainable development. The collaboration will also support youth-focused policy advocacy, strengthen linkages to skills, mentorship and resources, and ensure coordinated implementation with national outreach and transparent reporting. – ER News Desk

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  • Govt Plans Eco-Tourism and Leisure Hub on Karachi’s Ziarat Hasan Shah Island

    Govt Plans Eco-Tourism and Leisure Hub on Karachi’s Ziarat Hasan Shah Island

    PAKISTAN

    Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has announced plans to transform Ziarat Hasan Shah Island into a modern hub for eco-tourism, sports tourism and lifestyle retreats, balancing environmental sustainability with long-term economic gains.

    The federal minister said the island project, estimated to cost between Rs1 billion and Rs1.5 billion ($3.6–5.3 million), has been designated an investment priority and is expected to generate significant employment opportunities.

    “Based on the project’s scale and cost, it is projected to create around 1,000 to 1,500 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase, followed by 1,200 to 1,800 sustainable jobs once operations begin,” Junaid Chaudhry said while chairing a meeting on the initiative. He added that the project would provide a “substantial boost to local livelihoods” and support long-term coastal economic growth.

    Ziarat Hasan Shah Island lies near Karachi’s Eastern Zone and stretches roughly four kilometres in length, with a width ranging from 100 to 500 metres. Its southeastern sandy beach offers strong potential for hospitality, recreation and leisure activities, the minister said.

    “The natural beauty and coastal environment of Ziarat Hasan Shah Island present a unique opportunity to create a high-value recreational hub that aligns with Pakistan’s growing coastal tourism demand,” Chaudhry added.

    Unlike many offshore developments, the island is accessible by land, allowing a direct road connection to Karachi’s existing road network. This accessibility would help reduce infrastructure costs and accelerate development, while also encouraging local employment and business activity, the minister noted.

    The project will be implemented under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) or Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with the government seeking private investors with experience in hospitality, tourism and leisure development.

    “Our aim is to attract credible partners while ensuring public interests are protected and returns remain sustainable,” Junaid Chaudhry said.

    Pakistan has more than 1,000 kilometres of coastline, much of it underutilised, and the government is seeking to position the maritime sector as a key driver of economic growth. The minister said environmental safeguards would be central to the island’s development, given the sensitivity of coastal ecosystems.

    “Tourism must go hand in hand with responsibility,” he said, stressing a commitment to climate-conscious and standards-compliant development.

    The island project is part of broader port-led and coastal initiatives aimed at expanding trade, tourism and investment as Pakistan seeks to strengthen its blue economy. — ER News Desk

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