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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the 17th Economic Cooperation Organization’s (ECO) summit in Baku, Azerbaijan from July 3-4, the foreign office said on Wednesday, where he will push for intra-regional trade, connectivity and energy cooperation. 

Originally founded in 1964 by Pakistan, Iran and Turkiye, the association now includes member states from South Asia, Central Asia and parts of West Asia and the Caucasus. ECO aims to promote sustainable economic development in the region, aiming at joint welfare and wellbeing of its members. 

The ECO region is home to over 460 million inhabitants and expands over 8 million square kilometers of land. It is counted among one of the oldest intergovernmental organizations. Its current members include Pakistan, Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. 

“During the Summit, the Prime Minister will share Pakistan’s perspective on key regional and global challenges, reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to the ECO Vision 2025, and advocate for enhanced intra-regional trade, transport connectivity, energy cooperation, and sustainable development,” the foreign office said. 

The statement said the Pakistani prime minister will also hold bilateral meetings with other ECO leaders on the sidelines of the summit to discuss matters of mutual interest with them. 

The development takes place as Pakistan pushes for enhanced regional trade and security cooperation with its allies in the Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions. 

Islamabad views trade, energy cooperation and increased connectivity as vital to consolidate its economic gains, especially as it looks to escape a macroeconomic crisis that has drained its resources and caused its foreign exchange reserves to plummet in the past few years. 

Sharif’s government has repeatedly called for mutually beneficial economic partnerships with regional allies instead of loans.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a fresh warning regarding flash floods and glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) events on Wednesday citing severe weather conditions, as heavy monsoon rains killed 63 across the country in one week. 

According to the NDMA, the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province reported the highest number of casualties due to rain-related incidents since June 26, 22, followed by Punjab with 21, Sindh with 15 and five in Balochistan. At least 113 were injured throughout the country, among them 45 children, 37 men and 31 women. 

The disaster management authority has warned provincial and local authorities to stay on high alert throughout the monsoon season, particularly in mountainous and low-lying areas, as heavy rains continue to batter parts of Punjab and KP. A deadly flash flood last week in the northwestern Swat Valley swept away 17 members of a single tourist family during a sudden rise in water levels. Twelve bodies have been recovered so far, according to rescue officials, with search operations ongoing for the remaining person. 

“National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) of NDMA has issued multiple impact-based weather alerts for various regions of Pakistan in light of forecasted severe weather conditions expected from 2nd to 8th July 2025,” the NDMA said. “These alerts highlight the growing risk of flash floods, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and urban flooding in different parts of the country.”

The NDMA said low to moderate rainfall is likely to continue until July 5, after which an active southwest monsoon system, coupled with a westerly wave, is expected to enter the country and generate moderate to heavy rainfall and localized thunderstorms.

“The most affected regions are upper catchments of major rivers including Central and Lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and the northeastern parts of Punjab, particularly Lahore,” the authority said. 

It warned of increased river flows across the country, River Kabul in particular and warning that inflows into Tarbela Dam may reach the low flood limit. The NDMA said flash floods in riverine areas, especially where nullahs and local streams converge, may pose threats to nearby settlements. 

“Simultaneously, the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and landslides has increased in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where ongoing high temperatures have accelerated glacier and snow melt,” the NDMA said.

“The situation is further aggravated by incoming moist currents and rainfall. Vulnerable glacial valleys and narrow mountain passes may face sudden GLOF events, flash floods, road blockages, and disruptions to infrastructure and tourism.”

The NDMA warned that in northeastern Punjab, including Lahore, Sialkot, and Narowal districts, local nullahs such as Aik, Deg, Bein, Basantar, and Palku may overflow, causing waterlogging and urban flooding in low-lying neighborhoods. In D.G. Khan and Rajanpur, hill torrents may also be activated, causing localized low-level flooding.

The authority urged the public to take precautionary measures, warning residents against unnecessary travel.

“Tourists are advised against visiting high-altitude and glacial regions during this period,” it said. “Municipal and district administrations are instructed to ensure readiness of flood response teams, clearing of storm water drains and nullahs, and maintaining rapid response capabilities.”

Pakistan, home to over 240 million people, is one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, facing increasingly frequent and intense weather events such as heatwaves, droughts and torrential rains.

In 2022, a combination of heavy monsoon rains and glacial melt caused catastrophic floods that killed more than 1,700 people and caused damage estimated at over $33 billion.