Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah has denied the rumours of separation of Sindh. “Such rumours are not taken seriously and the province will never be divided,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of Munawar Chowrangi Underpass in Karachi, Shah said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had done more development work in Karachi than any other government. Shah was addressing the media along with Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab.

PPP, he claimed, had erected various underpasses and bridges throughout Karachi and many marriage halls built on public playgrounds were demolished by the city administration led by Mayor Wahab for restoration of the public areas.

Shah rejected the suggestion that Karachi had become one of the worst cities in the world, saying the population of the city was still rising because of the economic importance and charm of the city.“If Karachi was in such a bad shape, people would not keep on coming here,” he remarked, describing the metropolis as a “Mini Pakistan” where people from all across the country are welcome to come and live and work.

The provincial minister said the mayor and town chairmen were working round the clock to improve civic infrastructure and municipal services. He said quick administrative action was being taken to address the complaints received from locals.

Replying to a question about reports of separation of Sindh, Shah said that the province would never be divided.Some people constantly raising these kind of issues but we do not take it seriously. “Sindh can never be divided and we are busy in our work,” he stated.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the United Nations and successful multilateralism.

He said this in a telephonic conversation with Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi on Sunday.

The two parties exchanged perspectives on the recent regional developments during the discussion and stressed the necessity of continuing diplomacy, dialogue and constructive engagement in furthering regional and world peace and security.

The IAEA Director General hoped that the parties would continue their dialogue and engagement in the spirit of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, with a view to arriving at a peaceful and lasting settlement.

He also informed the Deputy Prime Minister of his candidacy for the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations.

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At least six additional persons have died and six others have been injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since July 24 as the province continues to be battered by strong monsoon rains and flash floods, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported.

The recent casualties occurred in separate incidences of roof and wall collapses, stated the PDMA. There were six dead, three men and three kids, and six injured, three men and three women.

The latest damage assessment indicates that 26 dwellings were affected by heavy rainfall and flash floods during the reporting period. Seventeen of them were partially damaged, seven completely destroyed.

The administration claimed that aggregate mortality toll from rain-related accidents in 25 districts of the province had reached 32, 35 others injured between July 19 and July 26.

The dead were 13 men, three women and 16 children, the report said. The injured included 16 men, 12 women and seven children.

The PDMA also stated that 72 residences had been damaged during the recent spell of monsoon rains, including 55 partially damaged and 17 entirely demolished houses. Additionally, there were 46 cattle deaths due to weather-related accidents.

Peshawar, Nowshera, Khyber, Mardan, Buner, Bajaur, Shangla, Swabi, Chitral, Upper and Lower Dir, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Upper Kohistan, Tank, Torghar, Kurram, North Waziristan, South Waziristan and several others are among the affected districts.

The PDMA said that it has asked the concerned district administrations to guarantee quick distribution of relief commodities to impacted people and expedite the rescue and restoration work in the affected districts.

The monsoon conditions are likely to continue in the province and authorities have also advised inhabitants in susceptible and low-lying areas to keep aware and follow official weather advisories.