Pakistan has voiced concern over the deteriorating situation in the occupied West Bank and appealed for protection to the Palestinians.

Addressing the UN, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar, said the situation in the occupied West Bank was fast deteriorating and the Security Council must act immediately.

“Israel’s illegal actions are aimed at entrenching the occupation. Israel’s settlement expansion has reached alarming levels and settlements in other areas are an attempt to divide Palestinian land,” Asim Iftikhar stated.

The Pakistani delegate said the settler violence should end immediately, and those culpable should be held accountable.

He said Pakistan is very much worried over the provocative acts being committed in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and that the Palestinians be given international protection.

He added the Security Council must follow the advice of UNICEF.

In the province of Balochistan, the districts of Zhob and Chaman were shaken by an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8.

122 kilometres to the northeast of Zhob was the location of the earthquake’s epicentre, as reported by the seismological center. The earthquake was registered at a depth of 15 kilometres.

Residents were compelled to flee their homes and recite the Kalma Tayyaba as a result of the earthquake, which caused widespread terror among them.

As of this moment, there have been no reports of any fatalities or damage to property.

Low-lying districts in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and other parts of the country have been inundated due to heavy rainfall, forcing authorities to begin evacuating inhabitants from neighbourhoods around Nullah Lai as water levels reached unsafe levels.

Due to the rain which started last nite and continued till Wednesday morning, the water level of Nullah Lai continued to rise. Flooding fears prompted the twin cities to activate their flood warning sirens.

The officials said the water level in Kattarian was 22 feet and in Gawalmandi 19 feet.

The district administration of Rawalpindi has requested the Pakistan Army to aid in the emergency situation.

Authorities have recommended residents to stay away from Nullah Lai and other streams and low-lying regions and take preventive precautions. The state of emergency continues in the vulnerable areas.

Average rainfall was some 76 mm in the twin cities. Golra recorded the maximum rainfall of 114mm in Islamabad followed by Saidpur 71mm, PMD H-8 57mm and Bokra-I-12 46mm.

In Rawalpindi, New Katarian had 59mm of rain, Pirwadhai 51mm and Shamsabad and Gawalmandi 45mm apiece. About 33mm was recorded near Kacheri-Chaklala.

The water level in Nullah Lai has started receding but alert is still on in Kattarian, Gawalmandi.

The Met Department has expected further rain in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and portions of Punjab as well as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Flood Forecasting Division in Lahore said low-level flooding was observed at the Kalabagh and Guddu barrages on the Indus River, while the situation in other rivers was normal.