The authority of the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) to destroy hazardous food items has been challenged.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) held an initial hearing on a petition challenging the PFA’s power to destroy harmful and substandard food on the spot without laboratory testing or granting a hearing. Justice Javed Iqbal Wains heard the petition filed by a factory producing non-edible oil.

After the hearing, the court issued notices to the PFA and the Livestock Department and fixed the next hearing for September 29. The petition raised several important legal points and termed the matter one of statutory interpretation.

The LHC also summoned the Advocate General Punjab for assistance at the next hearing.

The Punjab government has acquired its first airlift drone designed specifically for rescue and relief operations during floods, achieving another milestone emergency response and disaster management.

According to the Punjab Home Department, the newly acquired advanced drone is capable of airlifting individuals weighing up to 200 kilograms from dangerous or inaccessible flood-hit areas to safety.

The provincial home secretary has directed that the drone be immediately dispatched to Multan to aid in ongoing flood rescue efforts in South Punjab. Before deployment, successful test flights of the drone were conducted by Civil Defence Lahore.

This marks the launch of Pakistan’s first emergency airlift drone service, as part of a broader initiative to modernize emergency response mechanisms.

The government has also decided to procure 10 additional airlift drones to further strengthen rescue operations across the province.

The home secretary highlighted that the service will enhance the ability to safely evacuate individuals from high-risk or hard-to-reach locations, significantly improving response times and saving lives in disaster situations.

He further emphasized that Punjab Civil Defence Resilience Corps is being developed on modern lines, with trained personnel and volunteers acting as frontline responders during emergencies.

Heavy monsoon rains in Karachi on Tuesday caused the Lyari and Malir streams to swell, triggering urban flooding and inundating residential areas, Globaltims  reported.

Rainwater entered residential neighbourhoods in Sarjani Town and Nagan Chowrangi. The Malir Stream overflowed at Ayub Goth Bridge and Lasi Goth, inundating nearby homes. Both the Lyari and Malir streams swelled dangerously after Thado Dam reached its capacity.

Floodwater entered surrounding communities, including Nishtar Basti and Essa Nagri. Water from Thado Dam reached the M-9 Motorway, affecting the track going to Hyderabad and severely disrupting traffic flow.

Rescue operations were carried out in Sohrab Goth, Hasan Manan Colony, and Gulshan-e-Iqbal, where several people trapped in floodwater were safely evacuated.

Meanwhile, all educational institutions in Karachi will remain closed today (Wednesday). The acting Commissioner of Karachi has issued an official notification in this regard.

WAHAB VISITS CITY

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited various parts of the city to review drainage and flood management efforts.

He said that a request for assistance from the Pakistan Army has been made through the chief secretary, and army personnel have also arrived at the scene.

The situation in the Lyari River has improved. Conditions are gradually getting better, and all possible measures are being taken to resolve the issues. So far, more than 200 people have been rescued, he added.

“In my lifetime, I have never seen this much water in the Lyari River,” Wahab said.

The mayor justified closing of the motorway saying the step was taken to protect citizens’ lives. “The water level is expected to recede further in the next few hours. We are trying to ease the difficulties of the people and will not leave them alone,” he continued.

Meanwhile, Sindh PDMA Director General Salman Shah stated that due to the rains, the areas surrounding the Lyari and Malir rivers have been most affected.

RESCUE OPERATIONS BY ARMY, AGENCIES

On the other hand, in Karachi’s Saadi Town and surrounding areas, the rescue team, along with the Pakistan Army, successfully rescued 10 people.

According to the rescue spokesperson, reports were received that people were trapped due to water accumulation in Saadi Town and nearby areas. The rescue team, in coordination with the Pakistan Army, rescued a total of 11 individuals, including 2 men, 3 women, and 6 children.

Officials stated that citizens were rescued from a housing society near Saadi Town and relocated to a safe place. Personnel from the Pakistan Rangers also took part in rescue operations in the affected areas, including Malir, M-9, Sohrab Goth, Khameeso Goth, Lyari River, Malir River, and Machhar Colony.

Rangers, in coordination with the district administration and rescue agencies, participated actively in relief efforts.

MORE RAIN FORECAST

The Meteorological Department has forecast more heavy and intense rainfall for today. The system is expected to weaken into a low-pressure area within eight to nine hours and is likely to dissipate after reaching the coast of Balochistan on September 11.

According to the Meteorological Department, the rain-bearing system is currently impacting Sindh with the intensity of a depression. Rain-heavy clouds are present to the north of Karachi.