Islamabad: Mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country, while very hot in Punjab and upper Sindh during the next twelve hours.

However, light rain-wind/thunderstorms may occur at a few places in Potohar region, Upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.   

Temperature of some major cities recorded this morning:            

Islamabad twenty-four degree centigrade, Lahore twenty-eight, Karachi twenty-nine, Peshawar twenty-six, Quetta and Muzaffarabad twenty, Gilgit fifteen and Murree thirteen degree centigrade.        

According to Met office forecast for Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, partly cloudy with chances of rain-wind-thunderstorm is expected in Srinagar, Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian and Baramulla and hot and dry in Jammu while cloudy with chances of rain-wind-thunderstorm in Leh.

Temperature recorded this morning: 

Srinagar and  Pulwama fourteen, Jammu twenty-five, Leh ten, Anantnag and Baramulla thirteen, and Shopian twelve degree centigrade. 

On the other hand, Pakistan Meteorological Department on Thursday predicted that the heatwave conditions are likely to return over central and upper Sindh from 27 May.

Daytime maximum temperatures may rise again to 46 – 48 degree Celsius in Dadu, Jacobabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Nawabshah, and Khairpur districts. While, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, and Umerkot districts are likely to experience maximum temperature between 44-46 Celsius and Badin 40 – 42 degree Celsius.

Karachi is experiencing hot, humid and windy weather with maximum temperature remains between 34-36 degree Celsius, according to the Met Office. The wind direction will be westerly or southwesterly today.

An earlier spell of severe hot weather persisted in the province till 23rd May.

Here are some ways to stay cool during the heatwave:

• Don’t go out between 12pm and 3pm when the sun is the strongest
• Wear loose-fitting and lightweight clothing
• Wear sunscreen and stay in the shade
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Cover your head (wear a scarf or cap)
• Use lip balm and eye drops to make sure your lips and eyes don’t get too dry

Here are the symptoms of a heat stroke you should watch out for:

• Throbbing headache
• Dizziness and light-headedness
• Lack of sweating despite the heat
• Red, hot, and dry skin
• Muscle weakness or cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rapid heartbeat
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Behavioral changes such as confusion, disorientation, or staggering
• Seizures
• Unconsciousness
• If you experience these symptoms, you should visit a hospital.

Islamabad: Minister for Religious Affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor here on Friday assured the National Assembly that the government was negotiating with the quarters concerned to further bring down the expenses of Hajj-2022 below Rs. 6,50,000.

In a policy statement in the House, he said, “I am still negotiating with the Saudi government and other quarters concerned to further reduce the expenses of upcoming Hajj from 650,000 aimed at extending maximum facilities to intending pilgrims in performing the religious obligation.”

He said the Ministry of Religious Affairs had hired the residential buildings in Makkah at the rate of 2100 Saudi Riyal against the rate of 3600 Riyal paid in 2019 by the previous government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

He said his ministry had hired buildings in Madina-tul-Munawara at 720 Riyal against the rate of 2100 Riyal paid in 2019. He said Saudi Arabia had fixed 9500 Riyal expense for each intending pilgrim of D-Category against 5500 Riyal.” Had there the PTI government, the expense of Hajj would have been Rs 1100,000 per pilgrim,” he added.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, the expense of the upcoming Hajj had been brought down to Rs 65,000 and efforts were underway to further reduce it,” he said.

He said expense of the food and transport had also been reduced by the government of Saudi Arabia on the request of Pakistan. The minister said soon after assuming the charge, he was shocked to see when his ministry briefed him about the exorbitant expense of Hajj.

“I made it clear that I will prefer to resign and leave the government rather announcing the expensive hajj.” Mufti Abdul Shakoor said his leader Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman had also directed him to reduce the expense of the hajj.

He also assured that the corruption committed in his Ministry by the previous government would be dug out and shared with the House.

The minister said a comprehensive and affordable package for Umrah and Ziaraat would soon be introduced.

He vowed that an affordable package for the minorities would also be introduced soon to facilitate them in visiting their sacred and religious places.

Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday lambasted the incumbent government for increasing the prices of petroleum products and power tariffs amid hyperinflation in the country.

According to details, former Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter and lambasted the government that the nation starting to pay price for Imported Government’s subservience before foreign masters with 20% / Rs30 per litre hike in petrol & diesel prices - the highest single price hike in our history. The incompetent & insensitive Govt has not pursued our deal with Russia for 30% cheaper oil.

In another tweet, Imran Khan said that in contrast India, strategic ally of US, has managed to reduce fuel prices by Rs 25 per litre by buying cheaper oil from Russia. Now our nation will suffer another massive dose of inflation at the hands of this cabal of crooks.

In contrast India, strategic ally of US, has managed to reduce fuel prices by Pkr 25 per litre by buying cheaper oil from Russia. Now our nation will suffer another massive dose of inflation at the hands of this cabal of crooks.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 26, 2022

It is pertinent to mention that the federal government has decided to raise the prices of petroleum products by 30 rupees per litre, with the hike set to go into effect at midnight tonight.

This was announced by Finance Minister Miftah Ismail while addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday night.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken this difficult decision in the larger interest of national economy.  He said that it is a hard decision for the government to impose such kind of burden on general public.

The Minister said that new prices include Petrol 179.86 rupees per liter, High-Speed Diesel 174.15, Kerosene 155.56 and Light Diesel 148.31 rupees per liter.

He said the government is providing 56 rupees per liter subsidy on petroleum products as the previous government had fixed these prices which caused to increase in inflation in the country.

Miftah Ismail said that IMF Program cannot be approved for Pakistan without increase in petroleum prices.