Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif ordered preventive and necessary administrative measures on the possibility of rains across the province including Lahore.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has issued instructions for advance measures on the forecast of heavy rains in the province till April 29 and has ordered the commissioners, deputy commissioners and MD WASA to be active for drainage.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed the concerned officers to be present in all shift fields and said that the administration and the authorities should be active, all resources should be used for drainage, and also to keep the traffic flowing in Lahore and other cities. All necessary steps should be taken, active duty in traffic warden field to help citizens.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif ordered the rescue services to take immediate safety measures and said that the people from the low-lying areas should be transferred to safe places in time. Help should be taken from alert service, effective measures should be taken to protect livestock in rural areas.

Islamabad: The petroleum products are likely to reduce prices in Pakistan under the effect of international market.

According to the details, the petrol price is now $107.16 per barrel and decreased by $1.86 in international market. The diesel price has come to $104.76 per barrel after the reduction of $4.30.

However, it is likely to reduce the petrol prices in Pakistan also after the reduction in prices of petroleum products in international market.

It should be noted that earlier a huge stock was discovered of oil and gas in Sindh.    

Geneva: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed his concern over any Israeli military action in Rafah, saying that the attack would have devastating humanitarian effects.

Antonio Guterres called on the US to stop Israel from attacking Rafah during an interview broadcast by the Qatari Broadcasting Agency, saying that the US should take a blunt position and stop Israel from attacking Rafah.

He also considered the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) as the cornerstone of aid in Gaza and reiterated the UN's commitment to UNRWA's principles of neutrality.

The UN Secretary General appealed to all donor countries to resume aid to UNRWA.

He expressed hope that negotiations on the cease-fire in Gaza and the exchange of prisoners would continue.

It is pertinent to note that more than 34,000 Palestinians have been martyred and more than 77,000 have been injured in Gaza since October 7.

It is believed that the actual number of martyrs may be much higher as many bodies may still be buried in the rubble of the destroyed buildings.