16-09-2022 The Asian Independent

www.theasianindependent.co.uk
ASIA
16-09-2022 to 30-09-2022
3
DENGUE cases soaring in
Pak amid record flooding
Islamabad : Dengue cases are on
the rise in Pakistan in the wake of the
catastrophic flooding across the country
triggered by record monsoon rain
since mid-June, the media reported on
Thursday.
As relief and rescue operations continue,
officials have warned of a looming
health crisis with a surge in
dengue, malaria and severe gastric
infections, reports the BBC.
About 3,830 cases of dengue fever
have been reported by health officials
in Sindh province, one of the worst-hit
regions, with at least nine deaths.
"The overall situation in Sindh is
very bad, we are organising medical
camps all over the province. Most of
the cases we are seeing now are of
dengue patients followed closely by
malaria," Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, secretary
general of the Pakistan Medical
Association, told the BBC.
"The dengue burden is the same all
over the province and it's increasing
daily. When we checked with the laboratories,
the suspected cases are
around 80 per cent of tests being
done." Shoro, who has been treating
scores of dengue patients at Agha
Khan hospital in Karachi, told the
BBC that the situation is only going to
worsen in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the overall death toll in
Pakistan from this season's monsoon
rains and floods has increased to
1,486, along with 12,749 injured,
according to the latest update by the
National Disaster Management
Authority (NDMA).
The NDMA further added that
179,281 people have been rescued and
546,288 others are currently living in
camps. Some 33 million people across
the country have been affected so far.
Half of Pakistan may
face famine: Report
Islamabad : A new
report has warned that
half of Pakistan may face
famine if food supplies
from external sources are
not arranged soon in the
midst of the catastrophic
flooding across the country.
The report compiled by
agencies of the Ministry
of National Food Security
& Research said the mega
floods have destroyed at
least 70 per cent of
Pakistan's food basket,
which means food must be imported soon to save the population from famine,
reports Samaa TV.
The severity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that in Sindh and
Balochistan, around 95 per cent of the crops were completely destroyed by the
floods as per the initial assessment carried out by the government.
Meanwhile in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, around a third of crops
were washed away by the floods.
As a result, around 40 million people face food scarcity in Pakistan and the
situation demands for immediate measures to supply a whopping 14 million
tonnes of food to end the shortage and save lives, according to food agencies,
Samaa TV reported. In the wake of the disaster and destruction of produce, the
prices of fruits, vegetables, and other staples have also skyrocketed.
To restore the supply chain, the national exchequer would have to import
essential food items such as wheat, pulses, spices, and sugar.
The report estimated that the import bill will witness a startling increase of
nearly 44 per cent as the government ensures the food supply.
Roughly 7 million tons of wheat import will cost around $3.5 billion to the
national exchequer. Whereas, 600,000 tons of sugar, 100,000 tonnes of spices
and 1 million tons of pulses and palm oil imports will also add to the cost,
Samaa TV reported. The food agencies have asked the government to undertake
quick measures to support the flood-ravaged populace with essential supplies
to avoid a massive humanitarian crisis.
Pakistan name squad for T20 World Cup,
Shaheen returns; Fakhar misses out
Lahore : Pakistan on Thursday
named their 15-member squad for the
ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 in
Australia, with pacer Shaheen Shah
Afridi set to return from his injury.
Afridi had missed the Asia Cup
after being advised a 4-6 weeks rest
by the medical team following an
injury to the right knee ligament. He
had copped an injury while fielding
during the first Test against Sri Lanka
in Galle in July.
"Shaheen, who is undergoing rehabilitation
for a knee injury in London
and expected to resume bowling early
next month," the Pakistan Cricket
Board (PCB) said in a statement.
The squad also featured left-hander
Shan Masood, who is yet to play in a
T20I, while Haider Ali was recalled to
the side after last featuring in the format
in December 2021.
Masood has been called up to play
T20Is for the first time on the back of
a good run of form in the T20 Blast in
England. He has played for Pakistan
in Tests and ODIs, last representing
them in the longest format in 2021.
However, Fakhar Zaman, the blazing
batter, was dropped to the reserves
and despite much buzz, there was also
no recall for veteran Shoaib Malik.
Haider comes in for Fakhar, who
remains in the reserves after a poor
2022 with the bat. The left-hander has
played seven T20Is this year, totalling
just 96 runs and averaging 13.71.
The 21-year old Haider has played
21 T20Is for Pakistan, the last of them
in December 2021. He has made three
fifties and averages 23.88 in the format.
"We have a team that can perform
strongly in the ICC Men's T20
World Cup 2022. That's why we have
shown faith and confidence in almost
the same set of players who have been
part of the T20I squad post the 2021
World Cup in the UAE," chief selector
Mohammad Wasim said.
"These players have performed
well since November 2021 and that's
why we have won nine out of our last
13 T20Is. We have invested in these
cricketers and it is fair to them that
they get the opportunity to show their
mettle in the World Cup, an event for
which they have been preparing and
training hard.
"We needed to ensure continuity
and support to these players, and
that's precisely what we have done.
We are receiving encouraging reports
about Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is
likely to resume bowling early next
month," he added.
The same team will also play the
tri-series in New Zealand, also
involving Bangladesh, ahead of the
T20 World Cup. Fakhar Zaman,
Mohammad Haris and Shahnawaz
Dahani have been named as the three
traveling reserves. The same team,
sans Shaheen Afridi and Fakhar
Zaman, will play in the seven-match
T20I series against England.
In absence of Afridi and Zaman,
the selectors have named Northern's
all-rounder Aamir Jamal and Sindh's
mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed for
matches against England.
T20 World Cup squad: Babar
Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Asif Ali,
Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar
Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad
Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz,
Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad
Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah
Afridi, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman,
Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz
Dahani