At least 11 districts are at risk of flooding in Sindh: UN

Pakistan went on red alert Friday for extreme flooding in its rich agricultural south, evacuating half a million people from at-risk areas as catastrophic flooding worsened. The nearly two-week-old crisis has affected more than four million across the volatile and largely impoverished country, after floods washed away entire villages and killed at least 1,600, according to UN estimates.
Authorities in the densely populated southern province of Sindh warned that major floods were expected in the next 48 hours in the fertile basin along the swollen Indus river.
Manuel Bessler, who heads the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Pakistan, described the situation as a "major catastrophe".
The meteorological office issued a red alert overnight, warning of an "imminent" and "extreme" flood threat to Sindh, especially along the Indus, as flooding spread to Indian-held Kashmir, killing at least 60 people.
"At least 11 districts are at risk of flooding in Sindh, where more than 500,000 people have been relocated to safer places and evacuation still continues," said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
More than 252,000 homes are thought to have been damaged or destroyed across northwest and central Pakistan, and it could take weeks before electricity and other infrastructure is fully restored.
Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo said that hundreds of villages were flooded in the province and that embankments at Sukkur barrage were being reinforced.
"Some 200,000 people have been evacuated and we are now forcing the people not willing to leave the area.

"Unprecedented rain has also hindered rescue and relief activities, but we are working with army and navy to avoid any loss of human life," he said.
Further north in Punjab, an AFP reporter saw an exodus of people streaming out of flooded villages, wading barefoot through water, cramming belongings onto donkey carts and into cars under heavy rain on Thursday.
The flooding has threatened electricity generation plants, forcing units to shut down in a country suffering from a crippling energy crisis.
Only three of 12 units are now functioning at the 1,200-megawatt Kot Addu Power Company plant, the director general of the state-owned Pakistan Electric Power Co., Mohammad Khalid, told AFP.

Jhal Magsi issued flood warning

QUETTA: Balochistan area of district Jhal Magsi and its suburbs including Kot Magsi, Bareecha, Chawki, have been issued warning to evacuate in view of imminent flooding, Geo News reported Tuesday.

Deputy commissioner Jhal Magsi Shaukat Ali Maraghzani told Geo News that the high tide is fast approaching towards Jhal Magsi from Osta Muhammed. The current is feared to inundate Kot Magsi, Bareecha, Chawki and other suburban areas.

Shaukat said the residents have been issued caveat to e
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Altaf cancels all ceremonies in Ramazan
LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain cancelled all ceremonies to be conducted under auspices of his party during the holy month of Ramzan and announced to deposit their expenses in relief fund for flood-affected people, Geo News reported Tuesday.

According to a statement issued by the party here, Altaf Hussain expressed solidarity with the flood’s victims on mass scale devastations by the catastrophic floods across the country.

He said all ceremonies regarding
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NDMA, NVM reviews joint relief activities in flood-hit areas
ISLAMABAD: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and National Volunteers Movement (NVM) here on Tuesday reviewed the relief activities in flood affected areas and decided to utalize register volunteers services with devotion and commitment to facilitate flood victims.

Chairman NDMA, General Nadeem Ahmad and Director General NVM Nazar Hussain Nazar discussed the strategy to further improve the service being carried by volunteers in flood-affected areas of the country.

They r
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BD daily seeks urgent medicare for Pak flood victims
DHAKA: A leading Bangladesh daily has urged the international community to come to the aid of hundreds of thousands of flood victims in Pakistan and called upon the Bangladesh government to rush urgent medicare to them.

In an editorial, the Independent dubbed the current floods in Pakistan as ‘worst ever natural disaster’ and said, “though the extent of damage is yet to be ascertained in Pakistan, one thing is clear that people who have survived have no shelter, food, clean water sanitati

The New Stone Age

Louis Vuitton knows a thing or two about getting things done. They proved that twice in Paris on Wednesday, first with a fashion show at the Louvre that started exactly when they said it would (much to the distress of a few tardy editors), and then later that evening, when they hosted a glamorous fête in a hôtel particulier for the brand's very first fine jewelry collection. The foyer, first floor, and backyard had been converted into a disco, and on the floor above there was a darkened maze that led to the display of spectacular precious stones. One of the party's hosts, LVMH's Yves Carcelle, was giving tours to the VIPs. "This is a very difficult cut," he told Michelle Yeoh. "You have to be bold to even attempt that shape, as the stone can crumble with one wrong incision." The actress pronounced herself "gobsmacked."

Downstairs, things were turning steamy and crowded, a trend this Paris fashion week for parties. Leighton Meester, getting some fresh air outside, was only in town for a few days, but said that even with the night's sudden inclement weather, she was in love with Paris. "This city is so great, and Marc's collection was amazing. It'll be hard to go back to New York and back to work on Friday," she said, adding that she doesn't think the giant Afros Jacobs showed this season would be appearing on Gossip Girl. The designer swooped in to say hi to the actress, and then he said something that was no doubt on the minds of more than one fashion person at the end of a month of shows. "Everyone is asking if I'm having fun, and I am," he smiled. "But to be honest, I'm just happy to be standing up right now.

Pakistan’s 8th Crowning Beauty

After the successful event of Miss Pakistan World 2009, this year August 20, 2010 will witness the crowning of the 8th year for Pakistan’s only pageant in the world, Miss Pakistan World at the Pearson Convention Center in Toronto, Canada.

Started as an event by Sonia Ahmed, it has now developed into a whole new pageant Industry in Pakistan that runs on International pageant standards. The contestants fly down from all around the world to Toronto, Canada to enjoy 10 days of fun and hard work that includes photo shoots, sponsor venue shoots, interview sessions, media pre-interviews, sightseeing, dinners at the finest restaurants and non-stop rehearsals.

After the magnificent success of last year’s crowning beauty Ayesha Gillani, This year eight finalists from Pakistan will be heading off to Canada to prove their talent. These include, Annie, Avateef, Donna and Areeba from Karachi, Barira from Gujrat, Lariab from Islamabad, Naira from Lahore and Shazia from Mirpur, Azad Kashmir.

An expected audience of 650 people from across USA and Canada will be coming to celebrate Pakistan’s only pageant in the world, Miss Pakistan World.