Breaking Beam

Emirates Airline President Sir Tim Clark today addressed recent severe operational disruptions caused by unprecedented stormy weather in the United Arab Emirates.

In an open letter to the airline’s valued customers, Sir Tim expressed his deepest apologies for the extensive inconveniences experienced during what he described as “some of the most challenging days in our history.” The record-breaking weather event occurred on Tuesday, 16 April, marking the UAE’s heaviest rainfall in 75 years. The severe storms led to significant disruptions across the region, particularly impacting access to Dubai’s main airport due to heavily flooded roads.

Despite challenging conditions, Emirates’ central hub in Dubai continued to operate, although flight movements were substantially reduced to ensure passenger safety. The adverse weather necessitated the diversion of dozens of flights and led to nearly 400 cancellations and numerous delays over a span of three days, as the airline grappled with staffing and supply shortages.

Emirates prioritized the management of the situation and the care of affected customers by suspending check-in for passengers departing from Dubai, imposing an embargo on ticket sales, and temporarily halting connecting passenger traffic into Dubai. The airline mobilized additional resources to support airport and contact center teams, helping with rebookings and scheduling additional flights for stranded passengers.

More than 100 employee volunteers were deployed at Dubai Airport to assist disrupted customers, focusing on medical cases, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups. To accommodate those affected, Emirates secured over 12,000 hotel rooms in Dubai and issued 250,000 meal vouchers, along with providing essential amenities like drinking water and blankets.

As of Saturday, 20 April, Emirates has successfully restored its regular flight schedules. Efforts are ongoing to clear the backlog of rebooked passengers and manage around 30,000 pieces of left-behind baggage, with a dedicated task force working to reconcile and deliver these items to their rightful owners.

“We acknowledge the frustration and inconvenience our customers faced during this period,” stated Sir Tim Clark. “We are deeply committed to learning from this experience and improving our processes. Our teams and partners have worked tirelessly under difficult conditions to support our customers and restore our operations.”

Emirates appreciates the continued patience and understanding of its customers as it works diligently to resolve remaining issues and reaffirms its commitment to upholding the ‘Fly Better’ promise.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced that cellular services will be temporarily suspended in specific districts across Punjab and Balochistan on April 21st and 22nd, during the upcoming by-elections.

This measure, directed by the Ministry of Interior, aims to ensure the integrity and security of the electoral process.

It must be mentioned here that the electoral process’s function depends on the availability of the internet so that the ECP can stay connected with the polling stations after the counting has concluded. Miscommunication led to wide-scale rigging in the recently conducted elections.

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Pakistan’s National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) has announced a major improvement in the process of obtaining a national identity card (CNIC). Starting from April 2024, people who apply for an urgent CNIC can now receive their new card within just 15 days. This is a significant reduction from the previous processing time of 23 days.

NADRA shared the news through its social media channels, demonstrating its commitment to providing fast and accessible services to Pakistani citizens. This new timeline for urgent CNIC applications helps people get their ID cards much quicker, allowing them to take care of important matters without long delays.

The National Identity Card (NIC) is a vital document for Pakistani citizens. It serves as the primary form of identification required for various tasks such as acquiring licenses, opening bank accounts, applying for passports, and even getting mobile phone connections. The NIC plays a crucial role in allowing people to fully participate in different aspects of public life.

Individuals who choose the urgent category for their smart ID card applications can receive their new CNIC within 15 days for a fee of Rs 1500. This expedited service is both affordable and efficient, making it accessible to many people.

NADRA’s efforts to streamline the CNIC issuance process reflect its dedication to improving public service delivery. By making it easier and faster for citizens to obtain essential identification, NADRA is helping people navigate daily life and access various socio-economic opportunities. This initiative marks a positive step forward in supporting the needs of Pakistani citizens.

In the initial quarter of 2024, global shipments of smartphones experienced a 7.8% increase, totaling 289.4 million units compared to the preceding year, as per data from market intelligence firm IDC. This signifies the third consecutive quarter of growth, indicating a rebound for the smartphone market following challenging years, as outlined in the report.