At least 14 people have died and 153 were injured after a powerful storm hit Pakistan’s Punjab province, officials confirmed. Most deaths occurred due to collapsing buildings and falling trees.
The storm caused widespread power outages in major cities including Lahore, Multan, and Sialkot. Floodlight poles at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium were knocked down, and part of the M-2 highway was closed in Chakwal.
Strong winds and hail also damaged buildings in the capital, Islamabad.
EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic warned that a proposed 30% US tariff on European goods would effectively amount to a trade ban, severely disrupting transatlantic supply chains.
Speaking ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Sefcovic expressed disappointment over a letter from US President Donald Trump that halted expected trade progress. “We were close to an agreement,” he said, but now “must prepare for all outcomes.”
The EU has delayed retaliatory measures on $72 billion worth of US goods until August 1, hoping for a negotiated resolution. Sefcovic emphasized that “no one wants a trade war,” while France urged faster preparation for countermeasures and Hungary blamed the EU Commission’s weak response to US pressure.
Danish and Lithuanian ministers echoed calls to avoid escalation but emphasized EU readiness to defend its interests.
TR