ISLAMABAD: Doctors treated hundreds of victims of heatstroke at hospitals across Pakistan on Thursday after an intense heat wave sent temperatures above normal levels due to climate change, officials said.
Temperatures soared as high as 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) the previous day in Mohenjo Daro. The city, known for its archaeological sites, is in southern Sindh province, which was badly hit by climate-induced monsoon rains and devastating floods in 2022. The heat wave is forecast to continue for at least a week.
Authorities have urged people to stay indoors, hydrate and avoid unnecessary travel. But laborers say they don’t have a choice because they need to work to feed their families.
“Pakistan is the fifth most vulnerable country to the impact of climate change. We have witnessed above normal rains, floods,” Rubina Khursheed Alam, the prime minister’s coordinator on climate, said at a news conference in the capital, Islamabad.
Doctors say they treated hundreds of patients in the eastern city of Lahore, while scores of people were brought to hospitals in Hyderabad, Larkana and Jacobabad districts in the southern Sindh province.
“The situation has been getting worse since yesterday, when people affected by heat started coming to hospitals in the Punjab province,” said Ghulam Farid, a senior health official. Pakistan has set up emergency response centers at hospitals to treat patients affected by the heat.
The state-run ambulance service is now carrying bottled water and ice to provide emergency treatment to victims of the heat, health officials said.
Heatstroke is a serious illness that occurs when one’s body temperature rises too quickly, potentially causing some to fall unconscious. Severe heatstroke can cause disability or death.
This year, Pakistan recorded its wettest April since 1961, with more than double the usual monthly rainfall. Last month’s heavy rains killed scores of people while destroyed property and farmland.
Daytime temperatures are soaring 8 degrees Celsius (46 degrees Fahrenheit) above May’s temperatures, raising fears of flooding in the northwest because of glacial melting.
The 2022 floods caused extensive damage in Sindh and Baluchistan provinces, as 1,739 people were killed across the country.
Currently, Pakistan’s southwest and northwestern areas are also experiencing the heat wave.
Authorities have shut schools for a week in Punjab. In the city of Lahore people were seen swimming in the roadside canals. Pakistan says despite contributing less than 1 percent to carbon emissions, it is bearing the brunt of global climate disasters.
Alam said recent erratic changes in weather patterns were the result of man-made climate change.
Doctors treat hundreds of victims of heatstroke in Pakistan after heat wave hits the country
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Doctors treat hundreds of victims of heatstroke in Pakistan after heat wave hits the country
- Authorities want people to stay indoors and avoid travel, though laborers say they don’t have a choice
- State-run ambulances are now carrying bottled water, ice to provide emergency heatstroke treatment
US designates Pakistani group’s offshoot as ‘terrorist’ over Kashmir attack
- The attack sparked heavy fighting between nuclear-armed Asian neighbors India, Pakistan in the latest escalation of a decades-old rivalry
- India is an increasingly important US partner in Washington’s effort to counter China’s rising influence in Asia, while Pakistan is a US ally
WASHINGTON: The US government designated The Resistance Front, considered an offshoot of the Pakistani extremist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a “foreign terrorist organization” over the April 22 militant attack in India-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday.
The Resistance Front, also known as Kashmir Resistance, initially took responsibility for the attack in Pahalgam before denying it days later.
Lashkar-e-Taiba, listed as a “foreign terrorist organization” by the United States, is a group accused of plotting attacks in India and in the West, including the three-day deadly assault on Mumbai in November 2008.
TRF’s designation by Washington as a “foreign terrorist organization” and “specially designated global terrorist” enforced President Donald Trump’s “call for justice for the Pahalgam attack,” Rubio said in a statement.
Rubio called TRF, which emerged in 2019, a “front and proxy” for Lashkar-e-Taiba. It is considered an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, a Delhi-based think tank.
The attack sparked heavy fighting between nuclear-armed Asian neighbors India and Pakistan in the latest escalation of a decades-old rivalry. New Delhi blamed the attack on Pakistan, which denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. Washington condemned the attack but did not directly blame Islamabad.
Michael Kugelman, a Washington-based South Asia analyst and writer for Foreign Policy magazine, said in designating TRF, “Washington is flagging its concern about the terrorist attack that provoked the recent India-Pakistan conflict, and siding with New Delhi’s view that the group is linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba.”
He added: “This can be a shot in the arm for a US-India relationship looking to rebound after a few tough months.”
On May 7, Indian jets bombed sites across the border that New Delhi described as “terrorist infrastructure,” setting off an exchange of attacks between the two countries by fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery that killed dozens until a ceasefire on May 10.
The ceasefire was first announced by Trump on social media after Washington held talks with both sides, but India has differed with Trump’s claims that it resulted from his intervention and his threats to sever trade talks.
India’s position has been that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve their problems directly and with no outside involvement.
India is an increasingly important US partner in Washington’s effort to counter China’s rising influence in Asia, while Pakistan is a US ally.
Both Hindu-majority India and Islamic Pakistan claim Muslim-majority Kashmir in full while ruling only parts of the Himalayan territory, over which they have also fought wars.
Pakistan seeks deeper UK health ties, targets reform in disease control, maternal care
- Syed Mustafa Kamal meets high-level British High Commission delegation to discuss Pakistan’s health challenges
- Minister calls for need to address waterborne diseases in Pakistan, saying they account for 68 percent of all illnesses in country
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal this week reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reform the health sector, eyeing greater collaboration with the United Kingdom (UK) in line with Islamabad’s health priorities, state media reported.
The UK remains a key funder of global development efforts in Pakistan. According to the UK government’s website, it is supporting control and eradication of communicable diseases in Pakistan through its contributions in Global Health Initiatives, including Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), Global Alliance for Vaccination (GAVI) and Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
A delegation led by Acting British High Commissioner Jo Moir met Kamal on Thursday to discuss Pakistan’s health challenges, including a high burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
“A delegation from the British High Commission on Thursday met with Federal Minister for Health, Syed Mustafa Kamal to explore avenues for aligning the United Kingdom’s support portfolio with Pakistan’s national health priorities,” state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.
“The minister reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to reforming the health sector and welcomed continued collaboration in critical areas such as maternal and child health, immunization, and health systems strengthening,” the report added.
Kamal stressed the importance of shifting Pakistan’s focus from preventive and promotive health care by strengthening primary health care systems to reduce the strain on tertiary care facilities, APP said.
He called for the urgent need to address waterborne diseases in Pakistan, saying they account for 68 percent of all illnesses in the country. The minister called for tackling the crisis by ensuring the provision of safe drinking water and improved sewage systems across Pakistan.
Kamal raised concerns about Pakistan’s high fertility rate, describing it as a “national issue requiring immediate attention.”
“He encouraged efforts to balance population growth through collaboration with stakeholders, including religious scholars and development partners,” the report added.
Moir appreciated Kamal’s efforts and shared details of the UK’s ongoing support for Pakistan in the health and population sectors, the state-run media said.
She also highlighted plans to design a media campaign based on research findings, focusing on health and population awareness, APP said.
Islamabad invites Chinese enterprises to invest in Pakistan’s agriculture sector
- Agriculture employs nearly 38 percent of Pakistan’s workforce, contributes around 19 percent to GDP
- China, Pakistan discuss collaborating in research, cotton production, seed development, irrigation efficiency
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain on Thursday invited Chinese enterprises to invest in the country’s agriculture sector, eyeing stronger collaboration with Beijing in irrigation technologies and modern farming techniques.
Pakistan has recently undertaken efforts to promote its agriculture sector, which include establishing a new regulatory body this week to reform the sector and bring domestic food safety standards in line with international requirements.
Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economy, employing nearly 38 percent of the workforce and contributing around 19 percent to the country’s GDP. However, the sector has long faced challenges, including outdated practices, poor regulatory oversight, low export competitiveness and barriers in meeting international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards.
Hussain met a high-level Chinese delegation including Jiang Zaidong, the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, on the sidelines of the China-Pakistan Economic and Trade Exchange Conference in Islamabad.
“The Minister also underlined the importance of public-private partnerships and urged Chinese enterprises, including those from XPCC [Xinjian Production and Construction Corps] and China Xinjian Group, to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan’s agriculture and agri-business sectors,” the food security and research ministry said in a statement.
Hussain welcomed proposals for joint ventures, research exchanges and the establishment of demonstration farms and technology centers in Pakistan, the statement added.
The two sides discussed enhancing agricultural cooperation, particularly focusing on research, cotton production, seed development, irrigation efficiency and technological exchange.
The Pakistani minister highlighted the challenges Islamabad has faced in recent years, especially in cotton production, where declining yields and outdated seed varieties have created major setbacks, the ministry said.
“The Minister expressed keen interest in learning from Xinjiang’s remarkable progress in improving agricultural productivity, especially in regions with arid and semi-arid climates, which closely resemble many parts of Pakistan,” the statement said.
Zaidong reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening agricultural cooperation with Pakistan, the food security ministry said.
“He appreciated Pakistan’s proactive approach and openness to collaboration and highlighted the potential for long-term partnership in food security, technology transfer, and rural development,” the statement added.
Pakistan has undertaken a reform drive to enhance its economic sectors via the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). The SIFC is a civil-military hybrid body formed in 2023 to fast-track foreign investment and economic reform in strategic sectors, including agriculture, mining, IT and defense production.
Pakistan aims to attract international investment in its key economic sectors to ward off a prolonged macroeconomic crisis that has drained its resources and embroiled the country in a balance of payments crisis.
No visit by Trump to Pakistan ‘scheduled at this time’ — White House official
- Trump confirmed to visit UK from Sept. 17–19 for state events hosted by King Charles
- Speculation of Trump’s Pakistan stop emerged after reports on local TV channels
ISLAMABAD: No visit to Pakistan by US President Donald Trump has been scheduled, a White House official confirmed on Thursday, contradicting media reports in Pakistan that claimed he would arrive in the country in mid-September.
At least two Pakistani media outlets had reported that Trump was expected to visit Islamabad around September 18. The reports fueled speculation about a possible South Asia tour that could include a rare presidential trip to Pakistan.
However, Trump is already scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom from September 17 to 19, where he is expected to meet members of the royal family and participate in events hosted by Buckingham Palace, according to a previously issued statement from the palace.
Separately, Indian media have reported that Trump may also stop in New Delhi in September, though exact dates have not been confirmed by the White House.
In response to an Arab News query regarding a potential Pakistan visit, the White House said on background:
“A trip to Pakistan has not been scheduled at this time.”
Geo and ARY news channels had said earlier on Thursday that Trump was expected to visit Pakistan in September. But both later withdrew their reports.
If Trump does end up visiting Pakistan, it would be his first to Pakistan as president and the first by a US president since George W. Bush’s trip to Islamabad in 2006.
US-Pakistan relations saw a major boost when Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House last month in an unprecedented lunch meeting.
Pakistan signs rail project pact with Afghanistan, Uzbekistan in push for regional connectivity
- Agreement will launch joint feasibility study for UAP railway link connecting Central Asia to Pakistani ports
- Pact seen as one of the first tangible outcomes of renewed engagement between Islamabad and Kabul
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday signed a framework agreement to conduct a joint feasibility study for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project in Kabul, in a major push for regional connectivity with Central Asia.
The UAP Railway Project aims to establish a vital trade and transit corridor linking Uzbekistan with Pakistan via Afghanistan, offering the Central Asian republics direct access to Pakistani seaports. The rail link is expected to significantly boost regional connectivity, facilitate trade and contribute to long-term economic integration and political stability in the broader region.
For Pakistan, which seeks to position itself as a regional connectivity hub, the UAP railway is also strategically important in strengthening economic ties with Central Asia and securing stable transit through Afghanistan, a country whose internal security dynamics continue to impact broader regional development goals.
“I congratulate the people & governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan on the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the Naibabad–Kharlachi rail link under the Uzbek–Afghan–Pak (UAP) Railway Corridor,” Dar wrote on social media platform X.
Dar described the signing of the agreement as a “major milestone” for advancing regional connectivity and economic integration, pointing out that the project would connect Central Asian countries to Pakistani seaports through Afghanistan.
He thanked the foreign minister of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan for their support in ensuring the timely signing of the framework agreement.
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan signed an agreement in 2017 to extend a railroad connecting the two countries that would eventually give Uzbekistan a direct link to seaports. Landlocked Uzbekistan’s access to marine shipping is very limited.
DAR MEETS AFGHAN LEADERS
Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s foreign minister, met his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi at the sidelines of the framework agreement signing to discuss bilateral cooperation and security.
He also met Afghan Prime Minister Muhammad Hassan Akhund to discuss trade, security and other matters between the two countries.
“The two leaders exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including peace and security, trade and transit cooperation and regional connectivity,” Pakistan’s foreign office said in an earlier statement.
Talks between the two countries’ officials took place amid a tentative thaw in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, which have been strained in recent years due to a surge in militancy in Pakistan that Islamabad blames on Afghan-based insurgent groups. Kabul denies the allegations.
Efforts to repair the fractured ties between Islamabad and Kabul gained momentum during a China-hosted trilateral dialogue in Beijing in May between the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan and China.
Islamabad and Kabul agreed in principle to send ambassadors to each other’s countries as soon as possible, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had announced after the summit.
The upcoming signing of the UAP railway pact, a long-discussed infrastructure project championed by all three governments, is also being seen as one of the first tangible outcomes of renewed engagement between Islamabad and Kabul.
