ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) on Tuesday called for unity among Muslim countries across the world for the resolution of Palestine issue.
The statement came after a Hajj Conference organized by the PUC in Islamabad, which was attended by Pakistan’s Minister of Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, Palestinian chargé d’affaires Nader Khamis Al-Turk, Pir Naqeebur Rehman, Allama Shabbir Hussein Messvi, Saad Nazeer, Sanaullah Khan and others.
The development came as death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza, which began after Oct.7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, reached at least 39,653 people, according to the Gaza health ministry. Palestinian officials said Israeli forces killed another 12 people in three separate raids in the northern West Bank on Tuesday as violence in the occupied territory showed no sign of abating.
The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has summoned an extraordinary meeting of its executive committee on Aug. 7 to discuss Israel’s ongoing aggression against Palestine and other regional states, which has raised fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East. The meeting was convened on requests by Palestine and Iran.
“The prevailing challenges require Muslim Ummah to get united and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have to play their respective role for the unity and stability of the Muslim Ummah,” the PUC quoted participants of the Hajj Conference as saying.
Speaking at the conference, the Palestinian chargé d’affaires said the time had come for the sacrifices of the people of Palestine to bear fruit.
“Palestine will came into being as an independent and autonomous state and we will say prayers inside Al-Quds,” Nader Khamis Al-Turk said.
Addressing the Hajj Conference, the Saudi ambassador said serving the Hajj pilgrims was a matter of pride for Saudi Arabia.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are knotted in the eternal friendship and have relationship of faith and belief,” he was quoted as saying by the PUC. “It is the responsibility of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Pakistan to facilitate the Pakistani pilgrims to their best.”
The conference also adopted a resolution to laud the services of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Minister for Hajj Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah for making best arrangements for this year’s pilgrimage.
The annual Islamic pilgrimage was held from June 14 till June 19, with millions of pilgrims from all parts of the world performing the rituals.
Out of Pakistan’s total quota of 179,210 pilgrims, around 160,000 from the country performed Hajj this year through both the government scheme and private tour operators, according to the religious affairs ministry.
Pakistan Ulema Council calls for unity among Muslim world to resolve Palestine issue
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Pakistan Ulema Council calls for unity among Muslim world to resolve Palestine issue
- The development comes as death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza reaches at least 39,653 people, according to Palestinian officials
- Pakistani minister, religious scholars hail King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed and Saudi Hajj minister for best Hajj arrangements
Pakistan, WHO sign agreement to provide free cancer medication for children
- The survival rate for children with cancer stands at just 30 percent in region, health minister says
- Medicines to benefit around 8,000 children annually diagnosed with deadly disease in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has signed an agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide free cancer medication to thousands of children annually in the South Asian country, Pakistani state media reported on Tuesday.
The agreement marks Pakistan’s inclusion in the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines (GCCM), a WHO-led initiative to expand access to life-saving cancer treatments for children in low- and middle-income countries.
Pakistan Health Minister Mustafa Kamal announced that under this agreement, Pakistan will receive essential cancer medicines every year, benefitting approximately 8,000 children who are diagnosed with cancer annually in the country.
“The goal is simple but profound to save lives,” Kamal said. “Currently, the survival rate for children with cancer in our region stands at just 30 percent. Through this agreement, we aim to increase that to 60 percent by ensuring timely access to quality treatment.”
Around 8,000 new pediatric cases are reported each year but less than half receive timely diagnosis or treatment due to limited access to pediatric oncology centers, according to the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH).
The overall mortality rate for those diagnosed remains alarmingly high and survival rates hover around 10–30 percent, compared to over 80 percent in high-income countries.
Kamal shared the WHO will provide technical and operational support for the initiative, while United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will take on the responsibility of procuring and supplying the medicines to Pakistan, appreciating both organizations and all partners for their support and commitment.
“Today is a big day for Pakistan. We are not just recipients; we are partners in global efforts to ensure that no child suffers or dies from a treatable disease,” he said.
“I thank WHO, UNICEF, the GCCM, and all our partner organizations. Our dream is a healthier society, and that begins with the health of our mothers and children.”
On the occasion, WHO representative Dr. Dapeng Luo said no child affected by cancer should die because of lack of access to treatment, including quality-assured medicines.
“WHO will work side by side with the Ministry of Health and partners to save lives and leave no child behind, no matter where they live or who they are,” Luo said.
China expresses interest in investing in seed development, precision farming in Pakistan, ministry says
- The agriculture sector contributes nearly a quarter of Pakistan’s gross domestic product and employs 37 percent of the national labor force
- A first batch of 300 Pakistani graduates this month also completed training in irrigation, seed production and prevention of post-harvest losses
KARACHI: A high-powered Chinese delegation has expressed “keen interest” in making investments in seed development, precision farming, smart irrigation systems and agro-processing in Pakistan, the Pakistani national food security ministry said on Tuesday.
The Chinese delegation, comprising senior officials, agricultural scientists, and private sector representatives, met with National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain to explore enhanced cooperation in the field of agriculture.
The two sides discussed joint strategies to modernize Pakistan’s agricultural sector and to initiate collaborative efforts in research, innovation and investment, with the delegation highlighting China’s agricultural advancements and willingness to transfer expertise.
“Through collaboration with China, Pakistan can introduce scientific research, climate-resilient practices, and modern technology that will uplift the productivity of local farmers and ensure long-term food security,” Hussain told the Chinese delegates, stressing the urgent need to formalize agreements between Pakistani and Chinese agricultural institutions.
The agriculture sector contributes nearly a quarter of Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 37 percent of the national labor force, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization. However, a fast-growing population, climate change and poor resource management have greatly impacted Pakistan’s crops in recent years, prompting officials to ponder alternative ways to enhance production.
Pakistan also decided in June last year to send nearly 1,000 graduates to China to train in methods and techniques to enhance Pakistani agricultural production. Of them, around 300 Pakistani graduates this month completed training in water-saving irrigation, seed production, animal husbandry, agriculture production and prevention of post-harvest losses in China’s Shaanxi province.
During Tuesday’s meeting with Chinese delegates, Hussain proposed signing multiple memorandums of understanding (MoUs) focusing on joint research in areas such as biotechnology, crop improvement, pest control and sustainable agricultural practices, according to the national food security ministry.
He also underscored the importance of establishing long-term frameworks for the exchange of scientists, technical training, and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen Pakistan’s agricultural institutions.
“Hussain noted that this partnership must go beyond investment and move toward structured collaboration in research and development,” the ministry said.
“The Chinese delegation appreciated the Minister’s strategic vision and assured full support from their government and private sector to contribute to Pakistan’s agricultural transformation… The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to elevate the Pakistan-China partnership in agriculture to a new level, ensuring tangible outcomes in the coming months through structured planning and implementation.”
German biathlete Dahlmeier injured after mountaineering fall in Pakistan, reports say
- The accident occurred on Monday when Dahlmeier was hit by a landslide in Hushe Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan region
- Pakistan’s northern mountainous regions have experienced heavy flooding and landslides, killing several tourists
BERLIN: German biathlete and double Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier has been at least seriously injured in a mountaineering accident in Pakistan, German media reports citing her management and a Pakistan government spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The accident occurred on Monday when Dahlmeier was hit by a landslide in Hushe Valley in the northern mountain range in Gilgit-Baltistan, said spokesperson Faizullah Faraq.
Germany’s ZDF broadcaster reported that no emergency response had so far reached her.
But Faraq said Dahlmeier, according to reports from the remote valley, was taken away by locals from the landslide site.
One of her companions, identified as Kraus Marina Eva, was still stuck at the site, he said.
Dahlmeier retired from the sport in 2019, aged 25, a year after becoming the first female biathlete to achieve a sprint and pursuit double at the same Olympics.
Her management did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from Reuters.
ZDF said that a helicopter overflight on Tuesday had found no signs of life.
The rescue operation is under way with the cooperation of the Pakistan army, Faraq said, adding that bad weather meant a helicopter had been unable to reach the site.
The country’s northern mountainous regions have experienced heavy flooding and landslides, killing several local tourists during the current monsoon spell of rains.
Flooding and other rain-related accidents have killed 288 people in Pakistan since the monsoon season began in late June, says the country’s National Disaster Management Authority.
India’s Modi denies third party brokered peace with Pakistan
- The fighting in May brought the rivals close to another war, but Trump announced a ceasefire between them before the two countries did
- Soon, opposition parties in India started raising questions about third-party mediation between the foes, a claim New Delhi has always denied
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday denied that any world leader pushed India to stop fighting Pakistan during their recent conflict, after repeated claims by US President Donald Trump that he had brokered peace.
The South Asian rivals fought an intense four-day conflict in May that left more than 70 people dead on both sides before Trump announced a ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
“No world leader asked us to stop the operation,” Modi told parliament during a debate on “Operation Sindoor,” the military campaign launched against Pakistan in May.
Modi did not name Trump in his speech.
The Indian prime minister also claimed that it was Pakistan that pleaded with India to stop fighting after feeling the “heat of our attacks.”
The conflict was sparked by an April attack on tourists by gunmen in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 men dead, mostly Hindus.
India accused Pakistan of backing the attackers, a charge Islamabad denied.
Trump has claimed numerous times that he brokered peace between the rivals, including most recently on Monday.
“If I weren’t around, you’d have, right now, six major wars going on. India would be fighting with Pakistan,” Trump said during his visit to Scotland.
Modi’s assertion came after Rahul Gandhi from the opposition Congress party challenged the premier to say “inside the parliament that Donald Trump is lying.”
Earlier Tuesday, home minister Amit Shah told lawmakers that three Pakistani gunmen involved in the attack in Indian-administered Kashmir were killed during a military operation on Monday.
Shah told parliament that all three were Pakistani nationals and identified two of them as members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan.
Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947, and the neighbors — who both claim the region in full — have fought two wars and several conflicts over its control.
The fighting in May brought the rivals close to another war, but Trump announced a ceasefire between them before the two countries did.
Soon, opposition parties in India started raising questions about third-party mediation between the foes, a claim New Delhi has always denied.
CM Gandapur to lead Peshawar rally as Imran Khan’s party finalizes Aug. 5 protest plans
- The federal, Punjab governments have repeatedly warned in recent weeks they would not tolerate any form of violence in protests
- Political analysts voice doubts about the ability of Khan’s party to stage effective protest, citing ‘internal fragmentation, leadership crisis’
ISLAMABAD: Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party said on Tuesday that it has finalized all preparations for a “strong and large” protest on Aug. 5, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur set to lead the main rally in Peshawar.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party announced a 90-day “do or die” protest movement on July 13, saying it would peak on August 5, the second anniversary of Khan’s arrest.
The PTI has staged several protests in recent years to secure Khan’s release and demand an audit of the February 2024 general election, with a number of demonstrations resulting in clashes with law enforcers and in some cases paralyzing the capital Islamabad for days.
Pakistan’s election authorities deny the allegation of election irregularities, while the federal and Punjab governments have repeatedly warned in recent weeks that they would not tolerate any form of violence, accusing the PTI of trying to derail efforts for sustainable economic growth.
“We have completed our preparations and instructions have been issued to all district-level leaders to mobilize the public,” CM Gandapur told media on Tuesday, adding the party would move forward with its protest plan.
“I will lead a historic and the largest rally in Peshawar and other districts in the province will also arrange their rallies.”
Arab News reached out to the information and interior ministries in Islamabad and Punjab for comments on the government’s strategy to respond to the protest call but did not receive a response by the time of filing of this story.
Speaking to Arab News, Syed Zulifkar Bukhari, a close Khan aide, lamented arrests of supporters and disqualification of PTI lawmakers ahead of the protest, criticizing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
“The ECP has been biased toward the PTI since the times when polls were conducted and well before too. Disqualification [of lawmakers] on the basis of false charges and politically motivated cases will cause more unrest in the country, in an already highly volatile situation.”
Pakistan’s election regulator this week disqualified PTI Senator Ijaz Chaudhry, Member of National Assembly Muhammad Ahmad Chattha, and Member of Punjab Provincial Assembly Ahmad Khan following their convictions by an anti-terrorism court in cases relating to May 9, 2023 protests, when hundreds of Khan supporters attacked government and military installations over the ex-premier’s brief arrest on graft charges.
Khan’s party termed the ECP’s decision “biased,” saying its lawmakers were not even issued notices before disqualification. In a statement, the ECP rejected the allegations of biasness, saying the three lawmakers had been convicted by the anti-terrorism court and their sentences were still in effect.
Bukhari expressed hopes that a large number of people would respond to their call for protest on Aug. 5.
“We are hopeful this time not only a large gathering from across the country will stage the protest to record their concern over illegal incarceration of former prime minister Khan and [his wife] Bushra Bibi, but also that the cornered quarters will heed to the solidarity at display,” he said.
But analysts were skeptical of an impressive show of political strength by Khan’s party, amid “internal fragmentation.”
“I still hope that sanity will prevail and PTI will call off the protest on August 5,” Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, president of the Islamabad-based think tank Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), told Arab News.
“It may not be a very impressive show for a variety of reasons and the process of fragmentation in the party may be hastened if it is not a huge affair.”
Reports of rifts within the PTI emerged after CM Gandapur announced the 90-day protest drive against the government on July 13. The protest call appeared to contradict an earlier call for a nationwide protest posted on Khan’s official X account, set to culminate on August 5.
Speculation about differences within the party further grew after PTI Punjab’s chief organizer Aliya Hamza Malik voiced concerns on X about a lack of clarity around the protest campaign, questioning the origins of the 90-day plan and seeking details on the party’s strategy to secure Khan’s release.
Dr. Huma Baqai, another political commentator, said a possible government crackdown would deter mass mobilization and affect public participation in the protest.
“The PTI is too fragmented and facing a leadership crisis, yet it still evokes insecurities within the sitting government and perhaps even the establishment, leading to numerous arrests that are likely to have an impact,” she told Arab News.
“Interestingly, Jamaat-e-Islami has announced a rally for Palestine and Kashmir on the same day, a move seen as aimed at creating both confusion and diffusion.”
