ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Thursday that the federal government will pause constructing new canals on River Indus until a consensus develops between Pakistan’s provinces on the matter, following outrage and sit-in protests in Sindh.
Pakistan’s government launched an ambitious agricultural project in February to build a network of six canals on River Indus. The government says it aims to irrigate millions of acres of barren lands and ensure food security for the 240-million strong country.
However, critics say the project would trigger water shortages in the southern parts of the country, especially Sindh. Lawyers, members of the civil society and supporters of nationalist parties in Sindh have disrupted trade and traffic on the province’s National Highway since last Friday, staging sit-in protests over the issue.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a key ally of the ruling coalition led by Sharif and the largest party in Sindh, has led protests against the project. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met Sharif on Thursday to discuss the canals issue and Pakistan’s prevailing tensions with India.
“We must resolve this issue through mutual consent and dialogue,” Sharif said with Bhutto Zardari by his side. “And today, in the meeting held between the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), we have mutually agreed that no new canals will be constructed until a decision is reached via consensus in the Council of Common Interests (CCI).”
The CCI is a constitutional body whose members are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister. The council resolves power-sharing and other disputes between the federation and the provinces.
Sharif said the center had decided that there will be “no further progress” on canal-related matters unless a consensus is developed among provinces.
“Therefore, we have decided today that a meeting of the Council of Common Interests will be convened on Friday, May 2, in which the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, and the federal government’s decisions will be endorsed,” he added.
Bhutto Zardari thanked the prime minister for listening to his concerns regarding the issue, saying that the CCI meeting will endorse the decision that no new canals would be constructed without consensus on the matter.
“Today, we are not taking a decision together but are merely agreeing that without consensus on water-related matters, no new canals are being made,” he said.
The PPP last week threatened to withdraw its support for Sharif’s ruling coalition government if it decided to go ahead with building the new canals. Bhutto Zardari’s party, which emerged as the second-largest political party after the controversial 2024 general election in Pakistan, Sharif get elected prime minister last year.
The PPP settled for the presidency and governorships in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces, areas where it performed poorly in the national polls.
Pakistan pauses controversial canals project amid protests in Sindh
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Pakistan pauses controversial canals project amid protests in Sindh
- Nationalist parties, civil society members in fear project to build canals on River Indus will trigger water shortages
- Shehbaz Sharif says there will be no further progress on canals until all provinces reach a consensus over the matter
Pakistan secures Hajj facilities upgrade through deal with Saudi Al-Rajhi company
- Nearly 114,700 Pakistanis will perform Hajj, including 89,000 under the government scheme and 25,700 privately
- Tents have been equipped with ACs, fans, partitioned sofa-beds, sliding doors and luggage racks for added comfort
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has finalized arrangements for its Hajj pilgrims in coordination with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Rajhi company, upgrading tents and amenities at key pilgrimage sites under a new agreement aimed at improving services for those traveling under the Government Hajj Scheme, an official confirmed Thursday.
The deal with Al-Rajhi, a licensed Tawafa company responsible for assisting foreign pilgrims in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, marks a significant step in elevating standards traditionally reserved for private tour groups.
The move comes as Pakistan seeks to improve the experience for nearly 89,000 pilgrims performing Hajj this year under the state-run scheme.
In total, 114,698 Pakistanis are expected to perform Hajj beginning June 4, including 25,698 under private operators. As of Thursday, 84,638 government-sponsored pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia on 329 flights, while 17,959 private pilgrims had also reached the kingdom.
Pre-Hajj flight operations are scheduled to conclude on May 31.
“An agreement was signed with the Tawafa company Al-Rajhi for Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, and all arrangements and facilities at the sacred sites are being finalized for this year’s Hajj,” Muhammad Umer Butt, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, told Arab News from Makkah over the phone.
He said pilgrims under the Government Hajj Scheme will now benefit from upgraded camp infrastructure.
“Air conditioners and extra fans have been added to the tents along with air coolers,” he informed, adding that modern sofa-cum-beds with partitions on both sides have been introduced to prevent the spread of infections caused by breathing or sweating.
Additional improvements include luggage racks, sliding doors in place of traditional tarpaulin sheets, gypsum board tent walls, artificial grass carpeting in corridors, protective sunshades, fans along walkways and designated shoe racks.
For the first time, Pakistani medical teams will be stationed at each camp to provide support in addition to Saudi medical services.
“A first aid team will be added to every camp, where doctors and medical staff will be available at all times,” Butt said.
He said Pakistan’s Hajj mission had also worked closely with Saudi authorities and the Maktab system to implement a transport strategy across the sacred sites, or Mashair, to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims.
“Saudi authorities have issued special instructions to protect pilgrims from the extreme weather conditions, and our mission ensures that these instructions are communicated clearly and understandably to all Pakistani pilgrims,” he added.
A dedicated complaint management cell has been set up to address pilgrims’ concerns in real time.
“A total of 2,241 complaints were received regarding lost luggage, out of which 2,209 were resolved with the luggage delivered to the concerned pilgrims,” Butt said.
“In Madinah, 636 bags were misplaced during handling, of which 630 were recovered and returned,” he continued.
He said that around two dozen pilgrims who had gone missing from their groups in Makkah and Madinah were also successfully located and reunited.
More than 39,000 Pakistani pilgrims completed their visit to Riyad al-Jannah — the sacred area in Masjid al-Nabawi believed to be a garden from Paradise — mostly using the official Nusuk app in Madinah.
For those unfamiliar with the digital system, special permits were arranged for 14,000 individuals.
Butt praised Saudi Arabia’s digital Hajj infrastructure and logistical planning, which he said had greatly eased the pilgrimage experience for visitors from around the world.
Pakistan projects 3-4 percent inflation next month ahead of June 10 budget
- Monthly economic report says consumer price inflation is likely to ease by 1.5 percent to 2 percent year-on-year in May
- It warns that inflationary pressures may resurface slightly in June due to seasonal trends and base effects
KARACHI: Pakistan expects inflation to pick up to between 3 percent and 4 percent in June, the Finance Ministry said in its monthly economic report released Thursday, as the country prepares to announce its federal budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 on June 10, a date that falls during the Eid Al-Adha holidays.
The ministry said consumer price inflation was projected to ease between 1.5 percent and 2 percent year-on-year in May, following months of steady decline driven by monetary tightening and a drop in food and energy prices.
However, it noted that inflationary pressures could resurface slightly next month due to seasonal factors and base effects.
“Improved weather conditions, better crop yields and a stable exchange rate have helped reduce inflation to a historical low,” the report said, adding that “inflation is projected to remain between 1.5-2.0 percent in May, with a possible rise to 3.0-4.0 percent by June 2025.”
The State Bank of Pakistan, in its half-yearly report last month, forecast average inflation for the fiscal year ending June 2025 to remain within 5.5 percent to 7.5 percent, reflecting easing cost pressures across key commodities.
Finance Adviser Khurram Schehzad on Thursday confirmed the official timeline for the country’s fiscal announcements in a social media post aimed at dispelling speculation about possible delays due to the Eid Al-Adha holidays.
“The dates are firm,” he said on platform X. “As communicated earlier, the upcoming Federal Budget FY26 is on schedule to be announced on June 10, 2025. Similarly, the upcoming Pakistan Economic Survey FY25 is scheduled to be announced on June 9, 2025.”
Pakistan’s macroeconomic outlook has improved in recent months, supported by a stronger current account balance, improved remittances and falling inflation.
However, authorities remain cautious as they seek to build on recent economic stabilization, steer the country toward gradual growth and reaffirm their commitment to ongoing economic reforms.
With input from Reuters
Pakistan invites Japan to join mineral sector drive through joint ventures, value addition
- Commerce minister Jam Kamal says Japan can help build sustainable supply chains for critical minerals
- He says Islamabad sees Japan not only as a partner but as a catalyst for transforming Pakistan’s economy
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has invited Japan to invest in its minerals sector through joint ventures focused on exploration, processing and value addition, with commerce minister, Jam Kamal, holding high-level meetings in Tokyo this week, the government said in a statement on Thursday.
The outreach is part of Pakistan’s broader push to attract foreign investment and strengthen its struggling economy. Islamabad has prioritized mining and minerals as a key sector for economic diversification, and is seeking Japanese collaboration to unlock its untapped resource potential while aligning with Tokyo’s industrial needs.
“Our mineral sector remains largely underexplored,” Kamal said during meetings with officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Japan–Pakistan Business Cooperation Committee (JPBCC).
“We are offering Japanese partners the opportunity to participate in high-value ventures that can help build sustainable supply chains for critical minerals,” he added.
The minister highlighted reserves of rare earth elements like copper, gold and other industrial minerals, positioning Pakistan as a strategic destination for resource-based cooperation.
He emphasized Pakistan’s openness to technology transfer, public-private partnerships and long-term frameworks that support mutual gains.
In his conversation with JICA’s Senior Vice President HARA Shohei, Kamal underlined the importance of aligning future development cooperation with Pakistan’s industrial modernization and export-oriented growth.
He acknowledged Japan’s long-standing contribution of over $11 billion in areas such as energy, transport and vocational training, and called for expanded technical assistance in mineral logistics, industrial clusters and green technologies.
Meeting JETRO President Susumu Kataoka and Executive Vice President Kazuya Nakajo, the minister urged greater Japanese investment in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones and export-oriented sectors.
He called on JETRO to promote Pakistan’s mineral sector to Japanese industry through seminars, business-to-business (B2B) outreach, and participation in trade exhibitions.
At a luncheon hosted by JPBCC, Kamal encouraged deeper B2B ties and sought active Japanese input for the upcoming Pakistan-Japan Business Dialogue.
“Our doors are open,” he said. “We see Japan not only as a partner but as a catalyst for transforming Pakistan’s economic base. With your advanced technology and our resource potential, we can build future-proof industries together.”
Pakistan has in recent years stepped up its diplomatic engagement with key economic partners to promote sectors such as information technology, light engineering and mineral development.
The Tokyo visit marks a fresh attempt to align its resource-led ambitions with Japan’s technological strengths and global supply chain priorities.
Pakistan PM arrives in Tajikistan on final leg of five-day regional diplomacy tour
- The tour earlier took him to Türkiye, Iran and Azerbaijan after a military confrontation with India
- In Tajikistan, Sharif will attend a glacier conference, present Pakistan’s stance on climate change
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe on Thursday, the final stop in a five-day regional diplomacy tour that earlier took him to Türkiye, Iran and Azerbaijan, following a recent military confrontation with archrival India.
The tour has seen Sharif engage with regional allies to reaffirm diplomatic ties and economic cooperation, while also garnering support in the wake of heightened tensions with India.
Sharif was received at the Dushanbe airport by Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, on a two-day visit,” his office said in a statement.
“During the visit, he will hold a bilateral meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to discuss cooperation in various sectors and thank the Tajik leader for his strong support during the recent India-Pakistan tensions,” it continued.
Earlier in the day, Sharif concluded his visit to Azerbaijan, where he announced that the Azeri leadership had reaffirmed plans to invest $2 billion in Pakistan and deepen collaboration in commerce, defense, education and health.
On Wednesday, Sharif attended a trilateral summit in the Lachin district with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The three leaders pledged to expand cooperation and turn their longstanding fraternal ties into a strategic partnership for regional prosperity.
During his previous stops, Sharif also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran to discuss trade, energy and regional connectivity. In Türkiye, from where he kicked off his regional tour, the Pakistani prime minister held talks with Erdoğan on defense, infrastructure and intelligence cooperation.
Pakistan has long sought to strengthen ties with landlocked Central Asian nations by offering them access to its Arabian Sea ports, part of its broader push for regional connectivity and economic integration.
The Prime Minister’s Office said in its statement Sharif will also participate in a high-level international conference on glacier preservation in Tajikistan, where he is expected to brief participants on the impact of climate change on Pakistan and reaffirm the country’s commitment to environmental protection.
Two police officers, four Pakistani Taliban killed in rare raid in Azad Kashmir
- While security forces frequently target TTP hideouts in restive northwest and elsewhere, such operations in Kashmir are rare
- Police chief says TTP is acting as a proxy for India, New Delhi has not responded to the accusation
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan: Security forces acting on intelligence raided a militant hideout in Azad Kashmir, triggering a shootout that left two police officers and four Pakistani Taliban fighters dead, police said Thursday.
The rare overnight raid was carried out in the Rawalakot district, according to Abdul Jabbar, the police chief in Kashmir, which is split between Pakistan and India and claimed in full by both countries in its entirety.
Jabbar said the killed militants were members of the Pakistani Taliban, who are known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP and are allies of the Afghan Taliban. He alleged the TTP is acting as a proxy for India and said police thwarted an attempt by the insurgents to create a base for future attacks.
There was no immediate response from New Delhi.
While Pakistani security forces frequently target TTP hideouts in the restive northwest and elsewhere, such operations in Kashmir are rare. TTP is a separate group and has been emboldened since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Many TTP leaders and fighters have since found sanctuary in Afghanistan.
