‘A matter of honor’: Women forced to stay in flooded Pakistan village

Flood affected people gather near their houses as they wait for relief aid in a flooded area following heavy monsoon rains in Rajanpur district of Punjab province on September 4, 2022. (AFP)
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Updated 14 September 2022
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‘A matter of honor’: Women forced to stay in flooded Pakistan village

  • Cotton crops that surrounded the village when the rains started in June are now rotting in flooded fields
  • Rickety wooden rowboats are the only way for villagers to head out to purchase food and supplies

BASTI AHMAD DIN, Pakistan: The 400 residents of Basti Ahmad Din, a tiny Pakistani village left surrounded by floodwater after torrential monsoon rains, are facing starvation and disease.

But they have refused pleas to evacuate.

Leaving for a relief camp would mean the women of the village mingling with men outside their families, residents told AFP, and that would violate their “honor.”

The women of Basti Ahmad Din do not get a say.

“It is up to the village elders to decide,” said Shireen Bibi, 17, when asked if she would prefer to go to the safety of a camp on dry land.

Catastrophic monsoon rains blamed on climate change have left vast swathes of Pakistan under water this summer, with villagers such as those in Basti Ahmad Din grappling with the destruction of their homes and livelihoods.

More than half of the 90 homes in Basti Ahmad Din, located in the Rojhan area of Punjab province, have been destroyed.

The cotton crops that surrounded the village when the rains started in June are now rotting in flooded fields, and the dirt road that once connected to the nearest city is under three meters (10 feet) of water.

Rickety wooden rowboats are the only way for villagers to head out to purchase food and supplies.

They are also expensive, with their operators charging fares far higher than normal.

Basti Ahmad Din’s families have worryingly low amounts of food left, and they have decided to pool and ration whatever wheat and grain they managed to salvage after the rains.

Numerous volunteers who come to the village to drop off aid packages have pleaded with the residents to leave for safety, to no avail.

“We are Baloch. Baloch don’t allow their women to go out,” said Basti Ahmad Din resident Muhammad Amir, referring to the dominant ethnic group in the village.

“The Baloch would rather starve and make do than let their families go out.”

In many parts of conservative, deeply patriarchal Pakistan, women live under a strict system of so-called honor.

It severely limits their freedom of movement and how they interact — if at all — with men outside their families.

Women can even be killed for bringing “shame” by interacting with men or marrying someone they, rather than their families, choose.

And in a disaster situation such as the floods in Pakistan, this code can completely cut off women and girls from basic needs such as food and medical care.

Instead of taking their families there, the men of Basti Ahmad Din make the expensive boat trip to the nearest relief camp for aid and supplies once a week.

The village elders — all men — say it is only acceptable for women to leave in “emergency” situations such as ill health.

Natural disasters do not count, and one elder named Mureed Hussain said they did not evacuate during the last catastrophic floods in 2010.

“We didn’t leave our village then,” he told AFP.

“We don’t allow our women to go out. They can’t stay in those camps. It’s a matter of honor.”


Pakistan top parliamentary panel on national security to meet today amid rising militant attacks

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Pakistan top parliamentary panel on national security to meet today amid rising militant attacks

  • Pakistan military to hold in-camera briefing of parliamentary committee on country’s prevalent security situation
  • Meeting takes place after separatist militants stormed train in Balochistan last week, held over 400 passengers hostage

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Parliamentary Committee on National Security will hold an in-camera meeting today, Tuesday, to discuss surging attacks in the country’s western provinces bordering Afghanistan and Iran, particularly Balochistan. 

The meeting takes place amid a sharp rise in militant attacks last week in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. The most prominent of these attacks was led by the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) outfit last Tuesday, whose fighters stormed the Jaffar Express train in a remote mountain pass in Balochistan and held over 400 passengers hostage. The military launched an operation and after a day-long stand-off, rescued 354 hostages and killed 33 insurgents. A final count showed 23 soldiers, three railway employees and five passengers had died in the attack.

Violence persisted in the southwestern province as three paramilitary soldiers were among five killed in a suicide blast in Balochistan’s Nushki district on Sunday. The escalation in attacks prompted Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to convene a session of the parliamentary panel on Tuesday at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s advice. 

“An in-camera meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security will be held at the Parliament House in Islamabad at 11 a.m. today,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 

The state-run media said a “comprehensive briefing” on the country’s security situation will be given to committee members by the military leadership, which would include parliamentary leaders from all political parties and members of the federal cabinet. 

Oil-and-mineral-rich Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and least populated province, has been plagued by a long-running, low-level insurgency where ethnic Baloch separatists accuse the central government of denying locals of a share in the province’s resources. Islamabad and Pakistan’s military strongly reject the allegations.

The military has a huge presence in Balochistan and has long run intelligence-based operations against insurgent groups such as the BLA, who have escalated attacks in recent months on the military and nationals from longtime ally China, which is building key projects in the region, including a port at Gwadar.

More than 50 people, including security forces, were killed in August last year in a string of assaults in Balochistan claimed by the BLA.

Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province bordering Afghanistan has also seen a sharp rise in militant attacks since November 2022, when a fragile truce between the state and the Pakistani Taliban or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down. 

The TTP has carried out some of the deadliest attacks against Pakistan’s security forces and civilians since 2007 in KP. 

Pakistan accuses the Afghan government of sheltering TTP militants, allegations which have strained ties between the two neighbors and prompted strong denials from Kabul. 


Karachi street performer juggles hardships, brings smiles on bustling food street

Updated 17 min 57 sec ago
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Karachi street performer juggles hardships, brings smiles on bustling food street

  • Jamal Shah began performing in theater as a teenager but lost his job during the coronavirus pandemic
  • He says survival is a battle, as he navigates the harsh stage of the streets to support his five children

KARACHI: As dusk falls over Burns Road, Karachi’s busy food street, a man in a bright blue curly wig and neon-yellow jacket steps into the crowd, a red clown nose perched on his face. His hands, covered in red gloves, juggle colorful balls, drawing the attention of people, particularly children who watch with excitement.
This is Jamal Shah, a street performer whose journey from stage artist to roadside entertainer is a tale of resilience and a deep desire to connect with people through his passion for performance.
Before the coronavirus pandemic shuttered theaters and circuses, Shah was a seasoned performer, traveling across Pakistan’s four provinces and receiving praise for his magic shows and juggling acts.
Since 1998, the 41-year-old has led a life of artistic fulfillment. But the pandemic changed everything, leaving him and countless others jobless.
“Before COVID, I used to perform in theaters, circuses, variety shows, magic shows, and festivals,” Shah said, his voice cutting through the noise. “I am not just a street artist. I am a trained theater and stage performer.”
Yet, circumstances forced him out of familiar settings, leaving him to perform on the streets, where passersby are often too absorbed to notice his skillful acts.
“I turned to street performances after [theater] shows were shut down,” he said. “Without these shows, I had to find a way to survive with a wife and five children. I live on rent, so I had no choice but to perform on the streets.”
Every evening, Shah leaves Quaidabad on his motorcycle, making a 25-kilometer journey to the Burns Road in heart of Saddar, which has been his lifeline for the past five years.
During Ramadan, he performs from Iftar to Suhoor, his efforts barely enough to cover his family’s basic needs.
“My family is struggling,” Shah told Arab News. “One of my children is unwell, I am also unwell, and so is my wife. But I decided that I would not beg from anyone. Instead, I would use my skills here.”
But the street is a harsh stage where sometimes speeding motorcyclists crash into him and passersby occasionally hurl mocking remarks. Despite the hardships, Shah takes comfort in the smiles he brings to children’s faces.
“When I see children smiling, my personal sorrows fade away,” he said. “I never bring my grief to the public. As for my tears, I know when they well up and when I hide them. When I am performing, the character I embody requires me to conceal my tears, which I do, while striving to keep people happy and smiling.”
His children, who once went to school, now attend a seminary for religious education. Shah said his greatest desire was to provide them with a brighter future.
“I want to support my family and children so that my children can also go to school and study, educate themselves, play a positive role in society and become its valuable members,” he said. “If my children get an education, they will develop a good character.”
Shah’s dedication to his craft is unwavering, making him pledge to perform until there is strength in his body.
“One must fight for survival,” he added. “Whether it’s scorching heat or cold, I am here.”
Shah said performers like him felt duty-bound to spread joy among people.
“Every person deprived of happiness should find joy in watching us, and their sadness should be transformed into smiles and happiness,” he said, his eyes reflecting the flickering lights of the food street and hope for a better future.


Pakistan Tekken 8 team delivers historic victory in Seoul, dismantling South Korea

Updated 44 min 19 sec ago
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Pakistan Tekken 8 team delivers historic victory in Seoul, dismantling South Korea

  • Pakistan wins with seven of the best players from both countries taking part in special Tekken 8 team event
  • Winning team included Pakistan’s Arslan Siddique, considered one of the greatest Tekken players in the world currently

ISLAMABAD: A team from Pakistan delivered a historic victory in Seoul this week in a special Tekken 8 event, dismantling South Korea’s long-standing dominance in competitive Tekken esports.

South Korea had for years been the leading force in competitive Tekken until Pakistan’s Arslan Siddique, better known as Arslan Ash, began to gain prominence by winning major international tournaments. He is a five-time EVO champion, having emerged victorious in EVO Las Vegas 2019, 2023, 2024 as well as EVO Japan 2019 and 2023.

Considered one of the greatest Tekken players in the world currently, Ash became the first professional gamer in 2023 to win the global Tekken 7 title four times. Ash also won the Tekken World Tour Finals 2023 and has made the Tekken battle between Pakistan and South Korea one of the most enduring and celebrated storylines in the esports community.

“Pakistan is the best Tekken region in the world again,” Ash posted on X, after Pakistan’s win against South Korea, with seven of the best players from each country taking part. 

The players participating in the Pakistan team event were TM|Arslan Ash, DRX|Knee, Falcons|Atif, KDF|Ulsan, Falcons|Farzeen, Varrel|Rangchu, QAD|TheJon, KDF|CBM, Fate|Numan Ch, VIT|JeonDDing, ROC|Usama Abbasi, KDF|Mulgold, TM|Hafiz Tanveer and DRX|Chanel.

“With yet another Pakistan Tekken victory, the nation has cemented its position at the pinnacle of competitive Tekken,” Pakistan’s top tech news and media outlet, TechJuice, reported on Monday.

“Once seen as challengers, Pakistan’s Tekken warriors have rewritten history, proving that the Tekken esports landscape belongs to them.”


Pakistani, UAE officials agree to expand cooperation in railways sector

Updated 17 March 2025
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Pakistani, UAE officials agree to expand cooperation in railways sector

  • The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and US, and a key source of foreign investment
  • Pakistan Railways is currently working to improve its services with the help of domestic and international partners

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and United Arab Emirates (UAE) officials have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the railways sector, the Pakistani railway ministry said on Monday.
The statement came after Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi’s meeting with UAE First Secretary to Pakistan Ahmed Al-Tahiri, at which both officials discussed strengthening bilateral relations across all sectors.
Abbasi highlighted that Pakistan Railways is continuously working to improve its services through long-term agreements with domestic and international suppliers, emphasizing that Pakistan offers a business-friendly environment and presents significant opportunities for investors.
“Both sides deliberated on various aspects of railway operations and mutual trade interests,” the Pakistani railways ministry said in a statement. “Both leaders agreed to continue and expand bilateral cooperation in the railway sector and other economic domains.”
Pakistan Railways faces many challenges like aging infrastructure, outdated tracks, locomotives and signal systems. Poor maintenance and a lack of modern safety measures often contribute to train derailments and accidents. Notable tragedies include the 2005 Ghotki train disaster, which killed over 130 people and the 2021 collision that left at least 65 people dead.
The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and a major source of foreign investment valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the UAE’s foreign ministry. Both countries have stepped up efforts in recent years to strengthen their economic relations. In Jan. 2024, Pakistan and the UAE signed multiple agreements worth more than $3 billion for cooperation in railways, economic zones and infrastructure.
During Monday’s meeting, the UAE first secretary emphasized the deep-rooted ties of brotherhood and mutual respect between the two nations, according to the Pakistani railway ministry.
“He reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to further enhancing bilateral cooperation,” the ministry said.


Pioneering American AI firm to expand operations in Pakistan, finance ministry says

Updated 17 March 2025
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Pioneering American AI firm to expand operations in Pakistan, finance ministry says

  • Afiniti is a leading global AI provider in health care, telecommunications, travel, hospitality, insurance and banking industries
  • Around 80 percent of Afiniti’s operational support team is based in Pakistan, with its customer base extending to Europe and other regions

ISLAMABAD: A pioneering American artificial intelligence (AI) company, Afiniti, has decided to expand its operations in Pakistan and recruit more talent in the South Asian country, the Pakistani finance ministry said on Monday.
Founded in 2005, Afiniti is a global AI provider in health care, telecommunications, travel, hospitality, insurance and banking industries as well as across multiple customer experience channels.
A delegation, led by Afiniti Chief Executive Officer Jerome Vaughan Kapelus, called on Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday to discuss the company’s growth and continued investment in Pakistan.
“The meeting focused on discussions regarding Afiniti’s expanding business operations in Pakistan, the recruitment of talent and associated issues related to the taxation structure,” the Pakistani finance ministry said in a statement.
Kapelus highlighted that around 80 percent of Afiniti’s operational support team was based in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, with the company’s customer base extending to North America, Europe and other regions.
He praised Pakistani engineers, computer scientists and technologists, and said that his firm had an “exceptional” experience while recruiting people from Pakistan, according to the statement.
Pakistan is making steady progress in AI, with increasing investments in research, education and industry. Initiatives like the National Center for Artificial Intelligence are driving innovation, while startups explore AI applications in health care, finance and security sectors.
Despite challenges such as limited funding and infrastructure, Pakistan’s AI sector shows promise, with companies leveraging AI for data analytics, automation and customer engagement. As global AI adoption increases, the South Asian country aims to strengthen its position through policy support and technological advancements.
Aurangzeb appreciated Afiniti’s continued investment in Pakistan and assured the delegation of his government’s support in creating an enabling ecosystem for IT and agriculture sectors. He apprised the delegation of the Pakistan Crypto Council’s launch to regulate and integrate blockchain technology and digital assets into Pakistan’s financial landscape.
“The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to supporting businesses like Afiniti, and the importance of continued collaboration between the public and private sectors to foster growth and development in Pakistan,” the finance ministry said.