ISLAMABAD: Tinder, a globally popular dating app, said on Wednesday it would welcome the opportunity to discuss its products and moderation efforts with the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority and looked forward to a "meaningful conversation” as Pakistan blocked five dating apps for not adhering to local laws.
The five blocked apps are Tinder, Tagged, Skout, Grinder and SayHi.
“Our team uses a network of industry-leading automated and manual moderation and review tools, systems and processes - and invests significant resources - to prevent, monitor and remove inappropriate content from our app,” Tinder said in a statement.
“At the same time, we are constantly evaluating and refining our processes, and will always work with regulators and law enforcement, where possible, to protect our members.”
“We welcome the opportunity to discuss our product and moderation efforts with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and look forward to a meaningful conversation,” the dating app added.
Data from analytics firm Sensor Tower quoted by Reuters shows Tinder has been downloaded more than 440,000 times in Pakistan within the last 12 months. Grindr, Tagged and SayHi had each been downloaded about 300,000 times and Skout 100,000 times in that same period.
Critics say Pakistan, using recent digital legislation, has sought to rein in free expression on the internet, blocking or ordering the removal of content deemed immoral as well as critical of the state.
On Tuesday, PTA said keeping in view the “negative effects” of immoral and indecent content streaming through the five applications, the regulator had issued notices to the management of the platforms to remove the dating services and moderate live streaming content in accordance with the local laws of Pakistan.
The platforms, PTA said, did not respond to the notices within the stipulated time, forcing the regulator to block them.
However, PTA said it would reconsider the ban if the companies assured adherence to local laws “with respect to moderating the indecent/immoral content through meaningful engagement.”
Last week, PTA asked YouTube to “immediately” block content deemed “vulgar” and “indecent” by Pakistani authorities, although it did not state what actions it would take if the video-sharing platform did not comply.
Youtube remained banned in Pakistan for three years until January 2016 when the block was lifted after the Google-owned website launched a local version that allows the government to demand removal of material it considers offensive.
Pakistan banned access to YouTube in September 2012 after an anti-Islam film was uploaded to the site, sparking violent protests across major cities in the Muslim-majority country of 220 million people.
On July 21, PTA said it had banned the Singaporean live-streaming app Bigo over “immoral, obscene and vulgar content” and issued a last warning to Chinese video sharing platform Tiktok for “similar” reasons.
The hugely popular online game PUBG also remained banned in Pakistan through July. The ban was lifted on August 1, the PTA said, after ‘positive’ meetings with PUBG representatives. The ban on Bigo was also lifted after the company assured Pakistani authorities it was “committed to moderate immoral and indecent content in accordance with Pakistani laws.”
Tinder says wants ‘meaningful conversation’ with Pakistan as regulator blocks five dating apps
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Tinder says wants ‘meaningful conversation’ with Pakistan as regulator blocks five dating apps
- Tinder, Tagged, Skout, Grinder and SayHi banned by telecoms regulator for disseminating “immoral content”
- Critics say Pakistan is using recent digital legislation to rein in free expression on the internet
Pakistan PM reaffirms commitment to ceasefire with India in meeting with Azerbaijani envoy
- Shehbaz Sharif calls Pakistan a ‘peace-loving nation’ that is ready to defend its sovereignty
- He says Azerbaijan’s support during the standoff reflected its ‘enduring friendship’ with Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a ceasefire understanding with India during a meeting with Azerbaijani Ambassador Khazar Farhadov, while also warning that the country remained ready to defend its sovereignty in case of future aggression.
The meeting came days after cross-border hostilities between Pakistan and India were brought to a halt under a ceasefire agreement announced by US President Donald Trump.
According to state media, Sharif described the development as consistent with Pakistan’s peaceful posture.
“Pakistan is a peace-loving nation and in this spirit, agreed to accept the ceasefire understanding with India,” Sharif said, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
He also praised the armed forces for the successful conduct of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, calling it a “historic victory” for the nation.
The prime minister also thanked Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan for their “unwavering solidarity” during the recent tensions, calling it a reflection of the “enduring friendship” between the two countries.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan maintain close political and defense ties, with expanding cooperation in energy, trade and investment.
Sharif described Aliyev’s visit to Islamabad in July 2024 as a key milestone, followed by his own visit to Baku in February, which helped open new avenues of bilateral collaboration.
Ambassador Farhadov congratulated the prime minister and the Pakistani nation on the success of the military operation and reaffirmed his country’s support for regional peace.
He said President Aliyev placed high importance on bilateral relations and expressed commitment to enhancing cooperation across all areas of mutual interest.
Pakistan hails US-Houthi ceasefire at UN, urges inclusive political process in Yemen
- US announced Yemen ceasefire on May 6 after Houthis agreed to halt attacks on American vessels in Red Sea
- Pakistan says only a Yemeni-owned, UN-facilitated political process can lead to peace in the Arab country
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday welcomed the US-Houthi ceasefire as a “diplomatic breakthrough” and called for the momentum to be used to advance an inclusive political process in Yemen, while also condemning attacks that threaten global maritime security.
The remarks by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, came during a UN Security Council briefing on Yemen, days after the United States announced a halt to airstrikes in the region.
US President Donald Trump declared an immediate ceasefire with Yemen’s Houthi rebels on May 6 after the group agreed to stop attacking American vessels in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The agreement, brokered by Oman, aims to reduce tensions and safeguard vital international shipping lanes.
The Houthis have said their attacks were in response to US support for Israel and in solidarity with Palestinians, but the targeting of global shipping has drawn widespread condemnation.
“This opportunity must not be squandered or exploited. It should be used to advance an inclusive, intra-Yemeni political process,” said the top Pakistani diplomat at the UN.
He expressed alarm over the deepening humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where, he said, more than 19.5 million people need assistance, including 17.1 million facing acute food insecurity and 12 million children lacking access to basic services.
Ahmad pointed out that what began as a domestic conflict in Yemen had evolved into a regional and international challenge with serious humanitarian, political, economic and environmental consequences.
He reiterated that only a “Yemeni-owned, Yemeni-led” process facilitated by the United Nations could provide a credible path to lasting peace. Pakistan, he said, fully supports such an initiative.
Welcoming mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia and Oman, the ambassador urged all parties to honor the December 2023 Roadmap, a UN-facilitated plan calling for a nationwide ceasefire, resumption of oil exports and the launch of an inclusive political process, while showing maximum restraint and prioritize diplomatic engagement.
He also condemned attacks on global shipping while urging the international community to remain engaged in preventing further deterioration of the situation in Yemen.
Indian travel firms report drop in Turkey, Azerbaijan bookings over Pakistan support
- Both countries have remained popular destinations for Indians, but now bookings are down by 60%
- Indians are also canceling planned trips to the two countries after they openly supported Pakistan
BENGALURU: Indians are cancelling holidays in popular resorts in Turkey and Azerbaijan after the countries supported Pakistan during its recent conflict with New Delhi, two booking firms said. Ties between India and Pakistan nosedived after a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month that New Delhi said was backed by Islamabad.
Pakistan denied involvement, but intense fighting broke out when India struck what it said were "terrorist camps" in Pakistan last week.
They agreed a ceasefire on Saturday which has largely held.
Turkey and Azerbaijan, popular budget holiday destinations for Indians, issued statements backing Islamabad after India's strikes.
"Bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey decreasing by 60% (over the last week) while cancellations have surged by 250% during the same period," a spokesperson for MakeMyTrip said.
EaseMyTrip's Chief Executive Officer, Rikant Pittie, said the platform had seen a 22% rise in cancellations for Turkey and 30% for Azerbaijan "due to recent geopolitical tensions.”
Travellers had switched to Georgia, Serbia, Greece, Thailand and Vietnam, he added.
Another ticketing platform, ixigo, earlier said in a post on X that it would be suspending flight and hotel bookings for Turkey, Azerbaijan and China.
EaseMyTrip's founder and chairman Nishant Pitti said in a post on X that 287,000 Indians visited Turkey last year and 243,000 visited Azerbaijan.
"When these nations openly support Pakistan, should we fuel their tourism and their economies?" Pitti said.
Pakistan and Kuwait review trade, investment cooperation during bilateral consultations
- Fourth round of Pakistan-Kuwait Bilateral Political Consultations held in Kuwait, says Islamabad
- Pakistan has increasingly eyed trade, investment to ensure consistent, sustainable economic growth
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and Kuwaiti officials reviewed their countries’ cooperation in trade, investment, human resource collaboration and other economic spheres, the Pakistani foreign ministry said on Wednesday, as the two sides held their bilateral political consultations.
Pakistan and Kuwait held the fourth round of their Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) in Kuwait on Wednesday. The Kuwaiti delegation was led by Sameeh Essa Johar Hayat, the Gulf country’s assistant foreign minister (Asia Affairs) while Additional Foreign Secretary (Middle East) Shehryar Akbar Khan led the Pakistani side.
“The two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations including trade, investment, human resource collaboration, consular and people-to-people contacts with a view to further enhance bilateral cooperation,” the statement said on Wednesday.
It added that the two delegations also exchanged views on regional and international issues, and reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation and consultation.
“While expressing satisfaction over the upward trajectory in bilateral relations and the momentum of high-level interactions and exchanges, both sides agreed to further deepen engagement in diverse areas of mutual interest,” the Pakistani foreign ministry said.
It said that the next round of the BPC between the two sides will take place in Islamabad on mutually agreed dates.
Since narrowly escaping a default in 2023, Pakistan has eyed increasing foreign trade and investment with regional allies, especially Gulf countries.
Islamabad formed the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a hybrid civil-military government body, tasked with attracting international investment in key economic sectors such as tourism, agriculture, livestock, mines and minerals and others.
Pakistanis call on Delhi, Islamabad to engage in ‘serious dialogue’ over Kashmir
- Attack in Indian-administered Kashmir sparked armed conflict between India, Pakistan last week
- Root cause of the conflict between two nations is disputed territory of Kashmir claimed by both
KARACHI: Residents in Pakistan’s largest city Karachi said on Wednesday that India and Pakistan must engage in serious dialogue over the Kashmir issue, as they resumed their daily routines four days after a ceasefire agreement between the two countries.
The spark for the latest chaos was an April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of them tourists.
New Delhi blamed the incident on “terrorists” backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad. India and Pakistan have fought three major wars and been at loggerheads since their independence.
“The foremost matter is Kashmir itself. We, Pakistan, are clearly stating that we are ready to talk, and India must approach this with sincerity,” said Karachi resident Shams Keerio.
“Without serious dialogue that includes negotiations over Kashmir, these talks will not succeed.”
Another Karachi resident, Amir Nisar, said the issue should be resolved according to UN resolutions. He also called on India to respect the ceasefire brokered by Washington between the two states.
“If they do not respect it, then I believe that if a real war breaks out between Pakistan and India, it can lead to the loss of lives of millions of people,” he said.
“[Indian PM] Narendra Modi, being from a big country, should be aware that he should refrain from war.”
The two nuclear-armed nations have fought two out of three wars over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir. India and Pakistan both claim territory in full but govern only parts of it.
