Religion minister thanks Saudi counterpart for facilitation of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims

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Updated 14 June 2024
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Religion minister thanks Saudi counterpart for facilitation of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims

Religion minister thanks Saudi counterpart for facilitation of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims
  • The statement came as Pakistan’s Hajj Mission in Saudi Arabia started moving pilgrims to Mina late Thursday
  • Pilgrims gather in Mina for the first day of Hajj, where they spend time preparing before heading to Arafat

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Religion Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Thursday met Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah and thanked him for his “special attention” toward facilitation of Pakistani pilgrims during the Hajj pilgrimage, the Pakistani religious affairs ministry said.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and requires every adult Muslim to undertake the journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime if they are financially and physically able.
Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, of which around 70,000 people are performing the pilgrimage under the government scheme, while the rest have used private tour operators.
During the meeting with the Saudi Hajj and Umrah minister, Hussain lauded the Saudi government for introducing innovation and new facilities in Hajj arrangements every year.
“We [only] desire best facilities for government and private pilgrims from Saudi authorities,” Hussain was quoted as saying by the Pakistani religion ministry.
“I am happy with the special attention of the Saudi Hajj minister for the convenience of Pakistani pilgrims.”
The Saudi minister said the Pakistan Hajj Mission will be provided all-possible support in Mina and Arafat, according to the Pakistani religion ministry.
He said authorities were encouraging private companies to ensure better facilities at these places.
Pakistan’s Hajj Mission in Saudi Arabia started moving pilgrims to Mina late Thursday.
Hajj pilgrims gather in Mina for the first day of Hajj, where they spend time preparing spiritually before heading to the plain of Arafat.
The Day of Arafat is considered the most significant day of Hajj where pilgrims engage in deep prayer and reflection, seeking forgiveness and blessings.
Following this, they proceed to Muzdalifah at night to collect pebbles, then move to perform the symbolic stoning of the devil at Jamarat, culminating with the celebration of Eid Al-Adha through the ritual of animal sacrifice.
Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Secretary Zulfiqar Haider, who was part of the meeting, said the two sides would have a “one-window” contact for the next year’s Hajj.


Multiple injuries after blast at religious seminary in northwest Pakistan — rescue official 

Multiple injuries after blast at religious seminary in northwest Pakistan — rescue official 
Updated 20 sec ago
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Multiple injuries after blast at religious seminary in northwest Pakistan — rescue official 

Multiple injuries after blast at religious seminary in northwest Pakistan — rescue official 
  • Darul Uloom Haqqania is Pakistan’s largest Islamic seminary and alma mater of several Afghan Taliban leaders
  • Blast occurred when large number of worshippers had gathered for Friday prayers at seminary located in Akora Khattak

ISLAMABAD: Several people were injured in a blast at a religious seminary in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, a rescue official said on Friday.

Darul Uloom Haqqania is the country’s largest Islamic seminary and the alma mater of several Afghan Taliban leaders. The blast at the seminary occurred when a large number of worshippers had gathered at a mosque inside the building located in the town of Akora Khattak in KP’s Nowshera district.

“Upon receiving the information, six ambulances of Rescue 1122 along with medical teams and fire team reached the spot,” a Rescue 1122 spokesperson told Arab News. “According to initial reports, several people were injured in the explosion.”

He said the injured included former member of the National Assembly, Maulana Hamidul Haq, who is the administrator of the seminary and chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (S) party. His father Sami ul Haq is widely referred to as the ‘Father of the Taliban.’

Local media reported that at least five people were killed in the explosion, but Arab News could not confirm this. 

The Darul Uloom Haqqania university is widely believed to be a launching pad for the Taliban movement in the 1990s and is still often described as the incubator for militants, though the seminary denies the claims. Mullah Mohammed Omar, who founded the Taliban movement following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, was a student of the seminary. 

This is a developing story.


Pakistan expresses concern over ‘grave situation’ in Gaza, Kashmir

Pakistan expresses concern over ‘grave situation’ in Gaza, Kashmir
Updated 26 min 48 sec ago
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Pakistan expresses concern over ‘grave situation’ in Gaza, Kashmir

Pakistan expresses concern over ‘grave situation’ in Gaza, Kashmir
  • Palestinian territory, encompassing Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has been occupied by Israel since 1967
  • Pakistan does not recognize Israel, calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters”

ISLAMABAD: The foreign office said on Friday Pakistan had expressed concern over the “grave situation” in Gaza and Indian-administered Kashmir during foreign minister Ishaq Dar’s participation in a recent United Nations Security Council session on multilateralism and global governance. 

Palestinian territory – encompassing the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem – has been occupied by Israel since 1967. Pakistan does not recognize Israel and has consistently called for an independent state of Palestine based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Israel’s latest war on Gaza, which began after a Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians and displaced almost all of Gaza’s 2 million population, laying waste to swathes of neighborhoods, schools and hospitals.

Earlier this month, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar, traveled to New York to participate in a high-level meeting of the UNSC on practicing multilateralism and reforming and improving global governance.

“In his remarks [at UNSC meeting], the deputy prime minister and foreign minister emphasized the need for international cooperation and commitment to multilateralism and called for upholding principles of the UN Charter, including self-determination, the non-use of force, respect for sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of disputes,” Shafqat Ali Khan, the spokesperson for the foreign office, said.

“The deputy prime minister and foreign minister expressed deep concerns over the grave situation in occupied Palestine and Gaza and the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”

Relations between India and Pakistan have stood frozen since New Delhi’s revocation in 2019 of the special autonomous status of the part of the Himalayan valley of Kashmir it rules. The two neighbors have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part.


World bank says economic stabilization ‘taking hold’ in Pakistan

World bank says economic stabilization ‘taking hold’ in Pakistan
Updated 28 February 2025
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World bank says economic stabilization ‘taking hold’ in Pakistan

World bank says economic stabilization ‘taking hold’ in Pakistan
  • Pakistan and World Bank last month signed an agreement for a ten-year plan for $20 billion in development loans
  • Pakistan currently under IMF bailout that requires it to boost government revenues, external sources of financing

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank said on Friday economic stabilization was “taking hold” in Pakistan, making this an opportune moment for the group to sign an agreement for a ten-year plan to focus $20 billion in development lending in the cash-strapped country.

The new plan, known as the Country Partnership Framework, was announced by the World Bank last month and will focus the global institution’s pledge of $20 billion in areas including clean energy and climate resilience in the ten years from 2026.

The country has teetered on the brink of economic crisis for several years and economists and international financial institutions have called for major economic reforms. Pakistan is currently under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout program, which requires the country to boost government revenues and shore up external sources of financing, much of which comes from loans from China and Gulf nations.

“This is an important moment for the partnership between the World Bank Group and Pakistan as we engage on this journey at a particular moment for Pakistan where stabilization is taking hold and there are new ambitions and new plans for development on the long term that are very aligned with the prioritizes of the World Bank Group in the country,” WB Country Director for Pakistan, Najy Benhassine, said in a video message on X.

“This is a groundbreaking joint commitment with the government of Pakistan both at the federal and provincial level to commit to focus on six of the most acute development challenges that the country is facing.”

The World Bank’s lending for Pakistan will start in 2026 and focus on six outcomes: improving education quality, tackling child stunting, boosting climate resilience, enhancing energy efficiency, fostering inclusive development and increasing private investment.

The finance ministry’s monthly outlook report said this week Pakistan’s consumer inflation was expected to remain stable in February and maintain a downward trajectory compared to the previous year. Inflation has eased since last year with CPI coming in at 2.4 percent in January compared to 24 percent in the same period last year. Authorities have credited the downward trend to economic stabilization under the IMF program secured last summer.

An IMF mission is due to arrive in Islamabad next week for the first review of the global lender’s facility.

“The primary surplus is expected to improve further in the coming months,” the finance ministry said, pointing to one of the benchmarks identified by the IMF.

The report also said that foreign remittances, a crucial lifeline for Pakistan’s economy, were expected to rise.

“Workers’ remittances recorded robust inflows of $20.8 billion during July-Jan FY2025, marking a 31.7 percent increase over $15.8 billion last year,” the ministry said.


Gerry’s dnata launches Pakistan’s first all-women-led flight operation

Gerry’s dnata launches Pakistan’s first all-women-led flight operation
Updated 28 February 2025
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Gerry’s dnata launches Pakistan’s first all-women-led flight operation

Gerry’s dnata launches Pakistan’s first all-women-led flight operation
  • All-women team successfully handled complete turnaround of SriLankan Airlines A320 at Jinnah International Airport
  • Gerry’s dnata, a leading ground-handling services provider in Pakistan, also provides training and innovative services

KARACHI: Gerry’s dnata, a leading ground-handling services provider in Pakistan, said on Friday it had launched the country’s first-ever Women-Led Flight (WLF) operation, where an all-women team successfully handled the complete turnaround of a SriLankan Airlines A320 at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.

The initiative, which was launched ahead of International Women’s Day, marks a “powerful step” toward breaking barriers, accelerating action for workplace inclusion and empowering women to take charge of roles that men traditionally dominated, Gerry’s dnata said.

“From aircraft towing and baggage handling to security checks and cabin readiness, the WLF project showcases the strength, skill, and resilience of Pakistan’s female workforce in aviation,” the company said in a statement.

“This is more than just a flight operation, it’s a defining shift in Pakistan’s workforce landscape,” said Ali Kamal, a VP at Gerry’s dnata. 

“The Women-Led Flight Project is a testament to what’s possible when talent meets opportunity. We are incredibly proud to be at the forefront of this movement, paving the way for a future where women are equally represented in every field.”

Gerry’s Group & dnata joined hands for the first time in Pakistan to form Gerry’s dnata in 1993. Since the launch of the joint venture, it has ramped up its scale of operations in Pakistan and is now present at airports in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta and Faisalabad, offering a wide range of ground and cargo handling services to scheduled and non-scheduled airlines. The company is also involved in training and innovative services.
 


Pakistan Navy ship Yarmook participates in UAE defense exhibitions

Pakistan Navy ship Yarmook participates in UAE defense exhibitions
Updated 28 February 2025
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Pakistan Navy ship Yarmook participates in UAE defense exhibitions

Pakistan Navy ship Yarmook participates in UAE defense exhibitions
  • PNS Yarmook participates in IDEX and NAVDEX exhibition held in Abu Dhabi from Feb. 21-25
  • Over 200,000 visitors attend exhibition comprising over 1,500 participants from 65 countries

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy warship Yarmook participated in two defense exhibitions held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the navy said on Friday, highlighting the South Asian nation’s robust defense ties and active role in global maritime security.
The International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) and Naval Defense Exhibition (NAVDEX), held on Feb. 21-25 in Abu Dhabi, are premier global platforms to showcase advanced defense technologies and latest innovations, and to foster international collaboration.
More than 200,000 visitors attended the joint exhibition that saw participation of over 1,500 exhibitors from 65 countries, according to the IDEX website. Naval vessels from eight nations, including Pakistan, participated in the exhibition.
Upon arrival in Abu Dhabi, the Pakistani ship was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, followed by the Yarmook commanding officer’s meetings with various dignitaries to discuss matters of mutual interest, according to Pakistan Navy’s Directorate General of Public Relations (DGPR).
“During its stay, PNS YARMOOK remained open to visitors and welcomed numerous officials from the armed forces, business, and corporate sectors,” the DGPR said in a statement.
“Distinguished visitors included the UAE’s Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Romania’s Minister of National Defense, Yemen’s Defense Minister, the Chief of the Romanian Naval Forces, the Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Naval Forces, the Commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, the Commander of the Royal Bahrain Navy, and the CEO of DAMEN Shipyard.”
Pakistan’s participation in NAVDEX 2025 highlights its strong defense ties with the UAE and its active role in global maritime security initiatives.
“Upon departure, PNS YARMOOK also conducted a passage exercise with the UAE Navy Ship AL-EMARAT,” the DGPR added.
PNS Yarmook regularly participates in joint operations and exercises with friendly countries in addition to its own operations.
Last July, Pakistan deployed PNS Yarmook to protect commercial vessels arriving at its ports. In August 2024, the warship conducted bilateral exercises with allied navies in Bahrain as part of a Regional Maritime Security Patrol deployment, aimed at enhancing naval coordination and joint operational capabilities in the region.