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Pakistan welcomes adoption of UNSC resolution demanding immediate ceasefire in Gaza

In this handout picture taken and released by Pakistan Prime Minister's Office on March 4, 2024, Pakistan's newly sworn-in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (R) inspects the guard of honor at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad. (AFP/File)
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Updated 26 March 2024
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Pakistan welcomes adoption of UNSC resolution demanding immediate ceasefire in Gaza

  • PM Sharif says Pakistan will continue to support Palestinians till achievement of a Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders
  • There has been growing global pressure for truce in a war Palestinian health authorities say has killed some 32,000 people
Updated 26 March 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday welcomed the adoption of a resolution by the United Nations Security Council demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and urged the international community to ensure its earliest implementation. 

As famine looms in Gaza and amid growing global pressure for a truce in the war that Palestinian health authorities say has killed some 32,000 people, the US abstained on Monday to allow the Security Council to demand an immediate ceasefire for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ends in two weeks. 

The remaining 14 council members voted for the resolution, which was proposed by the 10 elected members of the body. The resolution also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. 

“The barbarism by the Israeli forces against the unarmed Palestinian people should be stopped permanently,” Sharif said in a statement published on the state-run APP news agency. 

“Pakistan would continue to support their Palestinian brethren till the achievement of a Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders.”

The Pakistani foreign office, in a separate statement, also welcomed the UNSC’s call for allowing the free flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, lifting all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance and ensuring protection of civilians in the entire enclave. 

“Over the course of past six months, Pakistan has repeatedly expressed its strong and unequivocal condemnation of the indiscriminate use of force by Israel, calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian assistance to the besieged people of Gaza, return of the displaced Palestinians, and ensuring accountability for the crimes being committed by Israel with impunity,” the foreign office said. 
 
“We call for expeditious implementation of the Security Council resolution adopted today, hoping that it will serve as a first step toward ending Israel’s brutal onslaught, ensuring a permanent ceasefire, and helping address the prevailing grave humanitarian situation in Gaza.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel on Monday to lift all obstacles to aid into Gaza and allow convoys of the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA into the north of the coastal enclave.

Famine is imminent and likely to occur by May in northern Gaza and could spread across the enclave by July, according to a UN-backed report by a global authority on food security released last week.

Topics: Pakistan UNSC Gaza PM Shehbaz Sharif

Historic cuts in Pakistan car prices a ‘marketing stunt’ amid slow demand — experts

Updated 6 sec ago
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Historic cuts in Pakistan car prices a ‘marketing stunt’ amid slow demand — experts

  • Lucky Motor Company, which assembles KIA cars in Pakistan, and Pak Suzuki Motors recently reduced Stonic, Swift prices by up to Rs1.5 million
  • Experts say the automakers wanted to “test” the market through the stunt and the benefit would not end customers as it was opened for few days
Updated 6 sec ago
KHURSHID AHMED   

KARACHI: The recent historic cuts in prices of multiple car models were a “marketing stunt” by automakers in Pakistan, experts and dealers said on Friday, attributing it to slow demand in the South Asian country.
Lucky Motor Company, which assembles KIA cars in Pakistan, reduced the price of KIA Stonic by as much as Rs1,500,000, followed by a cut in Swift price by up to Rs710,000.
The rate cuts by Kia and Pak Suzuki Motors came on the heels of a reduction in prices of Toyota Yaris by Rs133,000 and Honda City by Rs140,000 respectively in March.
While KIA and Pak Suzuki Motors have said they received an “overwhelming” to the price drops, experts believe it to be a marketing stunt to help struggling models fare better in the Pakistani market.
“They (LMC) played a game because they had about 300-350 (KIA Stonic) cars lying dead which were not sold,” Hajji Muhammad Shahzad, chairman of All Pakistan Motor Dealers Association (APMDA), told Arab News.
“They threw [them] in the market and stopped the booking.”
Shahzad said the price cut by the LMC generated interest among investors who booked the car instead of “genuine buyers,” noting that the car would come with around Rs500,000 own money as well.
Mashood Ali Khan, an auto industry expert, believed that price plays a key role in the auto sector, because of the current economic situation and prevailing high inflation. He said the LMC wanted to “test” the market.
“The people who have booked, maybe I am wrong, but I think they are mostly the investors,” Khan told Arab News. “It could not reach the end consumers as it was opened for two days.”
Reached for comment, LMC Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Faisal said they corrected the KIA Stonic price to help it compete with sedan cars available in Pakistan and “took the hit” themselves, though the automaker didn’t anticipate the overwhelming response to the price cut.
“We tried to bring it to the price point at which competing sedans are available,” Faisal told Arab News. “When we brought it to this price point, the response from the market was unbelievable and better than our expectations.”
Though a Pak Suzuki Motor official did not respond to Arab News query about the cut in Swift price, the company said in a circular it had received an “overwhelming” response and was now introducing “stylish combinations” of a two-tone exterior.
Shahzad, however, said Swift did not get a “good response” despite the price cut. 
A decrease in car prices was already expected as the Pakistani government notified in March it would charge 25 percent sales tax on locally assembled cars, if their invoice price exceeded Rs4 million.
Car sales declined in Pakistan by 38 percent during nine months of the current fiscal year, which began on July 1, amid a declining trend in auto financing, historic high interest rate, soaring prices and shrinking purchasing power of consumers, according to a research report by the Karachi-based Darson Securities.
Asked about the delivery of vehicles to customers, LMC CEO Faisal said the company had not delivered the newly booked Stonic cars and was still filtering buyers.
“We have just made a commitment that we will deliver it now,” he told Arab News. “We have ensured that we will book one car per CNIC (computerized national identity card), we are filtering the investors, we are giving preference to genuine customers, so that we can deliver it soon.”
Faisal said the automaker was evaluating its stock position after the current response and it would resume bookings, however, the company would be giving delivery commitments for October onwards.
Car prices have increased in Pakistan by around 40 percent in the last two years and the costs of vehicles remain high despite the recent cuts, according to car dealers.
Khan, the auto sector expert, called for localization of auto parts and a 10-year policy to promote auto industrialization to make affordable cars in Pakistan.

Topics: Pakistan economy Automobile industry

Pakistan seeks Beijing’s support for completion of 1,800MW hydropower projects

Updated 10 May 2024
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Pakistan seeks Beijing’s support for completion of 1,800MW hydropower projects

  • The Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower projects have reportedly been delayed for past several months
  • Beijing is investing more than $65 billion in energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan as part of CPEC
Updated 10 May 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has sought Chinese support for early completion of two hydropower projects, Pakistani state media reported on Thursday, amid the minister’s visit to China.
The 1,124 megawatts (MW) Kohala and 700MW Azad Pattan hydropower projects have been delayed for the past several months, according to media reports.
In his meeting with National Energy Administration of China’s Chairman Zhang Jianghua, Iqbal said his government intended to diversify energy mix toward clean and renewable energy.
“In that context, Minister for Planning sought Chinese continued cooperation for the early implementation of the Azad Pattan and Kohala Hydro Power Projects,” the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
Beijing is investing over $65 billion in energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a major segment of Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, which will connect China to the Arabian Sea and help Islamabad expand and modernize its economy through a network of roads, railways, pipelines and ports in Pakistan.
During the meeting, the two sides also discussed new initiatives to improve energy management system, aimed at reducing theft and line losses, according to the report.
“We intend to reform energy sector to be efficient and affordable in order to provide electricity to consumers and businesses at cheaper rates by cutting line losses and power theft,” Iqbal was quoted as saying.
The meeting was part of Iqbal’s engagements in Beijing to prepare for the next round of Joint Coordination Committee meeting as well as for the preparation of an upcoming visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China.
Earlier, the minister met officials of top Chinese companies, including Power China, TBEA Co. Ltd., and Electric Power Planning and Engineering Institute, that specialize in power transmission and distribution.

Topics: Pakistan China Ties

Pakistan envoy urges Hajj pilgrims to demonstrate discipline during stay in Saudi Arabia

Updated 46 min 30 sec ago
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Pakistan envoy urges Hajj pilgrims to demonstrate discipline during stay in Saudi Arabia

  • Pakistan on Thursday launched its pre-Hajj flight operation which will continue till June 9
  • Ambassador Ahmed Farooq thanks Saudi Arabia for ‘best’ arrangements for Hajj pilgrims
Updated 46 min 30 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Farooq, on Friday urged Pakistani Hajj pilgrims to demonstrate discipline during their stay in Saudi Arabia and thanked the Kingdom for ensuring “best” arrangements for the devotees, the Pakistani religious affairs ministry said.
The statement came amid Pakistan’s ongoing pre-Hajj flight operation to ferry pilgrims to the Kingdom for the annual pilgrimage. Several Hajj flights left Pakistan for the Kingdom on Thursday.
Ambassador Farooq and Pakistan’s Hajj Director-General Abdul Wahab Soomro warmly welcomed the Pakistani pilgrims upon arrival in the holy city of Madinah.
“Pilgrims should demonstrate best discipline to increase the prestige of the country,” the Pakistani religious affairs ministry quoted the ambassador as saying.
“We are grateful to the Saudi government for making the best arrangements for Hajj pilgrims.”
Soomro said the pre-Hajj flight operation was ongoing successfully and feedback about different facilities would be sought from pilgrims through the Pak Hajj app.
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, according to the Pakistani religious affairs ministry. Of them, 63,805 pilgrims will be performing the pilgrimage under the government scheme, while the rest would be accommodated by private tour operators.
This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14 till June 19.

Topics: Pakistan Saudi Ties Hajj 2024 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims

Pakistan and Ireland go toe-to-toe in inaugural T20I series today

Updated 42 min 25 sec ago
Shahjahan Khurram 
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Pakistan and Ireland go toe-to-toe in inaugural T20I series today

  • Both Pakistan and Ireland are in the same group of the T20 World Cup
  • Mohammad Amir expected to be available for second and third T20Is
Updated 42 min 25 sec ago
Shahjahan Khurram 

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan cricket team will kick off its Europe tour today, Friday, with the first of three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against Ireland at the Castle Avenue, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.
This marks the first time Ireland will host Pakistan for a T20I series. The two sides have previously met only once in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2009 where Pakistan won by 39 runs with Kamran Akmal receiving the player of the match award for his 51-ball 57 and two stumpings.
Interestingly, both Pakistan and Ireland are in the same group for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and will face each other in Florida on June 16. Apart from the two sides, India, USA, and Canada are also in the same group, with the top two teams advancing to the second stage.
“Our preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 began with the home series against New Zealand and now it’s all about putting the final touches on those preparations. We have clarity on our game plans, strategies and combinations. It’s about bringing everything together before we arrive in the United States,” the PCB quoted Pakistan head coach Azhar Mahmood as saying.
“We’ve only played Ireland once, so they will be a relatively new opponent for us. However, any team in T20 cricket can be dangerous as the match can swing in one over. The three T20Is will provide us with good information about their players and how they approach T20 cricket.”
The remaining two matches will also take place at the same venue in Ireland on Sunday and Tuesday, before Pakistan head to Headingley, Leeds on Wednesday for a series of four T20Is against England.
Following the England series, with matches scheduled at Headingley (22 May), Birmingham (25 May), Cardiff (28 May), and The Oval, London (30 May), both England and Pakistan will head to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, according to the PCB.
England will face Scotland in Barbados on June 4 in their opening match, while Pakistan will launch their campaign against the United States (US) in Dallas on June 6.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Mohammad Amir will miss the first T20I due to delays in the issuance of his visa. He is expected to join the side on Friday.
Squads
Ireland: Paul Stirling (captain), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir (unavailable for first T20I), Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Khan

Topics: Pakistan vs Ireland Pakistan cricket

Saudi tech company partners with Pakistan’s ABHI to launch financial services in Kingdom

Updated 10 May 2024
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Saudi tech company partners with Pakistan’s ABHI to launch financial services in Kingdom

  • ABHI, which also serves customers in UAE, was selected as one of Gulf country’s Future 100 companies last year 
  • Saudi tech company says partnership to empower Kingdom’s citizens, embolden private sector and foster economic growth
Updated 10 May 2024
KHURSHID AHMED   

KARACHI: Alraedah Digital Solutions, a leading Saudi technology company, announced on Thursday it was entering into a strategic partnership with Pakistani fintech ABHI to launch “innovative” financial services in the Kingdom. 
Alraedah Digital Solutions, the digital arm of Alraedah Digital Group, focuses on innovation and digital transformation to empower businesses and individuals through cutting-edge solutions in finance and technology. 
ABHI is a Pakistani fintech company that provides innovative finance solutions to businesses and their employees. Last year, it was selected as one of the Future 100 companies of the United Arab Emirates. 
Founded in 2021, ABHI has been serving customers in Pakistan, UAE, and Bangladesh through its credit-bridging products. These include Earned Wage Access, Invoice Factoring, SME Working Capital & Revenue Based Financing, and Payroll Solutions. 
“Under the terms of the agreement, Alraedah will leverage ABHI’s robust capabilities to launch a set of innovative financial services in KSA,” the Saudi company said in a press release. 
The statement said as per the terms of the agreement, ABHI will gain access to Alraedah’s knowledge and understanding of the local Saudi market. This would enable it to collaboratively launch innovative financing products in Saudi Arabia.
“Alraedah will enable access to $200 million over the course of three years to develop products that apply ABHI’s proprietary technology, localized for the Saudi market,” the press release said. 
The Pakistani fintech says it has a client base of over 1,000 esteemed companies and actively promotes financial empowerment and provides stability to over 750,000 employees across the region.
“With our innovative financial solutions and Alraedah’s deep local expertise, we are poised to empower Saudi citizens, embolden the private sector, and foster a more vibrant, thriving economy,” Omair Ansari, co-founder and CEO of ABHI, was quoted as saying. 
Paul Melotto, CEO of Alraedah Digital Solutions, said both companies aim to redefine access to financial services and empower individuals and businesses across the region.
“Together, we aim to redefine access to financial services and empower individuals and businesses across the region,” he said.

Topics: Abhi

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