QUETTA: A group of unidentified gunmen attacked a residential quarter in Gwadar, a coastal town in Pakistan, in the early hours of Thursday, killing seven laborers from Punjab province, confirmed a local administration official.
The attack, which occurred about 24 kilometers from central Gwadar city, targeted hair-salon workers from Khanewal district in Punjab while they were sleeping.
Speaking to Arab News, Deputy Commissioner of Gwadar Hamood-ur-Rehman said the assailants stormed the quarter around 4 AM and opened fire on the occupants.
“The attackers killed seven laborers belonging to Punjab province before escaping from the area,” he said. “One worker was injured in the attack and has been transferred to District Headquarter Hospital Gwadar for medical treatment.”
Rehman also mentioned the district administration and law enforcement agencies had started investigating the incident. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
This is the third attack against laborers from Punjab within a month in Pakistan’s restive southwestern Balochistan province, which shares porous borders with Iran and Afghanistan and has experienced a low-scale insurgency by Baloch separatist groups against the Pakistani state.
In April, the proscribed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the killings of nine Punjab residents traveling to Iran from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan. In another incident last month, two Punjabi garage workers were targeted.
Baloch nationalists have long accused the Pakistani government and Punjab province of monopolizing profits from Balochistan’s abundant natural resources, saying it has led to political marginalization and economic exploitation.
However, Pakistani administrations have denied these allegations, citing several development initiatives launched in the province to improve local living conditions.
Gwadar, located on the Arabian Sea coast, plays a pivotal role in the multibillion-dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that is envisaged to enhance regional connectivity.
Despite being resource-rich, Balochistan remains Pakistan’s most sparsely populated and impoverished province.
“The slain laborers were shot multiple times,” Dr. Hafeez Baloch, the medical superintendent at DHQ Gwadar, told Arab News. “We found bullet injuries on their heads and bodies.”
“One injured individual, who was in stable condition, has been referred to Karachi for better treatment,” he added. “The bodies of the slain laborers have been returned to their native village in Punjab.”
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the killings, describing the incident as “a cowardly attack on the country by its enemies.”
“We will eradicate terrorism from the country and stand with the families who lost their loved ones in Gwadar,” he declared in a statement.
Meer Sarfaraz Bugti, the provincial chief minister, vowed to pursue the attackers, saying: “We will use all our might against these terrorists and establish the writ of the state.”
Gunmen kill seven laborers from Punjab province in Pakistan’s coastal Gwadar district
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Gunmen kill seven laborers from Punjab province in Pakistan’s coastal Gwadar district
- The assailants targeted the seven hair-salon workers while they were sleeping in a residential quarter
- No group have claimed the attack, though Baloch separatists have targeted Punjabi workers in the past
Pakistan confirms killing of eight nationals in Iran, urges regional counterterrorism strategy
- Baloch separatists have claimed responsibility for killing the victims, who reportedly worked as auto mechanics
- Pakistani authorities say they are aware of the incident and are in contact with relevant Iranian officials
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan confirmed late Saturday night the killings of eight of its nationals in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasizing the need for all regional countries to come together to devise and enforce a coordinated counterterrorism strategy to eliminate militant violence.
The news of the killings first emerged in local media in the evening, though the country’s foreign ministry and federal authorities did not issue immediate statements.
However, the foreign office later confirmed the development in response to media queries.
“We are aware of this tragic incident and are in touch with Iranian authorities,” said spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan. “We will comment once facts are established and confirmed details are available.”
Khan added that Pakistan’s embassy in Tehran and consulate in Zahedan had been in constant contact with the relevant Iranian authorities over the incident.
In a separate statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the killing of the eight Pakistani nationals and voiced concern over the attack on Iranian soil.
“Terrorism is a scourge that is devastating for all countries in the region,” he said. “All regional states must implement a coordinated strategy to root out terrorism.”
Sharif urged the Iranian government to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators and ensure they are held accountable.
“The Iranian government must bring those responsible to justice and share the reasons behind this heinous act with the public,” he continued.
The prime minister also directed Pakistan’s foreign ministry to remain in contact with the victims’ families and instructed the embassy in Tehran to ensure the safe repatriation of the bodies.
Earlier in the day, Afghanistan’s Khaama Press News Agency reported the attack took place in the early hours of the day in a village in Mehrestan district, located near the Iran-Pakistan border. The outlet said the victims were auto mechanics.
However, the separatist Balochistan National Army (BNA) claimed responsibility for the attack later in the day, alleging that the slain workers were members of Pakistan’s premier spy agency.
Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has faced a low-level insurgency for nearly two decades. Baloch separatist groups accuse the central government of exploiting the region’s natural resources, such as gold and copper, without benefiting the local population.
Islamabad denies the allegations, saying it is committed to improving the lives of Baloch residents through various development projects.
Thousands of Pakistanis, mostly from economically disadvantaged regions, frequently cross into Iran to take up informal work in sectors such as vehicle repair, construction and agriculture.
In January last year, nine Pakistani laborers were killed and three critically injured in a similar attack in Saravan city, also located in Iran’s southeastern border region.
The victims in that case had also been working at an auto repair shop.
Last year’s killings took place at a time when Pakistan and Iran were trying to mend diplomatic ties following tit-for-tat missile and drone strikes.
Punjab CM invites Turkish universities to expand footprint in Pakistan at Antalya Diplomacy Forum
- Maryam Nawaz Sharif meets President Erdoğan and First Lady before addressing a session on education
- She says the provincial administration is committed to education and opportunities for women and children
ISLAMABAD: Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Saturday invited leading Turkish universities to expand their footprint in Pakistan’s most populous province while addressing a session focused on education at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2025.
The annual forum, now in its fourth edition, is hosted under the patronage of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and aims to foster dialogue and cooperation on pressing global issues. This year’s theme, “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World,” has drawn world leaders, diplomats and civil society actors to discuss solutions to global challenges, including education, conflict and development.
Before her address, Sharif met with Erdoğan and First Lady Emine Erdoğan. The Turkish president warmly welcomed and thanked her for participating in the forum.
“I take this opportunity to invite the top universities of Türkiye to expand their presence in Punjab, to create more centers of eminence, more centers of excellence where our youth can learn, grow and lead,” she said while addressing the gathering.
“Let us ensure that our collaboration and exchange programs become the foundation for a brighter, human-centric future, a future that both Pakistanis and Turkish generations will be proud to inherit,” she added.
The Punjab chief minister emphasized her provincial government’s commitment to transforming education landscape.
She outlined several reform initiatives, including the upgradation of more than 4,000 primary schools into elementary schools to combat generational dropouts, particularly in rural areas where children often leave school after Class 5 due to the absence of nearby middle schools.
“This upgradation is not a token gesture. It is a systemic intervention,” she said, adding that digital learning rooms were also being established in over 6,000 schools across the province to integrate technology with pedagogy.
Sharif also spoke of reviving non-functional schools and turning them into “sanctuaries of learning,” while highlighting a new nutrition program launched in underserved districts to address malnutrition among schoolchildren, especially girls.
“My government’s foremost commitment is to women and children, to education and opportunity, and to dignity and justice,” she said. “And it is in these arenas that I seek to construct a unique model of governance that is both ethical and effective.”
The chief minister further announced the creation of Pakistan’s first Artificial Intelligence University in Lahore and the development of the Nawaz Sharif Internet City, a hub intended to foster innovation and IT-based learning that is named after her father.
“We are recruiting about 30,000 new school teachers entirely on merit,” she informed, noting that the province had also established a dedicated institution for teacher training and curriculum development aligned with 21st-century learning goals.
Sharif positioned herself during the speech not only as a political leader but also as “an ambassador of education,” vowing to ensure that “no child is left behind due to poverty, geography, gender or social restrictions.”
Pakistan and Nigeria discuss enhanced counterterrorism and defense cooperation
- Both sides reaffirm resolve to boost security ties during General Sahir Shamshad Mirza’s visit
- Pakistan and Nigeria are members of Commonwealth and Organization of Islamic Cooperation
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, held high-level meetings with Nigeria’s defense minister and senior military leadership during an official visit to the African nation, with both sides agreeing to strengthen security cooperation, particularly in the field of counterterrorism, the Pakistani military said on Saturday.
Nigeria faces a range of counterterrorism challenges, primarily from Boko Haram and its affiliates, which have waged a years-long insurgency in the country’s northeast, marked by attacks, abductions and mass displacements.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has seen a resurgence in militant violence in its western provinces from groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Baloch Liberation Army, with officials in Islamabad blaming them for cross-border attacks from Afghanistan, a charge Kabul denies.
In a statement, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Mirza met with Nigeria’s defense minister as well as the chiefs of the army, navy and air force. The meetings focused on “challenges faced by both countries, especially in the domain of counterterrorism,” as well as broader defense cooperation and regional security.
“During the separately-held meetings, both sides engaged in discussions on challenges faced by both countries especially in the domain of Counter Terrorism (CT) and areas of mutual interest, including security, defense cooperation, and the evolving international / regional landscape,” the ISPR said.
“Both sides reaffirmed the resolve to further enhance defense and military collaboration between both militaries,” it added.
Pakistan and Nigeria have maintained bilateral relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1961. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, sharing common interests in international forums.
Over the years, more than 2,000 Nigerian military personnel have received training in Pakistan, reflecting the scale of the defense collaboration between the two nations.
In recent years, Pakistan has also intensified its diplomatic and economic engagement with African nations under its “Engage Africa” policy, leading to the opening of new diplomatic missions across the continent to increase trade.
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake shakes northern Pakistan with no reports of casualties or damage
- Pakistan is in a seismically active region, on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates
- Pakistan witnessed deadly earthquakes in 2005 and 2013 that caused widespread destruction
ISLAMABAD: A moderate earthquake struck northern Pakistan on Saturday, briefly shaking buildings in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and prompting residents to step outside.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.
“An earthquake originated on 12-04-2025 at 12:31 PST [Pakistan Standard Time],” confirmed the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) shortly after the tremors, adding that its magnitude was 5.5 on the Richter scale.
The PMD said the quake’s epicenter was located 60 kilometers northwest of Rawalpindi at a depth of 12 kilometers.
Pakistan sits on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates and is prone to seismic activity.
The country’s northern and western regions are home to mountain ranges such as the Himalayas, Hindu Kush and Karakoram.
Pakistan also has some of the world’s tallest peaks, including K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth.
Among the most devastating earthquakes in Pakistan’s history was the 2005 Kashmir quake, which measured 7.6 in magnitude and killed more than 86,000 people.
In 2013, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Balochistan, killing over 800 people and flattening entire villages.
Sindh Wildlife Department reports nearly 15% drop in migratory birds amid drying wetlands
- The annual waterfowl survey counts 545,258 birds this season, down from 639,122 last year
- Experts warn that continued habitat loss is likely to cause further decline in bird numbers
KARACHI: The number of migratory birds arriving in the wetlands of Pakistan’s Sindh province has declined by nearly 15% compared to last year, according to the Sindh Wildlife Department on Saturday, raising alarm among conservationists about the impact of water scarcity and climate change on critical habitats.
A recently completed “Annual Waterfowl Survey” for the 2024–25 season recorded 545,258 migratory waterbirds at 30 major wetland sites across the province. The data show a 14.68% drop from the previous year’s count of 639,122 birds, with both surveys covering around 40% of Sindh’s total wetland area.
“The apparent reason for the decline in migratory bird numbers is the decrease in water bodies, as these migratory waterfowl are associated with wetlands and the availability of natural food therein,” Javed Ahmed Mehar, Conservator at the Sindh Wildlife Department, told Arab News.
“We plan to conduct a detailed study with relevant stakeholders to determine the causes of this decline [with greater certainty],” he added.
Wildlife photographer Shahbaz Alam, who has documented Sindh’s lakes and marshlands extensively, also attributed the drop to drying wetlands.
“These birds spend their day in the water, searching for food, and then move toward greener areas,” he said. “With Sindh facing severe water shortages and the drying of wetlands due to climate change, the habitat is simply vanishing.”
Describing the situation as “very alarming,” Alam said he had also noticed the decline over the years.
“Where we once saw thousands [of birds], we now see only hundreds,” he told Arab News.
Pakistan has 19 wetlands designated as Ramsar sites under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an international treaty named after the Iranian city where it was adopted in 1971. The convention aims to conserve globally important wetlands and promote their sustainable use.
Together, these Pakistani sites span 1.34 million hectares. More than half are located in Sindh, including Keenjhar Lake, Haleji Lake, the Indus Delta, Jubho Lagoon and the Rann of Kutch. These wetlands have long served as critical stopovers for migratory birds traveling along the Indus Flyway, an avian route from Siberia and Central Asia.
Among the worst-hit areas this season was the Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary, which witnessed drought-like conditions, while Nareri Lagoon in Badin hosted the largest number— 155,068 birds.
According to Rasheed Ahmed Khan, who led the survey, the decline is directly related to the decrease in rainfall and the reduction of water bodies and wetlands.
“Due to a severe lack of rainfall last year, almost all dams in Tharparkar remained dry. If reduced rainfall continues due to climate change, there could be a significant decrease in the future,” he warned.
The survey team, comprising experts from the Sindh Wildlife Department and Zoological Survey of Pakistan, recorded over 57 species of migratory waterfowl. These included prominent sightings of Common Teal, Northern Shoveler, Indian Spot-Billed Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose and Lesser Flamingo.
Endangered species like the Great White Pelican were also documented, highlighting the region’s ecological significance.
