During Ramadan, dates from Saudi Arabia are Pakistan's favorites

A vendor sets the dates while selling them from a stall, amid spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Karachi, Pakistan April 22, 2020. (REUTERS)
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Updated 01 May 2020
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During Ramadan, dates from Saudi Arabia are Pakistan's favorites

  • Ajwa, Anbara Safawi, Sukkari, Barhi, Saghai, Kalmi, Khudri, Kholas and Medjool are the most famous Saudi dates available in Pakistan
  • Pakistan is in the process of developing some Saudi varieties

KARACHI: Despite declining sales of dates during this year’s Ramadan, their expensive varieties cultivated in Saudi Arabia remain in high demand among Pakistani consumers.

“Although our sales have declined due to the lockdown situation that imposed restrictions on our movement, high quality dates, especially from Saudi Arabia, are still in great demand,” Hajji Abu Baker, who owns Bombay Dry Fruits, told Arab News on Tuesday.

Abu Baker travels to the Kingdom every year to handpick the best available dates from Saudi farms. However, he missed the trip this year due to the coronavirus pandemic that led to a suspension of international flights.

“I bought dates during the last season and brought one part of my consignment to Pakistan as well. However, I left a large portion of my purchase in the Kingdom since they have better storage facilities in Saudi Arabia. Now we are selling the available stock, though it should be enough to meet the demand under the circumstances,” he said.

Abu Baker is among the best known importers of Saudi dates in Pakistan and sells the product after significant value addition. His team mixes honey with the product or adds pistachios and almonds to its different varieties. The mouthwatering stock is then sold to a loyal customer base.

The demand for dates significantly increases in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan since it is customary to break one’s fast with them during the sunset meal. The prices of Saudi dates are also very high, and they are mostly purchased by the affluent class. However, sellers of the product have not increased their rates this year.

“Last year the prices of different varieties were between Rs 1,400 to Rs 3,600 per kilogram. This year, however, there is no change in them. Ajwa, which is the most sought after variety, is available for Rs 2,600 per kilogram,” he added.

Ajwa, Anbara Safawi, Sukkari, Barhi, Saghai, Kalmi, Khudri, Kholas and Medjool are the most famous Saudi dates available in Pakistan.

Due to their high price, these dates are not sold in Karachi’s wholesale KHajjoor Market where the average price remains around Rs 400 per kilogram.

“The rates of Saudi dates are very high. That’s why they are not sold here,” Hanif Baloch, General Secretary of the KHajjoor Market Association, told Arab News.

With an annual yield of about 1.1 million tons, Saudi Arabia is the top producer and exporter of dates in the world. While Pakistan is also among the top 10 producers of dates with around 557,000 tons of production, it meets half of its demand by importing the product.

Pakistan is also in the process of developing some Saudi varieties through tissue culture at different research centers in Sindh.

“We are developing different varieties Saudi dates, including Ajwa. We hope to introduce its samplings in different parts of the country where there is suitable climate for them,” Dr. Ameer Ahmed Mirbahar, who works as the director of Date Palm Research Institute at Shah Abdul Latif University in Khairpur, told Arab News on phone.

Mirbahar, who is also working on a research papers that is likely to be presented in the International Date Palm Conference 2020 in Saudi Arabia next November, stresses the need for value addition in dates that he hopes to produce in Pakistan.

The conference is organized by the King Faisal University (KFU) and will bring together industrial stakeholders, entrepreneurs, farmers and consumers.

“Organizing such international conference to share the applied, innovative and multidisciplinary scientific knowledge among scientists and other relating stakeholders is a splendid opportunity and commitment to making genuine and reliable contributions to the date palm sector,” Dr. Mohammad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, president of the university, said in a statement posted on its website.

“The participants will submit the abstract of the research by May 20, 2020,” Mirbahar, who is optimistic that the event will be held as per schedule despite the pandemic, said.


Chinese air chief hails Pakistan’s ‘textbook’ response in recent India conflict — ISPR

Updated 44 min 25 sec ago
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Chinese air chief hails Pakistan’s ‘textbook’ response in recent India conflict — ISPR

  • PLA Air Force chief praises ‘precision and discipline’ of PAF in face of Indian aggression
  • High-level visit follows Indian claims Beijing gave Pakistan ‘live inputs’ during four-day war

ISLAMABAD: The Chinese air chief has praised Pakistan’s military response during its May conflict with India as a “textbook example” of modern warfare, the Pakistan army said on Tuesday, quoting remarks that come amid renewed Indian allegations of Chinese support to Islamabad during their latest conflict in May. 

Lt. Gen. Wang Gang, chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), made the comments during a high-level visit to Islamabad on Monday, where he met Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and discussed regional security, airpower cooperation, and bilateral military ties.

“He praised the decisive and measured response delivered by PAF pilots under the resolute leadership of the Air Chief, describing it as a textbook example of precision, discipline and courage in the face of unprovoked aggression,” the Pakistani army said in an official statement, quoting Wang. 

The Chinese general “paid rich tribute to the exemplary performance” of the PAF during the conflict with India, which took place from May 7 to 10 and involved drones, missiles, and artillery fire before a US-brokered ceasefire ended hostilities.

Wang’s remarks follow claims by Indian Army Deputy Chief Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh, who last week alleged China had provided Pakistan with “live inputs” about Indian military positions during the May fighting. Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has rejected the claim as “factually incorrect” and a “shoddy attempt” to explain India’s battlefield failures.

While Beijing has not officially responded to the Indian allegations, the Chinese delegation’s strong endorsement of PAF’s conduct has added diplomatic weight to its deepening military alignment with Islamabad.

“Lt. Gen. Wang Gang expressed deep appreciation for the high state of operational readiness and the cutting-edge capabilities of Pakistan Air Force,” the official statement said, adding that he was “particularly impressed by PAF’s seamless integration of Multi-Domain Operations, terming it a hallmark of modern air warfare.”

The visiting delegation was also given a detailed briefing on the PAF’s evolving force structure, modernization plans and strategic initiatives.

Air Chief Marshal Sidhu “reiterated that Pakistan and China enjoy historic and time-tested ties rooted in mutual trust, strategic convergence and shared aspirations for regional peace & stability,” the statement added.

Pakistan and China have long collaborated on airpower development, including co-producing the JF-17 fighter jet and holding joint training exercises. But their military alignment has grown closer in recent years, particularly amid rising tensions with India, with whom both have longstanding disputes. The latest visit reinforces that trajectory, military observers say.

“The meeting stands as a testament to the shared resolve of Pakistan and China to advance their time-tested strategic partnership through deepened cooperation and innovation-driven collaboration,” the Pakistani military said.

In an address this week, Munir said India had failed to achieve its stated military objectives in “Operation Sindoor,” New Delhi’s campaign during the May conflict.

Pakistan said it launched “Operation Bunyan Al Marsoos” in retaliation for Indian attacks on civilian and military sites. India claimed it had only targeted militant infrastructure.

Tensions between the neighbors had escalated into a brief war after an April 2025 militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed several tourists, an incident New Delhi blamed on Pakistan, which Islamabad denied.
 


Pakistan prequalifies four investors for PIA, greenlights Roosevelt Hotel joint venture deal

Updated 08 July 2025
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Pakistan prequalifies four investors for PIA, greenlights Roosevelt Hotel joint venture deal

  • Pakistani state-owned enterprises lose over $2.87 billion annually, total government support pushes burden past $3.59 billion
  • PIA has roughly accumulated over $2.5 billion losses, while Roosevelt remains one of Pakistan’s most politically sensitive assets

KARACHI: Pakistan has prequalified four investors for the sale of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), while its Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCOP) has approved the transaction structure for the denationalization of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York under a joint venture, the ministry of privatization said on Tuesday.

Pakistan has been seeking to sell a 51-100 percent stake in the struggling national airline to raise funds and reform cash-draining, state-owned enterprises as envisaged under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund program. It would be the country’s first major privatization in nearly two decades.

Among the bidding groups, one is a consortium of major industrial firms Lucky Cement, Hub Power Holdings, Kohat Cement and Metro Ventures. Another is led by investment firm Arif Habib Corp. and includes fertilizer producer Fatima Fertilizer, private education operator The City School, and real estate firm Lake City Holdings. Additionally, Fauji Fertilizer Company, a military-backed conglomerate, and Pakistani airline Airblue, have been approved to bid for PIA.

“The prequalified parties will now proceed to the buy-side due diligence phase — a critical next step in the transparent and competitive privatization process of PIACL,” the privatization commission’s statement said.

PIA, once a respected carrier in Asia, has been propped up by taxpayers for decades due to political interference, corruption and inefficiencies. The airline’s privatization has repeatedly collapsed amid union resistance, legal hurdles and low investor appetite.

Pakistani state-owned enterprises post annual losses of more than Rs800 billion ($2.87 billion), and when subsidies, grants and other support are included, the burden swells beyond Rs1 trillion ($3.59 billion), Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told parliament while presenting the budget for fiscal year 2025–26 earlier this month.

PIA has been one of the government’s most costly liabilities, which has accumulated over $2.5 billion in losses in roughly a decade and been surviving on repeated bailouts that have weighed heavily on Pakistan’s strained budget.

Last month, five consortiums submitted expressions of interest for a 51–100 percent stake in PIA after the government restructured its balance sheet to make the deal more attractive. It also scrapped the sales tax on leased aircraft and is providing limited protection from legal and tax claims. Around 80 percent of the airline’s debt has been transferred to the state.

ROOSEVELT HOTEL

Separately, the CCOP approved the transaction structure for Roosevelt Hotel under a “Joint Venture model with multiple options.”

“This option is aimed at maximizing long-term value for the country, while ensuring flexibility, multiple exit opportunities, and minimizing future fiscal exposure,” the privatization commission said.

How much money the hotel ultimately brings in, and its overall valuation, depends on the type of transaction structure adopted, Privatization Commission Chairman Muhammad Ali told Arab News in an interview last month. If the government formed a joint venture with a private investor, sharing both the risks and future profits, the hotel could be worth four to five times more than its as-is valuation, he said at the time.

“So, depending on what sort of structure you have, how much risk you take, how much effort the government puts in, we can make a lot of money from this asset,” the privatization chief had said.

The Roosevelt, a 1,015-room historic hotel in Midtown Manhattan, has long been one of Pakistan’s most prominent but politically sensitive overseas assets. Acquired by Pakistan International Airlines Investment Limited (PIAIL) in 1979, the hotel occupies a full city block on Madison Avenue and 45th Street. Over the past two decades, successive Pakistani governments have floated plans to sell, lease, or redevelop the property, but no proposal has advanced beyond early-stage planning.

Operations at the Roosevelt were suspended in 2020 following steep financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, Pakistan entered a short-term lease with the City of New York to use the property as a temporary shelter for asylum seekers, generating more than $220 million in projected rental income. That agreement ended in 2024 and no new revenue stream has since been announced.

The Roosevelt Hotel is one of several state assets the government hopes will contribute to its target of raising Rs86 billion ($306 million) in privatization proceeds during the fiscal year starting July 1, alongside the sale of PIA and three electricity distribution companies.


Pakistani Internet regulator, Meta join forces to tackle militancy in digital sphere

Updated 08 July 2025
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Pakistani Internet regulator, Meta join forces to tackle militancy in digital sphere

  • The two sides bring together experts from Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp as well as Pakistani government and law enforcement officials for a workshop
  • The event focused on Meta’s evolving policies to tackle militancy-related content and enhance cooperation between digital platforms, LEAs and regulators

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Meta have organized a high-level workshop, titled “Counter-Terrorism in the Digital Age,” the PTA said on Tuesday, aiming to ensure safe use on online spaces.

The event brought together experts from Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp along with representatives from key Pakistani government institutions and law enforcement agencies (LEAs).

The workshop focused on Meta’s evolving policies for tackling militancy-related content and enhancing cooperation between digital platforms, LEAs and regulators, according to the PTA.

“Collaboration with global platforms like Meta is vital to prevent the misuse of online spaces by extremist elements,” PTA Chairman Hafeez-ur-Rehman said, reaffirming the PTA’s commitment to building a safer digital environment.

The development comes amid a surge in militancy in Pakistan’s western regions by religiously motivated groups like the Pakistani Taliban and Daesh as well as ethno-nationalist Baloch separatist groups.

Pakistani officials have in the past said that these militant groups also used social media platforms to “brainwash” and “recruit” people, including women, in their ranks to carry out attacks. Militant attacks in Pakistan more than doubled from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024.

Tuesday’s workshop was part of the PTA’s broader strategy to promote responsible online behavior and enhance national digital resilience, at which the participants discussed various mechanisms for complaint handling and content escalation, and engaged with Meta’s policy specialists on various topics.

“Joint efforts like this are key to creating safer digital spaces while upholding community standards and fundamental rights,” Meta’s Dangerous Organizations and Individuals (DOI) Policy lead Dr. Nawab Osman said.


Pakistan court orders YouTube to block channels of ex-PM Imran Khan, journalists

Updated 08 July 2025
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Pakistan court orders YouTube to block channels of ex-PM Imran Khan, journalists

  • YouTube notifies journalists of court order, warns action may follow without further notice
  • The order from a district magistrate directs the platform to block 27 YouTube channels

KARACHI: A number of Pakistani journalists said on Tuesday they received notifications from YouTube, citing a court order from Islamabad directing the blocking of their channels, along with those of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

According to notices seen by Arab News, the US-based video-sharing platform said it had received a legal removal request referencing a court order dated June 24, 2025, in Enquiry No. 717/2025.

The list of affected channels includes those of senior journalists Matiullah Jan, Habib Akram, Sabir Shakir, Asad Ali Toor, Ahmed Noorani and at least 20 others, alongside Khan’s and PTI’s official YouTube channels.

Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide to Khan, told Arab News by phone that PTI’s channels had not yet received any formal notification. However, several journalists confirmed receiving takedown notices via YouTube and vowed to challenge the court’s directive.

“I am in contact with fellow journalists whose channels have been served with similar notices, and we intend to challenge this in court,” said Habib Akram, a Lahore-based anchor and political commentator, adding the order had been issued without any prior notice or summons from the Islamabad court.

“The decision appears to lack any clear legal basis and seems to be an apparent attempt to suppress independent journalism,” he added.

The order, issued by Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah in Islamabad, instructed YouTube’s parent company, Google LLC, to block 27 channels for allegedly violating Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and other penal laws.

“You may choose to act on the said content in term of the aforesaid court order,” read a notice issued by YouTube. “If you fail to do so, as per our local law obligation, we may comply with the request without further notice to you.”

Asad Ali Toor, a journalist based in Islamabad whose name appears on the list, criticized both the court and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for acting without giving him a chance to be heard.

“For the past three months, NCCIA has also frozen my and my family’s bank accounts without any hearing,” he said.

Toor attributed such actions to his “critical reporting” on sensitive issues like enforced disappearances and institutional overreach. He said he had previously received notices about specific videos, but this was the first time his entire channel had been targeted.

Matiullah Jan voiced concern about the broader implications of the move.

“I believe YouTube should not block any channel solely on the basis of an inquiry without a court order,” he said. “If this becomes a norm, it could set a dangerous precedent globally.”

Despite multiple requests, the Ministries of Interior and Information & Broadcasting did not respond to Arab News queries seeking clarification on the government’s role in the matter or the legal grounds for the request to YouTube.

The court order referenced by YouTube states that during an inquiry under Section 94 of the Criminal Procedure Code, “evidence regarding YouTube channels” was deemed necessary, and their content constituted offenses under Pakistan’s cybercrime laws.

Digital rights groups and press freedom watchdogs have frequently criticized the Pakistani government for using vague legal provisions to stifle dissent. In its 2024 report, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Pakistan 152nd out of 180 countries on the World Press

Freedom Index, citing growing censorship, legal harassment of journalists, and tightening control over digital platforms.

Journalists now fear the court-backed move could deepen digital censorship in the country.

“We are not only being silenced, but also criminalized for doing our job,” said Toor. “This is not just about YouTube. It’s about the future of press freedom in Pakistan.”


Pakistan deadline for registration of intending Hajj pilgrims to expire tomorrow

Updated 08 July 2025
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Pakistan deadline for registration of intending Hajj pilgrims to expire tomorrow

  • Intending pilgrims can register for Hajj 2026 through approved banks or online
  • Registration is also mandatory for pilgrims left out of private scheme this year

ISLAMABAD: A deadline for intending Pakistani pilgrims to register for next year’s Hajj pilgrimage will expire on Wednesday, according to the Pakistani religious affairs ministry.

Intending pilgrims can register themselves through 15 approved banks and only registered candidates will be considered eligible for Hajj 2026, according to the ministry.

After the registration, intending pilgrims will be able to opt for the government or private Hajj scheme. No fee will have to be paid for Hajj registration.

“One day is left for mandatory registration of pilgrims for Hajj 2026,” the religious affairs ministry said on Tuesday. “Intending Hajj pilgrims can also complete registration online from home.”

The expenses and other terms and conditions of Hajj 2026 will be issued separately as per the Hajj policy, according to the statement.

Registration is mandatory for pilgrims who were left out of the private scheme this year as well as Pakistanis residing abroad.

Pakistan received a quota of 179,210 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025, which was evenly divided between the government and private Hajj operators.

While the government filled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims, a major portion of the private quota remained unutilized due to delays by companies in meeting payment and registration deadlines.