Pakistan, Egypt agree to enhance agriculture, food security and farming cooperation
Pakistan, Egypt agree to enhance agriculture, food security and farming cooperation /node/2607622/pakistan
Pakistan, Egypt agree to enhance agriculture, food security and farming cooperation
Pakistan’s National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain meeting with Dr. Ihab Mohamed Abdelhamid Hassan, Egypt’s ambassador to Pakistan, at the ministry in Islamabad on July 10, 2025. (GOP)
ISLAMABAD: Senior officials of Pakistan and Egypt discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in agriculture, food security and farming on Thursday, Pakistan’s food security ministry said, with Islamabad expressing interest in learning from Cairo’s successful experiences in these areas.
Agriculture constitutes the largest sector of Pakistan’s economy, contributing about 24 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). As per official figures, it accounts for half of Pakistan’s employed labor force and is the largest source of foreign exchange earnings for the South Asian country.
Pakistan’s National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain met Dr. Ihab Mohamed Abdelhamid Hassan, Egypt’s ambassador to Pakistan, at the ministry in Islamabad on Thursday.
“The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture, food security, and climate-resilient farming systems,” the food security ministry’s statement said.
Hussain praised Egypt’s “remarkable progress” in the agricultural sector, especially in water resource management, arid-zone farming and the adoption of modern technologies, the statement said.
He emphasized Pakistan’s keen interest in learning from Egypt’s successful experiences, calling for enhanced collaboration in seed development, agricultural science, drip irrigation, capacity building and climate-smart technologies.
“One of the major outcomes of the meeting was the mutual agreement to formalize cooperation between Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Egypt’s Agricultural Research Center (ARC), as well as the Egyptian International Center for Agriculture (EICA),” the statement said.
It added that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two research institutions is expected to be signed “soon” to strengthen research exchange, training and innovation in agriculture.
Hussain also highlighted Pakistan’s challenges in post-harvest losses, especially in wheat storage. He appreciated Egypt’s successful efforts in improving wheat storage through better silo systems and logistics.
Both countries agreed to share experiences and technical solutions to reduce such losses in Pakistan, which currently range between 20–30 percent, the food security ministry said.
LOWER DIR, Pakistan: The wooden roof of a classroom in the Sabar Shah Primary School hung loose earlier this month, its cracked walls lined with nervous children who shuffle in every morning despite the danger.
They sit at their desks watching the ceiling instead of their books, each rumble of thunder a reminder that the roof could collapse at any time.
Since mid-August, heavy monsoon rains have battered Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, damaging 704 schools — 669 partially and 35 completely — according to the provincial Elementary and Secondary Education Department. Nationwide, over 900 people have been killed since the monsoon season started on June 26, at least 411 of them in KP.
In the province’s Lower Dir district, the worst-affected in terms of school damage, more than 100 buildings have been hit, leaving thousands of children struggling to continue their education inside unsafe classrooms.
“After the cracks occurred in the walls, we can not focus on our studies because we have the damage to the school building in our mind,” said Abdullah, a 10-year-old third grader. “Since we have no other nearby government school, I have to pursue my education in this same school, whatever the circumstances may be, but my studies are impacted, and I fear for my future.”
The picture taken on September 4, 2025, shows Sabar Shah Primary School destroyed by rains in Pakistan's northwestern Lower Dir district (AN Photo)
Pakistan already has one of the world’s highest numbers of out-of-school children — more than 26 million, according to UNICEF and UNESCO. Teachers and parents warn that the damage to schools in KP risks pushing even more children out of classrooms, as families weigh education against safety.
Hifza Hayat, an 11-year-old in fourth grade, recalled a frightening moment when wood from the roof fell during a lesson.
“The General Science class was in progress and there were clouds,” she said. “The dangling plywood fell on the fan and was pushed to the side.”
She said the fear has made it harder to learn.
A boy peeps through a broken classroom window of the Sabar Shah Primary School in Pakistan's northwestern Lower Dir district on September 4, 2025. (AN Photo)
“During the lessons in the classroom, we look more into the roof and walls,” she said. “We are always double-minded, we can’t remember lessons properly. The studies have been impacted badly, and the situation has left an impact on our minds. If this continues, I would not be able to study.”
Muhammad Yasir, who teaches science and is the school’s in-charge, said the building had been in poor condition even before the recent rains worsened it. Around 300 children are enrolled, and classes are often shifted outdoors when the weather turns threatening.
“When it rains, or even when we see clouds in the sky, we take the students outside and give lessons under the open sky,” he said.
“It is difficult to teach with proper concentration under such circumstances, hence the teaching and learning abilities are significantly impacted.”
“MOUTH OF DEATH”
Deputy District Education Officer Fayaz Ud Din confirmed that Lower Dir had the highest number of damaged schools in the province, adding that he had informed the provincial government that 31 schools needed urgent repair:
“The situation for the children’s education is dire after the rains, as the damage is causing the future of thousands to be in danger and keeping the children in school is a challenge. They need very rapid restoration and a lot of resources to accommodate all these children.”
A student sits next to pile of broken chairs at the Sabar Shah Primary School in Pakistan's northwestern Lower Dir district on September 4, 2025. (AN Photo)
KP Education Minister Faisal Tarakai admitted some schools were so severely damaged that it was not possible to hold classes there. He said the provincial government was in talks with the United Nations and private institutions to ensure repairs.
“We will do whatever is possible,” Tarakai told media recently, “but we will not let a single child be deprived of education.”
Parents are not convinced and said they were torn between ensuring their children’s safety and keeping them in school.
Muhammad Islam, who has four children enrolled, described the daily anxiety of sending them into a damaged building.
“Every morning it feels like sending them into the mouth of death, not knowing whether they will return alive,” he said.
“It has become a constant trauma. I don’t want my children to die. The situation has made me think on withdrawing my children from the school. If no proper measures are taken, I will withdraw my children from the school once this annual session concludes.”
Children attend a class at Sabar Shah Primary School, destroyed by rains in Pakistan's northwestern Lower Dir district on September 4, 2025. (AN Photo)
Psychologists also warned that the dangers go beyond disrupted lessons.
“Children studying in damaged schools risk trauma and flashbacks, which can lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),” said Khaista Nooreen, a clinical psychologist who works in a private hospital in Peshawar. “It can be seen in children who have gone through such traumas, and fears prevent them from doing well in their lives. in the future.”
For now, the fear is constant for Hayat and her classmates.
“Now when it rains, we worry the walls and the wood and the stones of the walls would fall on us,” she said. “We have no other option but to come to this school and study at God’s disposal.”
KARACHI: The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has reinforced its commitment to the Pakistani market with the successful conclusion of a four-day business-to-business (B2B) roadshow in Karachi and Islamabad, offering new travel experiences from the ancient oasis city of AlUla to the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
The roadshow brought together Saudi stakeholders, including leading hotels, destination management companies (DMCs), destination marketing organizations (DMOs), airlines and transport providers, with key Pakistani trade partners.
The initiative introduced exciting new meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) opportunities and destination experiences, further strengthening ties between the two countries’ travel and business sectors.
Alongside MICE opportunities, the roadshow highlighted diverse experiences from the heritage and culture of AlUla to the energy of Riyadh, the vibrancy of Jeddah, and the natural beauty of Abha, Taif and AlBaha.
“Through one-on-one business meetings, B2B matchmaking, and MICE focused networking sessions, the program created new avenues for collaboration while showcasing Saudi’s expanding tourism offering,” the STA said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia is home to the two holiest cities of Islam, Makkah and Madinah, which are visited by millions of Muslims from across the world for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages each year. In recent years, Riyadh has intensified efforts to diversify its economy away from oil to other sectors, particularly leisure travel. Last year, the Kingdom also won a bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
The Kingdom is positioning itself as an emerging hub for MICE tourism, supported by world-class convention centers, futuristic venues, and an ecosystem designed to host meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions at an international scale.
Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim country that has the world’s fifth largest population of over 240 million, stands as one of the priority nations for Saudi Arabia, and the STA expects more than 2.8 million Pakistani travelers to visit the Kingdom this year, compared to over 2.7 million who visited last year.
The STA presented major entertainment and lifestyle events, such as MDL Beast and Riyadh Season, at the roadshow, underscoring the Kingdom’s ability to combine business with unique cultural discovery. To encourage immediate engagement, exclusive promotions were launched, including exciting summer deals, early-bird discounts for winter AlUla tours, and tailored packages for leisure and group travel.
The Saudi delegation included representatives from Taiba Investments, Saudi Silk Route, Via Konnect, 88 Destinations, Kurban Tours, King Abdullah Economic City (represented by Via Konnect), Qiddiya, Aroya Cruise (represented by JAS Travels), Saudia Airlines, FlyADeal, and the Haramain Train, together with the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding metro and high-speed rail offerings that are enhancing connectivity across key cities.
“This roadshow reaffirms Saudi’s long-term commitment to Pakistan and its vision to offer integrated travel solutions that blend business, culture, and leisure,” the STA said.
Flood-hit India, Pakistan face rising basmati prices amid crop losses
India’s northern states of Punjab and Haryana contribute over 80 percent, while Pakistan’s Punjab province accounts for over 90 percent of the total basmati rice production
Heavy rainfall in late August and earlier this month caused the Ravi, Chenab, Sutlej, and Beas rivers to overflow, flooding these regions in the two countries
Updated 08 September 2025
Reuters
MUMBAI/KARACHI: Heavy rains and widespread flooding in basmati rice-growing regions of India and Pakistan have raised concerns over output of the premium staple, driving prices higher as supplies are expected to fall.
India and Pakistan exclusively grow aromatic basmati rice, which sells for nearly twice the price of regular varieties and is primarily imported by Britain, the Middle East, and the United States.
Floods have severely affected the basmati rice crop, but with waters now receding, losses are expected to remain limited provided there is no additional rainfall, said Nitin Gupta, senior vice president at Olam Agri India.
India’s northern states of Punjab and Haryana contribute over 80 percent of the country’s total basmati rice production, while Pakistan’s Punjab province accounts for more than 90 percent of its output.
Heavy rainfall in late August and earlier this month caused the Ravi, Chenab, Sutlej, and Beas rivers to overflow, flooding these regions.
Initial assessments indicate that crops such as paddy, cotton, and pulses on nearly one million hectares were affected in Punjab and Haryana, said an Indian government official.
In Pakistan’s Punjab province rice, sugarcane, corn, vegetables, and cotton on thousands of hectares were submerged earlier this month.
The floods have hit farmers hard, just as crops such as basmati rice and cotton were nearing harvest, said Ibrahim Shafiq, export manager at Latif Rice Mills Pvt Ltd.
In India and Pakistan, paddy seedlings are usually transplanted in June–July, with harvesting starting in late September.
The industry was expecting a bumper crop, but the damage is likely to reduce supplies and push basmati rice prices higher, Shafiq said.
“Conservative estimates put the damage at 20 percent of basmati rice grown in Pakistan...This would definitely drive up the price for basmati rice in local markets as well as international markets,” Shafiq said.
Traders have raised prices by $50 per ton over the past week, and they could rise further if supply shortages remain significant by the end of the harvest, said Gupta of Olam.
However, some industry officials, including Karachi-based Chela Ram Kewlani, say the current price rise is temporarily fueled by reports of crop damage and is expected to ease once supplies from the new season’s harvest arrive.
Tri-series win confidence builder for Pakistan, says coach Hesson
Pakistan thumped Afghanistan by 75 runs on a tricky pitch in Sunday’s final in Sharjah
Pakistani spinner Mohammad Nawaz claimed a hat-trick in a career-best five-wicket haul
Updated 08 September 2025
AFP
DUBAI: Pakistan coach Mike Hesson believes his team’s victory in a tri-series tournament with Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates will serve as a “confidence builder” for the Asia Cup starting in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Pakistan thumped Afghanistan by 75 runs on a tricky pitch in Sunday’s final in Sharjah, with Mohammad Nawaz claiming a hat-trick in a career-best five-wicket haul.
“We have beaten Afghanistan in conditions that suited their spin attack, which was a real confidence builder,” said Hesson, who was only appointed white-ball coach in May, on Monday.
“Heading into the Asia Cup this was also very important for us.”
Since Hesson took over, Pakistan have white-washed Bangladesh 3-0 at home and then lost to the same opponents 2-1 in an away series.
Pakistan also won 2-1 against the West Indies in Florida before losing just once, to the Afghans, in five tri-series matches.
“An eight-team Asia Cup is great for Asian cricket and it’s a true test, it expands the game in the region, and it allows us to see players we don’t face often.”
The 17th edition of the Asia Cup will kick off with a Group B match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Six-time Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the other teams in the group.
Eight-time champions and title holders India, Pakistan, Oman and the UAE are in Group A.
India open their campaign with a match against the UAE in Dubai on Wednesday before their high-profile clash with Pakistan at the same venue on Sunday.
“Our pool is challenging with Oman, UAE and India, so we need to adapt quickly. The key is not to get distracted by external pressures,” said Hesson, who coached New Zealand to the ODI World Cup final in 2015.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Four stage, with the final to be held on September 28 in Dubai.
ISLAMABAD: The United States (US) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has started reviewing Pakistan’s aviation standards, a Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) spokesperson said on Monday, with Islamabad eyeing resumption of direct flights to the US after a five-year hiatus.
The Pakistan International Airline (PIA), the national flag carrier, was banned in June 2020 from flying to the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK) and the US, a month after one of its Airbus A-320s plunged into a residential neighborhood in Karachi.
The disaster, which killed nearly 100 people, was attributed to human error by the pilots and air traffic control and was followed by allegations that nearly a third of the PIA pilot licenses were fake or dubious.
Earlier this year, the debt-ridden airline resumed flights to Europe and the UK after a four-and-a-half-year ban on the airline was lifted by the European and British regulators. The airline, however, remains barred from flying to the US.
“A five-member FAA delegation, accompanied by two officials from the US Embassy, began its engagement today (Monday) with the PCAA,” Shahid Qadir, a PCAA spokesperson, told Arab News.
“This report by the FAA safety team will pave the way for the resumption of flight operations to the United States.”
The first session in Karachi was presided over by the PCAA Director-General Nadir Shafi Dar, who gave the FAA officials a comprehensive briefing on the organizational structure, mandate and operational functions, according to Qadir.
The FAA team will conduct structured interactions with relevant PCAA departments and officials this week to review the PCAA’s legal, regulatory and operational framework in line with international standards.
“Their assessment will encompass a wide range of activities, including detailed briefings, verification of regulatory and operational documents, and evaluation of existing systems,” the PCAA spokesperson said.
“The team will then finalize its findings and prepare a formal assessment report to be submitted to the competent authorities in due course.”
The PCAA spokesperson said that no system was flawless and that external reviews often brought observations for improvement.
“So, when we get a report of this assessment, we will improve those things,” he added.
The official said an FAA security team would make another visit by the end of this year to assess security systems at Pakistani airports, airspace protocols, cargo operations, gateways and ground handling.
“Once both reports are completed and all systems have been checked, then we will be in a position to seek permission and if granted, we will be able to proceed for direct flight operations resumption,” he added.
The resumption of direct flights to the US will improve the credibility of the South Asian country as well as its airlines.
“Around 700,000 Pakistani expatriates living in the United States, along with business and leisure travelers, will benefit as direct flights are expected to significantly reduce travel time,” Qadir said.
Muhammad Umair, a Pakistani aviation expert, described the visit as the first step toward resumption of Pakistani flights to the US that would increase both passenger traffic and cargo volume, but cautioned that the process would be lengthy.
“They [FAA] will review all safety and security protocols, identify any gaps, and ask the Pakistani authorities to address them,” he told Arab News, adding that it may take “many months.”
“The arrival of the team shows that things are moving in a positive direction, and this will be economically very beneficial for Pakistani commercial airlines.”
