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‘It’s magnificent, it’s beautiful’: Visitors flock to northern Pakistan for ‘Blossom Festival’

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Updated 16 April 2024
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‘It’s magnificent, it’s beautiful’: Visitors flock to northern Pakistan for ‘Blossom Festival’

  • Festival organized for the first time to promote local and international tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan region
  • Area is home to thousands of apricot, cherry, apple and peach trees providing perfect backdrop to spring 
Updated 16 April 2024
Nisar Ali

KHAPLU: Hundreds of people have gathered in Khaplu valley in Pakistan’s picturesque Gilgit-Baltistan region in the last few days for a ‘Blossom Festival’ organized for the first time to promote local and international tourism.

Home to five of the world’s 14 mountain summits of at least 5,000 metres, the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region is Pakistan’s only land link to China and at the heart of the $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure development program. Due to its geographic location and climate patterns, thousands of apricot, cherry, apple and peach trees are found in GB, with their beautiful colors offering the perfect backdrop to spring.

“We are holding this [Blossom] festival to celebrate the upcoming spring,” Rizwan Hussain, an assistant executive engineer at the GB Communication and Works department and a member of the event's organizing committee, told Arab News.

“The blossom festival is mainly in the Baltistan region and starts with cherry blossom as well as apricot blossom ... it’s mainly about celebrating the flowering of apricot and [other trees],” he added. “Mainly in Ghanche [district in GB], we are now celebrating apricot blossoms because cherry blossoms are very rare here."




Locals attend Blossom Festival in Khaplu Valley in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region on April 14, 2024. (AN photo)

The festival also featured sword dances and other cultural and musical performances, stalls of handicrafts and polo matches.

“Different festivals, different cultural shows have been organized as part of the celebration and they have their own significance,” Hussain added.




Musicians bang drums during Blossom Festival in Khaplu Valley in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region on April 14, 2024. (AN photo)

Iftikhar Ali, an assistant commissioner in Ghanche, told Arab News the festival “signified the arrival of spring.”

“This event is celebrated annually on a local scale. But this year the district administration with the support of associated departments has decided to organize the festival at a mega-level,” he added.

Visitors, both local and foreign, marveled at the beautiful colors and cultural shows organized as part of the festival. 

“April is the best time to be here,” said Tshering Digi, a Taiwanese tour guide who was visiting GB for the first time.

“We can see all the different fruits like apricots, the cherry blossom season. That’s why we are here … We see so many flowers blossoming and it’s really beautiful,” she told Arab News as she stood by an apricot tree planted in the garden of Khaplu Palace, an old fort and palace located in Khaplu, a city in Gilgit-Baltistan.

“We can see [blossoms] in our country also, but we found here that everywhere you go, every valley, riverside or village, all are blossoming with flowers, it’s magnificent, it’s beautiful.

“And the view is fantastic, you can see the magnificent Karakorum Mountain Range … you can see different flowers and colours that make everybody very happy. So I would recommend my Taiwanese people to visit here [Pakistan], especially to the northern part, to the Gilgit-Baltistan area.”




Foreign tourists attend Blossom Festival in Khaplu Valley in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region on April 14, 2024. (AN photo)

A local tourist who identified himself only by his first name Faizan said he was visiting with his parents, wife and children.

“We have come for the first time to the Skardu and Khaplu area,” Faizan told Arab News. “We are especially here to see spring blossoms ... we have seen cherry and apricot blossoms and seen really great colors in this area.”

Visitor Sidra was also in GB for the first time:

“Our experience was very good. We saw cherry blossoms … And definitely, we will recommend our friends and relatives to visit this region and observe its culture, enjoy its weather, especially in this season, and enjoy these spring blossoms.”

Topics: Gilgit Baltistan Blossom Festival

At UNSC, Pakistan calls for ceasefire, technocratic government in Sudan

Updated 8 sec ago
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At UNSC, Pakistan calls for ceasefire, technocratic government in Sudan

  • The war between Sudan’s army and Rapid Support Forces has displaced around 12 million people since 2023
  • Pakistan’s envoy says any scheme that undermines UN Charter principles will further complicate the conflict
Updated 8 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Ambassador Munir Akram has called for the establishment of an independent technocratic government in Sudan to manage the transitional period and urged warring parties to declare a ceasefire, Pakistani state media reported on Friday.
The war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April 2023 over disputes regarding the integration of the two forces, has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions and left half of the Sudanese population facing hunger.
The conflict has also triggered waves of ethnically driven violence, largely blamed on the RSF, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis. The UN says that nearly two-thirds of Sudan’s population, or more than 30 million people, will need aid this year.
“The appointment of an independent prime minister and formation of an independent national technocratic government to oversee the transitional period could be steps in a positive direction,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency quoted Akram as saying at a meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to discuss the Sudan situation.
“The conflict will not be resolved on the battlefield [and] war will only bring more death and destruction to the Sudanese people.”
Akram condemned the signing of a charter by the RSF and its allies for a parallel governing authority in Sudan.
“Any such external intervention and any scheme that undermines the UN Charter principles will further complicate the conflict, prevent an early solution and further undermine regional and international peace and security,” he said.
The Pakistan envoy urged warring parties in Sudan to abide by the international humanitarian law and facilitate humanitarian assistance in the affected areas.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Catherine Russell said the Sudanese children were enduring “unimaginable suffering and horrific violence,” calling for an immediate end to the conflict.
“This is not just a crisis, it is a poly-crisis affecting every sector, from health and nutrition to water, education and protection,” she said.
“I met with families and children who are living through this nightmare. Their stories are heartbreaking – and demand immediate action.”

Topics: Pakistan at UN Pakistan at UNSC Ambassador Munir Akram

PM Sharif stresses need for diversity, inclusion as Hindus celebrate Holi in Pakistan

Updated 48 min 46 sec ago
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PM Sharif stresses need for diversity, inclusion as Hindus celebrate Holi in Pakistan

  • There are over 5 million Hindus in Pakistan who have often complained of discrimination, blasphemy accusations, abduction and forced conversions
  • Authorities, striving to improve Pakistan’s image regarding religious tolerance, have repeatedly asserted commitment to equal rights for all citizens
Updated 48 min 46 sec ago
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday stressed the importance of diversity and inclusion to build a stronger nation as he wished Hindus celebrating Holi in Pakistan.
The Hindu festival, which heralds the start of spring, is observed at the end of the winter season on the last full moon of the lunar month.
There are more than 5 million Hindus in Pakistan who have often complained of discrimination, blasphemy accusations, abduction and forced conversions.
Pakistani authorities, striving to improve the country’s image regarding religious tolerance, have repeatedly asserted the state’s commitment to diversity and equal rights for all citizens.
“I extend my heartfelt greetings to our Hindu community in Pakistan on the joyous occasion of Holi. The vibrant energy that surrounds this festivity mark the arrival of spring, symbolizing love and the triumph of good over evil,” Sharif said on X.
“While celebrating new beginnings, renewal, and the strengthening of relationships, this occasion also highlights the importance of diversity and the power of inclusion in building a stronger, more unified nation.”
Hindu men, women and children celebrate the festival by spraying colored powder solutions into the air through water guns and water-filled balloons and smearing it on each other. The devotees serve visitors with delicacies such as gujia, shakkarpaare, matri and dahi-bade as well as desserts and drinks.
People also gather around a lit bonfire and perform various rituals on the eve of Holi, symbolizing the victory of good over evil and removal of the old and the arrival of the new.
In Pakistan, major Holi festivities are witnessed in Tharparkar, Karachi and a number of other cities.
“May this festival of colors fill your lives with happiness, health success, and prosperity,” Sharif said on X. “Happy Holi!”

Topics: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif HOLI Hindu festival

IMF review talks keep stock investors jittery in Pakistan

Updated 14 March 2025
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IMF review talks keep stock investors jittery in Pakistan

  • Pakistan stock market has seen four bullish runs and as many bearish sessions since an IMF team arrived in Pakistan this month
  • Analysts says the talks with the IMF will have a ‘direct impact’ on stocks such as energy, cement and even the cost of borrowing
Updated 14 March 2025
Ismail Dilawar

KARACHI: Stock investors have been trading cautiously since last week when an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission arrived in Pakistan to review the country’s economic performance under its reforms-oriented, $7 billion loan program, analysts said on Thursday.
Pakistan’s stocks turned green on Thursday after losing more than 300 points in the last three sessions, with the benchmark KSE-100 index gaining 0.9 percent to close at 115,094.23 points. The stocks, which have gained about 3 percent since March 3 when the IMF experts landed in the country, have been fluctuating and witnessed four bull-runs and as many bearish sessions.
While the IMF and the government remain tightlipped about what they are discussing behind the closed doors, local media reports claim that the two sides are not on the same page over issues relating to Pakistan’s revenue shortfall, debt sustainability, and the resolution of the country’s power sector debt. The central bank unexpectedly maintaining the interest rate at 12 percent this week is being seen as another negative for stocks investors.
“The stock market is jittery because of the IMF review along with other factors,” Sana Tawfik, head of research at Karachi-based Arif Habib Ltd., told Arab News.
She said the market was mainly reacting to news reports about the IMF expressing concern over Pakistan’s tax shortfall of around Rs600 billion ($2.1 billion) and rejecting the government’s plans to resolve the lingering circular debt that was expected to increase to as much as Rs1 trillion by June.
The IMF wants Pakistan to increase its tax-to-GDP ratio, which is the lowest in the region, to 13 percent by taxing incomes from agriculture, real estate and retail sectors. Pakistan, however, fell short of the IMF-backed tax collection target this year.
“There is a concern in the market that this tax shortfall may upset the review,” Tawfik said, adding that the selling pressure and a lack of a proper trigger were other drags on the stock index.
Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer at Arif Habib Commodities Ltd., said the issues being discussed with the IMF would have a “direct impact” on stocks, including energy, cement and even the cost of borrowing that is directly related to economic growth.
“Generally higher interest rates are negative for the stocks and we believe the IMF certainly does play a role in the central bank’s decisions,” Mehanti told Arab News.
Pakistan’s policymakers avoid squeezing the interest rate much at a time when the IMF is reviewing the release of its first tranche under the $7 billion program.
“The market expects IMF’s proposal may be growth negative owing to higher interest rates to check inflation risks, thin LSM (large-scale manufacturing) growth in case of a cut in the PSDP (public sector development program) or refusals of circular debt plans,” the commodity analyst said.
But Amjad Waheed, chief executive officer at the NBP Fund Management Ltd., held a different view and said the recent fluctuation looked more like a case of profit-taking as investors booked handsome profits during the last couple of years, when the stock market rose as much as 84 percent.
“The IMF talks are ongoing stable and as per routine. I haven’t heard of any tough conditions that the IMF is going to set,” said Waheed, who manages billions of rupees of investor savings.
“People have earned enough and some people now booking profit is normal. The market corrects a bit because of profit-taking.”
The fund manager said some investors might be selling their stocks as their expectation for a rate cut of as much as 1,500 basis points could not materialize because of Monday’s decision by the central bank.
“As an investor I am very conscious at the moment. I am holding on to my stocks. I am holding on to my investments. I am very careful with that,” Isra Ghous Rasool, a 22-year-old stock investor from Karachi, told Arab News in a recent interview.

Topics: Pakistan IMF Talks Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX)

German coach hopes more teams tour Pakistan to make hockey ‘bigger’ in country

Updated 14 March 2025
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German coach hopes more teams tour Pakistan to make hockey ‘bigger’ in country

  • Germany’s U-21 team clean sweep Pakistan in four-match series played in Lahore, Islamabad
  • The visit marks first time in 21 years any German hockey team toured the South Asian nation
Updated 14 March 2025
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Impressed with the hospitality extended by Pakistani fans during the German junior hockey team’s first tour to Pakistan in 21 years, the visiting team’s coach Mirko Stenzel hoped on Thursday that more international teams would tour the South Asian country to make the sport “bigger” here.
Germany’s Under-21 hockey team, current world champions, arrived in Pakistan last week to play a four-match series in the country. This marked the first time an international German hockey team visited Pakistan in 21 years, and the return of international hockey to the country after nearly a decade and a half.
Since the September 11 attacks in the United States, foreign teams have been reluctant to travel to Pakistan in many sports and the South Asian country was left completely isolated as a sporting venue after militants attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in March 2009.
The visiting world champions beat Pakistan 4-0 in the four-match series, three of which were played in the eastern city of Lahore while the final fixture was played in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Thursday. Germany outclassed Pakistan 4-1 to win the final match and lift the trophy.
“I can imagine that once the first start [of an international tour] has taken place with us here, then a lot of other countries will think about it,” Stenzel told Arab News.
“And hopefully for Pakistan and for hockey as well, I hope it is going to get bigger and bigger.”
Field hockey, Pakistan’s national sport, once propelled the country to Olympic gold and global glory, but the game has waned in popularity and participation over the past two decades. Poor management, lack of infrastructure and the rise of cricket has contributed to the decline.
The failure to adapt to modern demands, including fitness and artificial turfs, has further deepened the crisis.
Stenzel said the experience for the German players in the U-21 squad was “really amazing” as most of them had not traveled outside Europe ever.
“It’s been very interesting for them to see what Pakistan is like, the love for hockey, the hospitality,” he said.
German skipper Johan Wehnert was all praises for the Pakistan team, saying that despite the 4-0 series sweep, the green shirts are a “pretty good team.”
“They are pretty strong in counter-attacks and technically they are very, very strong,” Wehnert said. “It was very difficult for us to defend against them.”
About Pakistan’s chances in the upcoming Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup tournament, the German skipper said the green shirts can play for “good places” in the tournament.
Wehnert praised the hospitality extended by fans in Pakistan, noting that the German side had many opportunities to see the country.
“The people are very friendly, not cheering always [only] for Pakistan but also for Germany,” he said. “We are very happy about it.”
Like Stenzel, Wehnert was all praises for Pakistan’s spicy cuisine.
“We tasted some Pakistani dishes, I liked very much the chicken biryani,” the German skipper said, smiling. “I think it was very nice and everyone liked it here.”

Topics: Pakistan Germany Hockey Junior Hockey Sports in pakistan

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Fasting on the frontline: Karachi ambulance driver navigates chaos to save lives during Ramadan

Updated 14 March 2025
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Fasting on the frontline: Karachi ambulance driver navigates chaos to save lives during Ramadan

  • For Ghulam Nabi and hundreds of other Edhi ambulance drivers, Ramadan does not change their daily duties
  • Nabi says his iftar often consists of just dates and water, eaten on the road between emergencies
Updated 14 March 2025
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: In Karachi, where traffic is relentless and sirens are a constant, 63-year-old Ghulam Nabi has spent the past 14 years behind the wheel of an Edhi Foundation ambulance, responding to emergencies in a city where every second can mean the difference between life and death.

The Edhi Foundation, one of the world’s largest charities, operates nearly 1,800 ambulances, including over 200 in Karachi, where it was founded by the late veteran philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, who passed away in July 2016. Nabi is one of the hundreds of drivers keeping the wheels of these ambulances going.

Even during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, he remains committed to his duty. Often, his iftar — the evening meal to break the fast, which most people share with their families at home — happens on the road, between dispatches.

“Whether it’s sunny, hot, stormy, rainy, Ramadan or Eid, no matter what, we have to do our duty and serve humanity,” he said in a recent conversation with Arab News.

Living in an old apartment in the city’s historic Kharadar area, he begins his day by walking to the Edhi headquarters nearly a kilometer away. From there, his shift unfolds unpredictably, sometimes requiring him to attend to road accidents, rush cardiac arrest patients to hospitals or transport the deceased to their final resting places.

“Just yesterday, it was time to break the fast. Five to ten minutes before iftar, we were informed that an accident had occurred on Mai Kolachi Road,” Nabi recalled, adding that he had to leave iftar and rush to the spot.

“On the way, someone gave us dates, and we broke our fast with them,” he added.

Nabi recalled that at one point during Ramadan, he was asked to pick up a corpse from a house where it had remained unattended for nearly a week. As he reached the place, he realized it was decomposed and in such a condition that no one wanted to go near it.

But Nabi handled it, giving it to the relatives in a casket after completing the required legal procedures.

“We had to carry the body while fasting,” he said.

‘FRONTLINE HEROES’

Muhammad Amin, who oversees the Karachi Control Room at the Edhi Foundation, holds his team, particularly Nabi, in high esteem.

“He is an excellent driver, and all the qualities required in his job are found in him,” he told Arab News. “From keeping the ambulance clean to its general upkeep, following driving protocols and handling emergencies, Ghulam Nabi excels in all these aspects.”

Amin noted Ramadan always brought unique challenges to the drivers since their workload never decreased.

“There was a fire near Chakar Hotel on the Super Highway [yesterday], where our team, which included the drivers, went,” he said. “The drivers were fasting, but they worked through the fire and performed their duties.”

“If you look at it, these drivers can truly be called our frontline heroes,” he added.

Nabi said his entry into this line of work was unexpected. He used to run a small business that suffered losses, forcing him to shut it down. As he started looking for employment opportunities, a friend referred him to Edhi in 2010.

“Since that day, I have been engaged in humanitarian work,” he said.

‘SAVING HUMANITY’

Karachi, a megacity with over 20 million people, suffers from broken roads, congested streets and widespread disregard for traffic rules. These conditions significantly increase the challenges of Nabi’s job, making him fear that he might not be able to reach people in need on time.

Despite such hardships, he said he was proud of his work and found fulfillment in transporting patients and the injured to hospitals for treatment.

“Whoever saves a life, saves all of humanity,” he said, his eyes shining.

To Nabi, his work is a continuation of the legacy of Abdul Sattar Edhi, the late humanitarian whose foundation has provided free ambulance services for decades.

“Here, we are carrying forward Edhi Sahib’s mission,” he said. “Humanitarian work will never stop.”

As dusk falls and families across Karachi gather for iftar at home, Nabi finds himself away from his loved ones.

“Our hearts also long to break our fast with our children, but our iftar is often on the road or in the ambulance, and we have to break our fast with dates or water,” he said, as he opened his fast with the evening prayer call while sitting on a roadside bench in a Karachi street.

Topics: Edhi Foundation edhi ambulance drivers

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