PESHAWAR: Pakistan and Afghanistan have “agreed in principle” to resume a bus service between Peshawar and Jalalabad cities to intensify bilateral business activities and facilitate movement of people via Torkham border crossing, said a senior administration official in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday.
The decision comes at a time when Pakistani officials have blamed armed factions on the Afghan side for targeting its security personnel along the frontier separating the two countries. Pakistan also shut down Chaman border crossing in southwestern Balochistan province last year after one of its border checkpoints was targeted.
The “dosti” -- or friendship -- bus service was also suspended between the two sides in 2016 following an armed clash between their border security officials. However, Pakistani and Afghan officials have held a series of meetings since last August to reach an agreement over its resumption.
“Both sides have agreed in principle to resume the service without further delay and I am sure it will begin within two months,” said Shah Fahad, the top administration official in Khyber tribal district bordering Afghanistan, while speak to Arab News. “Initially, 40 buses will ply between Pakistan’s Peshawar and Afghanistan’s Jalalabad cities.”
Fahad said a bus terminal was already under construction at Torkham border on Pakistan’s side to resume the service, adding officials were also negotiating with a local tribe to procure more land for the facility.
An Afghan transport ministry official, Emam Ahmadi, did not share any definitive information on the issue, however, when contacted by Arab News.
“Our delegation is on its way back from Pakistan after holding a discussion on this,” he said. “I will share details tomorrow regarding the resumption of the bus service.”
Meanwhile, representatives of business community in both countries expressed optimism that the planned service would facilitate passengers and give a much-needed impetus to bilateral trade.
Haji Usman, who is part of the Nangarhar Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Afghanistan, said resumption of the bus service was an excellent idea, though he also maintained that Pakistan should ease visa procedures for Afghan nationals.
“The bus service will yield great results if Pakistan relaxes visa for Afghans,” he said. “Currently, it takes about two months to get a Pakistani visa, affecting the elderly people, patients and business community equally.”
Senior vice president of Pakistan's Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shahid Hussain told Arab News the bus service would bolster business and commerce while increasing the quantum of bilateral trade.
“The trade volume between the two countries was $700 million last year,” he said. “It stood at $900 million in 2021, and I am sure it can go as high as $5 billion if Pakistan eases its visa regime for Afghan businesspeople.”
Afghanistan, Pakistan ‘agree in principle’ to resume friendship bus service
https://arab.news/mpknz
Afghanistan, Pakistan ‘agree in principle’ to resume friendship bus service
- The decision comes at a time when Pakistan has blamed armed groups in Afghanistan for targeting border guards
- A senior local administration official in Pakistan says buses will soon begin to travel between Peshawar and Jalalabad
Pakistan certifies aviation security officers under UK-led training, aims for stronger global compliance
- Officials of Pakistan’s aviation security directorate have been trained by ICAO-qualified instructors
- The training will help aviation security inspectors increase compliance with international standards
KARACHI: Pakistan’s civil aviation regulator on Tuesday said all officers in its aviation security directorate have been internationally certified as security inspectors, following a UK-sponsored training program conducted by instructors qualified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The certification, delivered by the UK Department for Transport (DfT), marks a key step in boosting Pakistan’s compliance with global aviation security standards. Officials said the move is expected to strengthen oversight, improve regulatory capability and bolster Pakistan’s standing under ICAO’s global audit regime.
“This training will play a pivotal role in enhancing the capabilities of our national aviation security inspectors and help increase compliance with international standards,” the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said in a statement.
The training, conducted in Pakistan by ICAO-qualified UK instructors, officially recognizes all officers in the CAA’s Directorate of Aviation Security as certified Aviation Security Inspectors, a designation that enables them to conduct safety and compliance assessments in line with international protocols.
Pakistan has previously ranked high in South Asia on ICAO’s Effective Implementation Rating, a global benchmark that measures a country’s adherence to international aviation safety and security practices.
The assessment is conducted under ICAO’s Universal Security Audit Program (USAP), which evaluates how well member states implement aviation security oversight systems.
The PCAA informed it was also expanding safety inspector training through international academic placements, adding two officers had been selected for fully sponsored postgraduate programs in France and South Korea, secured through ongoing coordination with both countries’ civil aviation authorities.
Pakistan’s top court adjourns Zahir Jaffer’s appeal in Noor Mukadam murder case until May 19
- Jaffer, a Pakistani-American, was sentenced to death in 2022 for killing and beheading Mukadam
- He filed an appeal in the Supreme Court in April 2023, seeking to overturn the punishment
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of an appeal filed by Zahir Zakir Jaffer, a Pakistani-American convicted of murdering the daughter of a former diplomat, until May 19, according to local media reports.
Jaffer was sentenced to death in 2022 for the brutal killing of 27-year-old Noor Mukadam, whose beheaded body was found in July 2021 at a residence in Islamabad’s upscale F-7/4 sector.
The case sparked nationwide outrage and became one of Pakistan’s most widely followed trials involving violence against women.
Last year, the Islamabad High Court upheld Jaffer’s death sentence, originally handed down by a sessions court. Subsequently, he filed an appeal in the Supreme Court in April 2023, seeking to overturn the punishment.
“The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of Zahir Jaffer’s appeal against his death sentence in the Noor Mukadam murder case until 19 May, following consensus from both parties,” Geo News reported.
Earlier in the day, a three-member bench led by Justice Hashim Kakar heard the case, alongside Justices Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Ali Baqar Najafi. Both defense lawyer Salman Safdar and prosecution counsel Shah Khawar appeared before the court.
The defense requested more time to file additional documentation. Justice Kakar reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the delay, while Justice Najafi advised the prosecution to formally respond only after the defense had submitted the application.
The appeal hearing was preceded by a social media post from Justice for Noor, an advocacy page on Instagram run by Mukadam’s friends.
The post maintained that the defense had attempted to delay court hearings in the past, though it also expressed faith in the country’s judicial system.
“Stand with us,” it urged its followers. “Stand for justice.”
The court adjourned the hearing until May 19, instructing both sides to come fully prepared.
Kohli, Rohit Test exits leave India facing uncertain new era
- Batting great Kohli and captain Rohit both retired from Tests in the past week
- Shubman Gill has been left as front-runner to lead a new-look India in England
NEW DEHLI, INDIA: Indian cricket will enter an uncertain new era next week when selectors name a Test squad without all-time greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the first time in more than a decade.
Batting great Kohli and captain Rohit both retired from Tests in the past week, leaving Shubman Gill as the front-runner to lead a new-look India in England.
The retirement last year of veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin leaves India without the backbone of the side that was formerly number one in the world Test rankings.
Top-order batsman Gill is favorite to be given the task of starting India’s rebuild with the five-Test England series, which begins on June 20 at Headingley.
“Gill looks like the heir apparent but his record overseas hasn’t looked too great,” veteran cricket journalist Ayaz Memon told AFP.
The 25-year-old Gill has scored 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05 in 32 Tests since his debut in 2020, with five hundreds.
But in 13 Tests away from home his average is only 29.50.
Gill is likely to move up the order to open alongside the 23-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal, with big-hitting Shreyas Iyer in the frame to replace Kohli at the fall of the second wicket.
Others who could be charged with the almost impossible task of following in all-time great Kohli’s footsteps are Sarfaraz Khan, Rajat Patidar and Dhruv Jurel.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has also been mentioned as a future captain, but his current poor form and less-than-inspiring leadership of Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL are counting against his immediate elevation.
Leading pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah was Rohit’s deputy in Australia and led the team in two Tests, winning one, and was seen as another candidate for captain.
But Bumrah has only recently returned to action after suffering a back injury during the final Test at Sydney in January.
The five Tests in England are crammed into six weeks, meaning India will need to manage the workload of their pace attack by resting bowlers for one or more matches, effectively ruling Bumrah out of the captaincy debate.
Memon, who called Kohli’s retirement “a big moment in Indian cricket,” said there was enough strength in depth to fill the void left by Kohli, opener Rohit and Ashwin.
“There are senior pros like (Mohammed) Shami, if he is in form and selected, and (Ravindra) Jadeja,” said Memon.
“The new crop of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, maybe Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj look good.
“They could be looking for a young spinner, maybe Washington Sundar because Ashwin is not there.”
Off-spinner Ashwin called an abrupt halt to his international career after playing the second Test in Adelaide last year.
He ended his career with 537 wickets in 106 matches, eighth on the all-time list and behind only Anil Kumble for India, who had 619 dismissals.
India’s 1983 World Cup-winning all-rounder Sandeep Patil believes the new-look India could come out stronger after a period of transition.
“The two stalwarts, the two pillars of Indian cricket, have gone,” Patil, who was chief selector when Kohli became captain in 2015, told The Times of India.
“It is time to rebuild. It will be a challenge for the national selectors, but I am sure we will find a solution.
“If one player exits, the next one is ready.”
Pakistan says has introduced ‘historic’ new facilities for Hajj pilgrims
- For the first time, Hajj pilgrims will have access to fully air-conditioned camps in Mina
- New facilities part of effort to ensure smoother, more comfortable Hajj experience
ISLAMABAD: Director Hajj in Makkah, Azizullah Khan, said on Tuesday Pakistani pilgrims will this year enjoy “historic facilities” in Mashair, sacred sites used during the Hajj pilgrimage, including fully air-conditioned camps in Mina with sofa-cum-beds, and improved accommodation in Makkah.
Over the last few years, Saudi Arabia has launched mobile apps like Nusuk, Hajj Navigator, Tawakkalna and Asefny to streamline services, with the aim to make the Hajj experience smoother by offering real-time guidance and ensuring pilgrim safety.
For the first time, Pakistani Hajj pilgrims will have access to fully air-conditioned camps in Mina and be accommodated in top-of-the-line hotels and buildings in the Azizia and Batha Quraish neighborhoods.
Pilgrims will receive a specially designed bag containing the Pakistani flag, a QR code for identification, and relevant information. A mobile app will provide access to Hajj group information, training schedules, flight details, accommodation details, and live maps and locations during the pilgrimage.
“For the first time in history, Hujjaj will have sofa-cum-beds instead of mattresses while tents are upgraded with gypsum board walls and air coolers have been replaced with air conditioners,” Khan told Radio Pakistan, adding that elevated luggage storage racks had also been introduced to enhance comfort.
“Dedicated sections are overseeing food, health and transport related arrangements round the clock for maximum facilitation of the pilgrims,” he said, adding that 99 percent of pilgrims who had arrived in Saudi Arabia had received Nusuk cards.
The cards are an essential Hajj permit, not just an ID, for pilgrims traveling to Makkah and the holy sites. It facilitates movement and ensures the well-being of Hajj pilgrims by managing logistics and administration. The card also allows pilgrims to access information about their Hajj mission, schedules, and allows for communication with their mission. Additionally, it enables receiving alerts, evaluating services, and filing observations.
Compulsory Hajj training has been made available for all pilgrims in Pakistan, starting from Jan. 18, 2025, with details accessible through the “Pak Hajj 2025 Mobile App.”
For the government Hajj scheme, the option of three easy installments has been introduced for the first time.
All Hajj-related financial transactions have also been digitized, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Pakistan’s Hajj medical mission includes a hospital each in Makkah and Madinah, along with two dispensaries in Madinah and nine in Makkah, all fully functional.
A Monitoring Cell has been established to address potential issues faced by private pilgrims and provide support to them. Various specialized units, including a Wheelchair Desk, have been set up to cater to the needs of different groups of pilgrims.
Pakistan PM prioritizes tax net expansion, vows crackdown on evaders
- Tax reform has been a central condition of Pakistan’s ongoing $7 billion IMF loan program
- Pakistan expects its tax-to-GDP ratio to reach 10.6% by the end of the current fiscal years
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday declared the expansion of Pakistan’s tax base as his administration’s foremost priority, emphasizing the need to take decisive action against tax evaders and the officials who enable them.
Sharif’s remarks came during a high-level meeting in Islamabad focused on enhancing tax collection and broadening the tax net, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Tax reform has been a central condition of Pakistan’s ongoing $7 billion loan program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has asked Islamabad to boost revenue collection.
“Expanding the tax net is the government’s top priority,” Sharif said. “We want to reduce the tax rate to ease the burden on the common man.”
“Individuals and sectors capable of paying taxes but currently outside the tax net must be brought within it,” he added. “Comprehensive action should be taken against tax evaders, and strict accountability must be ensured for officials and personnel who assist them.”
The government has implemented several measures to strengthen the tax collection mechanism, including the digitization of tax monitoring systems and the deployment of track-and-trace technology in key industries.
According to the PM Office, the introduction of these systems in cement plants nationwide has led to significant increases in tax revenue, while the sugar sector saw a 35% rise in tax receipts between November 2024 and April 2025.
Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio, historically among the lowest in the region, stood at 8.8% in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
However, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb projected it would reach 10.6% by June 2025, marking progress toward the government’s target of 13% by the conclusion of the IMF’s 37-month Extended Fund Facility.
The meeting tax collection, attended by key cabinet members and senior officials from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), also addressed the need for timely resolution of pending tax litigation and the completion of digital monitoring systems in sectors such as cement and tobacco by June.
“By the grace of God, the national economy is stabilizing and progressing,” Sharif said. “Everyone must fulfill their responsibilities for the country’s development.”
