ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government on Wednesday granted a six-month tax exemption on the import of oxygen gas and allied equipment as the country battles a third wave of the coronavirus, with the number of patients requiring oxygen rising to 5,211 for the first time since the pandemic began last February.
Pakistan registered 4,113 new cases and 119 deaths during the last 24 hours, according to official data.
The government says it has enhanced oxygen production capacity from 484 metric tons in June last year to 792 metric tons today, and added 7,000 oxygen beds and 7,000 beds with ventilators to the health system over the last 12 months.
On Wednesday, the country’s top economic body, the Economic Coordination Committee of the cabinet, approved a summary moved by the Ministry of Industries and Production regarding the exemption of duties and taxes on the import of oxygen gas, cylinders and cryogenic tanks by oxygen concentrators, generators and manufacturing plants for a period of 180 days.
The government said the tax exemptions would help “cope with the increased requirement of oxygen during the third wave of COVID-19 in the country.”
On Wednesday, the government in Punjab also announced a complete lockdown in the province from May 8 along with the closure of public transport and tourist spots to limit public movement in the run up to the Eid Al-Fitr holiday later this month.
“Checkpoints will be set up on entry and exit points of the cities and police, [paramilitary] Rangers and army troops will be deployed on these points to check movement of the people,” a handout from the office of the chief secretary Punjab said.
Punjab health minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid urged the public to follow health guidelines, saying the next 15 to 20 days were “crucial” in the fight against the pandemic: “Be a responsible citizen by implementing precautionary measures.”
Pakistan allows six-month tax break on oxygen imports
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Pakistan allows six-month tax break on oxygen imports
- Number of patients requiring oxygen rises above 5,000 for first time since coronavirus emerged in Pakistan in February 2020
- Punjab government announces complete lockdown in province from May 8 ahead of upcoming Eid Al-Fitr holiday
‘No terrorists here’: School damaged in India strikes in Azad Kashmir reopens today
- An Indian strike damaged the Al-Hadi Public School and adjoining Bilal mosque on May 7
- Authorities confirmed three deaths, one injury in overnight attack on mosque in Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad: The principal of a school adjacent to a mosque hit last week in an Indian strike in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, said there were “no terrorists” there contrary to New Delhi’s claim, as the school prepared to reopen today, Tuesday.
An Indian strike damaged the school and adjoining mosque on May 7 in Muzaffarabad, the main town in the part of the disputed Kashmir region administered by Pakistan. India hit Pakistan and Azad Kashmir with missiles that day and Pakistan, vowing retaliation, said it had shot down five Indian aircraft.
Authorities confirmed three deaths and one injury following the overnight attack on Bilal mosque in Muzaffarabad, part of the worst escalation between the two nuclear-armed rivals in over two decades.
India said it struck nine “terrorist infrastructure” sites, some of them linked to an attack by militants that killed 25 Hindu tourists and one local in Indian-administered Kashmir last month. Islamabad has denied New Delhi’s allegations it was involved.
“There are no terrorists here. This is a place of worship. People offer prayers here. Our children and all the people in the vicinity say five times prayers here,” said school principal of Al-Hadi Public School, Saima Maqsood, as cleaning work continued at the school.
The schools will re-open today, Tuesday, according to a government notification.
On Monday evening, Indian premier Narendra Modi said Pakistan would have to get rid of its “terrorist infrastructure” if it wants to be “saved,” his first comments on the military clashes with Pakistan since last week’s deadly fighting between the two countries.
The military operations chiefs of India and Pakistan spoke by phone on Monday, the Indian army said, as New Delhi reopened airports and shares rose in both countries following a ceasefire that paused days of intense fighting last week.
“The world knows what happened with India. Now, it will not dare attack again,” said Bilal mosque worshipper Roshan Mughal.
“The mosque, Allah’s home, will be rebuilt. The sacrifices, the martyrdom of three people here at the mosque, and elsewhere ... have awakened Muslims and they have shown the world that Pakistan has the power to fight. Its armed forces are well prepared to defend the country.”
Pakistan appoint New Zealand’s Mike Hesson as new cricket white-ball coach
- Hesson, currently head coach of Pakistan franchise Islamabad United, has coached Kenya and New Zealand in previous stints
- Former interim white-ball coach and ex-pacer Aaqib Javed has been appointed as Director of High Performance of Pakistan cricket
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday it had appointed New Zealand’s Mike Hesson as the national cricket squad’s white-ball coach from May 26 onwards.
Hesson replaces former Pakistan fast bowler and interim white-ball coach Aaqib Javed, who was appointed to the post in November 2024. Pakistan haven’t had a full-time white-ball coach since Gary Kirsten resigned in October last year following disagreements with the cricket board.
Hesson brings vast coaching experience to the table. He has served as the head coach of various international teams such as Kenya and New Zealand in the past. He is also currently serving as head coach of the Islamabad United franchise, the defending champions of the Pakistan Super League.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today announced the appointment of Mike Hesson, as the white-ball head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team effective from 26 May, 2025,” the PCB said in a statement.
“Hesson comes in to fill the post after evaluation of numerous applications received against the vacancy, which fell vacant after Pakistan men’s team tour to New Zealand in April.”
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi praised the appointment, saying that Hesson brings with him “a wealth of international experience and a proven track record of developing competitive sides.”
“We look forward to his expertise and leadership in shaping the future of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket,” he said in a statement.
Pakistan’s cricket analysts and commentators have blamed the national team’s lackluster performances over the past couple of years due to frequent changes in the coaching and selection staff.
Last April, former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie was appointed as Test coach on a two-year deal. However, he resigned in December just before Pakistan’s home Test series against South Africa.
Javed, meanwhile, has been appointed by the PCB as Director of High Performance, the board confirmed. Javed will be responsible for leading and overseeing the high-performance cricket program in the country which ensures athletes are equipped to perform under high pressure conditions.
“His appointment, alongside Mike Hesson as the white-ball Head Coach, marks a significant step forward in our strategic vision for Pakistan Cricket,” the board said.
Pakistan says 6 army, 5 air force, 40 civilians killed in latest India standoff
- Pakistan and India engaged in four days of fighting last week before agreeing to a ceasefire on Saturday
- Pakistan military says 121 civilians, 78 armed forces personnel injured in attacks conducted by India
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani military’s media wing said on Tuesday 11 members of the armed forces and 40 civilians had been killed in the latest military confrontation with India, vowing that future attacks would be met with a “swift, full-spectrum and decisive” response.
India and Pakistan engaged in four days of armed conflict last week, the worst between them since 1999, pounding each other with fighter aircraft, missiles, drones and artillery fire. The conflict erupted after weeks of tensions over an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 that India blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad denies involvement.
India struck multiple Pakistani cities on Wednesday with missiles, claiming it had targeted “terrorist” camps in response to the April 22 attack. Islamabad vowed to retaliate, saying it had shot down five Indian fighter jets. Things came to a head on Saturday morning when Pakistan said India had attacked three bases, and it struck back with attacks on multiple bases in India, including a missile storage site in India’s north.
Hours later, US President Donald Trump announced he had brokered a ceasefire between the two states, calming fears of an all-out war.
“These barbaric strikes resulted in the martyrdom of 40 civilians — among them 7 women and 15 children — while 121 others sustained injuries, including 10 women and 27 children,” the army said, referring to India’s first strikes on Wednesday early morning.
“While defending the motherland with exemplary valor, 11 personnel of the Pakistan Armed Forces embraced martyrdom and 78 were wounded.”
The casualties in the army included six non-commissioned officers, while a squadron leader and four technicians in the Pakistan Air Force were also killed.
“Let there be no ambiguity: any attempt to challenge Pakistan’s sovereignty or territorial integrity, ever again, shall be met with a swift, full-spectrum, and decisive response Inshallah,” the military’s media wing concluded in its statement.
Both countries claimed victory as the fragile ceasefire came into force, with Pakistan saying it targeted several Indian military sites on Saturday and destroyed an S-400 missile defense system as part of its retaliatory ‘Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos’ operation, which translates to “Wall of Lead” in Arabic, in response to India attacking three air bases.
India has also released new satellite images showing serious damage to air strips and radar stations at what Indian defense officials say are multiple Pakistani military bases crippled by massive Indian airstrikes.
Bitter rivals India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir, a region split between them, since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947. Both nations are nuclear-armed, raising global alarm every time an armed conflict breaks out between them.
PSL matches to resume on May 17 after India-Pakistan ceasefire
- PCB initially decided to move remaining eight PSL games to United Arab Emirates
- Last week PCB said it had postponed PSL matches on advice of PM Shehbaz Sharif
KARACHI: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Tuesday matches of the Pakistan Super League would resume from May 17 after being disrupted in the wake of conflict with archrival India.
The PCB initially decided to move the remaining eight PSL games to the United Arab Emirates, but last week said it had postponed the matches on the advice of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
India and Pakistan have clashed since India struck multiple locations in Pakistan last week that it said were “terrorist camps” in retaliation for a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month, in which it said Islamabad was involved. Pakistan denied the accusation but both countries exchanged cross-border firing and shelling, sent drones and missiles into each other’s airspace and left dozens of people dead.
A fragile ceasefire was holding between the neighbors after the agreement was reached on Saturday, following diplomacy and pressure from the United States.
“HBL PSL X picks up from where it left off! 6 teams,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi wrote on X.
“Get ready for 8 thrilling matches starting 17th May, leading up to the Grand Final on 25th May.”
On Monday, Indian cricket authorities also announced that the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament, suspended for a week amid fighting between India and Pakistan, would resume on May 17.
Pakistan says US pushed India ceasefire over fears latest fighting could become ‘filthy’ war
- India and Pakistan engaged in four days of fighting last week, pounding each other with fighter aircraft, missiles, drones, artillery fire
- Following ceasefire, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar says Islamabad wants to take “process forward in honorable way, with dignity for both sides”
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said this week Washington had pushed for a ceasefire between Pakistan and India over fears the latest military confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors could turn into a “filthy” all-out war.
India and Pakistan engaged in four days of armed conflict last week, the worst between them since 1999, pounding each other with fighter aircraft, missiles, drones and artillery fire. The conflict erupted after weeks of tensions over an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 that India blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad denies involvement.
India struck multiple Pakistani cities on Wednesday with missiles, claiming it had targeted “terrorist” camps in response to the April 22 attack. Islamabad said 31 civilians were killed in the assault and vowed to retaliate, saying it had shot down five Indian fighter jets. Things came to a head on Saturday morning, when Pakistan said India had attacked three bases, and it struck back with attacks on multiple bases in India including a missile storage site in India’s north.
Hours later, US President Donald Trump announced he had brokered a ceasefire between the two states, calming fears of an all-out war.
Speaking to American news channel CNN in his first interview since the ceasefire, Dar said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him on May 10 that India was ready to stop the fighting.
“After having seen our escalation, rather our counter-escalation in defense, I think certain capitals, particularly the US, realized it could be a really filthy next moves,” Dar said in the interview which aired on Monday night.
When asked what drove India to agree to a ceasefire, Dar said New Delhi must have realized “how serious the damage was on their side” after Islamabad dealt heavy losses to the Indian military in air combat and on the ground.
“I’m sure they would have realized that they had miscalculated,” he added.
Pakistan’s military has said it targeted several Indian military sites on Saturday and destroyed an S-400 missile defense system as part of its retaliatory ‘Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos,’ which translates to “Wall of Lead” in Arabic.
Speaking about the Indus Waters Treaty, which India has unilaterally suspended during the latest tensions, Dar reiterated Islamabad’s position that it would be considered an “act of war” if India diverted or stopped its flow of waters.
Brokered in 1960 by the World Bank, the IWT grants Pakistan rights to the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — for irrigation, drinking, and non-consumptive uses like hydropower, while India controls the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — for unrestricted use but must not significantly alter their flow.
India can use the western rivers for limited purposes such as power generation and irrigation, without storing or diverting large volumes, according to the agreement.
When asked whether the two countries would go to war again if the water-sharing treaty was not resolved, Dar said:
“There are certain times when you have to take some very serious decisions,” he said. “Now, let’s look forward positively. We want to take the whole process forward in an honorable way and with dignity for both sides.”
Pakistan and India have a history of bitter relations. They have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir, a region split between them, since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947. Both acquired nuclear weapons in 1998.
