KARACHI: Health authorities have confirmed third case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) of this year in the southern province of Sindh, the country’s polio program said on Saturday.
The polio program said the latest polio case was confirmed in Larkana district, the second case reported in Sindh this year. Authorities earlier confirmed a polio case in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Polio is a paralyzing disease that has no cure. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of 5 is essential to provide children high immunity against the disease.
Pakistan this month concluded its first nationwide anti-polio campaign of 2025, with 99 percent of the targets achieved, according to the polio program. The campaign, conducted on Feb. 3-9, vaccinated more than 45 million children.
“We urge parents and caregivers to actively participate in these campaigns and ensure that children receive polio vaccine,” the polio program said in a statement.
Pakistan witnessed an intense resurgence of polio virus last year, with a total of 74 cases reported nationwide. Of these, 27 were from Balochistan, 22 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 23 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the last two countries in the world where polio remains an endemic.
Immunization campaigns have succeeded in most countries and have come close in Pakistan, but persistent problems remain. In the early 1990s, Pakistan reported around 20,000 cases annually but in 2018 the number dropped to eight cases. Six cases were reported in 2023 and only one in 2021.
Pakistan’s polio program began in 1994 but efforts to eradicate the virus have since been undermined by vaccine misinformation and opposition from some religious hard-liners who say immunization is a foreign ploy to sterilize Muslim children or a cover for Western spies. Militant groups also frequently attack and kill members of polio vaccine teams.
Pakistan reports third polio case of this year in southern Sindh province
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Pakistan reports third polio case of this year in southern Sindh province
- The latest polio case was reported in Larkana district, which is the second case in Sindh this year
- Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where polio remains an endemic
Pakistan, Iran agree to increase number of flights for pilgrims
- Pakistan-Iran border to remain open 24 hours during Muharram and Arbaeen to facilitate pilgrims
- Iranian government will provide accommodation and meals for 5,000 Pakistani pilgrims in Mashhad
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to increase the number of flights for pilgrims and keep their shared border open round the clock during Muharram and Arbaeen, state news agency APP reported on Wednesday.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Tehran on Wednesday, where both countries made several important decisions to facilitate pilgrims and improve border cooperation.
While there is no precise official count, approximately 700,000 Pakistani pilgrims visit Iran annually for religious purposes, particularly for Arbaeen, a significant religious observance in Shia Islam, marking the 40th day after the Day of Ashura. It commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), at the Battle of Karbala. Arbaeen is also the end of a 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussain.
“The two ministers agreed that the Pakistan-Iran border will remain open 24 hours a day during Muharram and Arbaeen to facilitate religious pilgrims,” APP reported.
“Both sides also agreed to increase the number of flights for pilgrims and discussed sending pilgrims by sea.”
The Iranian government will also provide accommodation and meals for 5,000 Pakistani pilgrims in Mashhad, the city most famous and revered for housing the tomb of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit the Imam Reza shrine and pay their tributes.
“To solve issues quickly, a hotline will be set up between the two countries. A special three-nation meeting involving Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq will be held in Mashhad before Arbaeen to plan better arrangements for pilgrims,” APP added.
Significant pilgrimages occur in Iran, especially at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, the Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom, and the Shah Cheragh Shrine in Shiraz.
These shrines are dedicated to revered figures in Shia Islam and are major pilgrimage destinations for Shia Muslims, including from Pakistan.
Agha and Hasan star in Pakistan’s win over Bangladesh in first T20
- Agha struck a career-best 56 to guide Pakistan to 201-7
- Hasan took 5-30 to dismiss tourists for 164 in 19.2 overs
LAHORE: Skipper Salman Agha hit a career best knock and pacer Hasan Ali grabbed his first five wicket haul as Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 37 runs in the first T20 international in Lahore on Wednesday.
Agha struck a career-best 56 to guide Pakistan to 201-7 before Hasan took 5-30 to dismiss the tourists for 164 in 19.2 overs at Qaddafi Stadium.
The win gives the home team a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Allrounder Shadab Khan, who also struck a quick 48, then dismissed rival skipper Litton Das for a 30-ball 48 to break a fighting 63-run stand for the third wicket that lifted Bangladesh from 37-2.
Litton hit three sixes and a boundary and had steadied the innings with Towhid Hridoy who scored 17, but the later batters could not capitalize on the platform.
Pacer Hasan ended Jaker Ali’s knock of 36 (21 balls with three sixes and a boundary), Tanzim Hasan for one and Shoriful Islam for five to cap a succesful return to international cricket after a year-long injury lay-off.
Hasan said he was happy and satisfied.
“The last eight months were very tough because it was a career-threatening injury, so I am happy to have contributed to the team’s win,” said Hasan, who underwent elbow surgery last year.
“I did hard work during the rehab and it’s a reward for that hard work,” said Hasan.
Bangladesh skipper Litton was unhappy.
“All over the game, we didn’t bowl well, bat well and field well,” said Litton. “We have to come back strongly with two games still to play.”
Earlier, Agha struck a 34-ball 56, with eight fours and a six, while Hasan Nawaz’s 22-ball 44 with four sixes helped Pakistan pass 200 after the hosts won the toss and chose to bat.
The captain, whose previous T20 best of 51 not out came against New Zealand in March, added 48 for the third wicket with Mohammad Haris and 65 for the fourth with Nawaz.
Pakistan were struggling at 5-2 after the loss of openers Saim Ayub, for a duck, and Fakhar Zaman in the first two overs.
Shadab scored a 25-ball 48 to help Pakistan add 58 in the last five overs.
All six Bangladesh bowlers were among the wickets, with left-arm seamer Islam taking 2-32 in three overs.
The remaining two matches are on Friday and Sunday, also in Lahore.
Gaza in the spotlight during Pakistani PM’s regional diplomacy tour
- Sharif is on regional diplomacy tour of Iran, Turkiye, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan
- Sharif has consistently spoken up for people of Gaza while visiting each country
ISLAMABAD: The leaders of Pakistan, Turkiye, and Azerbaijan met on Wednesday at a trilateral summit in Lachin and called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, saying Israel’s war on the besieged enclave was the clearest example of the “crisis of legitimacy” of the international system.
The trilateral summit was addressed by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
“In these days of deepening polarization and increasing blockization, we are witnessing the international system gradually drifting into a crisis of legitimacy,” Erdogan said during his speech.
“The clearest example of the crisis of the international system is Israel’s relentless cruelty and expansionist policies in Palestine.”
He said countries like Turkiye and Pakistan would continue defending the rights of the people of Gaza.
“We call on the entire world from here [trilateral summit] to increase pressure on the Israeli administration for establishing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and for taking uninterrupted emergency humanitarian aid into Gaza,” the Turkish leader added.
Earlier, Sharif had also called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and access to “unimpeded humanitarian aid” for its people.
“They also expressed deep concern over the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza, urgently calling for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to the affected Palestinian population,” Sharif’s office said after he met Erdogan.
Israel launched its latest air and ground war in Gaza after a cross-border attack by the Hamas group on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people by Israeli tallies, with 251 hostages abducted into Gaza. The war has killed more than 53,900 Palestinians since, according to Gaza health authorities, and devastated the coastal strip.
The entire 2.1 million population of Gaza is facing prolonged food shortages, with nearly half a million people in a catastrophic situation of hunger, acute malnutrition, starvation, illness and death, according to the World Health Organization.
Food security groups say more than 93 percent of children in Gaza, about 930,000, are at risk of famine. Using satellite data, the United Nations estimated in February that 69 percent of the structures in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed.
Islamabad says Kuwait has lifted 19-year visa ban on Pakistanis
- Kuwait stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis citing difficult security conditions
- Pakistan and Kuwait are in the advanced stages of finalizing a new labor MoU
ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan confirmed this week Kuwait had lifted a 19-year-long ban on visas for Pakistani citizens and would resume issuing work, family, visit, tourist, and business visas.
Kuwait had stopped issuing visas to citizens of Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan, citing difficult security conditions in the countries.
“Kuwait has lifted 19-year visa ban on Pakistani citizens, resuming the issuance of work, family, visit, tourist, and business visas, a major diplomatic achievement and a step toward deeper bilateral cooperation,” the government of Pakistan announced on its official X account.
“This landmark decision paves the way for enhanced people-to-people contact, workforce opportunities, and stronger economic ties between the two nations.”
In May 2021, Kuwait decided to resume granting visas to Pakistani families and businessmen. It was also decided during the meeting that Kuwait would issue technical visas for Pakistani workers in the medical and oil fields.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Kuwait Dr. Zaffar Iqbal issued a statement on the resumption of visas.
“Community members have already begun receiving approvals, marking a positive step forward,” he said.
Separately, the ambassador said Pakistan and Kuwait were in the advanced stages of finalizing a new labor memorandum of understanding (MoU).
Pakistan established diplomatic relations with Kuwait in October 1963.
At trilateral summit, Pakistan, Turkiye and Azerbaijan pledge to work for ‘strategic partnership’
- Pakistani PM is on regional diplomacy tour to Iran, Turkiye, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan
- Turkiye and Azerbaijan openly pledged support for Pakistan during latest India conflict
ISLAMABAD: The leaders of Pakistan, Turkiye and Azerbaijan met on Wednesday at a trilateral summit in Lachin and pledged to work together for the goal of economic development and regional prosperity and to turn their brotherhood into a “strategic partnership.”
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Azerbaijan on Tuesday on the third stopover of a five-day regional diplomacy tour that also saw him visit Iran and Turkiye. Turkiye is a longtime ally of Pakistan, while Baku and Islamabad have moved closer in recent years with a flurry of visits and bilateral agreements.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev had openly pledged support for Pakistan during its latest military confrontation with archrival India earlier this month.
“I am confident that our time-tested relationship would not only be beneficial for the wellbeing of our own people but also contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and beyond,” Sharif said during his address at the summit.
“This trilateral format is both very timely and of great importance and … gives us the necessary political ownership and the impetus to move forward collectively and in unison in all spheres of our common interest.”
Addressing the summit, the president of Azerbaijan said the three leaders had come together for the “strategic development” of their countries and to work on “shared goals.”
“Political, valid economic, energy, mutual investment, transportation, defense, agriculture, information, technology, and other spheres are the ones where there are ample opportunities to advance cooperation through joint projects,” Aliyev said, adding that Azerbaijan had invested over $20 billion in the Turkish economy and was prepared to invest $2 billion into Pakistan’s.
He also said Azerbaijan envisaged closer cooperation with Pakistan’s defense industry.
“We do believe there is great potential and it’s of great importance. Joint military exercises and projects in the defense industry amplify the potential of our armed forces or defense cooperation ensures peace and stability across a vast geography,” Aliyev said.
There have been widespread reports in recent weeks that Azerbaijan may have dramatically increased its procurement from Pakistan of JF-17 “Thunder” light multirole fighter aircraft from an initial 16 units to a staggering 40, in a deal reportedly valued at $4.2 billion.
The aircraft in question are said to be the latest and most advanced iteration of the JF-17 family— Block III— a 4.5-generation fighter co-developed by Pakistan and China and hailed as one of the most cost-effective combat aircraft in the current global market.
“STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP”
Speaking at the summit, Erdogan said the three countries had a combined population of approximately 350 million and an economic size of $1.5 trillion.
“I would like to particularly emphasize that we stand behind each and every step toward transforming our relations into a strategic partnership,” he said.
“Our foreign ministers will carry out the required work to institutionalize our trilateral cooperation, and they will prepare a strong framework that reflects the common vision of our countries, particularly in the fields that shape our common agenda such as trade, investments, transportation, energy, defense, industry, and the fight against terrorism.”
He said Turkiye, Azerbaijan and Pakistan would institutionalize their cooperation by holding regular trilateral summits and ministerial meetings.
“We will deepen our cooperation in the field of defense and maintain our common commitment to fight against terrorism and against transnational threats,” the Turkish president said.
“We will aim to take joint steps in the fields of trade facilitation, investment promotion and digital transformation. In the field of transportation, which constitutes a quite strategic dimension of our cooperation, we will jointly contribute to projects such as the development of roads, the Middle Corridor and the North South Transport Corridor.”
The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, is a major trade route connecting China to Europe. It passes through several countries, including Türkiye, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan, offering an alternative to the Northern Corridor and the Suez Canal. Türkiye plays a significant role in the Middle Corridor, particularly at the European end, and has invested in infrastructure to improve its connectivity to Central Asia and Europe.
The International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a 7,200-kilometer multi-modal transportation network that connects India, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia, with routes also extending to Central Asia and Europe. It utilizes ship, rail, and road routes to facilitate the movement of freight between these countries.
