Pakistan approves 21 development projects worth $3 billion for flood-hit areas
Pakistan approves 21 development projects worth $3 billion for flood-hit areas/node/2403721/pakistan
Pakistan approves 21 development projects worth $3 billion for flood-hit areas
A general view of a flooded area after heavy monsoon rains is pictured from atop a bridge in Charsadda district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan on August 27, 2022. (AFP/File)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s planning ministry said on Sunday it had approved 21 development projects worth $3 billion for the country’s flood-hit areas, as it attempts to reconstruct thousands of homes and rehabilitate people in large numbers affected by last year’s cataclysmic disaster.
Unusually heavy monsoon rains in June 2022 killed over 1,700 people, destroying thousands of acres of crops and displacing millions in many parts of the country. Pakistan estimated damages from the floods to be around $30 billion.
Following the devastation, Pakistan’s planning ministry devised a comprehensive 4RF (Resilient, Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction) framework for effective coordination and participation among federal and provincial governments, development partners, donors, and international and national NGOs.
“The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) successfully approved 21 development projects worth $3 billion for flood-affected areas of Pakistan while securing maximum pledges committed in Geneva for flood 2022,” the planning ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said these projects are being “successfully executed” by the provincial governments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. It added that the projects are funded by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.
“Sindh and Balochistan were the most affected provinces in the floods of 2022,” the ministry said.
The ministry said a dashboard to ensure real-time monitoring and provide information to the masses and development partners about the execution of the development projects would be operationalized by Nov. 10.
Pakistan obtained aid pledges worth $10 billion from multilateral and bilateral donors during a conference in Geneva this year for flood-relief activities and projects.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said in September Pakistan is striving to get donors to release $10 billion in pledges to help it recover from the devastating floods and launch rebuilding projects that hinge on the funding.
Such funding is crucial for cash-strapped Pakistan but the government says it has not arrived, amid growing concerns about its future debt obligations.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday exchanged Eid Al-Adha greetings with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Bahrain, Jordan and other Muslim nations and offered special prayers for the people of Gaza.
Eid Al-Adha is one of the two most important festivals of the Islamic calendar, marked by Muslims in Pakistan and around the world by slaughtering animals such as sheep and goats, and distributing their meat among family, friends and the poor.
Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Dar held a telephonic conversation with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and exchanged warm Eid greetings, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported. They prayed for peace, prosperity and well-being of Muslims across the world.
Separately, PM Sharif held a telephonic conversation with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and conveyed his warm greetings to him and the brotherly people of Oman on the Eid Al-Adha.
“While exchanging Eid wishes, the two leaders prayed for unity and harmony among the Muslim Ummah. They also offered special prayers for the people of Gaza,” Sharif’s office said.
The development came as at least four Palestinians were killed and others were wounded by Israeli fire around a kilometer from an aid distribution point in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian health officials and witnesses said on Sunday.
Israel’s military campaign has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian Health Ministry. The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90 percent of its population. The territory’s roughly 2 million Palestinians are almost completely reliant on international aid because nearly all of Gaza’s food production capabilities have been destroyed.
The Pakistani leaders also held similar calls and exchange of Eid greetings with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Jordan’s King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy on Sunday urged “result-oriented” collective actions to safeguard oceans against pollution, over-fishing and climate change, its Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) said, on the occasion of the World Oceans Day.
World Oceans Day is observed on June 8 each year and this year’s theme is ‘Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us,’ which resonates with the oceans’ vital role in underpinning all life on earth. Covering over 70 percent of Earth, oceans are a key source of oxygen, a regulator of climate and immeasurably support biodiversity, all of which are essential to global livelihoods.
As the principal custodian of Pakistan’s maritime domain, the navy said, it is undertaking substantive initiatives like implementing remedial measures for preventing oil spills at sea, enforcing pollution control measures and banning destructive fishing nets to encourage healthy practices and sustainable use of ocean resources.
“World Oceans Day calls upon us to move beyond the reflexive acknowledgment and take result-oriented collective actions,” the navy quoted its Public Relations director-general as saying.
“To this end, I call upon all the stakeholders to join hands with Pakistan Navy and adopt safe and sustainable practices to secure our oceans’ vitality. Collectively, we can avail this immense endowment in the shape of our rich oceans, preserve their enduring majesty and secure the lifeblood they provide, for our future generations.”
The statement came ahead of a United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference in Nice, France on June 9-13, which will not only focus on accelerating actions for conservation and sustainable use of oceans but also identify ways to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources by building partnerships.
“For Pakistan, our long coastline and rich marine resources constitute a national trust. This vital treasure trove of biodiversity is facing rapid deterioration and demands immediate and robust intervention by all stakeholders,” the navy said.
“Recognizing our obligation to the environment, Pakistan Navy is also instilling ecological ethos through awareness drives and crucial partnerships. To mark the occasion, National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) has organized one day international seminar to create awareness about the issue and highlight ways and means to protect our oceans.”
KARACHI: A Pakistani delegation has arrived in the United Kingdom (UK) as part of Islamabad’s diplomatic outreach over last month’s military conflict with India, following their “successful” talks in New York.
India and Pakistan engaged in the worst fighting between them in decades, raising fears of the prospect of an all-out nuclear war. After both countries traded heavy fire for four days, pounding each other with missiles, fighter jets and drone strikes, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between them on May 10.
The nine-member Pakistan delegation, led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, held several meetings with representatives of the United Nations (UN), its member states and US officials to present Pakistan’s stance on the standoff with India and peace in the region.
The Pakistan delegates said the purpose of their meetings was to have peace in the region and to have talks with New Delhi on all India-Pakistan issues, including the restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty and the resolution of Kashmir dispute.
“We have explained to them [US officials] that Pakistan’s water, this is a civilization, the lives of 240 million people, their culture [depend on it],” Khurram Dastgir, a Pakistani lawmaker who is part of the delegation, told a Pakistani news channel in the UK.
“We explained this to America that their economic partnership with India, it will not bring about that development if India and Pakistan will perpetually remain [in a state of] war.”
India announced in April that it was putting the 1960 World Bank-mediated treaty in abeyance after it accused Pakistan of backing an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. Islamabad denied complicity in the attack that killed 26 people.
Jalil Abbas Jilani, a former Pakistani foreign secretary, said they held quite constructive talks with members of the UN Security Council during their New York visit.
“Basically, our message was that India committed an aggression and that Pakistan is a peaceful country... Pakistan wants all India-Pakistan issues to be resolved in a peaceful manner,” he said.
Pakistani senator Sherry Rehman, who was also part of the talks, said the main objective of their discussions was peace in the region.
“Our goal was peace, promote dialogue, to have the status of water treaty changed, which they [India] have unilaterally suspended, and to start a discussion on Kashmir,” she said.
The Pakistani delegates are expected to meet key UK officials during their visit to highlight Pakistan’s perspective on last month’s conflict and its possible consequences for the region.
British foreign minister David Lammy is the highest-profile Western official to have visited both New Delhi and Islamabad since the South Asian neighbors agreed to a ceasefire last month.
“We want the situation to be maintained, but of course we recognize fragility, particularly in the backdrop of terrorism, terrorism designed to destabilize India,” Lammy said, adding that he discussed the next steps with both Modi and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, but gave no specifics. “We are keen to continue to work with our Indian partners on counter-terrorism measures.”
India and Pakistan, bitter rivals since they gained independence in 1947 from British rule, have fought three wars, including two over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir.
Both countries administer Kashmir in parts but claim the region entirely. Pakistan accuses India of occupying Kashmir and denying its people their right to self-determination. It regularly calls on India to abide by the United Nations Security Council resolutions and hold a transparent plebiscite in the territory.
India, on the other hand, accuses Pakistan of arming and funding militant separatists in the part of Kashmir it administers. Islamabad has denied the allegations and says it extends only diplomatic and moral support to the people of Indian-administered Kashmir.
GHARO, SINDH: As the scent of marinated meat sizzling on open flames wafts through neighborhoods in Karachi this Eid Al-Adha, few pause to consider where the fire itself comes from.
The crackle beneath the skewers and the smoke that perfumes the city’s rooftops and courtyards originate not just from the sacrifice of animals, but from a quieter, often forgotten labor force deep in rural Sindh.
The joy of Eid barbecues, the centerpiece of celebration for many families, is ignited by the enduring heat of charcoal, most of which is produced in the blistering kilns of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province. Along a dusty belt stretching from the coastal town of Gharo in Thatta district to the southeastern edge of Pakistan bordering India, thousands of kilns work year-round, fueling festive fires across the country.
Charcoal, valued for its high, consistent heat and the signature smoky flavor it imparts, is a barbecue staple during Eid. Whether it’s tender beef skewers, spicy mutton chops, or lamb cooked Pashtun-style in a rosh pot, nearly every Eid dish cooked on open flame starts with charcoal. And come Eid, demand spikes sharply.
“Our peak season is during Eid Al-Adha when people prepare sacrificial meat at home and at barbecues, and it is also cooked in hotels,” said Khushhal Khan, a kiln owner in Gharo. “This leads to an increase in our business.”
Khushhal Khan (left), a kiln owner, and a laborer walk past mud kilns to make charcoal in Gharo in Pakistan's southern province in May 29, 2025. (AN photo)
Khan owns 14 kilns. Like many in the informal charcoal trade, his work is unregistered but vital.
According to estimates from local producers, Sindh is home to over 2,000 charcoal-making establishments, each operating around 15 kilns. Combined, they produce roughly 72,000 metric tons of charcoal every month, much of which is funneled into urban centers like Karachi in the days before Eid.
“NO EID WITHOUT CHARCOAL”
The process of making charcoal is as ancient as it is arduous.
Large nine-foot mud kilns are loaded with carefully stacked wood, around 45 to 50 maunds (approximately 1.8 to 2 metric tons) per batch. Once the wood is in place, the kiln is sealed with mud and ignited through a top opening.
It then burns slowly for several days, without oxygen, transforming into dense black chunks of carbon. Managing this burn requires constant vigilance.
“If the fire is too intense, the charcoal becomes low quality,” said Niaz Khan, who has worked at kilns for two decades. “It needs to be burned at a steady, medium flame.”
Once cooled, the charcoal is extracted, sifted, and bundled for transport.
“This is not easy work,” Niaz added. “Our forefathers have been doing this work, making charcoal, and we are still continuing it.”
The next link in the chain lies in the markets of Karachi. Trucks loaded with charcoal pull into warehouses and shops like the one run by Muhammad Younus, whose family has sold fuel in the city since 1956.
“This charcoal comes from interior Sindh, from areas like Badin, Gharo, Thatta and Sujawal,” Younus said from his store in Karachi’s old city district.
“On normal days, most buyers are hotel owners. But during Eid Al-Adha, the demand increases because every household … is preparing to cook the sacrificial meat.”
Coal is stacked in Gharo in Pakistan's southern province in May 29, 2025. (AN photo)
Normally, Younus sells around 150 kilograms of charcoal per day. But during Eid season, that figure can jump to 400 kilograms or more.
Purchased from kiln operators at around Rs2,200 per maund (40kg), the charcoal is sold at retail for about Rs100 per kilogram.
“Some people buy two, five or even 10 kilograms,” he said. “In every home, cows are slaughtered, meat is kept, children do barbecues on rooftops, families hold gatherings inside their homes and parties take place.”
A laborer collects wood near mud kilns to make charcoal in Gharo in Pakistan's southern province in May 29, 2025. (AN photo)
“ROOFTOPS COME ALIVE”
In Karachi’s packed neighborhoods, rooftops come alive after the Eid sacrifice.
Families, especially young men and children, light coals in metal grills and prepare platters of marinated meat. The flames flicker, music plays, and conversations stretch into the night.
“We invite our relatives, make our rooftops lively and there is a bustle,” said Jabir Khan, a city resident shopping for charcoal. “The barbecue becomes a festive event.”
Despite rising prices, charcoal remains central to the Eid experience in urban Pakistan. It is not just a fuel, it’s a cultural bridge that links the sacrifice to the celebration, rural toil to urban delight, and labor to memory.
“Without charcoal, there is no barbecue,” Jabir said simply.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani pilgrims on Saturday heaped praise on the government of Saudi Arabia for undertaking “impressive” arrangements for pilgrims during this year’s Hajj.
The comments by Pakistani Hajj pilgrims were shared by the country’s Ministry of Religious Affairs on Saturday as Muslims marked the beginning of Eid Al-Adha in Pakistan and other parts of the world.
More than 115,000 Pakistani pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia this year under both the government scheme and private tour operators to perform Hajj.
“I had a very good Hajj experience,” Nadia Sarfaraz, a Pakistani pilgrim from Karachi, said in a video message. “Everything went smoothly and we have no complaints against anyone. The Saudi government is providing support here and our own [Pakistan’s] government is helping a lot too,” she added.
Rabia Babar, a Pakistani pilgrim from Islamabad, praised the Saudi government for facilitating pilgrims, especially women, throughout the Hajj.
“There are separate lifts for women. In Muzdalifah, where we spent the night, the area was fully carpeted,” she said.
This year’s Hajj saw authorities implementing a range of heat mitigation efforts alongside a wide-ranging crackdown on illicit pilgrims — resulting in noticeably thinner crowds and a heavy security presence at holy sites in Makkah and surrounding areas.
“There were [water] coolers and drinking water available everywhere,” Babar said. “They had large refrigerators, and they were providing us water bottles and even shower facilities.”
Faraz Latif, a Pakistani pilgrim who had arrived in the Kingdom from the southwestern city of Quetta, praised both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for undertaking impressive arrangements for Hajj pilgrims.
He said maintaining cleanliness was pilgrims’ responsibility, urging them to learn patience and adopt it in their lives even after the Hajj was over.
“It will help you not just during Hajj but throughout your life,” Latif said.
The first Pakistani flight carrying Hajj pilgrims back to the country is scheduled to arrive in Karachi on June 11.
