Pakistani art collector-turned-gallerist aims to take local artists’ work to Middle East

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Updated 18 April 2023
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Pakistani art collector-turned-gallerist aims to take local artists’ work to Middle East

  • Human resources expert Jawad Zia was born in Quetta but raised in UAE where he spent 25 years collecting art
  • Zia, who owns 300 works of Pakistani origin, has inaugurated art gallery in Lahore with exhibition based on Arabic script

LAHORE: You would find it difficult to imagine that Jawad Zia, a man who owns 300 works of art from Pakistan, who bought a signed cricket bat from the 1992 cricket World Cup final at an auction house and now runs an art gallery in Lahore, has spent almost the entirety of his life in the United Arab Emirates.

Such is Zia’s passion and his attention to detail when he talks about art that you assume he has always been in the business of producing it. Art seems second nature to him. So, you would find it even more difficult to imagine that up until he took early retirement a few years ago, Zia, 46, was working at MBC’s Dubai-based Al Arabiya news network, in the Human Resources department, rather than as a professional agent or curator in the global art world.

The only surprise is that the opening of Numaish Gah earlier this month in Lahore is Zia’s first formal foray into the art world, an attempt at “wider audiences, institutions, foundations and museums through collaboration.”

“I want to improve the outreach of younger artists in Pakistan, get them more exposure, both here and abroad,” Zia said about his sudden entry into a world he has only admired from a distance, for 25 years, as a collector.

“I want to bridge the gap between the old masters and contemporary art practices,” he added, using the term ‘old masters’ to refer to world-renowned Pakistani artists like Sadequain, Jamil Naqsh, Anna Molka, and Ustad Allah Bakhsh, among others in his collection.




Pakistani art collector-turned-gallerist Jawad Zia (center) speaks to Arab News at the Numaish Gah’s opening exhibition in Lahore, Pakistan, on April 9, 2023. (AN photo)

True to his word — and with courteous donations of two more collectors from the Middle East — Zia has works by Sadequain, often lauded as Pakistan’s greatest calligraphers, sitting across a calligraphic piece by a 28-year-old, recent graduate from Lahore’s, Punjab University, Samara Shahid. The old and the new truly do meet in Zia’s world.

Numaish Gah’s opening exhibition is curated by Sindhi artist, Irfan Gul Dahri, and features another ten artists, four from his home province of Balochistan, one young Pakistani artist residing in Germany and one from Hyderabad in Sindh. The collection is called ‘It Is Written’, an eclectic mixture of styles with one common denominator: the Arabic language. 




The photo taken on April 9, 2023, shows Sindhi artist, Irfan Gul Dahri standing next to his art at the Numaish Gah’s opening exhibition in Lahore, Pakistan. (AN Photo)

Samara Shahid’s work, titled ‘Pateela,’ has exquisite calligraphy in the Thuluth font, the same Arabic font used in the national flag of Saudi Arabia. If it wasn’t for Zia’s gallery, she would possibly have been one of the many burgeoning artists lost in transition.

In fact, a lot of contemporary artists in Pakistan, Zia said, did not know how to move from art education to engaging with the art world itself: “Around 8 out of 10 graduates struggle to make art for any sustained period of time, most give up, which is disheartening for art collectors like me.”




"Pateela", carved aluminum pot in Thuluth font by Samara Shahid, Numaish Gah, Lahore, April 9, 2023. (AN Photo)

Though born in Quetta, Zia chose Lahore as the city for his first gallery because he considers it the cultural hub of Pakistan, its heartbeat. He cited the examples of Shahzia Sikander, Rashid Rana and Salman Toor, contemporary artists who have found major international success but all hail from Lahore.

Speaking to Arab News, Zia said he wanted to bring together 10 foreign artists for the gallery’s next exhibition. As for this first one, it was so rooted in calligraphy and the Arabic script, he explained, partly because of the cultural and linguistic affinity Pakistanis have with the Arab world.

“I want young Pakistani artists to collaborate with other artists from the Middle East,” Zia said, hoping to see a reciprocal, mutually beneficial art and culture relationship develop between the two regions, both of whom the art collector considers home.




The photo taken on April 9, 2023, shows the curator of Gul Dahri (right) the curator of the Numaish Gah art gallery speaking with Saleema Hashmi (second left), a renowned Pakistani artist, and other local artists at the Numaish Gah’s opening exhibition in Lahore, Pakistan. (AN Photo)

His father was a military liaison officer from Pakistan — on deputation — in Abu Dhabi when the Emirates decided to leave the British Protectorate in 1971. He was only 6 years old when his family moved to the UAE. Now, what he truly wants is for Pakistani art to be more accessible, and bigger in scale, and to engage with the Middle East art world he knows best. And he certainly sees an appetite for it. 

“Pakistani artists have always performed well at Art Dubai and Art Abu Dhabi and other galleries in Alserkal Avenue,” Zia said. “Pakistani artists have [also] conducted workshops in Saudi Arabia recently with Misk [a youth program started by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman] and other foundations, which was all well received.”

Dahri, the curator of Zia’s first exhibition, himself has had multiple exhibitions in the UAE.

His idea for the inaugural show of the gallery, “Likha Howa Hay” (It Is Written) visualizes text as art. The Arabic script, via a Persian detour, is the basis for the Urdu alphabet, and many of the local styles of calligraphy, Dahri explained.

One of Dahri’s favorite pieces in the show, “a textual recreation of the big bang theory,” as he called it — ‘The Beginning’ by Shiblee Muneer — has a black canvas with an explosion of Arabic letters in gold scattering like stars across the cosmos: “The idea is that God uttered a phrase and suddenly the universe came into being.”




"The Beginning" by Shiblee Muneer, Numaish Gah, Lahore, on April 9, 2023. (AN photo)

Other memorable pieces include a garment that warriors used to wear under their armor, with Arabic inscriptions that were said to imbue spiritual protection from physical harm.

In Muslim cultures, Dahri said, the grandest ideas were often attached to scripture and text:

“The written word in the context of Islam is our way of conversing with the divine, text is sacred, and that sacredness is definitely coming from the Arab world. So, this exhibition is very strongly tied to the Arabic language ... This particular show is about text, its history and how text is related to human evolution.” 

“In our Urdu context and particularly in Pakistan’s context, a very significant role is played by the Arabic language,” Dahri said. “So, for Pakistan, Arabic is not a foreign language, it’s like the second or third language maybe in the country.”
 


Pakistan eyes trade corridors with Belarus to enhance access to Central Asia, Europe

Updated 03 April 2025
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Pakistan eyes trade corridors with Belarus to enhance access to Central Asia, Europe

  • Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan arrives in Minsk on two-day visit to bolster trade, investment ties
  • Khan to sign new MoUs during visit, state-run media says amid Islamabad’s push for sustainable economic growth 

ISLAMABAD: Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan on Thursday stressed the importance of creating trade corridors between Pakistan and Belarus, state media reported, noting that they could be instrumental in helping both countries access markets in Central Asia and Europe. 

Pakistan and Belarus have moved closer to foster stronger trade and economic cooperation in recent months. Both countries marked 30 years of diplomatic ties last year. Belarus’s prime minister visited Islamabad in October 2024 to meet key Pakistani civilian and military officials to bolster economic cooperation. 

Khan arrived in Minsk on an official two-day visit to the country on Thursday. He met Belarusian Minister of Energy Denis Moroz and the country’s Transport Minister Alexei Lyakhnovich, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported. 

“He emphasized the importance of creating trade corridors between the two countries which could play a key role in facilitating access to Central Asian States through routes in Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, or Iran, ultimately opening up pathways to Eastern Europe,” APP reported. 

“Abdul Aleem Khan stated that these infrastructure projects would also be a strategic milestone.”

Khan highlighted the potential for “significant improvement” in the communications sector between both countries during his meeting with Belarusian ministers, APP said. 

It said the Pakistani minister is being hosted as a state guest in the eastern European country. He will have the opportunity to sign several new memoranda of understanding (MOUs) during his trip, APP said. 

Pakistan and Belarus agreed to boost cooperation in industry, media, tourism and other economic sectors during the eighth session of the Pakistan-Belarus Joint Ministerial Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation held in February this year. 

Islamabad has aggressively pushed for trade and investment ties with regional allies such as China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Central Asian countries and others recently in its bid to escape a prolonged macroeconomic crisis. 

Pakistan has signed MoUs worth billions of dollars with businesses and entities in China, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Azerbaijan and other countries since last year to ensure sustainable economic growth driven by increasing exports and financial reforms mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 


Pakistan assumes Asian Cricket Council presidency, vows to accelerate sport’s global influence

Updated 03 April 2025
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Pakistan assumes Asian Cricket Council presidency, vows to accelerate sport’s global influence

  • Defending champions India are scheduled to host Asia Cup later this year in T20 format
  • ACC, governing body for cricket in Asia, includes Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday assumed the presidency of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the board confirmed, vowing to enhance the sport’s global influence. 

The ACC is the governing body for cricket in Asia, established in 1983, to promote and develop the sport across the continent. It organizes major tournaments like the Asia Cup and works to improve cricket standards, provide financial support and strengthen ties between member countries including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka held ACC’s presidency before Pakistan officially took over the post from it on Apr. 3, according to the PCB.

“In accordance with the decision of the Asian Cricket Council, Pakistan has officially taken over the presidency from Sri Lanka Cricket,” the PCB said in a statement. 

“Effective immediately, Pakistan will lead the council in its mission to promote and expand cricket across the Asian continent.”

It added that the ACC was “poised to strengthen and expand” cricket’s presence across Asia by fostering growth and unity within the sport.

Meanwhile, in a press release, the ACC quoted Naqvi as saying that he was honored to assume the regional cricketing body’s presidency.

“Asia remains the heartbeat of world cricket and I am committed to working with all member boards to accelerate the game’s growth and global influence,” he said.

“Together, we will unlock new opportunities, foster greater collaboration and take Asian cricket to unprecedented heights.”

The PCB chief also extended his sincere wishes to outgoing ACC president Shammi Silva from Sri Lanka for his leadership and contributions during his tenure. 

India will host the next edition of the Men’s Asia Cup cricket tournament in the T20 format in 2025 as a precursor to the T20 World Cup scheduled in the country in 2026. 

The 2023 edition, hosted by the PCB, was held in a “hybrid model” as India refused to travel to Pakistan and played their matches in Sri Lanka.

India are the defending Asia Cup champions, and have won three of the last four editions of the tournament. They beat Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the final of last year’s 50-overs edition in Colombo.


US tariff to have ‘mixed’ impact on Pakistan’s exports— financial analysts 

Updated 03 April 2025
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US tariff to have ‘mixed’ impact on Pakistan’s exports— financial analysts 

  • United States is Pakistan’s largest export destination, importing $5.44 billion of Pakistan’s goods last year
  • Analysts say Pakistani exports will become cheaper than those offered by countries hit harder by tariffs

KARACHI: The impact of US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a reciprocal tariff of 29 percent on Pakistan’s exports is likely to have a “mixed” impact, financial analysts said on Thursday, pointing out that the wide-ranging tariffs will make exports offered by Islamabad’s rivals also costlier. 
Trump announced the decision to impose sanctions on several countries on Wednesday, defending the measures as necessary to address long-standing trade imbalances and what he described as unfair treatment of American goods abroad.
The US is Pakistan’s largest export destination, as it imported $5.44 billion of Pakistani goods last year, according to the State Bank of Pakistan. This fiscal year from July through February Pakistan earned $4 billion from its exports to the US, which registered a 10 percent increase over its $3.63 billion exports to the country in the same period last year. 
“The impact of these tariffs is expected to be mixed on Pakistan’s exports,” Samiullah Tariq, the group head of research and product development at the Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company Ltd., told Arab News. 
Last year, Pakistan’s total exports rose 11 percent to $30.7 billion from $27.7 billion compared to 2023, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Tariq said Pakistani goods would become cheaper than those offered by Bangladesh, China, Vietnam and Cambodia, on whom the Trump administration imposed higher tariffs. 
However, he explained that countries such as India, Jordan, Turkiye and certain Central American nations had been targeted with comparatively lower tariffs, making Pakistani goods costlier. 
 Washington has imposed tariffs of 37 percent, 34 percent, 46 percent and 49 percent on Bangladesh, China, Vietnam and Cambodia, respectively. It targeted India, Jordan and Turkiye with tariffs of 26 percent, 20 percent and 10 percent respectively. 
 
“Duties imposed on China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Bangladesh are higher than Pakistan, while duties imposed on India are 300bps lower than Pakistan,” Topline Securities, a Karachi-based brokerage firm, noted in a report to clients.

TEXTILE TO TAKE A HIT

However, Sana Tawfiq, the head of research at Arif Habib Ltd. said the tariff would test the mettle of Pakistan’s export sector. 

“About 90 percent of our total exports to the US account for textiles that are expected to take a hit,” she told Arab News. 

She said some food and cement industries are also expected to “feel the pressure.”

“To mitigate the impact, Pakistan must adopt a reciprocal and strategic approach, including reducing energy costs, negotiating tariff relief, and diversifying trade markets,” Tawfiq noted. 

Topline Securities also said Pakistani textile exports may bear the brunt of the tariff imposition. 

“Theoretically, due to Pakistan’s duty disadvantage with India, Pakistan textile exports may face some pressure,” the brokerage firm said. 

Trump’s decision is expected to set back Pakistan’s efforts to revive its economy with the help of the International Monetary Fund’s bailout packages. 

The lender wants Islamabad to increase its revenues, attract foreign investments and enhance exports to cope with its longstanding balance of payment crisis.
 
Pakistan’s stock market closed Thursday’s session with the benchmark KSE-100 index gaining 0.96 percent to close at 118,938 points.
“Worries over 29 percent massive US reciprocal tariff levies on Pakistan and global equity selloff invited early session pressure,” Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer at Arif Habib Commodities Ltd., told Arab News. 
Pakistan may face increased competition in Europe as countries such as China, Vietnam and Bangladesh, hit harder with Washington’s tariffs, are expected to divert some of their exports from the US to European countries, Topline Securities said in its report.
 
Khurram Mukhtar, the patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA), remained confident Pakistan would continue to enjoy a competitive edge over major textile-exporting countries to the US. 
“Despite the tariff adjustments, Pakistan will continue to maintain a competitive edge over major textile-exporting countries to the US, owing to its complete supply chain, quality standards and established trade relationships,” Mukhtar told Arab News. 


Pakistan fined again for slow ODI over-rate in New Zealand

Updated 03 April 2025
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Pakistan fined again for slow ODI over-rate in New Zealand

  • Pakistan players fined 5 percent of match fees for being one over short of target on Wednesday
  • Visiting team was two overs short, fined 10 percent after losing first ODI by 73 runs on Saturday

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Pakistan has been penalized for a slow over-rate against New Zealand in their second one-day international in Hamilton this week.

Match referee Jeff Crowe fined the Pakistan players 5 percent of their match fees after they were one over short of the target on Wednesday after the time allowances were taken into consideration. New Zealand won by 84 runs.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan “pleaded guilty to the offense and accepted the sanction, eliminating the need for a formal hearing,” the International Cricket Council said on Thursday.
It was the second consecutive match after which Pakistan was fined for a slow over-rate. 

The visiting team was two overs short of the target and fined 10 percent after losing the first ODI by 73 runs at Napier last Saturday.

The third and last ODI is at Mount Maunganui on Saturday.
 


Pakistan’s inflation rate dropped to 0.7 percent in March, lowest in six decades

Updated 03 April 2025
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Pakistan’s inflation rate dropped to 0.7 percent in March, lowest in six decades

  • Pakistan’s inflation rate stood at 1.5 percent in February and at 20.7 percent during March 2024
  • Prices of fresh fruits, eggs, sugar, chicken and readymade garments increased month-on-month

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s consumer price index (CPI) inflation rate dropped to 0.7 percent in March on a year-on-year basis, the country’s statistics bureau said on Thursday, the lowest in six decades amid signs of economic recovery. 

Pakistan’s inflation rate stood at 1.5 percent in February and 20.7 percent in March 2024, according to data shared by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) in its monthly review of price indices report. 

On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 0.9 percent in March as compared to a decrease of 0.8 percent in February. It increased by 1.7 percent in March 2024.

“CPI inflation general decreased to 0.7 percent on year-on-year basis in March 2025 as compared to 1.5 percent of the previous month and 20.7 percent in March 2024,” the PBS said. 

The commodities whose prices increased month-on-month included tomatoes (36.35 percent), fresh fruits (18.66 percent), eggs (14.92 percent), sugar (11.48 percent), chicken (10.87 percent), fresh vegetables (6.13 percent), butter (2.70 percent), neat (1.60 percent) and pulse moong (0.70 percent). 

While prices of non-food items that increased month-on-month include readymade garments (2.15 percent), tailoring (1.84 percent), liquified hydrocarbons (1.83 percent), cotton cloth (1.74 percent), accommodation services (1.47 percent), hosiery (1.33 percent), education (1.23 percent) and plastic products. 

Aggressive policy rate cuts by Pakistan’s central bank and a series of economic reforms by the government have led to a substantial decline in Pakistan’s annual inflation rate.

Pakistan’s inflation rate rose to a record high of 38 percent in May 2023 on account of surging food and fuel costs as Islamabad withdrew energy and fuel subsidies under a deal agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a financial bailout package.

In a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Shehbaz Sharif said the reduction in prices was proof of the “right direction” of the government’s economic policies. 

“Currently, the inflation rate in the country is at its lowest level in six decades,” Sharif was quoted as saying by his office.

“This year even during the month of Ramadan, the inflation rate was recorded at its lowest level in the last several decades,” he added.