Italy’s Pakistanis come out to help as coronavirus toll keeps climbing

A volunteer hands out a protective face mask to a woman in the Trastevere district, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Rome, Italy, April 02, 2020. (REUTERS)
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Updated 04 April 2020
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Italy’s Pakistanis come out to help as coronavirus toll keeps climbing

  • Among those struggling under severe restrictions are over 100,000 Pakistanis based mainly in and around Milan, Bergamo and Brescia
  • The Pakistani community has sprung into action to collect donations, distribute food and raise awareness through online campaigns

MONZA: Dr. Manzoor Ahmed Chaudhry’s phone has been ringing off the hook since February when a novel coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 13,000 people in Italy first broke out.
As the counsel general of Pakistan in Milan, Chaudhry has become the de facto contact person for Italy’s 100,000 Pakistanis, struggling under strict curbs on movement and business activities introduced nationwide on March 9 and expected to remain in place until at least the Easter holidays in mid-April.
“Either the phone rings all day, or I am on social media, answering questions, making clarifications,” Chaudhry told Arab News this week. 
Some people call wanting to know how they can flee Italy, the diplomat said; others plead to be ‘rescued’ from Italian towns as far as the border with Austria. There are so many calls that Chaudhry has at times asked his wife to speak to distressed callers and calm them down.
The Western European country accounts for around 30 percent of all global deaths from the highly infectious respiratory disease, with fatalities climbing by 760 to 13,915 on Thursday, the Civil Protection Agency said. 
Chaudhry said he could not provide an official number for how many Pakistanis had been killed in Italy but estimated that 150 were infected and 10 had died due to coronavirus. 
Last month, the Pakistan foreign office said one Pakistani national had passed away from the virus in Brescia, about 100 kilometers from Milan. There have been no subsequent statements from the foreign office on Pakistanis infected or killed by the illness. 
But as the virus continues to ravage Italy, many Pakistanis have sprung into action to collect donations, distribute food and raise awareness through online campaigns.




Pakistani community of Carpi donates money to the local hospital, Capri March 30, 2020. (Supplied by Comune Di Carpi)

Chaudhry Shahid Nazeer Gujjar, a prominent Pakistani-Italian, has set up a 250-member strong Whatsapp group to keep community members informed during the outbreak and coordinate relief efforts. With the economy in lockdown, he now connects affluent and enterprising Pakistanis with more vulnerable members of the community. Money is transferred to the needy online or through agencies like Western Union, Gujjar said. 
The lockdown has also seen social media pages come alive with videos by Pakistanis that offer advice on everything from how to save money on groceries to studying for driving tests from home. Live broadcasts by good samaritans take questions about how to get the authorization forms needed to leave home under lockdown rules, how to receive a bonus from the government and how to qualify for food vouchers.
Younger Pakistanis have been at the forefront of the community’s response efforts. Saad Alam, originally from Nowshera and a student and part time model in Turin, has been active with an association in the Piemonte region that has been reaching out to community members in the Pashto and Urdu languages, and keeping Pakistanis up to date about changes in the law. Mosques and various Pakistani associations have also stepped in to deliver food directly to people’s homes.
But Pakistanis are not only helping their own. Irfan Hayat Ranjha, a well-connected Pakistani, said he was approached by a group of young Pakistanis from a small town called Carpi who wanted to donate funds to a local hospital. 
“Within six days of launching an appeal among our people, we collected over 10,000 euros that we have now donated to a hospital in Carpi,” Ranjha said. The local paper carried a picture of the young Pakistanis wearing masks and standing with the mayor of Carpi, handing the donation over to the hospital.
Indeed, for many Pakistanis, reasserting a new identity as responsible members of society is part of the motivation for lending a helping hand.
“This was our way of changing the headlines and seeing the words ‘comunità Pakistana’ [Pakistani community] being written with pride,” Ranjha said.
It was in this spirit that Iram Tahir, the first Pakistani woman elected as a town councilor in the Brescia area, wrote to the Pakistani prime minister and requested that doctors and nurses be sent to Italy as a gesture of goodwill. 
In a statement on its website last week, the Italian foreign affairs ministry said Pakistan would donate 500,000 tablets of chloroquine, a medicine which has helped alleviate coronavirus symptoms in some patients.
“The situation there [in Pakistan] is not as bad as here,” Tahir said. “In Brescia alone, 300 doctors have been infected. This is a country in need. They will never forget who helped in this tough time.”


Pakistan’s Nadeem, India’s Chopra to reignite javelin rivalry in Poland in August

Updated 13 July 2025
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Pakistan’s Nadeem, India’s Chopra to reignite javelin rivalry in Poland in August

  • Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra to face off in Wanda Diamond League 2025 competition in Silesia in August
  • Two last faced each other in August 2024 at Paris Olympics where Nadeem won gold with 92.97-meter throw5

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s javelin star Arshad Nadeem and India’s Neeraj Chopra will reignite their rivalry in August when the two sportsmen compete at the Silesia Wanda Diamond League 2025 competition scheduled to be held in Poland, the official website of the Olympics said this week. 

This will be the first time Nadeem and Chopra will face each other since their charged encounter at the Paris 2024 Olympic final, where Nadeem clinched gold ahead of Neeraj with an Olympic record-shattering throw of 92.97 meters. 

The Wanda Diamond League is an annual sports competition featuring elite athletes across sprints, jumps, throws and distance events. The competition is set to take place next month in Silesia on August 16. 

“Neeraj Chopra will face Arshad Nadeem,” the Olympics website said, quoting the Diamond League organizers.

“The Indian-Pakistani battle awaiting the Polish fans will be the first opportunity for revenge after the Paris Olympics.”

Chopra has had an impressive year so far, kicking off his season with a win at the Potch Invitational in South Africa before finishing second at the Doha Diamond League, where he breached the coveted 90-meter barrier with a massive 90.23m throw — a new national record. 

The Indian athlete then had to settle for a second-place finish again at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland but returned to winning ways at the Paris Diamond League. Since then, he has logged back-to-back wins at the Ostrova Golden Spike in Czechia and the NC Classic in India.

Nadeem, meanwhile, recently marked a triumphant return to action by winning gold at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, Korea. He hadn’t competed since his Paris 2024 exploits.

Rivalries, particularly between athletes or teams from bitter rivals India and Pakistan, have always been one of the most intriguing aspects of sports. 

However, next month’s competition will have added flair to it, considering the militaries of the two countries engaged in the worst fighting between them in decades in May.

An attack in Indian-administered Kashmir triggered a conflict between the two states that saw them target each other with missiles, drones, fighter jets and artillery fire before agreeing to a ceasefire on May 10.


Pakistan’s death toll from heavy rains since June 26 surges past 100

Updated 13 July 2025
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Pakistan’s death toll from heavy rains since June 26 surges past 100

  • Punjab reports highest number of rain-related deaths, 39, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 31
  • Pakistan has warned of flash flood risks in Punjab, KP and Balochistan provinces from July 12-17

ISLAMABAD: The death toll from heavy rains and flash floods in Pakistan since June 26 has climbed to 104, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said in its latest report this week, as the country braces for more monsoon downpours and possible floods. 

As per the NDMA’s latest situation report, Punjab has reported the highest number of deaths from rain-related incidents, 39, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 31, Sindh with 17, Balochistan with 16, while Azad Kashmir also reported one death since June 26. 

“The total number of 104 deceased include 49 children, 37 men and 18 women,” the NDMA report said, adding that 200 people were injured, among them 76 children, 78 men and 46 women.

The report further said 413 houses have been damaged since June 26 due to rain-related incidents across the country, with the most houses damaged in KP, 146, Sindh 86, Punjab 54, Balochistan 52, Azad Kashmir 45 and 30 in Gilgit-Baltistan. 

Sindh reported the highest number of livestock that perished due to rains, 58, followed by KP with 43, Punjab with seven and Azad Kashmir with three. 

The NDMA, meanwhile, issued a fresh alert for heavy rains on Saturday. It warned of potential flood and flash flood risks in various regions of Punjab, KP and Balochistan provinces from July 12 to July 17 in its latest advisory. 

The authority advised administrations to ensure the readiness of emergency teams, the availability of machinery and ensure clearance of drainage systems.

It also called on tourists to avoid high-altitude areas, saying that residents in vulnerable zones must secure valuables, vehicles and livestock, and keep essential supplies. 

Pakistan, home to over 240 million people, is consistently ranked among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains and glacier melt triggered catastrophic floods that affected 33 million people and killed more than 1,700.


Pakistan vows political, diplomatic support for Kashmiris on Kashmir Martyrs’ Day

Updated 13 July 2025
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Pakistan vows political, diplomatic support for Kashmiris on Kashmir Martyrs’ Day

  • Pakistan observes Kashmir Martyrs’ Day on July 13 to honor 22 Kashmiris killed in 1931 by then ruler of disputed territory
  • Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan have both fought three wars since 1947, with two of them over disputed Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday vowed to extend Pakistan’s diplomatic and political support to the people of Kashmir on Kashmir Martyrs’ Day, calling for the resolution of the dispute as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions, state-run media reported. 

Pakistan marks Kashmir Martyrs’ Day on July 13 every year to pay tribute to 22 Kashmiri protesters who were shot dead in Srinagar, the capital of Indian-administered Kashmir, in 1931 by soldiers of Maharaja Hari Singh, the Hindu ruler of the then princely state.

Pakistan sees the day as a symbol of Kashmiris’ struggle against what it says is illegal Indian occupation in the disputed Himalayan valley. Both India and Pakistan have fought three wars since 1947, with two of them over Kashmir. Both claim territory in full but administer only parts of it.

“The Kashmiri people have been and are sacrificing their lives in their legitimate struggle for the right to self-determination,” Sharif was quoted as saying by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

“The government of Pakistan expresses its political, diplomatic and moral support in solidarity with the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir, which is illegally occupied by India.”

Every year on the occasion, special rallies, seminars, and conferences are held across Pakistan and Azad Kashmir to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. 

India accuses Pakistan of backing separatist militants in the part of Kashmir it administers. Islamabad denies the allegations and says it only extends political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris. 

The two countries engaged in the worst fighting between them in decades in May when gunmen shot dead 26 people, mostly tourists, in Indian-administered Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for supporting the attack, which Pakistan strongly denied and called for an international probe into the incident. 

The two countries engaged in a military conflict for four days that killed over 70 people on both sides of the border before US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Delhi and Islamabad on May 10. 


Punjab launches Pakistan’s first riot management police force

Updated 13 July 2025
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Punjab launches Pakistan’s first riot management police force

  • Riot management force equipped with advanced crowd-control equipment, safety gear, riot protection tools, says report
  • Force’s training followed manuals from the US, Turkiye, Europe and other developed countries, says report by state-run media 

ISLAMABAD: The chief minister of Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province this week launched the country’s first-ever riot management police force, state-run media reported, saying the move would prove instrumental in protecting people’s lives and ensure the safety of government infrastructure. 

As per a report in the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), a comprehensive eight-week training program was held at the Police Training Center in Punjab’s Farooqabad city for the first batch of the force. 

The training followed manuals from the United States, Turkiye, Europe and other developed countries, and was delivered by experts trained in Turkiye, the report said. During the passing-out ceremony, officers demonstrated exceptional crowd-control drills designed to safely manage violent protest scenarios.

“Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has established Pakistan’s first-ever dedicated Riot Management Police Force, marking a major milestone in law enforcement and crowd control in the province,” the APP report said on Saturday. 

“The new force has been created within the Punjab Police framework to protect the life, property, and safety of citizens as well as government infrastructure.”

The report said that the Riot Management Police, which consists of physically active, capable, and agile officers, was trained specifically to respond to volatile situations with professionalism.

It said the first phase of the Riot Management Police Force includes 5,000 personnel, out of which 3,000 have successfully completed training. The report said these personnel will be deployed across Punjab’s regional headquarters, with 250 officers assigned to each region to ensure “swift and organized response” to unrest.

Each Riot Management Police team of 250 personnel is supported by 15 specialized sub-units, including the First Aid Unit, the Drone Surveillance Team, the Crowd Engagement Team, the Negotiation Team, the Crowd Control Unit, the Arrest Unit, the Evacuation Team, the K9 (dog handler) Unit, the Sniper and Tactical Response Team.

“The force has been equipped with advanced crowd-control equipment, safety gear, and riot protection tools, and personnel will receive special allowances based on their professional roles,” APP said. 

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was briefed that the force has been specially trained to manage all types of crowds, including organized violent groups. The aim is to not only neutralize threats but also engage with protesters proactively to prevent damage to public and private property, she said.

“The establishment of this force brings a new dimension to modern governance,” Nawaz was quoted as saying. “By safely controlling angry crowds, it becomes possible to de-escalate tension and prevent chaos.”

Pakistan has historically seen violent protests that have caused significant damage to people’s lives, property and government infrastructure. 


Pakistani man deported after boarding wrong flight to Jeddah serves legal notice to airline

Updated 13 July 2025
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Pakistani man deported after boarding wrong flight to Jeddah serves legal notice to airline

  • Civil aviation regulator urged to impose ‘heavy fine’ on the private airline over security lapse
  • Malik Shahzain Ahmed ‘mistakenly’ boarded Jeddah flight instead of Lahore–Karachi route

KARACHI: A Pakistani man who was mistakenly flown to Saudi Arabia earlier this week has issued a legal notice to Air Sial, seeking compensation for “gross negligence,” his lawyer said on Saturday.

Malik Shahzain Ahmed, a resident of Karachi, was scheduled to fly from Lahore to Karachi on July 8 on the private airline’s flight PF-146. However, he boarded an international flight to Jeddah without any visa or passport and was subsequently detained and deported by Saudi immigration authorities.

A legal notice sent by Ahmed’s counsel to Air Sial’s chief executive reads the airline’s “gross dereliction of duty, reckless conduct and operational failure” had led to the wrongful boarding of his client on the international flight.

“We have served the airline a notice, and if they fail to compensate my client, we will file a petition,” Advocate Muhammad Nawaz Dahri told Arab News.

The legal notice says Ahmed was denied assistance by the airline and subjected to humiliation, distress. He also faced severe mental trauma and had to purchase another ticket to return to Karachi.

The notice accuses the airline of violating the Sindh Consumer Protection Act, 2014, citing “defective” service, lack of identity verification and “misleading representations regarding safety and professionalism.”

It also alleges breaches of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Rules, 1994, the Pakistan Immigration Ordinance, 1979, and international air travel conventions, including the Montreal Convention of 1999.

“Your airline’s failure to perform this basic due diligence endangered passenger security and violated air travel norms,” the notice added.

In a statement on Friday, the Pakistan Airport Authority said it had taken notice of the lapse and written letters to the civil aviation regulator and the station manager.

“In the letter, the civil aviation regulator has been requested to impose a heavy fine on the airline that is guilty of negligence,” PAA spokesman Saifullah, who goes by a single name, told Arab News.

In a video clip circulating online, Ahmed said he went to Lahore airport to board the Karachi-bound flight on July 8 but “mistakenly” sat in the Jeddah-bound flight after collecting his boarding pass.

“After two hours, I asked [myself], ‘This plane doesn’t seem to be landing,’” he said. “Then I got to know that I had boarded the wrong plane.”

The legal notice demands a written response within two days alongside compensatory damages.

It warns of legal proceedings if the airline fails to comply, including a constitutional petition and complaints to Pakistan’s aviation and human rights authorities.

Air Sial is yet to comment publicly on the matter.