5.4 magnitude earthquake jolts parts of Pakistan, no loss reported

People gather outside a building in the aftermath of an earthquake in Islamabad, Pakistan, on January 11, 2024. (AFP/File)
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Updated 29 August 2024
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5.4 magnitude earthquake jolts parts of Pakistan, no loss reported

  • Tremors were felt in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and eastern Punjab provinces
  • The epicenter of the quake was located in the Hindu Kush region in neighboring Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: A 5.4-magnitude earthquake shook the Pakistani capital of Islamabad and several other areas in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and eastern Punjab provinces on Thursday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said, with no loss reported in its wake.
The earthquake struck at a depth of 215 kilometers with its epicenter located in the Hindu Kush region of neighboring Afghanistan, according to the PMD.
Tremors were felt in Swat, North Waziristan, Hangu, Mardan, Malakand, Buner, Shangla, Dir, Mansehra, Battagram, Kohistan, Multan, Rawalpindi, Sargodha and other cities.
“An earthquake originated on 29-08-2024 at 10:57 PST (Pakistan Standard Time),” the PMD said on X, adding the quake had a longitude of 71.31° East and latitude of 36.53° North.
No loss of life or property damage was reported in its wake.
In June this year, a 4.7-magnitude earthquake jolted Islamabad and parts of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistani state media reported.
It had its epicenter in Afghanistan’s southeast at a depth of 98 kilometers.


European climbers complete rare alpine-style ascent of Nanga Parbat’s deadly Rupal face

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European climbers complete rare alpine-style ascent of Nanga Parbat’s deadly Rupal face

  • German climber David Göttler paraglided from near the summit in a daring solo descent
  • Nanga Parbat is infamous for its high fatality rate, earning it the nickname ‘Killer Mountain’

ISLAMABAD: Three European climbers achieved a rare feat on one of the world’s most dangerous peaks, scaling the treacherous Rupal face of Nanga Parbat in alpine style, with one of them paragliding down from near the summit in a daring solo descent earlier this week.

German climber David Göttler was joined by French mountaineers Tiphaine Duperier and Boris Langenstein for the climb via the Schell route, a steep and rarely successful line up the mountain’s massive southern wall. The Rupal face, rising nearly 4,600 meters from base to summit, is considered the world’s highest mountain face and among the most technically demanding.

“Sometimes you need to be patient … It’s taken five attempts, but now that I’ve achieved it, I know it’s all been worthwhile,” Göttler wrote in a social media post on Tuesday, describing his 12-year pursuit of the route.

He said summiting with his teammates in alpine style was “incredible,” and added that being able to fly down from around 7,700 meters to base camp in the same day took his joy “to the next level.”

Unlike traditional expedition climbing, alpine style involves climbing in a single push without establishing fixed ropes or pre-stocked camps, requiring climbers to carry all their gear. The approach demands speed, efficiency and a high degree of skill, especially at high altitude.

“It’s been a long time since an expedition has successfully summited from the Rupal side,” Naiknam Karim, CEO of Adventure Tours Pakistan, which facilitated the expedition’s logistics, told Arab News over the phone. “Normally, people climb from the Diamir face.”

“What makes this climb special is that they did it in alpine style ,” he continued. “What’s even more remarkable is that Göttler paraglided down from the summit. So, that’s his special achievement.”

Nanga Parbat, the world’s ninth-highest peak at 8,126 meters, is infamous for its difficulty and high fatality rate, earning it the nickname “Killer Mountain.”

Over 100 climbers and porters have died on its slopes, with the Rupal face considered particularly unforgiving due to avalanche risk and exposure to extreme weather.


Pakistan pushes ahead with agri bank privatization under IMF-backed reform plan

Updated 03 July 2025
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Pakistan pushes ahead with agri bank privatization under IMF-backed reform plan

  • The Privatization Commission Board appoints financial advisers for the sale of Zarai Taraqiati Bank
  • An official statement mentions ZTBL among the priority transactions in the privatization pipeline

KARACHI: The government on Thursday appointed a consortium of financial advisers for the sale of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), a state-owned agricultural lender, according to an official statement.

The decision, made during a meeting of the Privatization Commission (PC) Board chaired by Muhammad Ali, Adviser to the Prime Minister, signals the government’s intent to fast-track key transactions under its broader economic reform program.

The board approved the selection of a consortium led by Next Capital Limited, which ranked highest among six qualified bidders.

“ZTBL is among the priority transactions in the current privatization pipeline. The appointment of a top-tier consortium of FAs [financial advisers] reflects the government’s strong commitment to executing the process in a professional, transparent and timely manner,” the Privatization Commission said in a statement.

Pakistan’s privatization program, long encouraged by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under various loan arrangements, is aimed at reducing fiscal losses from poorly performing state-owned enterprises (SOEs), improving governance and boosting private sector participation.

The IMF has repeatedly called for structural reforms, including divestment from commercial entities, to ease pressure on public finances and strengthen the country’s economic outlook.

Alongside the appointment, the PC Board also approved the formation of a Negotiation Committee to finalize the Financial Advisory Services Agreement (FASA) with the selected consortium.

Other shortlisted bidders included major consortiums led by Arif Habib Limited, A.F. Ferguson, AKD Securities, Bridge Factor and JS Bank.

ZTBL provides agricultural credit and rural banking services across Pakistan.

Its privatization is seen as part of a broader effort to reform the financial sector and reduce the state’s commercial footprint.


Utility Stores employees vow resistance as government plans shutdown from July 10

Updated 03 July 2025
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Utility Stores employees vow resistance as government plans shutdown from July 10

  • Workers’ union says closure will affect over 11,000 direct and 5,500 indirect employees
  • A committee will discuss Voluntary Separation Scheme with union members on Friday

ISLAMABAD: The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) employees’ union on Thursday vowed to resist the government’s decision to shut down retail operations by July 10, saying it would fight for the rights of over 11,000 workers by initiating protests, sit-ins and legal action.

Established by the government in 1971, the corporation has a nationwide chain of retail outlets that provide essential commodities to the general public at prices lower than those in the open market.

The corporation took over 20 retail outlets at the beginning but now operates 6,000 stores across the country. The government allocated Rs65 billion ($229.7 million) to subsidize the products sold by the retail chain in the last fiscal year.

One of its spokespersons confirmed to Arab News the corporation’s public retail stores will be closed by July 10, adding that all operations will shut down by the end of the month.

“We have received instructions from the Ministry of Industries and Production to close down all the stores by July 10, shift remaining goods to warehouses and completely shut down operations by July 31, 2025,” Sajid Marwat, USC Public Relations Officer, said.

Meanwhile, Arif Shah, Secretary General of the All Pakistan Workers Alliance of Utility Stores, said the union will use all available avenues to protect the corporation and its employees.

“We will pursue both options, challenging the decision in court and staging on-ground protests including a sit-in at the [USC] headquarters,” he told Arab News.

“In total, around 17,000 people — including 11,500 direct employees of Utility Stores, 2,000 to 2,500 vendor staff and 3,000 franchise store workers from 1,000 to 1,200 outlets — will be affected by the closure,” Shah said, adding the authorities had already terminated around 4,100 employees.

He maintained the institution has remained in existence for 55 years, and shutting it down was not the government’s sole prerogative.

“If it is truly necessary to close this institution, the decision should be approved by parliament,” he said.

Shah noted that during emergencies and disasters, the corporation stood at the forefront to provide relief items and ensure food security due to its big presence all over the country.

He pointed out if the government was determined to shut it down, then at the very least, the employees should be given a fair and respectable voluntary separation scheme (VSS) package to help absorb the financial shock.

Asked about the possibility of offering such a proposal, USC spokesperson Marwat said a human resource committee would convene on Friday to review the issue in consultation with union representatives and the management.

“The union is not accepting the current terms as they are demanding compensation packages for everyone, including daily wage laborers and contractual staff, as all categories of workers are being affected,” he informed, adding that the government was considering a financial deal for regular employees.

Under the package for regular staff, the government is planning to offer two or three month of basic salary.

“But based on mutual consultations, the committee will prepare a comprehensive package for the outgoing employees,” he added.

Raja Miskeen, a USC employee for over two decades, termed it completely wrong to shut down Utility Stores, saying it would put the livelihood of thousands of employees like him and their families at risk.

“We are waiting for the official written order, after which we will challenge this move in court,” he told Arab News.

“We are also in contact with our unions, urging them to develop a joint strategy that includes protests, sit-ins in the federal capital and legal action,” he added.

Miskeen said the employees have dedicated many years to the corporation, adding that it had been functioning well.

“We are not against restructuring or improving its operations, but a complete shutdown is simply unacceptable,” he added.

Ayesha Anwar, a regular customer at the USC in Islamabad’s G-6 sector, said she had been shopping at Utility Stores for years, as their quality goods and subsidized rates had always helped stretch her household budget.

“Sugar at the store costs Rs164 per kilogram [$0.58], while in the open market it is around Rs200 [$0.71]. Similarly, price differences exist for other essential items as well,” she said, adding that closure of these stores would deeply affect the public, especially low-income families.


Pakistan dismisses Indian rights abuse claims, accuses New Delhi of persecuting minorities

Updated 59 min 54 sec ago
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Pakistan dismisses Indian rights abuse claims, accuses New Delhi of persecuting minorities

  • The exchange between the two countries took place during at the United Nations General Assembly
  • Pakistan says New Delhi has ‘weaponized hate’ and ‘codified discrimination’ against its own people

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly rejected Indian allegations of minority rights violations, accusing New Delhi of persecuting its own citizens and “exporting chaos abroad,” the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported on Thursday.

The exchange took place during a debate in the United Nations General Assembly on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), a global commitment aimed at preventing genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

Addressing the session, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, criticized what he described as the selective application of the R2P doctrine, saying it had become “meaningless” in the face of the international community’s failure to prevent mass atrocities in Palestine and Indian-administered Kashmir.

India responded by accusing Pakistan of violating the rights of its minorities and being complicit in a recent militant attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Exercising her right of reply, Pakistani delegate Rabia Ijaz, a second secretary at Pakistan’s UN Mission, dismissed the accusations as “a textbook case of the perpetrator posturing as a victim.”

“A state that has weaponized hate, normalized mob violence and codified discrimination against its own citizens – and against those it occupies – has no moral standing to speak on the Responsibility to Protect,” the APP quoted her as saying.

Ijaz went on to describe India as a “majoritarian autocracy,” where minorities, particularly Muslims, Christians and Dalits, face discrimination.

“Lynching is met with silence,” she continued. “Bulldozers become tools of collective punishment. Mosques are razed. Citizenship is denied based on religion.”

“This is not the protection of people,” she added. “This is their persecution, sanctified by law and celebrated by power.”

Ijaz maintained India had launched an “unprovoked and deliberate” cross-border attack on civilian areas in Pakistan earlier this year in May, killing 35 people.

“R2P cannot become a slogan for serial violators to hide behind,” she said. “It cannot be invoked by those who deny rights at home and export chaos abroad.”

India and Pakistan have long been at odds with each other, though diplomatic tensions have intensified in recent years.

The two nuclear-armed neighbors have repeatedly traded barbs at international forums particularly after their relationship deteriorated following the recent four-day military standoff, one of the most serious flare-ups in several decades.


Pakistan thanks Saudi Arabia, pledges renewed anti-polio effort as cases hit 14

Updated 03 July 2025
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Pakistan thanks Saudi Arabia, pledges renewed anti-polio effort as cases hit 14

  • Pakistan and Afghanistan remain only two countries where wild poliovirus is still endemic
  • Saudi Arabia in April 2024 pledged $500 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday thanked Saudi Arabia for its continued support in Pakistan’s fight against polio, as the country recorded its 14th case of the year amid growing concerns over persistent virus transmission in high-risk districts.

Chairing a meeting of the National Anti-Polio Task Force in Islamabad, Sharif said targeted immunization campaigns were being intensified to reach every child, particularly in parts of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where the most cases have been reported this year.

“We pledge to protect every child in Pakistan from this crippling disease and to make Pakistan polio-free,” Sharif said, according to an official statement from his office.

“I am also thankful to His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, who is extending all possible support to Pakistan in the fight against polio.”

Last year, Saudi Arabia pledged $500 million to global polio eradication efforts, according to WHO. The Kingdom, alongside the Gates Foundation and other partners, is providing both technical and financial assistance to Pakistan.

Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus is still endemic, alongside Afghanistan. According to official data, the 14 confirmed cases this year include eight from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan. In comparison, Pakistan reported 74 cases in 2024 and six in 2023.

“Despite all difficulties and challenges, the government, with the help of its international, provincial, and local teams, will soon achieve the goal of a polio-free Pakistan,” he said.

Sharif emphasized that district-level campaigns were being developed to address “unique challenges” in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security threats and vaccine hesitancy have long impeded eradication efforts. He also reiterated that the safety of frontline polio workers remained a “top priority.”

The meeting was attended by senior health officials, provincial leaders, and members of the international Polio Oversight Board, including Dr. Christopher Elias of the Gates Foundation, WHO Regional Director Dr. Hanan Balkhy, UNICEF’s Sanjay Wijesekera, and representatives from Rotary International and Saudi Arabia’s KS Relief.

Polio immunization campaigns have been launched in more than 80 districts this year, reaching tens of millions of children. But officials have repeatedly warned that virus circulation in environmental samples signals the need for sustained vigilance.

“We must ensure, with full dedication and seriousness, that every child across the country receives multiple doses of the vaccine and remains protected from polio,” Sharif added.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio remains endemic. Islamabad made significant progress in curbing the virus, with annual cases dropping from around 20,000 in the early 1990s to just eight in 2018. Pakistan reported six cases in 2023 and only one in 2021 but witnessed an intense resurgence in 2024, with 74 cases reported.

Pakistan has faced years of setbacks in its eradication drive, with vaccination teams often targeted by militants and health misinformation slowing uptake in rural areas.