ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday condemned Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip and called for its immediate lifting to help Palestinians effectively fight the coronavirus pandemic.
“Blockade of the Gaza Strip violates international law and is condemnable,” said the foreign office spokesperson, Aisha Farooqui, during her weekly media briefing in Islamabad. “Pakistan calls for the immediate lifting of the blockade in order for Palestine to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.”
Israel linked any medical assistance to the residents of the area to the recovery of its two soldiers who disappeared during the 2014 war in the Palestinian enclave.
Blockaded and impoverished, Gaza has reported 13 coronavirus cases and authorities worry that local health care facilities — with just 96 ventilators for a population of two million — are insufficient to deal with the contagion.
A Palestinian health ministry official said on Wednesday that the Gaza Strip had stopped testing people at its labs after coronavirus test kits completely ran out, indicating that a major catastrophe was waiting to happen if the infectious respiratory illness spread in the densely populated enclave.
“We reiterate our support for a viable, independent and contiguous State of Palestine, on the basis of internationally agreed parameters, the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” said the Pakistani spokesperson.
The country’s former ambassador, Asif Durrani, who also served in the Middle East, termed the Israeli blockade of medical supplies to the Gaza Strip as an inhuman act.
“The Israeli action is totally inhuman and against all basic norms. When the whole world is fighting COVID-19, Israel has put millions of lives at stake. They have already conducted gross human rights violations and now this will increase the suffering of Palestine people,” Durrani told Arab News, adding that the United Nations and influential international countries should exert pressure on Israel to ensure proper supply of medical equipment required to deal with the pandemic in the Palestinian territories.
Pakistan calls for immediate lifting of Gaza blockade amid coronavirus outbreak
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Pakistan calls for immediate lifting of Gaza blockade amid coronavirus outbreak
- The foreign office demands an immediate end to Israeli siege to help people of Palestine fight COVID-19
- Analysts describe Israeli action as inhuman, call for swift action from world powers
At US reception, Pakistan army chief vows ‘crushing response’ to Indian aggression — Bloomberg
- General Asim Munir accuses New Delhi of fueling instability as tensions remain high after May conflict
- Remarks in US come less than three months after Pakistan, India fought deadliest confrontation in decades
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief has accused India of continuing to “create instability in the region” and warned that any aggression from New Delhi would be met with a “crushing response,” Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing statements shared by Pakistani military officials.
The remarks come less than three months after Pakistan and India fought their deadliest confrontation in decades — a four-day armed conflict in May that saw air, drone, and missile strikes, as well as artillery and small arms fire along their shared border. The clash was triggered by an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in which gunmen killed 26 civilians. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for orchestrating the assault, an allegation Pakistan has denied.
“India is still attempting to create instability in the region,” General Asim Munir said on Friday at a dinner with members of the Pakistani diaspora in Florida, during his second visit to the US in less than two months, according to the Bloomberg report, which quoted unnamed military officials.
“Pakistan has made it clear that any Indian aggression will be met with a crushing response.”
Pakistan’s military released details of Munir’s US speech after Indian news website ThePrint reported contentious excerpts, claiming the general had said Pakistan would target any dam India builds on the Indus River with multiple missiles and warned of the risk of nuclear conflict. ThePrint cited unidentified participants at the event and said guests were barred from carrying phones or recording devices.
In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Monday accused Pakistan of a history of “nuclear sabre-rattling” and questioned the credibility of its nuclear command and control. The ministry also said the comments had been made from a “friendly third country” and insisted India would not succumb to “nuclear blackmail.”
Relations between the two neighbors — who have fought three wars and numerous skirmishes since partition in 1947 — remain tense. Pakistan has in recent months moved closer to President Donald Trump, while India’s relations with Washington have cooled, Bloomberg said.
Munir praised Trump for helping end the May hostilities, saying: “Pakistan is deeply thankful to President Trump, whose strategic leadership not only averted a war between India and Pakistan but also helped stop many ongoing global conflicts.”
Indian officials have denied the US leader played any such role.
Over the weekend, India’s air force chief said its military had shot down at least five Pakistani fighter jets during the May confrontation, offering new details on the scale of the damage. Pakistan denied any of its aircraft had been hit and says it had downed at least five Indian planes.
Pakistan gets offers in 100,000-ton white sugar tender, traders say
- Pakistan’s government last month approved plans to import 500,000 tons of sugar to help maintain price stability
- The lowest offer was said to have been submitted by trading house ED&F Man for 50,000 tons of fine-grade sugar
HAMBURG: The lowest price offered in the international tender from Pakistan to buy 100,000 metric tons of white sugar on Monday was believed to be $539.00 a metric ton, cost and freight (c&f) included, European traders said in initial assessments.
Offers in the tender from state trading agency Trading Corporation of Pakistan were still being considered and no purchase had been reported yet, they said.
Pakistan’s government last month approved plans to import 500,000 tons of sugar to help to maintain price stability after retail sugar prices rose sharply.
The lowest offer was said to have been submitted by trading house ED&F Man for 50,000 tons of fine-grade sugar sourced from any origin.
There were reportedly three other participants in the tender.
Dreyfus was said to have offered $580.75 a ton c&f, for 25,000 tons of fine-grade sugar from any origin, while Al Khaleej Sugar offered $586.00 a ton c&f for 30,000 tons of medium-grade sugar sourced from the United Arab Emirates. Trading house Bare offered $555.00 c&f for medium grade and $550.00 c&f for fine-grade sugar, both from Brazil.
Reports reflect the assessments so far from traders and further estimates of prices and volumes are still possible later.
No purchase was reported in a previous tender for 100,000 tons on July 31, with the lowest price offer also $539.00 a ton c&f.
The new tender seeks small/fine- and medium-grade sugar from worldwide origins, excluding India and Israel.
The sugar shipments should be organized to achieve the arrival of all the sugar in Pakistan by October 20, traders said.
Shipment of breakbulk supplies is sought from September 1 to September 15 for 50,000 tons, while the rest can be shipped from September 10 to September 25. Sugar in ocean shipping containers can also be shipped between September 1 to 20.
Seven killed, six injured as landslide strikes volunteers restoring water channel in northern Pakistan
- Thirteen volunteers were working to restore water channel from Danyor nullah to Danyor town in Gilgit district, says rescue official
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expresses sorrow over loss of lives, directs best medical treatment for those injured in the incident
KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: At least seven people were killed while six others were injured in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region when a massive landslide struck local volunteers restoring a water channel for their town, rescue and police officials confirmed on Monday.
The incident took place late Sunday night when 13 local volunteers were attempting to restore the water supply in the main water channel from Danyor nullah to Danyor town in Gilgit district. The water channel had been damaged due to the floods in the area triggered by heavy rains in July, according to Gilgit Station House Officer Imtiaz Hussain.
“During late night, the mudslide hit them,” Engineer Tahir Shah, Gilgit district’s rescue officer for Rescue 1122 emergency service, told Arab News. “Thirteen people were buried under the debris initially. Resultantly, seven people were killed and six others were injured,” he added.
Hussain said the bodies were recovered and shifted to a nearby hospital, adding that the injured were in stable condition.
Locals said the water channel was damaged last month, when torrential rains struck the region and triggered flash floods in several parts of northern territory.
“The water supply for both drinking and irrigation was disconnected on July 22 as a flood damaged the water channel,” Tanveer Abbas, a resident of Danyor town, told Arab News over the phone.
He said the flood damaged four water channels out of which two were restored temporarily.
“The third one was [being] restored when the [landslide] incident occurred, “Abbas told Arab News. “The whole village is in deep sorrow after the incident. Funeral prayers were offered and all seven have been buried.”
GB Chief Minister Hajji Gulbar Khan expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident.
“The families of those who died in the incident will receive compensation as per the government policy,” Khan said in a statement. He also directed health officials to provide full medical facilities to the injured.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow in a statement, urging authorities to ensure the best medical treatment for the injured.
“We pay tribute to the volunteers who sacrificed their lives for the sake of humanity,” Sharif was quoted as saying by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Torrential monsoon rains have killed at least 305 people in Pakistan and injured 734 people since June 26. Deadly floods swept the popular tourist route Babusar on July 21, triggering landslides and damaging infrastructure.
GB has reported 12 deaths in total since June 26 and six injured, according to data provided by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). A dozen tourists have been reported missing in the region due to flash floods last month.
Pakistan, which produces less than 1 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases, has suffered disproportionately from extreme weather patterns over the past couple of years.
In 2022, torrential monsoon rains killed more than 1,700 people and caused damages over $30 billion to the nation.
Pakistan suspends train services after railway bombing in insurgency-hit Balochistan
- Separatist BLA claimed responsibility for bombing railway track in Mastung district on Sunday
- Railway attack took place as Pakistan prepares to mark its Independence Day on August 14
QUETTA, Pakistan: Pakistan’s railways on Monday suspended all train services to and from an insurgency-hit southwestern province for four days after separatists blew up a railway track, derailing six cars of a passenger train, officials said.
No one was harmed in the attack Sunday in Mastung, a district in Balochistan, said railways spokesman Ikram Ullah. Engineers were repairing the damaged track, he said.
The Jaffer Express was traveling from Quetta, the provincial capital, to the northern city of Peshawar when assailants targeted it with a bomb, Ullah said.
The banned Baloch Liberation Army, in a statement, claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes months after BLA fighters hijacked a train in the same district, killing 21 hostages before security forces were able to kill 33 assailants.
The attack came as Pakistan prepares to mark its 79th Independence Day on Aug. 14.
Balochistan has long been the scene of insurgency by separatists seeking independence from the central government. The province is also home to militants linked to the Pakistani Taliban.
Nearly half of Pakistani businessmen confident in country’s direction — Gallup
- Survey of 524 firms shows optimism at highest since 2021 as political and economic uncertainty eases, inflation and energy costs remain top concerns
- Net confidence score rises sharply from last year’s deep pessimism amid signs of economic stabilization, but businesses warn reforms must continue
KARACHI: Nearly half of Pakistani businessmen believe the country is moving in the right direction, a Gallup Pakistan survey published on Monday showed, with sentiment climbing to its highest level since late 2021 amid signs of political and economic stabilization.
The “direction of country” score — the percentage of respondents who think Pakistan is on the right track minus those who think it is headed the wrong way — rose 62 points in the second quarter of 2025 to –2 percent from –64 percent a year earlier, according to the Gallup survey, whose results are based on interviews with 524 businesses in the manufacturing, services and trade sectors conducted between July 23 and 27.
The improvement comes after Pakistan secured a $7 billion IMF bailout in September 2024 to avert a sovereign default and began implementing fiscal and structural reforms aimed at stabilizing its crisis-hit economy.
“46 percent of businessmen rated the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government’s management of the economy as better than its predecessor, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), compared to just 24 percent a year ago,” the Gallup report said.
“While the score remains marginally negative, it marks the highest level of confidence in national direction since Q4 2021,” it added. “This uptick suggests a moderate easing of political and economic uncertainty from the perspective of the business community.”
Sixty-one percent of surveyed businessmen rated their ongoing operations as “good” or “very good,” up six percentage points from the previous survey wave. The manufacturing sector showed slower signs of recovery than trade and services.
Top concerns were rising prices, high energy costs and taxes. Twenty-eight percent of respondents said controlling inflation should be the government’s highest priority.
Pakistan’s consumer inflation rose to 4.1 percent year-on-year in July, up from 3.2 percent in June, driven by higher food, fuel and medicine prices.
High utility costs were cited by 18 percent of respondents, while 11 percent pointed to taxation.
The survey also recorded a notable decline in reported bribery, with 15 percent admitting to paying a bribe in the past six months, down from 34 percent in Q4 2024. Traders reported the highest bribery rate at 20 percent, followed by 13 percent among service providers and 12 percent among manufacturers.
Gallup Pakistan Executive Director Bilal Ijaz Gilani described the results as reflecting a “cautiously improving mood” among businesses.
“While the shift is incremental, it reflects a growing sense of stabilization among economic actors,” he said. “As always, sustained momentum will depend on continued macroeconomic reforms, policy consistency, and greater institutional responsiveness, especially toward businesses operating outside the formal sector.”
Gilani said the most notable change was improved perceptions of the country’s direction and growing trust in the government’s economic management.
While the survey points to a rebound in business confidence, analysts say Pakistan’s long-term economic trajectory will depend on its ability to sustain reforms, rein in inflation, and ease the cost of doing business in the $375 billion South Asian economy.
