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President confers top civilian award on Saudi defense minister on Pakistan Day 

President confers top civilian award on Saudi defense minister on Pakistan Day 
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari confers Nishan-i-Pakistan award on Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, at a special investiture ceremony held at the Presidency in Islamabad on March 23, 2024. (APP)
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Updated 24 March 2024
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President confers top civilian award on Saudi defense minister on Pakistan Day 

President confers top civilian award on Saudi defense minister on Pakistan Day 
  • Nishan-i-Pakistan award given to Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud at ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr
  • Award conferred in recognition of minister’s services for Pakistan and its people, enhancing defense cooperation 
Updated 24 March 2024
Kashaf Rehman
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ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday conferred the Nishan-i-Pakistan award on Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, at a special investiture ceremony held at the Presidency. 

The Nishan-e-Pakistan is the second grade of the Order of Pakistan, the highest civilian award in Pakistan. It is awarded to “those who have rendered services of highest distinction” to the national interest of Pakistan. Government officials and civilians, including citizens of Pakistan and foreign nationals, have received the award. 

In the Pakistani honors system, the Nishan-e-Pakistan is equivalent to the Nishan-e-Haider, the nation’s highest military gallantry award. 

“The award was conferred in recognition of Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud’s meritorious services for Pakistan and its people, enhancing defense cooperation, strengthening of bilateral ties and contributions toward peace efforts in the region,” state-run APP said.

The award ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as well as federal ministers, top military leaders and members of the diplomatic corps. It took place after the Pakistan Day parade in Islamabad in which the Saudi defense minister was the guest of honor.

The parade is being held on the 84th anniversary of “Pakistan Day,” marked each year to celebrate the adoption of the Lahore Resolution by the Muslim League which called for the creation of an independent state for the Muslims of India on March 23, 1940.

Zardari also conferred the Hilal Quaid-e-Azam award upon Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development.

The award acknowledges the fund’s contributions to enhancing critical sectors in Pakistan through financing development projects and programs. It reflects the countries’ longstanding development partnership, spanning approximately 48 years.

Topics: Pakistan Saudi Ties Saudi Arabia’s defense minister

Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur today to mark birth anniversary of religion’s founder

Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur today to mark birth anniversary of religion’s founder
Updated 1 min 2 sec ago
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Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur today to mark birth anniversary of religion’s founder

Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur today to mark birth anniversary of religion’s founder
  • Sikh pilgrims from India cross over into Pakistan every year via visa-free Kartarpur Corridor
  • Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Narowal, is Sikhism founder’s final resting place
Updated 1 min 2 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Indian Sikh pilgrims will visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in the eastern Kartarpur town today, Monday, to mark the 555th birth anniversary of their religion’s founder Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, state media reported. 
Every year Indian Sikh pilgrims cross over from India to Pakistan via a visa-free border crossing known as the Kartarpur Corridor. The corridor connects Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, near Narowal in Pakistan’s Punjab, to Gurudwara Dera Baba Nanak in Indian Punjab’s Gurdaspur district. 
Inaugurated in 2019, the corridor is seen as a rare example of cooperation and diplomacy between the two South Asian neighbors.
“Sikh pilgrims will visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur on Monday to celebrate the 555th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
It said that the pilgrims would visit Gurdwara Rohri Sahib in Eminabad on Wednesday before concluding their journey in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore.
Much of Sikh heritage is located in Pakistan. When Pakistan was carved out of India at the end of British rule in 1947, Kartarpur ended up on the Pakistani side of the border, while most of the region’s Sikhs remained on the other side.
For over seven decades, the Sikh community had lobbied for easier access to their holiest temple.
Pakistan’s initiative to open the corridor earned widespread appreciation from the international community, including the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who had described it as a “Corridor of Hope.”

Topics: Sikh pilgrims Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Baba Guru Nanak

Fly Jinnah celebrates inaugural Lahore-Dammam flight amid Saudi expansion

Fly Jinnah celebrates inaugural Lahore-Dammam flight amid Saudi expansion
Updated 17 min ago
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Fly Jinnah celebrates inaugural Lahore-Dammam flight amid Saudi expansion

Fly Jinnah celebrates inaugural Lahore-Dammam flight amid Saudi expansion
  • Pakistan’s low-cost airline began domestic operations in 2022 and is now focusing on the Middle East
  • Fly Jinnah has also been connecting Pakistani cities to Sharjah, Riyadh and Jeddah, as PIA struggles
Updated 17 min ago
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Fly Jinnah, Pakistan’s low-cost airline, celebrated its inaugural flight from Lahore to Dammam on Sunday, further enhancing air connectivity between the South Asian nation and Saudi Arabia amid growing demand for international travel.
Established in 2021 as a joint venture between Pakistan’s Lakson Group and the United Arab Emirates’ Air Arabia Group, Fly Jinnah began domestic operations in October 2022, connecting major Pakistani cities such as Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.
In February 2024, the airline launched its first international route, connecting Islamabad to Sharjah, before expanding to Saudi Arabia— home to an estimated 2.7 million Pakistanis— with flights to Riyadh and Jeddah.
“We are happy to celebrate our inaugural flight from Lahore to Dammam, further enhancing connectivity between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for our passengers,” the airline said in a social media post.


The first flight to Dammam in the kingdom’s Eastern Province was operated a day earlier. A substantial number of Pakistani families reside in and around the Saudi city, drawn by job opportunities in the oil-rich region.
The addition of Dammam to its network highlights Fly Jinnah’s aim to capture the lucrative Middle Eastern travel market as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the struggling national carrier, faces financial challenges.
The Pakistani government has been exploring privatization options for PIA, leaving a gap that private airlines such as Fly Jinnah aim to fill.
Saudi Arabia is a key destination for Pakistani travelers, driven by religious pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah and by a thriving expatriate workforce.
Fly Jinnah’s direct connections offer affordable travel options, positioning the airline as a viable competitor in this high-demand sector.

Topics: Fly Jinnah Dammam Airport Co. (DACO) Pakistani flight attendant

Pakistan dispatches 19th relief consignment to Syria amid conflicts in Middle East

Pakistan dispatches 19th relief consignment to Syria amid conflicts in Middle East
Updated 17 November 2024
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Pakistan dispatches 19th relief consignment to Syria amid conflicts in Middle East

Pakistan dispatches 19th relief consignment to Syria amid conflicts in Middle East
  • Pakistan says it will continue to support people affected by Israel’s military campaign in the region
  • Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, Pakistan has called for a ceasefire at the UN, other forums
Updated 17 November 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) dispatched its 19th relief consignment on Sunday to help war-affected people in Syria and refugees from Lebanon, according to an official statement, reaffirming the country’s commitment to supporting those impacted by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
The aid shipment, sent in collaboration with the Pakistani charity Al-Khidmat Foundation, consisted of 17 tons of humanitarian supplies, including buckets, powdered milk, tinned food, family packs, sleeping bags and medical kits.
The consignment departed via a chartered flight from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi to Damascus in Syria.
“This 19th consignment has been dispatched for the people of Syria and refugees from Lebanon,” the NDMA said in its statement. “Prior to this, the Government of Pakistan has sent 12 aid consignments to Palestine and six shipments to Lebanon, with a total volume of 1,722 tons.”
The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting the people of Palestine and Lebanon who are in distress due to Israel’s military campaigns in the region.
It also emphasized the importance of collaboration by welfare organizations and the Pakistani public in strengthening the government’s efforts to assist those in need.
Pakistan has already established a special fund titled the “Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Gaza and Lebanon,” inviting public donations.
Since the beginning of the war in October last year, Pakistan has called for a ceasefire in Gaza and has raised the issue at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other international forums, urging an end to Israeli military actions and a resolution to the humanitarian crisis.

Topics: Pakistan Syria Ties Pakistan Middle East ties National Disaster Management Authority Gaza aid

Women in Pakistan’s Karachi protest against honor killings, rising extremism

Women in Pakistan’s Karachi protest against honor killings, rising extremism
Updated 17 November 2024
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Women in Pakistan’s Karachi protest against honor killings, rising extremism

Women in Pakistan’s Karachi protest against honor killings, rising extremism
  • Participants of the rally say Karo-Kari is ‘rampant’ in Sindh, oppose marriages to settle disputes
  • Protesters also raise concern about proposed amendments to Pakistan’s water distribution system
Updated 17 November 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Hundreds of women marched in Karachi on Sunday to protest honor killings, rising extremism and social injustices, while voicing concerns over proposed changes to Pakistan’s water distribution mechanism earlier this year, which southern provinces argue are detrimental to their interests.
The rally, organized by Sindhiyani Tehreek, a women-led movement supported by civil society groups, drew demonstrators from across Sindh who marched from Regal Chowk to the Karachi Press Club.
Dr. Marvi Sindhu, the central general secretary of the movement, highlighted the threat of so-called honor killings, locally referred to as Karo-Kari. These killings target individuals accused of engaging in illicit relationships or marrying against their families’ wishes, often as a means to restore the perceived honor of the family.
“We are raising our voices against the rampant killing of women in the name of honor in Sindh,” she told Arab News. “We are also here to raise our voices against rising religious extremism.”
Sindhu said Karo-Kari was “alarmingly rampant” in northern Sindh, though she noted other socially conservative practices also undermined the interests and wellbeing of women.
“Women are married to settle disputes or murder cases [in the province], only to face harassment [from their in-laws] for the rest of their lives,” she continued, urging Pakistan’s senior judiciary to form a commission to address such issues.
Amar Sindhu, a professor and member of the Women’s Action Forum, echoed similar concerns, saying the rise in extremist ideologies was deepening social injustices and threatening women’s safety in Sindh.
“We stand united against these injustices and demand action to protect women from violence and oppression,” she said.
Sindhiyani Tehreek, founded in 1980, has been a prominent force in the province, advocating for women’s rights, social justice and the preservation of Sindhi culture. The movement also has a long history of resistance against authoritarian rule, gender-based violence and environmental degradation.
Apart from social and gender issues, the protest also highlighted proposed amendments to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Act, 1992, introduced in July to restructure Pakistan’s water regulatory authority.
Key changes include appointing a permanent federal chairman to the authority, replacing the current rotational system where provincial representatives take turns leading IRSA.
The movement’s general secretary condemned the amendments as “unlawful,” warning they could exacerbate interprovincial disputes and deprive Sindh of its rightful share of water.
“Sindh deserves its share of water to sustain its crops, mangroves and marine life,” she said.

Topics: women in Pakistan honor killing honor killings religious extremism

One killed in northwestern Pakistan blast targeting religio-political party leader

One killed in northwestern Pakistan blast targeting religio-political party leader
Updated 17 November 2024
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One killed in northwestern Pakistan blast targeting religio-political party leader

One killed in northwestern Pakistan blast targeting religio-political party leader
  • Attack on Maulana Shehzad Wazir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam has left him critically injured
  • The JUI leader was on his way to a mosque in Azam Warsak when the explosion took place
Updated 17 November 2024
REHMAT MEHSUD

PESHAWAR: One person was killed and six others injured in a blast triggered by an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting a senior leader of a prominent religio-political party in South Waziristan district on Sunday, leaving him in critical condition, police said.
The attack on Maulana Shehzad Wazir comes amid complaints from his Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) party about being targeted by militants operating in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also voiced concerns over militant threats disrupting the party’s election campaign in the region ahead of the February 8 national polls, citing warnings from law enforcement about dangers to its candidates.
“The IED was planted in a street leading to Maulana Shehzad Wazir’s mosque, who is politically affiliated with the JUI-F,” Bilal Wazir, a police officer in Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan tribal district, told Arab News over the phone. “Mufti Ijaz Wazir died on the spot while six others, including Maulana Shehzad Wazir, who was apparently the target of the attack, were left in critical condition.”
The officer said a police contingent was dispatched to the area soon after the explosion to gather evidence and shift the wounded to the hospital.
Asked about the intensity of the blast, he said it shook the entire neighborhood of Azam Warsak, a settlement on the outskirts of Wana.
Speaking to Arab News, Mufti Ijaz Shinwari, the JUI senior vice president in the tribal area, condemned the incident, saying the victims of the attack were religious leaders and key figures of his political party on the provincial level.
“This is inhumane,” he added. “This is clearly a terrorist attack and a cowardly act.”
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, though Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned militant group, has a history of targeting civilians, security forces and politicians in the region, aiming to perpetuate instability in KP.
In recent months, the TTP has claimed responsibility for several attacks and is suspected by officials in others.
Earlier this week, however, Daesh, a separate militant outfit, shot dead Hameed Sufi, a senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, in the adjacent Bajaur tribal district.
In June, four people, including Maulana Mirza Jan, the president of JUI’s Wana chapter, were shot by unidentified attackers.
Pakistan claims Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers are providing shelter to TTP fighters across the porous border separating the two countries. However, the Afghan Taliban insists they do not allow anyone to use their soil to launch violent attacks in the neighborhood.
 

Topics: militancy in Pakistan IED blast pakistan bombing South Waziristan

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