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Hajj 2024
Hajj 2024

First batch of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims arrives in Jeddah

First batch of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims arrives in Jeddah
An official of Makkah Route guides Pakistani pilgrim ahead of flight for Saudi Arabia at Islamabad International Airport in Islamabad on May 22, 2024. (SPA)
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Updated 24 May 2024
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First batch of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims arrives in Jeddah

First batch of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims arrives in Jeddah
  • A total of 34,316 Pakistanis reached Madinah by May 23 in first phase of Pakistan’s pre-Hajj flight operation
  • As many as 114 flights will be transporting another 34,422 Pakistani pilgrims to Jeddah from May 24 to June 9
Updated 24 May 2024
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: The first batch of 720 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims arrived in Jeddah on Friday, Pakistani state media reported, a day after Pakistan diverted its pre-Hajj flights from Madinah.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and requires every adult Muslim to undertake the journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime if they are financially and physically able.
These 720 Pakistani pilgrims departed from Islamabad and Karachi under the Makkah Route initiative and arrived via Saudia airline flights that landed at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, the APP news agency reported.
“The first flight SV-3705, with 370 passengers on board, arrived by 5 a.m. (local time) and the second SV-3727 landed at 6:10 a.m. carrying 350 Hajj pilgrims,” the report read.
Head of Pakistan Hajj Mission Abdul Wahab Soomro, Consul General Khalid Majeed and senior officials of the Pakistani Ministry of Religious Affairs as well as representatives of the Saudi government welcomed the pilgrims.
Under the Makkah Route initiative, the passengers directly left for their hotels avoiding long queues at the immigration counters and their luggage was shifted automatically to their residences.
In the first phase of Pakistan’s pre-Hajj flight operation, a total of 34,316 Pakistanis reached Madinah by May 23 through 146 flights, according to the report.
From May 24 to June 09, as many as 114 flights will be transporting 34,422 Pakistanis to Jeddah.
Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, of which 63,805 people will perform the pilgrimage under the government scheme, while the rest will use private tour operators.
This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14 till June 19.

Topics: Hajj 2024

Pakistan Navy conducts joint drills with Omani, Spanish forces

Pakistan Navy conducts joint drills with Omani, Spanish forces
Updated 12 sec ago
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Pakistan Navy conducts joint drills with Omani, Spanish forces

Pakistan Navy conducts joint drills with Omani, Spanish forces
  • Pakistan Navy regularly collaborates and holds joint military exercises with allies
  • Aim is to promote regional peace and stability and deter illicit maritime activities
Updated 12 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan navy said on Wednesday it had conducted joint naval exercises and drills with the Royal Oman ship ‘Alseeb’ and Spain’s ‘Santa Maria.’

Pakistan Navy regularly collaborates and holds joint military exercises with allies to increase synergy, promote regional peace and stability and deter piracy, drug trafficking and other illicit maritime activities.

“The exercise between Pakistan Navy and Royal Oman Navy was conducted during the Focused Operation ‘Karakoram Resolve’ of Pakistan-led Combined Task Force 150,” the Pakistan navy said in a statement, without specifying the location of the drill. “Pakistan Maritime Security Agency Ship Kashmir also participated in the Focused Operation.”

Bilateral naval exercise “Samar Al-Tayeb” is conducted regularly between the Pakistani and Omani navies.

“PNS Saif also conducted bilateral exercises with Spanish Navy Ship Santa Maria,” the Pakistan side said. “The aim of the exercises was to promote synergy between the navies present in the region.”

Topics: Pakistan Navy Pakistan Oman ties Pakistan Spain ties

Pakistan’s Punjab to develop ‘advanced air quality management system’ with Chinese help

Pakistan’s Punjab to develop ‘advanced air quality management system’ with Chinese help
Updated 11 December 2024
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Pakistan’s Punjab to develop ‘advanced air quality management system’ with Chinese help

Pakistan’s Punjab to develop ‘advanced air quality management system’ with Chinese help
  • Beijing-Punjab Clean Air joint working group set up during chief minister’s ongoing visit to China
  • Nearly two million people in Pakistan fell ill when smog choked Punjab for over two weeks last month
Updated 11 December 2024
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s most populous province of Punjab will develop an advanced air quality management system with the help of China to combat an enduring smog and pollution crisis, a statement from the provincial chief minister’s office said on Wednesday. 

Smog had choked Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province for weeks last month, sickening nearly two million people and shrouding vast swathes of the province in a toxic haze. 

On Wednesday, Lahore, the capital of Punjab, was listed as the world’s sixth most polluted city by Swiss air monitor IQAir, and its PM2.5 concentration, which comprises air particles that damage lungs, was 20.5 times the World Health Organization annual guideline value. The province had closed down schools and offices for days last month, banned outdoor activities and shortened timings for restaurants, shops and markets in a bid to control smog.

“Agreement reached to develop an advanced air quality management system in Punjab with China’s collaboration,” the ruling PML-N party in Punjab said in an X post after Sharif met Chinese environment authorities. “Decision to establish the ‘Beijing-Punjab Clean Air Joint Working Group’ has been made.”

The officials also discussed wildlife conservation and plantation projects, with Sharif saying Punjab would leverage China’s expertise and experience in implementing an e-transport system in the province.

China has taken significant steps to combat its worsening air quality, declaring a “war on pollution” in 2015. Key measures include reducing coal consumption, increasing renewable energy capacity, and improving air quality monitoring systems. 

However, researchers said last month China’s emissions of carbon dioxide were on course to rise slightly this year, despite rapid progress on renewables and electric vehicles, putting a key 2025 climate target further out of reach.

China wants to cut the amount of CO2 it produces per unit of economic growth by 18 percent over the 2021-2025 period, but it fell further behind this year as a result of rising energy demand, said the Helsinki-based Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) in its annual assessment.

Topics: Pakistan China Ties Lahore Smog chief minister maryam nawaz sharif

Pakistan announces joint body on transit trade with Tajikistan amid Central Asia investment push

Pakistan announces joint body on transit trade with Tajikistan amid Central Asia investment push
Updated 11 December 2024
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Pakistan announces joint body on transit trade with Tajikistan amid Central Asia investment push

Pakistan announces joint body on transit trade with Tajikistan amid Central Asia investment push
  • Pakistan wants to consolidate its role as a pivotal trade and transit hub for landlocked Central Asian republics
  • Tajikistan is Pakistan’s closest neighbor in Central Asia with narrow strip through Wakhan corridor separating them
Updated 11 December 2024
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Power Minister Sardar Awais Leghari on Wednesday announced that Islamabad and Dushanbe had agreed to set up a joint coordination committee to address transit trade challenges, as Pakistan pushes to consolidate its role as a pivotal trade and transit hub connecting the landlocked Central Asian states with the rest of the world. 

In recent weeks, there has been a flurry of visits, investment talks and economic activity between officials from Pakistan and the Central Asian nations. Tajikistan is Pakistan’s closest neighbor in Central Asia with a narrow strip of 14km through the Wakhan corridor separating the two countries. 

On Wednesday, speaking at the seventh session of the Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Commission in Islamabad along with Tajikistan Energy Minister Juma Daler Shofaqir, Leghari said both nations needed to explore “new avenues of cooperation” in commercial and economic fields.

“I’m pleased to note that both sides have agreed to create a joint coordination committee on transit trade under the Tajikistan-Pakistan trade transit agreement, which will play a pivotal role in addressing operational challenges and ensuring the smooth implementation of transit trade provisions,” Leghari said. 

He hoped deliberations of the joint commission would aid in preparing “concrete” recommendations to advance further growth in the fields of trade, energy, agriculture and education as well as the industrial sector.

Leghari also called for a “plan of action” to raise the current volume of trade through more trade activities and the removal of barriers. According to data published by Tajik Customs, during 2023 (Jan-Dec), the volume of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Tajikistan stood at $52.73 million, an increase of 62.3 percent in comparison with the previous year.

“I want to emphasize the significance of extending our regional connectivity and welcome Tajikistan to avail all trade corridors from Dushanbe to Gwadar and Karachi under the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation program and other multi-model transnational trade corridors,” Leghari added.

He said proximity between Pakistan and Tajikistan through the Wakhan corridor presented an “excellent opportunity” to establish direct connectivity.

Leghari also spoke about the significance of the $1.2 billion Central Asia-South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA-1000) project, that aims to bring 1,300 megawatts of surplus electricity from Central Asia to high-demand electricity markets in South Asia. This project involves the construction of a 1,227km-long cross-border transmission line that will connect Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan 

“I sincerely hope that the remaining work can be expedited to fully realize the potential of this vital energy cooperation ensuring mutual benefits in the power sector,” the Pakistani minister said.

Topics: Pakistan Tajikistan Ties

Pakistan, China hold three-week-long joint war exercise

Pakistan, China hold three-week-long joint war exercise
Updated 14 min 35 sec ago
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Pakistan, China hold three-week-long joint war exercise

Pakistan, China hold three-week-long joint war exercise
  • China is pushing to join Pakistani security efforts to protect its citizens, last month unveiled plan for joint counterterror exercises
  • Warrior-VIII exercise between Pakistan Army and Peoples’ Liberation Army of China held from Nov. 19 to Dec. 11 in Pakistan
Updated 14 min 35 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army said on Wednesday it had held a joint war exercise with China from Nov. 19 to Dec. 11 amid a push for deeper security ties between Islamabad and Beijing. 

Following a string of deadly attacks that targeted its citizens in recent months, China has pushed to join Pakistani security efforts to protect them, and last month unveiled a plan for joint counter-terrorism exercises in Pakistan.

The exercise, which both the sides called Warrior-VIII between the Pakistan Army and Peoples’ Liberation Army of China, was launched at a northwestern Pakistani counter-terrorism facility, a Pakistani army statement said last month, adding that the exercise was aimed at “refining professional skills through joint training, besides harnessing (our) historic military-to-military relations.”

In a statement released on Wednesday, Pakistan said the exercise concluded today, Wednesday. 

“Pak-China Joint Exercise Warrior-VIII between Pakistan Army and Peoples Liberation Army of China was conducted from 19 November to 11 December 2024,” the army’s media wing said. 

“Three weeks’ long Exercise in Counter Terrorism domain is 8th in the series of bilateral exercises being held annually.”

Attacks on Chinese nationals have put the bilateral relations between both states under increasing stress, with Chinese officials breaking from diplomatic norms in recent months and publicly calling on Islamabad to provide better security. 

Media reports in recent weeks have also widely speculated that Beijing has said it will not continue with projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $65 billion investment in President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, unless Pakistan can guarantee security. 

Topics: Pakistan China Ties

Dam protesters blocking Pakistan’s Karakoram Highway give government 15 days to meet demands

Dam protesters blocking Pakistan’s Karakoram Highway give government 15 days to meet demands
Updated 25 min 3 sec ago
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Dam protesters blocking Pakistan’s Karakoram Highway give government 15 days to meet demands

Dam protesters blocking Pakistan’s Karakoram Highway give government 15 days to meet demands
  • Government plans to build Diamer-Bhasha dam on River Indus between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Gilgit-Baltistan
  • Protesters’ demands include the resettlement of those displaced by the dam as well as financial compensation for them
Updated 25 min 3 sec ago
Nisar Ali

KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: Demonstrators who have been blocking the Karakoram Highway linking the remote northern Gilgit-Baltistan region to the rest of Pakistan to protest the construction of a dam said on Wednesday they would allow the road to be opened for 15 days, giving the government until then to meet demands. 

The government plans to build the Diamer-Bhasha dam on the River Indus between Kohistan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Diamer district in Gilgit Baltistan by 2028-29. It is estimated that plans to build the dam and reservoir will displace more than 4,200 families in nearby areas. Once constructed, the dam will submerge a large section of the Karakoram Highway to China, Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) estimates.

For the last two days, hundreds of protesters have been blocking the KKH in the Diamer district in protest against WAPDA, whom they say has not paid them compensation for land they gave up for the construction of the dam. 

Three rounds of negotiations with the government had failed, Shahid Iqbal, a member of the protesters’ core committee, told Arab News.

“Though all negotiations with the government couldn’t reach a conclusion, we don’t want to disturb the public, that’s why we are opening the road to facilitate commuters,” Muhammad Iqbal, the leader of the protesters’ core committee, told Arab News on Wednesday via telephone from the region.

“And on assurances of the senior superintendent of police, Sher Khan, speaking on behalf of the government, we have extended the deadline for 15 days. The local administration has promised to resolve our issues after consulting with the general manager of WAPDA within 15 days.”

Iqbal said the protest would resume after 15 days if the government failed to meet demands, including the resettlement of those displaced by the dam’s construction as well as financial compensation for affectees. 

Speaking to Arab News, the spokesperson of the Gilgit-Baltistan government, Faizullah Faraq, said the government would consider all “valid demands” of protesters. 

“Officials from WAPDA, the district administration, and police are representing the government side, while five members of [dam] affectees are taking part in the negotiation process,” Faraq told Arab News.

He said Diamer-Bhasha dam affectees had protested multiple times in the past but their latest move to block the KKH had left “hundreds of passengers stranded on both sides.”

“They have presented their demands and the government will leave no stone unturned to fulfil their valid demands,” the official added. 

The $12-$14 billion Diamer-Bhasha dam should generate 4,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity, and a vast new reservoir would regulate the flow of water to farmland that is vulnerable to increasingly erratic weather patterns. With a gross water storage capacity of 8.1-million-acre feet (MAF), the dam is expected to help irrigate 1.23 million acres of additional land. 

China and Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding in December 2016 for Beijing to help fund and develop Pakistan’s Indus Basin dams, though no timelines were released. Pakistan estimates there is 40,000 MW of hydro potential.

Pakistan has been keen for years to build a cascade of mega dams along the Indus flowing down from the Himalayas, but has struggled to raise money from international institutions amid opposition from its nuclear-armed neighbor India.

Those ambitions have been revived by China’s Belt and Road infrastructure corridor for Pakistan, a key cog in Beijing’s creation of a modern-day Silk Road network of trade routes connecting Asia with Europe and Africa.

Topics: karakoram highway diamer bhasha dam

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